Regarding installing one XP OS over another XP installation

[J421]

Any techies familiar with what would happen if I installed a different Win XP Pro over an existing Win XP pro installation. do want to keep the registry entries for the existing programs applications.

I have a legal CD of XP pro, (not for resale) that I was sent in exchange for beta testing Win XP, through the beta stages, years ago. It has the product key on the CD.
The changes in hardware in the box is presently forcing the existing installation of Win XP to continue to need reactivation, or shutdown, or whatever, and I do not still have the original CD or documentation that accompanies it for reinstallation of the now SP3 stage of the original CD.

I would do a wipe and clean install, but I would loose programs for which I do not have the ability to reinstall manually.

My wish is to either install the Win XP pro that was sent to me by Microsoft, without messing up the existing programs and settings in the existing XP installation -- or have MS somehow apply my other, unused, product key to the XP installation that is presently on the computer.

Thoughts ?

 

[theAnimal]

Call them to reactivate and explain your situation.

Or slipstream your CD with SP3 and do a repair install.

 

[J421]

The "repair install" (with the slipstreamed SP3) will functionally bring about the new CD installation as being the installation that continues as THE "installation" on this computer ?

 

[theAnimal]

Yes.