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Installing XP Pro over XP Corporate

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by NeilMc, 2008/09/12.

  1. 2008/09/12
    NeilMc

    NeilMc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Reading the forum rules, I think I'm allowed to ask this, but correct me if I'm wrong. I'm trying to do the right thing!

    The company I work for has inherited a couple of XP machines and I have installed all the necessary software we need on these machines. Unfortunately, when I turned on Automatic Updates, it became apparent that these machines don't have a legal copy of Windows on them (they seem to be running the old corporate edition that doesn't need activating). I have bought two copies of XP Pro 32-bit to rectify this. The question I have is whether I can use the serial numbers from the legal copies of windows to activate these machines, or whether I can buy a couple of legal serials for XP corporate edition without having a Volume License Agreement. I just don't want to have to reinstall windows and then all of our company specific software again (as much of it involves ringing people for reauthorisation codes which takes forever and costs a fortune).

    Anybody have any ideas for me? Leaving Windows as it is is not an option for me.

    Thanks in Advance!

    Neil
     
    NeilMc,
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  2. 2008/09/12
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Arie,
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  4. 2008/09/12
    NeilMc

    NeilMc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have already tried that. It doesn't work because the serial I am trying to use is a regular XP pro serial and not an XP corporate serial. It tells me the serial is invalid. If it is not possible for me to use this serial on an XP corporate machine, then I need to know if you can buy serials for XP corporate edition without having a Volume License Agreement.
     
    NeilMc,
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  5. 2008/09/12
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    The answer will be no, and the only option you have is to format/reinstall with the new disk.
     
    Arie,
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  6. 2008/09/12
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    You should be able to do a Repair installation using your new XP professional CDs and their respective keys. If your current corporate version is a later service patch (ie: SP3) than your XP Pro CDs (eg SP2), then you may have to create a slipstreamed CD with the XP Pro CD and SP3. This should spare you having to reload everything else and reconfigure users and permissions.

    ;)
     
    Rockster2U,
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  7. 2008/09/12
    NeilMc

    NeilMc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the replies. It appears the repair option is my only way forward. I just hope our dealer software doesn't recognise them as two new machine afterwards.
    I shouldn't run into service pack issues as the version installed says SP2 and the new XP pro discs are both SP3.

    Thanks again,
    Neil
     
    NeilMc,
    #6

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