Question for Microsoft Gurus

[Bob Wills]

I initially installed a *cough* borrowed version of Win XP on one of my systems. Now I have a full version of XP Pro that I would like to use on the same machine. Is there a reliable method for getting rid of the old product key and using the new version w/out losing any of the settings/data on the system?

I would assume that I would need to perform some sort of upgrade with the new XP Pro CD, but if so, I just want to make sure that all of the settings and data stay the same.

Doable?

 

[idigTexas]

Is your "borrowed" version XP Pro or XP Home?

 

[MeaHorn]

You'll need to do what's called an 'in-place' installation. Look here:
The Link

Scroll down to the section called 'How to Repair Install'.

 

[linux]

What is the difference between Home and Pro? I know for one is that it is 100$ more.

 

[schnarkle]

Professional can join Domains, Home can only do peer to peer. That's the biggest difference.

 

[kbend]

When I upgraded to SP2 this weekend the 'Home' and 'Professional' designations disappeared.

It now just says Windows XP

 

[Bob Wills]

Both versions are XP Pro. As a side note, would a Home->Pro install repair still be possible?

 

[linux]

In reply to:

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[MeaHorn]

I don't know if a Home->Pro Repair Install is possible, but it's probably pretty safe to try it. The install will most likely ***** at you if you're trying to do something it doesn't allow.

 

[schnarkle]

In reply to:

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[Bob Wills]

Excellent advice. I'll pull the switch tomorrow.

 

[Bob Wills]

Wait a sec -- wouldn't it just be easier to use the Activation Wizard to change the product key? There's nothing wrong with the old installation -- I just want to use my own key.

Or this tool? Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

[edit]

OK, I've answered my own question if anyone is curious. One may still need to take the Repair Install route from above to replace the product key. In other words, my new version's product key is not compatible with the old version, so the workaround is to do a Repair Install with the "good" version of XP Pro.