currently i have a bad copy (bootleg) of xp and was wanting to install an legal verision that i bought. rather then having to format can i install the legal version and use it instead and how would i tell them apart?
2006-08-20 06:21:54 · 7 answers · asked by ktuckyman 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
You can "update" your illegal copy and overwrite it with the legal version. OR you can install win xp and name the win folder something else when you start the setup.
2006-08-20 06:28:01 · answer #1 · answered by tim2extreme 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could, but why?. You would have to purchase and install a second hard drive to hold the new version of XP. And you would be wasting all the space on the old hard drive taken up by XP and the other programs installed on it. All of which would be duplicated on the new drive.
Would be better to install the legal version over the top of the current version. Boot your PC from the legal Windows XP CD and let the set up start. After you do the F8 to agree you will be prompted about what partition to install to and whether to format the drive. Select the "Leave the drive as it is" option. This way it will not delete anything off your hard drive. Let the set up continue until it comes to the prompt for the serial number. Give it the legal serial number. Let set up finish.
You will now be running Windows XP with the legal numbers, and nothing was changed or removed from your hard drive.
*****
If, however, you do decide to install a second copy of XP, on bootup you will get a menu that will ask which hard drive you want o run XP from. Select the hard drive with the new version of XP on it.
2006-08-20 06:33:44 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can install it right over the bad bootleg copy. MS will love you!
It will keep all your old files.
2006-08-20 06:29:16 · answer #3 · answered by jake cigar™ is retired 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if ur first OS is XP, u can install some other OS like Win98 as secondary... but not XP
2006-08-20 06:28:15 · answer #4 · answered by Xavi DK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...you will prly have to dual boot and ull eventually find which one is the working one through trial and error. :) shouldnt be too hard.. My friend had to do that and i believe it was the secound one . could be different for you tho
2006-08-20 06:30:41 · answer #5 · answered by AsoSako 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can get both through the control panel and go to system tools so when you start up you can specify how to do it e-mail me for directions
2006-08-20 06:31:12 · answer #6 · answered by Grape Shield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a piece of tape on one.
2006-08-20 06:28:19 · answer #7 · answered by jewingengleman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋