reinstallation of XP

I am going to have to a complete reinstall of XP Home after formatting the disc. I shall be using an upgrade version. Could some one answer what I am sure are very basic questions!

1. Can I make an XP boot disc as one could with 98? If so, would this mean that I could install XP without using anything of Win 98 to 'prove' a right to an upgrade?

2. If no XP boot disc can be made, if I use a Win98 boot disc to start the computer, will this act as proof of previous ownership? I ask this, since I want to avoid have to install Win98, particularly as I would have to install 1st edition and then perhaps 2nd edition and then get rid of it!

3. Does the SP2 upgrade which I have on CD include SP1, or do I have to download SP1 before SP2 will go in?

4. My copy is of course activated for my computer. Presumably I shall have to reactivate it again. How do I do this so that they know it is not a pirate copy?

5. Anything else I have not thought of? (!)

Thanks in advance.

 

Hello Rutland,

1. Can I make an XP boot disc as one could with 98? If so, would this mean that I could install XP without using anything of Win 98 to 'prove' a right to an upgrade?
The XP disc is bootable. The "upgrade" needs isertion of a 98 disc.

2. If no XP boot disc can be made, if I use a Win98 boot disc to start the computer, will this act as proof of previous ownership? I ask this, since I want to avoid have to install Win98, particularly as I would have to install 1st edition and then perhaps 2nd edition and then get rid of it!
To initiate the install, insert the XP cd on bootup, you will be presented with a menu, one of which is an install, proceed from there. In the BIOS, the CD-ROM should be the primary boot device.

3. Does the SP2 upgrade which I have on CD include SP1, or do I have to download SP1 before SP2 will go in?
SP2 is cumulative, no need to download SP1.

4. My copy is of course activated for my computer. Presumably I shall have to reactivate it again. How do I do this so that they know it is not a pirate copy?
There will be an icon in the tray reminding you to activate. Clicking on that will connect to MS's servers - no interaction other than that is reqiured by you. Has to be done within 30 days. http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

5. Anything else I have not thought of? (!)
Not that I can think of.

Regards - Charles

 

My thanks to Charlesvar and Arie. Now I must bite the bullet!

 

Rutland,
If you still have access to the drive that windows is installed on and windows will be installed to the same Computer, you can copy WPA.DBL to a floppy and after installation you copy it back to the new installation. This way you don’t have to call MS and reactivate.

This file keeps a record of all your hardware and if the hardware is not changed, it does not need to be reactivated.

Sven

 

Thanks PeteC,
You are correct, I had incorrect information.
You learn something new every day.
Sorry for the late response, just came back from vacation.
Sven