xp home edition problem

[Eric]

I have a notebook computer without an opperating system.
I also have a desktop computer with window xp home
installed on it. I used the xp cd that came with the
desktop to put xp on my notebook. I did this with out
realizing that it could only be installed on one
computer. It is asking me for an activation code and
tells me i have 30 days to activate it. I realize that i
can't activate it because of the one computer thing. So i
bought a full version of it and would like to install it
in the place of the unactivated version from my desktop.
How do i uninstall the xp version from the desktop so i
can install the full version that i purchased

 

[Jim Macklin]

Just reinstall the new version over the top of the previous
version.

Boot the XP CD, if you want to make a clean install, delete
the current partition, create one or more partitions and
install. This will be a clean install and will wipe all
data on the computer previously.
Or select to over-write the current version and it will work
just fine. If you just choose install, it will create a
dual-boot with two Windows XP OS, you don't want that.

see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941

and
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341
and http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message | I have a notebook computer without an opperating system.
| I also have a desktop computer with window xp home
| installed on it. I used the xp cd that came with the
| desktop to put xp on my notebook. I did this with out
| realizing that it could only be installed on one
| computer. It is asking me for an activation code and
| tells me i have 30 days to activate it. I realize that i
| can't activate it because of the one computer thing. So i
| bought a full version of it and would like to install it
| in the place of the unactivated version from my desktop.
| How do i uninstall the xp version from the desktop so i
| can install the full version that i purchased

 

[Alex Nichol]

So i
bought a full version of it and would like to install it
in the place of the unactivated version from my desktop.
How do i uninstall the xp version from the desktop so i
can install the full version that i purchased

Instead, boot the new CD, and Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard disk,
then boot the XP CD, start Setup (do not take `Repair` at this stage),
then after the license agreement take `Repair Installation`. This will
retain your existing software installations and most settings.

This will along the way ask for the Product Key - use the one that came
with this new disk.

BTW be sure you get the Firewall enabled before going on the Internet
even for a moment, and then get the security updates