Windows XP

[Suky]

I have just bought a legit copy of windows XP after having used a fake copy since I got the PC!!  I have been using Professional up to now but have now got the home edition. what I would like to know is can anybody help me to put it on. I realise I have to backup everything I have on at the moment, fortunately I have an external hard drive that everything can go on. When I put the new CD on will it automatically wipe everything off the hard drive before installing the home edition or do I need to uninstall everything myself first.  I'm reasonably competant on the PC but a bit scared that I will mess everything up. Thanks for any help 

[Necromancer]

Theres a 'Wizard' as part of the install that you can run to save User-related settings, Favourites etc .... in fact you can run it first on your current version ..... but I'd also play safe and use Windows Explorer to copy off your 'data' like Pics etc ...

START->All Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

[downside]

When you attempt to install from the CD drive it will ask you whether you want to install and then point out that you already have Windows XP installed.

It will then ask whether you want to repair your current version of Windows XP.

If you insist in installing the new version then you have 2 options:
1) a reinstall on top of your current version.
2) a clean install using your new CD then ask it to format your hard drive.  That will effectively destroy all your previous data.

If you use option 1 it should leave all your stuff in My Documents alone and other non-Windows programs.  Effectively it will just overwrite stuff in C:\Windows.

downside

[Suky]

Thanks for that. Downside if I use option 1 can I still downgrade from to Professional to Home edition.

[downside]

Hi Suky

That is a good point.  I'm not sure what all the differences between the Home and Professional editions are.  I know one of them is file security - the way you can change ownership and permissions of a folder or file.  However, you can accomplish this in the Home edition by booting the PC in safety mode.  There is a possibility that there will some minor compatibilty problems.  The differences are explained here:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

I'd be inclined to wipe your hard drive (take the format option) and start again from scratch.  Your main problem is that you need to register your copy of Windows XP so that it's WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) Tool accepts that you have a legitimate copy of Windows.  That way you will be entitled to all the updates - which includes IE7, firewall and the anti-spyware software.  If you don't reinstall from scratch you may not get that option to register your copy of Windows.  Having said that there is a Activate Windows option on:
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools.

It's a bit of a pain having to reinstall all your other applications (programs) and files and hardware (printer, scanner etc).  If you have everything backed up its probably the best option.

downside

PS don't forget to backup your email.

[Willow5]

I did as Newfy said first and used the files transfer wizard, which saved all my desktop settings, Email, favourites ect on to my external hard drive. when I put windows on it formated everything so I have had to spend most of the day putting all the programmes back on - takes ages you dont realise what you have on. When I transferred all the files back via the wizard everything worked great!! The only problem was I only transferred my desktop and not my husbands !! so he lost everything  which didnt please him very much. so a warning if anybody else is thinking of re installing windows make sure you transfer all the users 

[Necromancer]

whoops !