wondering which version of XP I have installed?

[p2pdude]

Is there a way to tell if I've got an upgrade version of XP home
installed, or if it's the full retail version? I've misplaced the original
CD, but I've got my product key written down. If I ever need to format and
reinstall, I'd need to know which version of xp home, either upgrade or
retail I'd need to get to ensure I could install using my product key that
I already have.
Somewhat related, I'm quite happy with my XP system, and don't wish to be
forced to upgrade to Vista. I'm assuming that once MS no longer wants to
support XP, that if you need to reinstall it after that time, it'll only
run for 30 days at a time before you'd need to reformat and reinstall,
since you can only activate from the microsoft site? I will say, that I see
no point in activation, since you can't make changes such as adding ram
without needing to reactivate, and once the OS is no longer supported, you
can't use it even if you want to! I'm hoping I'm wrong about this, but I'm
doubting it. thanks for any responses.

 

[Rock]

Is there a way to tell if I've got an upgrade version of XP home
installed, or if it's the full retail version? I've misplaced the original
CD, but I've got my product key written down. If I ever need to format and
reinstall, I'd need to know which version of xp home, either upgrade or
retail I'd need to get to ensure I could install using my product key that
I already have.
Somewhat related, I'm quite happy with my XP system, and don't wish to be
forced to upgrade to Vista. I'm assuming that once MS no longer wants to
support XP, that if you need to reinstall it after that time, it'll only
run for 30 days at a time before you'd need to reformat and reinstall,
since you can only activate from the microsoft site? I will say, that I
see
no point in activation, since you can't make changes such as adding ram
without needing to reactivate, and once the OS is no longer supported, you
can't use it even if you want to! I'm hoping I'm wrong about this, but I'm
doubting it. thanks for any responses.

As to your second question, where exactly are you getting your information
or forming your beliefs? Even after XP is no longer available for purchase,
it can still be activated. Also MS has said that if for some reason they
will no longer support activation for XP, they will issue a patch removing
the need for activation. So the ability to use XP has nothing to do with
Vista's release.

As to your statement that you see no point in activation since you can't
make changes such as adding ram without needing to activate, I don't
understand that at all. Activation, if it hasn't been needed in the last
120 days, goes through on the internet automatically. If less than 120 days
it would take a phone call. And not every hardware change to the system
triggers the need to activate. Here is a link to an article about
activation and the effect of hardware changes.

By the way an upgrade version of XP is still retail. There are two retail
versions of XP, full and upgrade. Upgrades are only retail. There is no
OEM upgrade version. The full version comes in retail and OEM forms.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

 

[Nepatsfan]

Is there a way to tell if I've got an upgrade version of XP
home installed, or if it's the full retail version? I've
misplaced the original CD, but I've got my product key
written down. If I ever need to format and reinstall, I'd
need to know which version of xp home, either upgrade or
retail I'd need to get to ensure I could install using my
product key that I already have.
Somewhat related, I'm quite happy with my XP system, and
don't wish to be forced to upgrade to Vista. I'm assuming
that once MS no longer wants to support XP, that if you need
to reinstall it after that time, it'll only run for 30 days
at a time before you'd need to reformat and reinstall, since
you can only activate from the microsoft site? I will say,
that I see no point in activation, since you can't make
changes such as adding ram without needing to reactivate,
and once the OS is no longer supported, you can't use it
even if you want to! I'm hoping I'm wrong about this, but
I'm doubting it. thanks for any responses.

Go to Control Panel and double click the System icon.
On the General page, you'll see the Product ID number.
The product ID should be all numbers when a retail CD is used.
A product ID starting with 55285 indicates an XP Home Upgrade
CD was used.
If it starts with 55277, a full version CD was used.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Dominique]

By the way an upgrade version of XP is still retail. There are two
retail versions of XP, full and upgrade. Upgrades are only retail.
There is no OEM upgrade version. The full version comes in retail and
OEM forms.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

If I may add, upgrades are "full versions" with the difference that you
must insert a Win98 or WinME OEM or Retail CD (in the case of XP Home) when
the XP installation program ask to validate your right to upgrade when you
do a clean install.

Happy new year
Dominique

 

[Rock]

If I may add, upgrades are "full versions" with the difference that you
must insert a Win98 or WinME OEM or Retail CD (in the case of XP Home)
when
the XP installation program ask to validate your right to upgrade when you
do a clean install.

Happy new year
Dominique

For retail versions, one is the upgrade, the other is the full version.
They both can do a clean install or an upgrade, but the upgrade version
needs proof of qualifying media. Hence the full version, which doesn't need
this proof, is called well..the full version. They both get you to the same
place in terms of functionality, so in that sense the upgrade is just as
full of it as the full version. ;-)

 

[p2pdude]

Go to Control Panel and double click the System icon.
On the General page, you'll see the Product ID number.
The product ID should be all numbers when a retail CD is used.
A product ID starting with 55285 indicates an XP Home Upgrade
CD was used.
If it starts with 55277, a full version CD was used.

Thanks for that tip. I now know that an XP home upgrade CD was used in my
case. My concern was that I could only use my existing product key for the
same type of CD, but from what I've read I could reinstall if needed using
any XP home disc I may have handy be it upgrade with a qualifying upgrade
media, or XP full version disc. thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Go to Control Panel and double click the System icon.
On the General page, you'll see the Product ID number.
The product ID should be all numbers when a retail CD is
used.
A product ID starting with 55285 indicates an XP Home Upgrade
CD was used.
If it starts with 55277, a full version CD was used.

Thanks for that tip. I now know that an XP home upgrade CD
was used in my case. My concern was that I could only use my
existing product key for the same type of CD, but from what
I've read I could reinstall if needed using any XP home disc
I may have handy be it upgrade with a qualifying upgrade
media, or XP full version disc. thanks for everyone's help.

Just so we're clear on one thing, you can't use just any XP CD.
The CD key used to install Windows XP Home Edition on your
computer will only work with an Upgrade CD. A full version CD
won't work.

If you're not sure what the CD key is, download and run this
utility.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.51
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml
Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If I may add, upgrades are "full versions" with the difference that
you must insert a Win98 or WinME OEM or Retail CD (in the case of XP
Home) when the XP installation program ask to validate your right to
upgrade when you do a clean install.

Although I understand what you mean, and you are correct, I think calling an
Upgrade version a "Full" version is very misleading and very likely to
confuse people. It's best to stick with Microsoft's terminology.

A retail copy of Windows XP comes as either a Full version or an Upgrade
version. Both the Full and the Upgrade version can do either a clean
installation or an upgrade installation.

The difference between the two is that in order to use the Upgrade version,
you need to own a previous qualifying version of Windows (and that's why
it's called the "Upgrade" version). That previous qualifying version can be
installed (if you are doing an upgrade installation), but does not have to
be (as you point out), but if it isn't (because you are doing a clean
installation) you need to show it the CD as proof of ownership when prompted
to do so.

 

[Rock]

Go to Control Panel and double click the System icon.
On the General page, you'll see the Product ID number.
The product ID should be all numbers when a retail CD is used.
A product ID starting with 55285 indicates an XP Home Upgrade
CD was used.
If it starts with 55277, a full version CD was used.

Thanks for that tip. I now know that an XP home upgrade CD was used in my
case. My concern was that I could only use my existing product key for the
same type of CD, but from what I've read I could reinstall if needed using
any XP home disc I may have handy be it upgrade with a qualifying upgrade
media, or XP full version disc. thanks for everyone's help.

The license key has to match the type of CD. A key for an upgrade version
of XP Home will only work with an upgrade version CD, not a full version CD.
They have to match with respect to:
Home v. Pro
Upgrade v. Full
OEM v Retail v. Volume license version
Language