Illegal copy of XP

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 11:01

Hi,

I have a HDD with an illegal copy of XP Pro installed.

Is it possible to install a legal copy of XP Home on the same HDD?

If so, could it be a replacement, or would it be dual boot?

Is there a way to completely remove the illegal copy?

Stu.

Avathar77 · 8 May 2012 at 11:04

Do a clean install.

CaptainCrash · 8 May 2012 at 11:04

stuart churchil said:
Is there a way to completely remove the illegal copy?

I guess the obvious answer and best solution is to back up your user data, format and reinstall, unless there's some reason you can't...

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 11:09

Sorry guys, I should have said that I'm a bit of a newbie. I can back up the HDD to an external HDD, but I don't know how to format it. Would I have to do this to do a clean install?

"andy" · 8 May 2012 at 11:31

when you boot for it the install disk will give you an option to format the drive

backup all your stuff to an external then unplug to make sure you dont accidentally format it. then put the XP cd in and boot from it

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 13:39

"andy" said:
when you boot for it the install disk will give you an option to format the drive

backup all your stuff to an external then unplug to make sure you dont accidentally format it. then put the XP cd in and boot from it

Does it make any difference that XP Pro is installed and I have XP Home to replace it?

lurkio · 8 May 2012 at 13:47

On the COA sticker (windows license sticker on bottom/side of machine)
Which version of windows does it say ?

Which ever one it says is the one you are allowed to install

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 14:08

OK, thanks. It's XP Pro.

francky · 8 May 2012 at 14:17

There is no such thing as an illegal copy in terms of the files installed on the HDD, more that you are using a license that has not been paid for..thus "illegal" or pirated - just change the CD Key to a legal one and keep the OS installed.

Details on how to:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ht/changexpkey.htm

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 14:35

francky said:
There is no such thing as an illegal copy in terms of the files installed on the HDD, more that you are using a license that has not been paid for..thus "illegal" or pirated - just change the CD Key to a legal one and keep the OS installed.

Details on how to:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ht/changexpkey.htm

But will an XP Home key work for XP Pro?

francky · 8 May 2012 at 14:45

Yes I believe so....once you de-activate your XP and then re-activate it with XP home key, the features of Pro will be disabled.

lurkio · 8 May 2012 at 15:22

most likely it will not accept the key

Win7 on the other hand will work like that , change key , features disabled etc

stuart churchil · 8 May 2012 at 15:33

I don't have W7, just XP Home.

Burnsy2023 · 8 May 2012 at 15:36

francky said:
Yes I believe so....once you de-activate your XP and then re-activate it with XP home key, the features of Pro will be disabled.

You cannot "deactivate" Windows. Also they keys are not interchangeable between versions.

paullewis323 · 9 May 2012 at 10:44

True

XP Home and XP Pro have different keys and are not interchangeable

Best way os to do a fresh install of XP Pro dude

Lew

stuart churchil · 9 May 2012 at 11:16

paullewis323 said:
True

XP Home and XP Pro have different keys and are not interchangeable

Best way os to do a fresh install of XP Pro dude

Lew

Do you mean XP Home?

lurkio · 9 May 2012 at 18:50

Oh god how do I make this any clearer ...

the windows sticker with the KEY on it ... you say it says Xp Pro

Guess which version you are allowed to install ? ( I will give a hint)

Xp Home

or

Xp Pro