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Windows XP: Can I upgrade from pirated to legit Windows XP Pro?
Can I upgrade from pirated to legit Windows XP Pro?
by randymyers - 12/3/03 12:20 PMHi - In Nov. 2001, I bought an HP Pavilion pre-installed with Windows XP. Shortly thereafter, my son, who builds and plays with computers the way some kids play with cars, offered to put his copy of Windows XP Pro on my machine to make it easier to network our computers (as I recall). Anyway ... it turns out this is a pirated version of XP Pro. I would like to buy a legitimate version and install it on my computer. I have two questions:
1) Do I need to buy the full version, or can I use the cheaper upgrade version?
2) Any pitfalls to watch out for? I'm hoping that I can just stick the CD in my computer and it will install flawlessly over the existing version. Is that hoping too much? For example, I get automatic notification when Windows updates are available and routinely install them. Will this present tricky questions for me, like whether or not to overwrite the newer files during install?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Sign me,
Hope Tugo Legit
DON'T DO THIS! Just change the "key". Here's how.
by R. Proffitt
- 12/3/03 2:21 PM
In reply to: Can I upgrade from pirated to legit Windows XP Pro? by randymyers
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBN/tip6600/rh6623.htm
And as always, you never leave what you can't lose on a hard disk. Ever! No matter what they tell you, Murphy was an optimist.
Bob
If I understand you correctly ...
by randymyers - 12/3/03 2:40 PM In reply to: DON'T DO THIS! Just change the "key". Here's how. by R. Proffitt
Okay, Bob. So if I follow, you're suggesting that I buy the new version of XP Pro, but simply use that Product ID (change the key) rather than actually reinstalling Windows. Do I have that right?
If I do, would you think I need to buy the full version, or just the upgrade version?
Thanks again.
Randy
Re:If I understand you correctly ...
by R. Proffitt - 12/3/03 2:49 PM
In reply to: If I understand you correctly ... by randymyers
Your choice on the reinstall. It takes about 5 hours or more for most and the results can be a total do-over and all data gone. What more can I add?
As to the license, it depends. If you have a license to a qualifying OS and the CD's to reinstall the old OS, then the upgrade is cheaper.
Bob
Additional Option
by brian1951 - 5/13/06 10:53 PM In reply to: Re:If I understand you correctly ... by R. Proffitt
As an alternative, if you already have the install CD that your son used to put the OS on your machine...to make it legit you can simply buy the key and license from places like Software Surpluss or Trust Price.com to name a few.
Since you asked, just what I have had happen
by lacsr - 5/14/06 5:04 AM In reply to: Additional Option by brian1951You really need to know which OS your son used in the first place. I have found that an Upgrade version will NOT accept a full version key. This was with WindowsXP Home edition. I had reinstalled the OS on a machine I was working on. The version key the owner had was an Upgrade key. I had used the disk from a full version for the install and the key was not accepted for activation. I had to wipe that install and then redo it with the upgrade disk and then the key was accepted. I have not used Windows XP Pro upgade but would assume it to be similar.
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