XP Pro retail over XP Pro OEM

[Guest]

I have a system running an OEM version of XP Pro (SP2). I am purchasing a
new barebones computer system (motherboard, processor, case) and would like
to take my existing hard drive and install in the new system.

I also have purchased a retail copy of XP Pro for the new system, since I
know (or believe) the OEM copy won't work on the new hardware.

Is it possible to perhaps perform an "in-place upgrade" on the new system
using the old hard drive and retail XP without losing all my existing data?
If this is possible, is it problematic? This is going to be a new processor,
chipset, motherboard, BIOS, etc. I would like to avoid reinstalling all the
applications if I could, but if installing XP on top of itself (retail over
OEM) is going to cause headaches, I'll just do a clean install.

Thanks for any advice. I know a clean install is always best, for what it's
worth.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The Repair Installation should go with no problems.

Back-up important data just in case.
Then on the slight chance there are problems, you are prepared.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. Before I start, I'm going to have at least 2 full backups so that's
not a problem!

 

[Guest]

Just wanted to follow up in case anyone else was trying this.

Overall, the repair install did the trick. It did ask for a VGAAPI or some
such driver during the repair. Since I couldn't locate it, I cancelled and
it continued okay. And since the NIC interface was built in to the
motherboard and I hadn't loaded the VIA chipset drivers yet, I had do
activate over the phone, but it worked. A couple of weird DEP errors kept
driving me crazy over and over until I removed and reinstalled my printer
driver (of all things).

But as I said, it appears to have worked. Thanks for the help earlier!