Will I lose my files

[jzangel]

I bought a used computer and found out it is not the genuine Windows XP. But
I ordered a Real Win XP and would like to know if I install it will I loose
all my files and info on the old version? I'm not very knowledgable about
computers so I don't know what I should do once I receive the software.
Will it automatically save it for me? I don't want to loose any of it and I
am scared I will do something wrong. Any thoughts on this problem?

 

[Charles W Davis]

No matter the answer that you get, back up everything that you don't want to
loose to an external drive, or a second internal drive if one exists.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I bought a used computer and found out it is not the genuine Windows XP.
But
I ordered a Real Win XP and would like to know if I install it will I
loose
all my files and info on the old version? I'm not very knowledgable about
computers so I don't know what I should do once I receive the software.
Will it automatically save it for me? I don't want to loose any of it and
I
am scared I will do something wrong. Any thoughts on this problem?
--
If we always do what we''ve always done, we''ll always be what we''ve
always
been. We can''t be afraid to change our lives for the better. Just do it.
We''re worth it!

Further to what Charles said: Since your files appear to be
important to you, you must back them up regularly, e.g. once
a week. Now would be an excellent starting point for this practice.
Remember to include your EMail files in your backup, and to perform
some test restores, especially of your EMail files. If you don't then
you run a grave risk of making useless backups.

A 2.5" disk in a n external USB case is a low-cost but highly
effective backup medium. Always disconnect it after doing
the backup!

 

[SonomaAirporter]

I had the same problem when I bought a used laptop. Windows Genuine Advantage
told me my XP Pro OEM had an invalid Volume License Key after using it for
several months, installing many new programs, customizing my desktop, etc .
One of the options WGA gave me was to change to a valid key. Remembering that
I had a full retail XP Pro which had been installed on a hard drive that had
crashed months before, I executed that option to change to a valid key, and
within minutes I was legitimate again.

Even if this works flawlessly for you as it did for me, do take the others'
advice about backing up important files before you try this.