upgrading windows XP demo to full

G

Guest

I had to replace my motherboard and I could not find my original XP Pro
install disk. So I installed the 120 day demo version of XP pro, just to get
going. I found the original disk and I want to upgrade to the full product.

Unfortunately, the demo version has been updated and now will not upgrade to
the "older version" of XP pro.

Is there an easy way to upgrade to the full version?
If I slipstream SP2 into my full version of XP will that allow me to upgrade?

I would like to avoid having to re-install from scratch and having to
re-install all my software.

Thanks
 
B

Bruce Chambers

LarryF said:
I had to replace my motherboard and I could not find my original XP Pro
install disk. So I installed the 120 day demo version of XP pro, just to get
going. I found the original disk and I want to upgrade to the full product.

Unfortunately, the demo version has been updated and now will not upgrade to
the "older version" of XP pro.

Is there an easy way to upgrade to the full version?


This means that your installed OS is at a higher service pack level
than is the WinXP Pro CD you're using. You'll either need to uninstall
SP2 (Control Panel, Add/Remove programs) before attempting the upgrade,
or try slipstreaming SP2 into older WinXP installation.

If I slipstream SP2 into my full version of XP will that allow me to upgrade?

It should.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

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Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
D

Donald L McDaniel

I had to replace my motherboard and I could not find my original XP Pro
install disk. So I installed the 120 day demo version of XP pro, just to get
going. I found the original disk and I want to upgrade to the full product.

Unfortunately, the demo version has been updated and now will not upgrade to
the "older version" of XP pro.

Is there an easy way to upgrade to the full version?
If I slipstream SP2 into my full version of XP will that allow me to upgrade?

I would like to avoid having to re-install from scratch and having to
re-install all my software.

You should have thought about the consequences of
updating a demo version of XP Pro.

But it is possible that you will only have to do a repair install with
your original XP Pro install disk IF it is a Full Retail version (that
is, it has a RETAIL key, not an OEM key). I'm not so sure about doing
it with an OEM key. Anyway, I don't believe it is possible to do a
repair install with an OEM disk.

By the way, the Demo version IS the "full product". It just has a
different type of key and a time-bomb. The time-bomb should be
removed if you do a repair installation with a Retail disk.

==

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread,
so that it may not become broken.
===================================================
 
L

LarryF

On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 12:00:02 -0700, LarryF
You should have thought about the consequences of
updating a demo version of XP Pro.

At the time, I was more concerned with the consequences of leaving my
computer off until I could find my install disk. It got picked up and
filed with a bunch of other CDs by accident.

I finally did find the original disk and I am currently re-organizing
all my CD files. But that comes under the general heading of closing
the barn door after the horse has escaped.

I also called around to see if anyone I knew had a copy that I could
use temporarily, which is legal as long as I use my key. But, the one
person who had the same version (XP-Pro, full retail) lost his disk as
well. Now that I found my copy, I am no longer working on the
disappearing CD conspiracy theory . . .
But it is possible that you will only have to do a repair install with
your original XP Pro install disk IF it is a Full Retail version (that
is, it has a RETAIL key, not an OEM key).

It does have a full retail key, so no problem there.
I'm not so sure about doing
it with an OEM key. Anyway, I don't believe it is possible to do a
repair install with an OEM disk.

By the way, the Demo version IS the "full product". It just has a
different type of key and a time-bomb. The time-bomb should be
removed if you do a repair installation with a Retail disk.

==

Donald L McDaniel

Thank you very much for your help. I will try this shortly and let you
know if it works.

--Larry
 
L

LarryF

This means that your installed OS is at a higher service pack level
than is the WinXP Pro CD you're using. You'll either need to uninstall
SP2 (Control Panel, Add/Remove programs) before attempting the upgrade,
or try slipstreaming SP2 into older WinXP installation.
I am going to attempt the repair installation first. If that doesn't
work, I will try the slipstream. I downloaded the program in your
link. I will save removing SP2 as a last ditch effort, as that seems
most likely to cause problems.

If all else fails, I will back up the drive and do a clean install. I
don't want to spend the time re-installing everything, but at least, I
know I can make it work in a worst case.

Thank you for the help, I will post again and let know what works.

--Larry
 
R

Rock

LarryF said:
I had to replace my motherboard and I could not find my original XP Pro
install disk. So I installed the 120 day demo version of XP pro, just to get
going. I found the original disk and I want to upgrade to the full product.

Unfortunately, the demo version has been updated and now will not upgrade to
the "older version" of XP pro.

Is there an easy way to upgrade to the full version?
If I slipstream SP2 into my full version of XP will that allow me to upgrade?

I would like to avoid having to re-install from scratch and having to
re-install all my software.

Thanks

This occurs because the SP level on the installed version is greater
than that on the version you're trying to install. Using the install CD
and a download of SP2, and a CD burning program create a slipstreamed
installation CD with SP2 integrated into it. Then do a repair install.
Here are some links for how to slipstream, and how to do the repair
install.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://unattended.msfn.org/beginner/slipstream.htm

Autostreamer
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092632287/1
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
 

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