upgrade to new machine

[Johannes Kantelberg]

I would be grateful for advice on the following:

I built a PC in 2001 for my own use and installed XP Pro OEM on it. Have since
installed SP2 plus all the subsequent patches.

Im now building a completely new machine with a new modern style motherboard,
video card, Core 2 Duo CPU etc.

I know that I cant just port my old hard disk with the old XP on it to the new
machine because of the OEM licensing rules. So my plan is to buy a new copy of
XP Pro OEM, put my old hard disk in the new machine and do a Repair Install from
the new OEM CD. Is it correct to assume that during such an install my old XP
will simply be wiped from the HD while all my applications will be kept intact
and I wil be able to reactivate the new system successfully?

I really dont want to re-install all my applications from scratch.

Many thanks,

Johannes van Vuren,

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I would be grateful for advice on the following:

I built a PC in 2001 for my own use and installed XP Pro OEM on it.
Have since installed SP2 plus all the subsequent patches.

Im now building a completely new machine with a new modern style
motherboard, video card, Core 2 Duo CPU etc.

I know that I cant just port my old hard disk with the old XP on it
to the new machine because of the OEM licensing rules. So my plan
is to buy a new copy of XP Pro OEM, put my old hard disk in the new
machine and do a Repair Install from the new OEM CD. Is it correct
to assume that during such an install my old XP will simply be
wiped from the HD while all my applications will be kept intact and
I wil be able to reactivate the new system successfully?
I really dont want to re-install all my applications from scratch.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

You assumption sounds a bit harsh. While you should assume the worst and
backup all your important data (Product keys, emails, contacts, documents,
pictures, favorites, etc..) - you should be doing that regularly anyway - so
this should be a snap...

Move the hard drive, buy the new license of XP, do the repair install, make
sure you have all the current pacthes and that should be it.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I would be grateful for advice on the following:

I built a PC in 2001 for my own use and installed XP Pro OEM on it.
Have since installed SP2 plus all the subsequent patches.

Im now building a completely new machine with a new modern style
motherboard, video card, Core 2 Duo CPU etc.

I know that I cant just port my old hard disk with the old XP on it
to the new machine because of the OEM licensing rules. So my plan is
to buy a new copy of XP Pro OEM, put my old hard disk in the new
machine and do a Repair Install from the new OEM CD. Is it correct to
assume that during such an install my old XP will simply be wiped
from the HD while all my applications will be kept intact and I wil
be able to reactivate the new system successfully?

When you change motherboards, you almost certainly have to do at least a
repair installation (unless the new one and the old one are identical). See
"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install" at
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

That usually works, but be aware that it's possible that that won't be
sufficient, and you'll have to start all over again with a clean
reinstallation and reinstallation of all your software.

Just in case you end up having to do a clean reinstallation, be sure you
have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before changing any
hardware.

Reactivating shouldn't be a problem.

I really dont want to re-install all my applications from scratch.

Bear in mind that, regardless of what you want to do, having to do so is a
distinct possibility.

The restriction against moving an OEM version to a new computer is a severe
one, and that's the reason I almost always recommend buying an Upgrade
version (which usually costs only slightly more than an OEM one) instead.
You might want to consider that this time instead of buying a second OEM
version.

 

[Johannes Kantelberg]

Thanks for the advice Ken.

I assume one can do a Repair Install with an upgrade version as well. No? How
does upgrade work? I already have XP Pro and according to you I will upgrade to
XP Pro by buying an upgade version. Im not sure why upgrades are better than
OEM. Please explain. Can I use an upgrade version to repair an old OEM version?

If I buy an upgrade version, can I later upgrade to Vista from it by simply
buying a Vista upgrade?

Johannes.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for the advice Ken.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

I assume one can do a Repair Install with an upgrade version as well.
No? How does upgrade work? I already have XP Pro and according to you
I will upgrade to XP Pro by buying an upgade version.

No, I meant to use the Upgrade version, not to do an upgrade, but to do a
repair installation.

Im not sure why
upgrades are better than OEM. Please explain.

Because it doesn't come with the restrictions of an OEM version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on.
It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them with
a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your OEM; that
support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or you can get
support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

It's that first restriction that's the most severe. If you had an Upgrade in
the first place, instead of an OEM version, you wouldn't have to buy a
second copy now.

Can I use an upgrade
version to repair an old OEM version?

I *think* so, but I hasten to add that I've never done it, so it would be
good to get confirmation from others here.

If I buy an upgrade version, can I later upgrade to Vista from it by
simply buying a Vista upgrade?

Again I think so, but I don't know for sure.