Formatting HD with Upgrade XP Pro version installed 1

[nereides]

Hi,
If after installing the XP Pro version over WinMe one needs to format the HD,and re-configure XP, then what step-by-step procedure should one take ?

1. The XP does not require a floppy to boot the PC. Then, if the HD is formatted then should one remove the XP CDROM and then insert the WinMe, install WinMe and then the XP Pro Upgrade?

2. If so, what happens to the 'Activation' process which had already generated a code ('Confirmation ID')for the PC in question?

3. Does one re-use the same 'Confirmation ID' on the same PC?

Best regards,
Nereides

3. Nereides

 

[ie6user]

Hi,

Assuming you have a normal retail WinME CD, it should be accepted as an upgrade-verification source; so you'd just boot from the Windows XP CD, delete the partitions and create one or more new partitions, and have XP install there... At some point in the install progress the XP setup software _should_ ask for a qualifying product... at that time you should insert the WinME CD, as a proof...

(mind you - this is the theory, I have never done this, we don't use upgrade versions).

As for the Activation: if you don't change any other hardware in your PC, you should be able to automagically activate other the internet again [only 1 change] (or over the phone, explaining the situation), BUT: if it's the same machine you just could backup your %SystemRoot%\System32\WPA.DBL file, and after the reinstall copy that back.. at that point it should still be valid for this machine, and you'd be activated...

(the WPA copy and restore process on the same machine works for sure, we've done that multiple times...)

* Good luck...

* john ---
saybibi();
//john
#include <stddiscl.h>

 

[shokan]

Here is a site that explains the process. 4B is the upgrade method:

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