Can I upgrade my license without reinstalling?

[metalmackey]

Hi guys,

My PC has an OEM XP Pro installed (was pre-installed) and I want to upgrade to a retail license so I can use Vista retail upgrade. I have a retail XP Pro CD, is there any way of using the retail license without reinstalling windows?

Thanks

 

[The_blue]

install over the top using repair?

 

[metalmackey]

install over the top using repair?

Don't think that will work because the OEM cd is SP2 and the retail is a SP1 cd

 

[Mr.Clark]

Don't know... a repair installation should work (although you'll end up with a service pack 1 version of Windows). It'll ask for the product key and THAT will tell it that it's Retail not OEM.

Then you'll need to patch it back to SP2 (so save a copy on the hard drive or burn it to CD) and reactivate.

Probably.

 

[gumbald]

Slipstream SP2 into the retail CD?

 

[Dureth]

Not sure but this might work, it allows you to change the product key, which is all that tells anyone if its OEM or retail.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328874

EDIT: Oops this doesn't work on OEM, just volume.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Not that I know of. But then why would you want to?

Microsoft strongly advise that you reinstall when upgrading to Vista, when you do this it'll ask for a qualifying product CD, just put in the retail version and you'll be fine.

Burnsy

 

[metalmackey]

Not that I know of. But then why would you want to?

Microsoft strongly advise that you reinstall when upgrading to Vista, when you do this it'll ask for a qualifying product CD, just put in the retail version and you'll be fine.

Burnsy

It says on theese forims that you need xp installed and Vista doesm't ask for the CD, so that won't work either.

 

[Burnsy2023]

It says on theese forims that you need xp installed and Vista doesm't ask for the CD, so that won't work either.

Yeah, I know, that took me a bit by surprise.

Burnsy