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Install legal XP over 'invalid' XP?

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by PeteC, 2002/09/21.

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  1. 2002/09/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    According to SP1 Express my copy of XP Pro has an invalid product key! Hmm!

    If I purchase a legal copy of XP Pro, preferably an upgrade, will this install over the 'invalid' copy?

    Alternatively would a legal copy of XP Home (cheaper) install over the invalid copy of XP Pro?

    According to MS Windows Update will not be accessible to these invalid copies - seems to work fine at present. Any thoughts on this?

    Thanks
     
    PeteC,
    #1
  2. 2002/09/21
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    You should be able to do a repair installation right over the present one and use the new product key.

    I don't think you will be able to do this with the Home edition since that would be a "downgrade ".
     
    Abraxas,
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  4. 2002/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks - I had a feeling that the Home Edition route was a bit unlikely. May decide on a fresh install of Home Edition from my - legal- ME on cost basis. I don't really need all the security, etc of Pro.
     
    PeteC,
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  5. 2002/09/22
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    The upgrade CD's for both Home and Pro contain the full editions of the OS's, so if you have a "qualifying product ", like an ME or 98 CD, you can do a fresh installation on an empty hard drive with the upgrade CD's.
    The only difference is that with the upgrades, you will be asked to insert the CD from the older OS to prove you actually own it. You can save some money that way.
    You do not have to have an OS installed to use the upgrade CD's to install fresh.
     
    Abraxas,
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  6. 2002/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks again - I was aware of that. Anyway I found the XP Pro upgrade at a good price at Amazon (UK) - would never have thought of buying software there, but quite a bit cheaper than elsewhere.

    I'll post again if any problems in installing over present copy.
     
    PeteC,
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  7. 2002/09/22
    Paul

    Paul Inactive

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    Pete,
    The following from Labmice.net

    http://www.labmice.net/WindowsXP/articles/changeID.htm

    may help in changing your invalid key with a valid key when you buy a new copy of XP. This method will negate having to reformat and reinstall windows or do an in-place upgrade and then use your valid key and re-activate. As the microsoft article suggests an upgrade may not return your system to a fully working state as it was before. From memory it worked for me once and then another time I lost most of my programmes/user settings.

    How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
     
    Paul,
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  8. 2002/09/22
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    I have done several repair/upgrade installations and never lost a single thing. Since the OP is doing the "upgrade" from a working edition of XP Pro, I don't believe there is any danger of losing anything.
    There is a risk, however, in attempting to change the key and messing that up.
    I would definitely recommend reinstalling as a repair installation, letting it search for harware again, and fixing any present or potential problems.

    The upgrades that seem to be a problem are from other operating systems, like 98, ME, 2k, etc.
     
    Abraxas,
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  9. 2002/09/22
    Paul

    Paul Inactive

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    Unfortunately there is always a possibility of an upgrade not working as it should.
    I was just pointing out the risks. Experience has led me to learn the hard way.
    Yes changing the product ID using the registry could cause problems so as always when tinkering in the registry do a full registry backup if you can't afford the slight possibility of a reformat.
     
    Paul,
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  10. 2002/09/22
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    I agree with you, Paul, about the hazards of upgrades, but this situation differs, I think, in that it is not, technically-speaking, an "upgrade" at all since the original OS is the same as the one to be reinstalled.
     
    Abraxas,
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  11. 2002/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Paul, Abraxas

    Thanks for the further discussion on this - I tend to agree that it is not strictly an upgrade. Nevertheless I'll check out the links first. I recently re-installed this copy of XP on another PC with only the loss of the Matrox video drivers - so no great hassle in that instance.

    Fortunately I have an old P111 computer which I use for software evaluation purposes, etc - this has the same invalid copy of XP Pro installed. I'll try the upgrade on this one first - if it goes all pear shaped there is no real problem.

    Upgrade should arrive tomorrow - I'll post the results.
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2002/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    On second thoughts the slight matter of activation arises - thus it would not be a good idea to install the upgrade first on my second PC? - unless I am prepared to reformat and reinstall the illegit version after 'proving' the legit copy.

    Think I might try the LabMice option on the old PC - nothing lost here and load the upgrade to my main PC. I don't have a real problem if it all goes wrong - my data is on other partitions/drives and is backed up elsewhere, and it is merely (?) a question of reinstalling the programmes, etc - about 6 hrs as I recall from previous dabbling with various multi boot senarios.

    Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Appreciate your help and advice on this.
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2002/09/24
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    Yup - it all went pear-shaped. so I'm on the laptop while a fresh install of XP Pro proceeds on the main PC.

    All was fine until Install asked for the Via IDE drivers - even told me the location of the file on one of my other hard drives, but this was the 4 in 1 setup programme and, presumably, the files could not be extracted. anyway nothing happened whie I hit OK, so hit cancel. Same for the AGP drivers. Install continued to the bitter end - almost, and re-booted to a blue screen. None of the options given on re-boot would work - blue screens galore - there is, of course, no Last Known Good, or whatever it is called, under this senario.

    Finally bit the bullet - booted from Partition Magic Rescue disks, formatted C: and started all over again. At least I'll have a clean install and no doubt get rid of a lot of c**p.

    Let others be warned!!

    Thanks for your help and advice - maybe this widens your experience too!

    Looks like the install has finished - feeding time for the CD Rom drive!!
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2002/09/24
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    The drivers were probably already there from the previous installation, if you knew where to direct XP to look for them.

    It took some browsing for me to direct XP to my NIC drivers, but eventually I found them since they had been installed in the previous installation. One time, before I knew where they were, I simply clicked Cancel on the driver search dialog. The installation proceeded fine all the way through. I then installed the missing drivers after XP was all set up.
     
    Abraxas,
    #13
  15. 2002/10/03
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

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    PeteC you have mail.

    Well no you don't since you dont have an e mail addressed exposed.

    E mail me I have some info for you.
     
    Last edited: 2002/10/03
    Scott Smith,
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