Re: Activation Question

From: Tim (Tim_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 06/14/04 

Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 18:52:01 -0700

This is very helpful. Here is an important question - do I need to purchase the FULL retail package or can I purchase the UPGRADE retail package.

And actually ... will the procedure you just listed work with the Full version OEM CD that I have (ie the repair procedure)?? Do you think that would work?

Thanks again.

"D.Currie" wrote:

> It sounds like you bought an OEM version which will only do a clean install.
> Maybe. Unless you're going about it in an odd way or there was a problem
> with the original install.
>
> If you bought the full retail, it should do the repair install over what
> you've got now, which will change the key. If you've got the same version
> installed as you're trying to install now, it's not going to let you choose
> "upgrade" as it's the same, not a newer or "higher" version.
>
> What you want to do is boot from the cd (don;t run it from within Windows),
> skip the first choice to do a repair, choose the second time it asks about
> doing a repair install, and it will fix your problem.
>
> "Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CD34BA22-51FF-4813-816B-053C5CE625C7@microsoft.com...
> > No I actually purchased the full version, not the upgrade version. Again,
> it is *not* letting me choose "Upgrade(Recommended)" in the drop-down list
> when I start the installation. In other words, what I am saying is that the
> additional copy of XP that I purchased will *only* do a Full Install and not
> an Upgrade. What I am asking is, is there a way around this? Or better
> yet, will it hurt anything to go ahead and do a Full Install (ie, will it
> hurt my software to do a Full Install?) Is there a way to 'tell' Windows
> that I have a legitimate second copy of Windows XP Pro now without actually
> reinstalling it? Thanks again for your help.
> >
> > "Doug Knox MS-MVP" wrote:
> >
> > > No, Windows Product Activation for XP enforces the EULA. One license,
> one machine.
> > >
> > > You will need to purchase another copy of XP Pro for the second
> computer, and you obviously purchased the upgrade version, so no, it won't
> do a clean install.
> > >
> > >
> http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/product.aspx?view=22&type=ovr&pcid=2abf99cd-a5e4-469c-802e-55ca8ec542d5
> > >
> > > Click the link above and look in the right pane for instructions on how
> to purchase an additional license. However, the discount is not that
> substantial. You can probably find an upgrade version, retail box with CD
> for the same price.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
> > > Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
> > > http://www.dougknox.com
> > > --------------------------------
> > > Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
> > > http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
> > > --------------------------------
> > > Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
> > > Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
> > >
> > > "Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C0E50557-6AD0-4A69-A3E6-9E89F48C5DE6@microsoft.com...
> > > > Hello,
> > > > I have an activation question. I have a PC and laptop, each that came
> with Windows XP Home. I purchased XP Pro and upgraded the laptop. I was
> told that it worked like Office XP Pro and that you could install it on both
> a PC and laptop, and I installed the same copy of XP Pro on the PC. Well,
> obviously I was unable to activate this copy, because, as I found out by
> researching it after the fact, Windows XP Pro DOESN'T let you install a copy
> on both a PC and laptop. So now I have an un-activated copy of Windows XP
> Pro on my PC that is counting down the days. I bought another Windows XP
> Pro CD, and when I began the installation, it says that it CANNOT UPGRADE
> Windows, that it HAS to install a CLEAN copy of Windows. I guess it can
> upgrade Home Edition to Pro, but it can't upgrade an already-installed copy
> of Pro to another copy of Pro. Anyway -- is there an easy way around this?
> Will installing a clean copy in the same directory as my current copy of
> Windows mess up my software? Is there a registry key where I can enter the
> new product key and then re-activate? Is that possible? I want to avoid
> formatting the hard drive and starting over right now because I just don't
> have the time to do that. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
> > >
>
>
>

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