Reinstalling over current XP (pro)

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Guest

A friend of mine gave me a hard drive about 3 years ago that already had
WinXP on it already. I never really thought about it much until just recently.
I still currently do not have SP2, and when I try to install it, it says
Invalid key code or something along those lines.
I have been working with this harddrive for a while now, adding all kinds of
programs. I do not want to start all over with it. I have my own WinXP CD
collecting dust.
Is there a way to install this copy and overwrite the product key code with
the currently unused one?; or do I have basically have to start all over and
wipe the the HDD?
Any/all info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
 
If you are getting the following error message when attempting to update:

Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326904&Product=winxp

You'll have to purchase a new "Full Version" of Windows XP Professional
and perform a "Repair Install" using the new Windows XP Pro CD and Product Key
that comes with it. (You cannot simply change the Product Key)

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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"sglanton" wrote:

|A friend of mine gave me a hard drive about 3 years ago that already had
| WinXP on it already. I never really thought about it much until just recently.
| I still currently do not have SP2, and when I try to install it, it says
| Invalid key code or something along those lines.
| I have been working with this harddrive for a while now, adding all kinds of
| programs. I do not want to start all over with it. I have my own WinXP CD
| collecting dust.
| Is there a way to install this copy and overwrite the product key code with
| the currently unused one?; or do I have basically have to start all over and
| wipe the the HDD?
| Any/all info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
 
I do have a 'fresh' copy of WinXP, just never used it... bought a few weeks
ago from Mwave.com as a back up, since I never did have a copy (its beyond me
how I lasted this long without one in all honesty).
So if repairing will 'overwrite' the product key, without losing all my
files/programs, then that is exactly what I needed..
Thanks to the both of you who responded.
/R
 
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