I have two questions about Windows Xp and Vista...?? 10 POINTS!!!!?

Question

1- My windows xp installed on my computer is not a legal copy, everytime I try to install windows media player 11, it says your copy of windows is not genuine... blablabla... I now know it is not a legal copy. I have a cd of a genuine copy of windows xp, I want to reinstall Windows xp but I don't know how to, and I don't know if all my documents, files, and data are gonna be deleted...?? Help!!

2- If I install Windows Vista instead of reinstalling Windows xp, Will my data be deleted? Will some of the programs I have installed still work? Will my computer work normally with it?

Note: My computer is an Hp Desktop pc...

Answer 1

Invest in some external storage - an external USB hard drive or flashdrives.

Copy/backup any files you want.
Now uninstall XP, and install the genuine copy.

Vista may or may not run older programs. You can research the specs of the software, or simply try. Here is info on XP versus Vista:

Vista – Some products will not work
Opinion: The big secret at Redmond is that existing applications and and new products will not work with Vista.
Microsoft really doesn't want you to know this, but many of your existing applications won't work with Vista. In fact, some brand new products won't work with Vista.
At the top of that list of "It doesn't work," we find, believe it or not, Microsoft new music player, Zune. Yes, that's right; Microsoft's iPod killer doesn't work with Vista.
Not only will Zune not work with Vista, it also doesn't work with all media files that are protected with Windows Media DRM (Digital Rights Management). So much for PlaysForSure!
Microsoft promises that Zune will eventually work with Vista, but don't you find it a little scary that the boys from Redmond couldn't get their number one Christmas toy to work with their number one operating system?
Moving closer to business, let's take Microsoft's recently released scripting system, PowerShell. This scripting language, formerly known as Monad, would have made Vista management much easier ... except it doesn't work on Vista. Server 2003 and XP, yes. Vista, no.
Go to the source link to read the rest.

Source: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2062318,00.asp?kc=EWNKT0209KTX1K0100440
*******************************************************
Vista – more than you want to know
Source: http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you're running a system that is already marginal, don't bother moving to Vista, even if it is possible. You'll absolutely hate it within minutes of completing the installation. The idea that Vista will run on 512MB of RAM is a joke. It will crawl and gasp for life on 512MB, but what it won't do is perform in a manner that 95% of users will find acceptable. Dump Vista on a machine with a marginal processor, graphics card, and memory and you'll say "WOW" alright, but it won't be a good WOW - I assure you of that.

Source: Source: http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/
********************************************
First, you should run the Vista Advisor which will let you know if your computer meets Vista requirements. Download here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx
*********************************************
MS Vista – Pros and Cons
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=272182
**********************************************

Answer 2

If your talking about files like Word documents, jpeg, avi, mp3. these shouldn't be affected when re-installing an OS. But it would be good to make a back up copy of all the files that you are terribly afraid to lost.. lose.. loose! (there!) before doing your great idea of installing a GENUINE WINDOWS.

Its not that Windows will crash when you do the re-installation, its the PC and Hardware Devices and other Programs you use that might cause you some headaches and prevents you to use it after you finish the job.

Reformating your HD before installing your Genuine Windows is much better than just overwriting your illegal version. If you do that be sure you have all device drivers and Application Installers that you need to re-apply also and make sure you know how to install it again.

That's all I can say about XP, about Vista? I prepare XP to use

There's a good link below to guide you on how to install XP, it's very easy. Just read on, follow it step by step.

Good Luck

Answer 3

You can backup all your data before reinstalling your operating system (XP or Vista). Put all your music, videos, photos, documents and the set-ups of important software in external storage disks (CD, DVD, flash drive etc.). Now insert your Windows XP installer CD (or Windows Vista CD, after you buy it), and restart your computer. If your computer boot s first from the CD-ROM drive, then installation will automatically start. Follow on-screen instructions, do a "clean" reinstall of Windows, and enter your genuine license key. All these should be over within 30 - 45 minutes (installation of Windows Vista will take longer time). However, if your computer boots from your hard disk before your CD-ROM drive, then you have to make changes in the Boot Order of your BIOS. This job is ONLY for experts, so seek the help of someone who knows how to configure the BIOS (I would tell you, but you can end up crashing your system with the slightest mistake).

:)

Answer 4

Ans 1 : Upgrading to Media Player 11, you will get this error for sure, if u r using Pirated Copy. To install a Legal WindowsXP Copy, My suggestion is take your backup on CD/DVD, or another HDD, do a Clean Format and Install from the Legal Copy and then Upgrade Media Player 11.

Ans 2 : Vista Requires NTFS File System rather than WinXP, XP can be installed on FAT32. If your file system is NOT NTFS then you'll have to make it NTFS before installing Vista. By don't worry Microsoft had added this facility in Vista Setup that Formats the HDD to NTFS, if it founds it in FAT32 Format.

Both ways I'll suggest you to just backup the system, have the setup's of ur installed programs ready, and just format it.

My personal Suggestion, VISTA is not as cool as it looks, if you don't have a VERY URGENT need of it, then stick to the XP.

Answer 5

1.
Go here:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-1035_11-5034890.html

Located there is a way to change your product key on the current machine, it requires no reinstall and once you do, as long as its a valid CD key you should have to re-activate and then it will say you have a genuine copy of XP. If you do reinstall XP you will have to format your hard drive to get rid of the old OS.

2. Installing windows Vista depends on the version, the upgrade version will keep all your files, the Full version will be like reinstalling XP again, it will erase everything and install. All your programs should work with Vista as its the same file system (NTFS) as XP. Check your computer to see if it can handle vista by going here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

Answer 6

1) A repair option should not erase anything.
BUT...
Considering it is Windows - you should make sure that you have a backup of all your important files. (Documents, MP3, pictures etc.)

Best option - make sure you have CD and CD-Key.
Make sure you have all backed up. (To CD, DVD or external harddrive)
Restart PC and boot (start) from the Windows CD.
Choose to install windows - but FORMAT the C drive first.

This will give you a clean install and should provide you with a functioning, legal windows, provided you have a good and legal key.

2) Forget about Vista. It demands more from your hardware, so you`d need to double (at least) your memory.
Do a clean install of XP instead. And, get all updates etc. BEFORE you install any other programs.

Answer 7

If you wanted to install a genuine XP, make sure you make a back up files just to be confident that you have copies with all of your files. Its just easy to install XP , if that is genuine, look for the codes , if its EOPM copy look for the sticker where u can find the codes, if its paper licensed you can find the code through there as well..it is user friendly just follow each prompt

if you wanted to install vista instead make sure your pc passed the system requirements, better check the memory first, vista has a higher requirements, you can surf for more information for the system requirements. visit microsoft site

Answer 8

YES all data will be lost if u reinstalled WINDOWS.

backup all u'r important file to a seperate drive and reinstall xp.
if u have the legal xp cd key
go put in the new cd key and it should work and let u install media player 11 and the update.

installing vista will delete everything on that drive too.
it will erase the xp.. cause those two are different.

backup.
like me
get two hard drives
one for OS
one for data, pic, movies, musics, doc.
in that way when u'r computer got a virus or wont' work.
you will alway have your data there.

Answer 9

Well, I was 100% happy with XP, but just got a new computer and it has Vista. I was sure I would hate it, given the bad press it's gotten. However, I really like it and haven't had a problem with it yet -- of course, I've only been using it 5 days and don't do any gaming.

Answer 10

You should try doing a "Repair" Install with your Legal Windows XP disk

When you boot up to the WindowsXP Installation disk, you are prompted with two options..

1. Install Windows
2. Press "R" For Repair

Chose #1. Install Windows

On the second screen, you are going to see another option that says "Press R for Repair" . This is the one you chose. Follow the onscreen directions on how to repair the version of windows already installed on your computer.

Keep in mind, when it comes time to "Name" your computer , you have two options here. You can name your account exactly what you had it before DAVE . When windows is done repairing your system, and you go to look in your "MyDocuments" folder. You will see Dave and Dave00

The DAVE folder is where all of your original items will be, and the DAVE00 folder is the new default user.

What you will need to do so that DAVE00 has your saved files, is you will need to move them from DAVE to DAVE00. In their respective folders. Such as Dave\MyDocuments over to Dave00\MyDocuments , mymusic etc.. etc.. etc..

You will also need to reinstall all of your programs, games, antivirus software and get all of your windows updates again.

Once you have removed all of your "created" files, Downloads, Music, Address book, Documents from the Dave folder, you can go ahead and remove it from Control Panel / Users.

If you don't want to be stuck with an account named "Dave00", then when you are asked what you wish to name your computer, you need to come up with a completely different name, David or Davy , and once created, you will not have an odd looking name such as DAVE00, but all the folder switching will still apply here.

Another option would be , just back up all of your data, and do a fresh install from the first screen and continue with the fresh install on the second screen after you boot up to the WindowsXP cd. I will leave this up to you and hope that you understand the proceedures you will need to go through, to get your new account up to par with the account you had been using on the illegal version.

Good Luck

P.S. I noticed above my responce, someone by the name of James , suggested you just go ahead and change your product key. This can only be done if you are using the EXACT same version legally that you did illegally.

An example to that is....

If your Illegal Version installed now, is WindowsXP Professional or with SP1

And your new disk is WindowsXP Professional sp2

The code for the New Legal Disk will not work on your current install

Same goes for... If your Running WindowsXP Professional , and your new disk is Windows XP Home , the product key for your legal Windows disk will not work.

And last but not least....... If your running WindowsXP Professional and you updated it to SP2 using the online update and your new legal disk is Windows XP Professional w/ SP2 , the product key will not work

The only way the new product key will work is if your illegal version matches your legal version