Maharlika said:
I would like to install a licensed Windows XP Professional on my client's PC
which is installed with an unlicensed Windows XP Professional.
If i do this, would all her files and programs be affected?
If yes, how will i preserve them?
If the licensed XP Pro is for the exact same version (OEM, Volume
License, Retail Upgrade, Retail Full Install, etc) as the installed
pirated copy then it could be as simple as just changing the product
key using a utility such as Magic Jelly Bean key finder:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
If the version is not identical then you will probably have to do a
Repair Install as per the instructions at
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
A Repair Install will preserve the installed applications, user data
files, and configuration settings. However Windows Updates will have
to be reinstalled.
Before doing a Repair Install you should do a backup of at least the
important items on the computer. The best way of doing this would be
to make a backup image of the entire hard drive using a disk imaging
program such as Norton Ghost (Symantec), True Image (Acronis) or
BootItNG (
www.bootitng.com). That would require that you have another
hard drive or a network drive available to store the backup image on.
Another option is to use the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard (in
Accessories - System Tools) and save the backup file created to
another hard drive partition, a network drive, or a removable backup
device such as a CD or DVD burner. See the article on using the Files
And Settings Transfer Wizard by MVP Gary Woodruff at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm
Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm