Reinstall XP without losing software and settings

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
I have an unactivated version of XP pro on my pc.. I still have about 3 wks prior to activation lockout, but for various reasons, I cant activate this version.. Instead, Im buying an OEM or Retail version of XP to install.

But my problem is, Ive spent hundreds of hours installing, setting up, and configuring things exactly as I like them, and its running better than any PC Ive ever had.. this is the result of the first pc build Ive ever assembled from components Ive sourced from Newegg, and I couldnt be happier with it since I completed the build a week ago. But, if reinstalling XP over my current XP installation means I will have to reinstall, resetup, and reconfigure everything all over again, well, it almost tempts me to implement a cracked version just so I dont have to go through it, and risk screwing it up. And, I really Dont want to do this.

So, I need to find out from some of you computer geniuses, is it possible for me to reinstall XP over my current unactivated version, in such a way that my settings, software installations, data, pics, lan settings, etc, etc, etc (you get the picture) arent trashed, and when Im done with the reinstall, my pc is setup just like it is now, and I can then activate with impunity.

Thanks much..
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: John
1) Why spend "hundreds of hours" configuring XP when you haven't activated? It sounds like you're using a corp copy or something that doesn't belong to you.

2) http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx

3) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin...pandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Some people just cant resist making judgemental, but incorrect statements before they give their advise, can they! Why ask why I spent hundreds of hours configuring xp.. That wasnt the subject of the thread was it? The subject was how to do a non destructive reinstall, Period! But you had to get your dig in didnt you. There is a very good reason I did what I did, and none of it has the least to do with pilferage. So, try again.. you lose this round... bTW, there appears to be a very useful little utility called 'magic jelly bean', which is a key finder/reset utility. I think that will do the trick nicely. When I purchase my copy, all I need to do is, instead of installing the new one, just keep the one thats on my pc, but change the key number to that on the new cd package.. problem solved, I think..
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
You can do a repair install of XP and it will save all of your settings.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
Originally posted by: boostm3
Originally posted by: John
1) Why spend "hundreds of hours" configuring XP when you haven't activated? It sounds like you're using a corp copy or something that doesn't belong to you.

2) http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx

3) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin...pandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Some people just cant resist making judgemental, but incorrect statements before they give their advise, can they! Why ask why I spent hundreds of hours configuring xp.. That wasnt the subject of the thread was it? The subject was how to do a non destructive reinstall, Period! But you had to get your dig in didnt you. There is a very good reason I did what I did, and none of it has the least to do with pilferage. So, try again.. you lose this round... bTW, there appears to be a very useful little utility called 'magic jelly bean', which is a key finder/reset utility. I think that will do the trick nicely. When I purchase my copy, all I need to do is, instead of installing the new one, just keep the one thats on my pc, but change the key number to that on the new cd package.. problem solved, I think..

Junior, last time I checked you get 30 days to activate windows on a fresh install. So you're telling me that you spent 100+ out of 168 hours in a week to customize your install? :p

I was kind enough to link you to official "fixes" for your problem since jellybean doesn't always work, expecially if your version of XP doesn't match what you have installed. So before you go off on a rampage please click and read instead of being a jackass. Having 2 posts and going off on a tirade will get you nowhere.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
Originally posted by: Shawn
You can do a repair install of XP and it will save all of your settings.

That was #3 in my OP. ;)
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: John
Originally posted by: boostm3
Originally posted by: John
1) Why spend "hundreds of hours" configuring XP when you haven't activated? It sounds like you're using a corp copy or something that doesn't belong to you.

2) http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx

3) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin...pandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Some people just cant resist making judgemental, but incorrect statements before they give their advise, can they! Why ask why I spent hundreds of hours configuring xp.. That wasnt the subject of the thread was it? The subject was how to do a non destructive reinstall, Period! But you had to get your dig in didnt you. There is a very good reason I did what I did, and none of it has the least to do with pilferage. So, try again.. you lose this round... bTW, there appears to be a very useful little utility called 'magic jelly bean', which is a key finder/reset utility. I think that will do the trick nicely. When I purchase my copy, all I need to do is, instead of installing the new one, just keep the one thats on my pc, but change the key number to that on the new cd package.. problem solved, I think..

Junior, last time I checked you get 30 days to activate windows on a fresh install. So you're telling me that you spent 100+ out of 168 hours in a week to customize your install? :p

I was kind enough to link you to official "fixes" for your problem since jellybean doesn't always work, expecially if your version of XP doesn't match what you have installed. So before you go off on a rampage please click and read instead of being a jackass. Having 2 posts and going off on a tirade will get you nowhere.


Then, since your so 'kind' , why the judgemental approach? Would YOU like it? And whats with the Junior crap.. guarantee Im considerably older than you are, so, kindly, with all due respect, cut the crap. BTW, thanks much for the ms update tool reference.
 

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,514
5,693
136
Originally posted by: boostm3
Originally posted by: John
Originally posted by: boostm3
Originally posted by: John
1) Why spend "hundreds of hours" configuring XP when you haven't activated? It sounds like you're using a corp copy or something that doesn't belong to you.

2) http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/selfhelp/pkuinstructions.aspx

3) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin...pandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Some people just cant resist making judgemental, but incorrect statements before they give their advise, can they! Why ask why I spent hundreds of hours configuring xp.. That wasnt the subject of the thread was it? The subject was how to do a non destructive reinstall, Period! But you had to get your dig in didnt you. There is a very good reason I did what I did, and none of it has the least to do with pilferage. So, try again.. you lose this round... bTW, there appears to be a very useful little utility called 'magic jelly bean', which is a key finder/reset utility. I think that will do the trick nicely. When I purchase my copy, all I need to do is, instead of installing the new one, just keep the one thats on my pc, but change the key number to that on the new cd package.. problem solved, I think..

Junior, last time I checked you get 30 days to activate windows on a fresh install. So you're telling me that you spent 100+ out of 168 hours in a week to customize your install? :p

I was kind enough to link you to official "fixes" for your problem since jellybean doesn't always work, expecially if your version of XP doesn't match what you have installed. So before you go off on a rampage please click and read instead of being a jackass. Having 2 posts and going off on a tirade will get you nowhere.


Then, since your so 'kind' , why the judgemental approach? Would YOU like it? And whats with the Junior crap.. guarantee Im considerably older than you are, so, kindly, with all due respect, cut the crap.

Cool it. You implied that you do not have a legit license/key, which is frowned upon and in some cases, a bannable offense under certain conditions (such as promoting or condoning piracy). Also, "hundreds of hours" is certainly an exaggeration. If you're spending that much time, you've got more issues than a reinstall. I'd recommend using drive imaging software such as Acronis TrueImage when you reinstall, so that if anything happens you can just reimage your drive. Drive imaging = save time in the long run.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
Originally posted by: boostm3
Then, since your so 'kind' , why the judgemental approach? Would YOU like it? And whats with the Junior crap.. guarantee Im considerably older than you are, so, kindly, with all due respect, cut the crap. BTW, thanks much for the ms update tool reference.
you're :)

Considering the amount of people asking questions for help with pirated software, most of us don't take anything for granted. My reference to "Junior" was in regards to your forum rank. Toss in the fact that you joined today to discuss Windows XP, claim that you spent a rediculous amount of hours tweaking, then give a vague excuse as to why you can't activate......c'mon now.

I could care less how old you are, and the way you're acting right now doesn't show us very much in the way of maturity. Hopefully in the future you'll show us otherwise.





 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
For the last time, get it straight people, and learn to read.. I have 22 more days from today before my version becomes illegal... Clearly Im trying to prevent that, and thats why I started this thread.. But you folks are much more interested in protecting MS' billions, then in just answering the questions without the judgemental attitude.. and as far as a bannable offense goes, shouldnt you wait the 22 more days which I have to activate before you determine that iVe done anything wrong?!

I a few of you have rushed to judgment, so let me clarify once and for all.. My friend, currently employed in IT helped me assemble my newegg components... I hadnt decided whether to go with vista or xp, so since I had 30 days to decide, we temporarily installed his XP pro version.. So far as I know, this is entirely legit, so long as I purchased a copy before the 30 days expired... So where is the piracy? In the mean time, Ive come to realize I dont have to worry about a destructive reinstall, since all I need to do is change the key with which we did the install to a legitimately licensed one within the allotable time, and all is well.. That is my plan... So, you see, no need to condemn, cast aspersions, or in any other way, behave in an unwelcoming way to a new member....
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
Post your reasons for not activating your current version of XP so we do not have to judge you. :) We already know that you're not using corp since those do not require activation. However I'd wager that you're using a version that doesn't belong to you, or it's something that is installed on more than one computer. Regardless I clearly linked you to the solutions in my OP. If that isn't good enough then turn to google for the same answers.
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: John
Post your reasons for not activating your current version of XP so we do not have to judge you. :) We already know that you're not using corp since those do not require activation. However I'd wager that you're using a version that doesn't belong to you, or it's something that is installed on more than one computer. Regardless I clearly linked you to the solutions in my OP. If that isn't good enough then turn to google for the same answers.

Again, it doesnt become a problem until the 30 days activation period elapses, so far as I know, and thats how I read it.

>> If that isn't good enough then turn to google for the same answers<<

It WAS good enough.. it was fine.. it was all the rest of the attitude and incorrect presumption I take exception to.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
There is no presumption, assumption, or gumption on my end. :eek: Since you refuse to post the reason(s) for not activating your current OS, it's painfully obvious that you are up to no good. :evil:
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: John
There is no presumption, assumption, or gumption on my end. :eek: Since you refuse to post the reason(s) for not activating your current OS, it's painfully obvious that you are up to no good. :evil:

I DID post, in the second paragraph in 5:48 pm post. And still you persist with the rush to judgment, using a devil icon, indeed... But no, youre not making any presumption, are you...
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
1
0
By the time you edited, which you appear to be doing often, I was in the middle of posting my reply. If your reason was there it was not obvious like it is now.

FWIW I would want to find out which channel ID of XP Pro your IT buddy loaned so that you can attempt to purchase a similar one. More info
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: John
By the time you edited, which you appear to be doing often, I was in the middle of posting my reply. If your reason was there it was not obvious like it is now.

FWIW I would want to find out which channel ID of XP Pro your IT buddy loaned so that you can attempt to purchase a similar one. More info


Ok.. Thanks much.. thats much better.. sorry we got off on the wrong foot, but being new to this board, I had no idea how sensitive you guys were to this kind of thing.. But not having done anything wrong, the way I understand it, I naturally took umbrage at the rush to judgment.. STill, if its a particularly sensitive issue around here, for whatever reason, I should be sensitive to that as well.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
1
0
the version is either legit or not, 30 days does not change that status.


flaming a respected member of the OS forum isn't going to get you far around here.
 

boostm3

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2007
10
0
0
Originally posted by: nweaver
the version is either legit or not, 30 days does not change that status.


flaming a respected member of the OS forum isn't going to get you far around here.

Oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh.. hallowed ground, I see :D