XP Pro Upgrade or Full Version

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I had some problems with viruses & worms a while back and my system seems
totally thrashed. I talked to a few people locally who know their stuff and
they suggested I re-install my operating system, but I din't get the disk
with the computer. (Great Deal! yeah right) Anyway, i'm thinking of going to
to XP Pro and want to know if I need the upgrade or the full version. I
think my registry has quite a few errors and missing fragments. I'd like my
machine to run like it used to. Any help is appreciated.
 
You'll need a "Full Version" of Windows XP unless
you possess an old Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000 CD
and that older Windows operating system is no longer installed.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I had some problems with viruses & worms a while back and my system seems
| totally thrashed. I talked to a few people locally who know their stuff and
| they suggested I re-install my operating system, but I din't get the disk
| with the computer. (Great Deal! yeah right) Anyway, i'm thinking of going to
| to XP Pro and want to know if I need the upgrade or the full version. I
| think my registry has quite a few errors and missing fragments. I'd like my
| machine to run like it used to. Any help is appreciated.
 
Mike said:
I had some problems with viruses & worms a while back and my system seems
totally thrashed. I talked to a few people locally who know their stuff and
they suggested I re-install my operating system, but I din't get the disk
with the computer. (Great Deal! yeah right) Anyway, i'm thinking of going to
to XP Pro and want to know if I need the upgrade or the full version. I
think my registry has quite a few errors and missing fragments. I'd like my
machine to run like it used to. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

If you have an installed version of Windows on your computer (other
than Windows 95) you can use the Retail Upgrade version of Windows XP
Pro.

Boot the computer with the XP Pro installation CD and choose either
the option to install a clean copy of XP, deleting the existing
installed Windows, or to upgrade your existing Windows. You might
try the upgrade route first and if that fails then do the clean
install route.

If you want to preserve your existing data and configuration settings
you can use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the XP
installation CD to save this data to a removable disk (e.g. CDRW), a
network drive, or some other removable backup device. See the article
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
 
Not quite true. Let me explain.
If you currently have an installation of Windows 9x/ME/NT 4.x/2k/XP Home on
the HD on which you plan to install XP Pro, it is possible to use the Retail
Upgrade CD to do a clean install of XP Professional. Personally, I would
rather pay a $100 less for my OS.

I used FULL OEM copies until Microsoft changed the OEM EULA in mid-stride.
I recently purchased a Retail Upgrade copy of XP Pro, and was completely
surprised when I was never asked for proof of Qualifying Media during the
install process. I'm sure that I would have been asked for proof of
Qualifying Media if I had used a third-party tool or fdisk/format to
partition and format my HD before installing XP, so DON"T DO IT if you don't
have Qualifying Media laying around somewhere accessible.

I did delete all partitions (including the one holding my OEM XP Pro) during
the Install process. So the conditions for Qualifying Media were met.
 
In
Mike said:
I had some problems with viruses & worms a while back and my
system
seems totally thrashed. I talked to a few people locally who
know
their stuff and they suggested I re-install my operating
system, but
I din't get the disk with the computer. (Great Deal! yeah
right)
Click to expand...


You didn't say what operating system you're currently running. Is
it XP Home?

Anyway, i'm thinking of going to to XP Pro
Click to expand...


Why? If you currently have XP Home, let me explain that XP
Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all respects,
except that Professional has a few features (mostly related to
networking and security) missing from Home. For most (but not
all) home users, even those with a home network, these features
aren't needed, would never be used, and buying Professional
instead of Home is a waste of money.

and want to know if I need
the upgrade or the full version.
Click to expand...


To use the Ugrade version, you have to own a previous qualifying
version, and either have it installed or, if you want to do a
clean installation of XP, have the installation CD for that
previous version. If the previous version is not installed,
you'll be prompted to insert the CD as proof of ownership.

With a Full version, you can do either an upgrade or a clean
installation, without restriction.

But be aware that there's a third type available, an OEM version,
which can do clean installations only and not upgrades. Many
people confuse those OEM versions (which come with restrictions)
with the Full version.

If you do buy XP Professional, the cheapest alternative may be to
buy the Upgrade version, and if necessary also a used copy of
Windows 98 to qualify for the upgrade.

When you say you "didn't get the disk with the computer," the OEM
you brought it from was required to give you a means of
reinstalling Windows, if necessary. Sometimes that's a hidden
partition on your hard drive, with the installation files there.
Before you buy anything, you should check with your vendor to
find out how to reinstall. No purchase may be necessary.

I think my registry has quite a few
errors and missing fragments. I'd like my machine to run like
it
used to. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...


Over and above all that, before you reinstall, if I were you, I'd
post the details of your problems here and give us the
opportunity to troubleshoot it. Despite the opinions of the "few
people locally who know their stuff," a reinstallation may not be
necessary.
 
I did delete all partitions (including the one holding my OEM XP Pro) during
the Install process. So the conditions for Qualifying Media were met.
Click to expand...

When starting the install from the older version of Windows, even if
deleting that partition for a clean install, what you've recounted is how
setup will progress. On the other hand, when starting setup by booting with
the XP CD - I've always had to show the required "proof" by inserting the
CD for the older operating system.

I think that I just said what you said but with different words? :)
 
Hi Mike
i just wanted to know what system you were using because xp home is just as
good as xp pro. I had both and have stayed with xp home edition.

If it was pre installed in which most are:
You can easily restore your computer back to factory settings and start all
over either keeping all your existing files or a complete and utter restore
so nothing is saved.
it is not necessary to upgrade if you just want your system running the way
that it use to i would just restore back to factory settings - easier and a
hell of a lot cheaper!!
its up to you though your the one with the computer
best of luck :)

Xp
 
In
Donald L McDaniel said:
Not quite true. Let me explain.
If you currently have an installation of Windows 9x/ME/NT 4.x/2k/XP
Home on the HD on which you plan to install XP Pro, it is possible to
use the Retail Upgrade CD to do a clean install of XP Professional.
Personally, I would rather pay a $100 less for my OS.

I used FULL OEM copies until Microsoft changed the OEM EULA in
mid-stride. I recently purchased a Retail Upgrade copy of XP Pro, and
was completely surprised when I was never asked for proof of
Qualifying Media during the install process. I'm sure that I would
have been asked for proof of Qualifying Media if I had used a
third-party tool or fdisk/format to partition and format my HD before
installing XP, so DON"T DO IT if you don't have Qualifying Media
laying around somewhere accessible.
I did delete all partitions (including the one holding my OEM XP Pro)
during the Install process. So the conditions for Qualifying Media
were met.
Click to expand...

What do you plan to do if you need to clean install again or have a
catastrophic hard disk failure? The OP says they did not get any restore
media, so they would be out of luck if they didn't have a qualifying Windows
CD.


--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Michael said:
In

What do you plan to do if you need to clean install again or have a
catastrophic hard disk failure? The OP says they did not get any
restore media, so they would be out of luck if they didn't have a
qualifying Windows CD.
Click to expand...

If I plan to reinstall again, I would keep my old installation of XP on the
HD, then boot with the XP CD. At the start of the Setup program, it will
search my HD, and find the current installation of XP. This is how I used
my recently purchased XP Retail Upgrade CD. I was never asked for
qualifying media. I WAS asked for qualifying media the one time I
partitioned and formatted from DOS before beginning the Setup program.

However, I would not purchase a Retail Upgrade CD UNLESS I had qualifying
media, either my HD, or a previous version of Windows. I think I have been
quite clear about this in my previous post. In fact, I PLAINLY STATED, with
EMPHASIS "DONT DO IT if you dont have qualifying media.". I have purchased
every iteration of Windows since 3.1, so I have plenty of qualifying media
stored in a safe place.

In the case of those who have NO qualifying media, I advise going whole-hog,
and purchasing a so-called "Full Retail" of XP. It will be $130 or more
than the Retail Upgrade, or $200 more than a so-called "Full OEM".

I used to advise purchasing Full OEM copies of XP because of their
cheapness. However, I no longer do, because of Microsoft's recent disavowal
of our OEM EULA. I wouldn't want someone to shell out $130+ for a Full OEM
of XP Pro, and not be able to activate their OS because of not being able to
convince an Activation person that they had a legitimate copy of XP. Also,
so many Full OEMs are pulls nowadays, they would not get a legitimate
license to XP.
 
Sharon said:
When starting the install from the older version of Windows, even if
deleting that partition for a clean install, what you've recounted is
how setup will progress. On the other hand, when starting setup by
booting with the XP CD - I've always had to show the required "proof"
by inserting the CD for the older operating system.

I think that I just said what you said but with different words? :)
Click to expand...

Nope, we did not say the same thing. In fact, I was pretty clear on the
fact that I booted with the XP CD, yet was never asked for qualifying media.
IF you have ever watched the install process, the first words you will see
on the screen are to the effect of "Searching your HDs for previous
installations of Windows".

If you have previous installation of XP on your HD when you start setup by
booting from your XP CD, the Setup program will find your existing
installtion of Windows, and set a flag which says "you have qualifying
media."

Maybe my install was a fluke, but I re-installed twice in a week, and was
NEVER asked for qualifying media. Both times, I booted my machine using the
XP CD.

In fact I ALWAYS install XP cleanly, after booting the machine using the XP
CD.
 
Michael said:
In

What do you plan to do if you need to clean install again or have a
catastrophic hard disk failure? The OP says they did not get any
restore media, so they would be out of luck if they didn't have a
qualifying Windows CD.
Click to expand...

You Microsoft Apologists are just too much. When I advised people to
purchase Full OEM CDs, you found fault with me. Now that I no longer advise
purchasing Full OEMs, and instead advise purchasing Retail Upgrade CDs, you
find fault with me. I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. It's all so
CONFUSING!!!.

You guys are totally weird!
 
Donald L McDaniel said:
Not quite true. Let me explain.
If you currently have an installation of Windows 9x/ME/NT 4.x/2k/XP Home
on the HD on which you plan to install XP Pro, it is possible to use the
Retail Upgrade CD to do a clean install of XP Professional. Personally,
I would rather pay a $100 less for my OS.
Click to expand...
....
Yeah, but ... if he doesn't have a qualifying product, and the qualifying
software only exists on his hard drive, what's he going to do in the future?
He'll be stuck, unable to do repair installs or a reinstall, or even a
reinstall in place.
IMO, not good advice without clearly mentioning the caveats.

Pop
 
In
Donald L McDaniel said:
You Microsoft Apologists are just too much. When I advised people to
purchase Full OEM CDs, you found fault with me. Now that I no longer
advise purchasing Full OEMs, and instead advise purchasing Retail
Upgrade CDs, you find fault with me. I'm damned if I do, and damned
if I don't. It's all so CONFUSING!!!. can't

You guys are totally weird!
Click to expand...

What is weird about giving all the facts? If they don't have qualifying
media, not restore partitions on the hard drive, it is not the best advice
to purchase the upgrade. If they have no qualifier, they can't use the
upgrade CD. If they have restore disks or a qualifying Windows CD, then the
upgrade is good.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Please excuse my ignorance, but could you borrow a XP disk, perform a
clean install and register it under your existing XP registration
code?

My brother's pc is dying and using the recovery disk doesn't work, I
suspect either virus of hard disk malfunction, and it seems wrong to
purchase another version of XP when you've already purchased it with
the PC.
 
If his copy came preloaded then it would be an OEM version and would be
tied to that machine so if it dies then the licence goes with it, that
is why they are much cheaper than a full retail copy.
Joan
 
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