Windows XP upgrade or full version

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Guest

I have thoroughly screwed up a re-installation of Window XP by using the
wrong OEM disk (the right disk is unavailable), so I now cannot activate
using the product key I have. I am willing to purchase Windows XP, but I am
unsure whether I should get the full version (the box says for computers with
Windows 95 or earlier, or computers without Windows) or the upgrade version
(which indicates that it is for registered users only). I do not want to
lose the other programs and information currently on the computer.
 
GinnyG said:
I have thoroughly screwed up a re-installation of Window XP by using
the wrong OEM disk (the right disk is unavailable), so I now cannot
activate using the product key I have. I am willing to purchase
Windows XP, but I am unsure whether I should get the full version
(the box says for computers with Windows 95 or earlier, or computers
without Windows) or the upgrade version (which indicates that it is
for registered users only). I do not want to lose the other programs
and information currently on the computer.
Click to expand...

My opinion - spend the extra money and get the full retail. The other
advantages outweigh the one time cost.
 
Windows XP (as opposed to Windows XP Upgrade) is for all computers. The
full version does all things that the Upgrade edition does but can also
install Windows on a computer with no operating system at all, even if you
don't already own an earlier version. The reason the full edition label
reads the way it does is that if you have a version of Windows later than
Windows 95 you can use the Upgrade edition, but are not required to.

The present state of the hard drive is critical. Does Windows run at all?
What do you mean by 'reinstallation'? At what point did reinstallation
fail?

I would buy the full edition and attempt a Repair Install. A Repair Install
reinstalls Windows without wiping out the other files on the drive. If
successful, it will also correct the product key problem. You need to buy
the same flavor of XP you are trying to repair (Home or Pro). The Upgrade
edition will do the same thing but if the repair install fails and you need
to do a clean installation of XP it is simpler to do it with the full
version.

If the repair install fails you can still recover most or all of the data
files by taking the hard drive to a computer shop that has recovery software
like Ontrack. Just don't format the drive or continue to try to write to it
in any way. Once the files are recovered and safely stored you can do a
clean installation of XP and then copy back your files. You will have to
reinstall all your programs if you have to do a clean installation.
 
Thank you. That's what I needed to know.

The hard drive is fine. Windows does run on it but cannot be activated with
the product key I have.

Colin Barnhorst said:
Windows XP (as opposed to Windows XP Upgrade) is for all computers. The
full version does all things that the Upgrade edition does but can also
install Windows on a computer with no operating system at all, even if you
don't already own an earlier version. The reason the full edition label
reads the way it does is that if you have a version of Windows later than
Windows 95 you can use the Upgrade edition, but are not required to.

The present state of the hard drive is critical. Does Windows run at all?
What do you mean by 'reinstallation'? At what point did reinstallation
fail?

I would buy the full edition and attempt a Repair Install. A Repair Install
reinstalls Windows without wiping out the other files on the drive. If
successful, it will also correct the product key problem. You need to buy
the same flavor of XP you are trying to repair (Home or Pro). The Upgrade
edition will do the same thing but if the repair install fails and you need
to do a clean installation of XP it is simpler to do it with the full
version.

If the repair install fails you can still recover most or all of the data
files by taking the hard drive to a computer shop that has recovery software
like Ontrack. Just don't format the drive or continue to try to write to it
in any way. Once the files are recovered and safely stored you can do a
clean installation of XP and then copy back your files. You will have to
reinstall all your programs if you have to do a clean installation.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
GinnyG said:
I have thoroughly screwed up a re-installation of Window XP by using the
wrong OEM disk (the right disk is unavailable), so I now cannot activate
using the product key I have. I am willing to purchase Windows XP, but I
am
unsure whether I should get the full version (the box says for computers
with
Windows 95 or earlier, or computers without Windows) or the upgrade
version
(which indicates that it is for registered users only). I do not want to
lose the other programs and information currently on the computer.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Then the solution is simple. Buy your retail XP and simply change the
product key at the time you try to activate the installation of Windows that
is on the computer now. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892
Just use the product code on your new copy of XP.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
GinnyG said:
Thank you. That's what I needed to know.

The hard drive is fine. Windows does run on it but cannot be activated
with
the product key I have.

Colin Barnhorst said:
Windows XP (as opposed to Windows XP Upgrade) is for all computers. The
full version does all things that the Upgrade edition does but can also
install Windows on a computer with no operating system at all, even if
you
don't already own an earlier version. The reason the full edition label
reads the way it does is that if you have a version of Windows later than
Windows 95 you can use the Upgrade edition, but are not required to.

The present state of the hard drive is critical. Does Windows run at
all?
What do you mean by 'reinstallation'? At what point did reinstallation
fail?

I would buy the full edition and attempt a Repair Install. A Repair
Install
reinstalls Windows without wiping out the other files on the drive. If
successful, it will also correct the product key problem. You need to
buy
the same flavor of XP you are trying to repair (Home or Pro). The
Upgrade
edition will do the same thing but if the repair install fails and you
need
to do a clean installation of XP it is simpler to do it with the full
version.

If the repair install fails you can still recover most or all of the data
files by taking the hard drive to a computer shop that has recovery
software
like Ontrack. Just don't format the drive or continue to try to write to
it
in any way. Once the files are recovered and safely stored you can do a
clean installation of XP and then copy back your files. You will have to
reinstall all your programs if you have to do a clean installation.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
GinnyG said:
I have thoroughly screwed up a re-installation of Window XP by using the
wrong OEM disk (the right disk is unavailable), so I now cannot
activate
using the product key I have. I am willing to purchase Windows XP, but
I
am
unsure whether I should get the full version (the box says for
computers
with
Windows 95 or earlier, or computers without Windows) or the upgrade
version
(which indicates that it is for registered users only). I do not want
to
lose the other programs and information currently on the computer.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Just out of curiosity, when you attempted to activate Windows,
were you offered the option of activating over the phone?
If you did make that call and explained your situation, were you
told why you couldn't activate your Windows installation?

Have you contacted the manufacturer of your computer and asked
about obtaining a replacement CD? What brand is your PC and what
brand OEM disk did you use?

If your product key was legally obtained, I think that I would
exhaust all the posibilities of using that key before I went out
and spent big bucks on a full version of XP. Somehow, it doesn't
seem fair to me that if you already paid for a legitimate
software key you should have to pay an expensive penalty for
losing a 25 cent CD.
 
Something is missing here, but it appears the OP understands why she needs
to do what she is doing. I very much doubt if the whole story is out, but
then it doesn't have to be.
 
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