Ok this is my situation: I am running Windows XP which was installed from a

CD that was pirated. Now I would like to have the SP1 and SP2 updates, and

obviously I cant due to the invalid product key. I also have an authentic

'Windows XP w/SP2' CD that I bought, and would like to install. Can I simply

reinstall this authentic 'Windows XP w/SP2' over my existing windows without

losing any files? Also since my current version of windows does not have SP1,

can I automaticcaly go from no service packs to SP2 or do I to have SP1

already installed in order to go to SP2. Basically does SP2 contain

everything SP1 does and then somemore? How exactly do I go about installing

this Windows XP w/SP2 without losing my current

programs/files/configurations? Thank you

You will be much better off backing up your files and starting over. While

you can install an OS on top of another OS you may run into issues during MS

updates with having a invalid copy of windows.

 

"Fazal" wrote:

> Ok this is my situation: I am running Windows XP which was installed from a

> CD that was pirated. Now I would like to have the SP1 and SP2 updates, and

> obviously I cant due to the invalid product key. I also have an authentic

> 'Windows XP w/SP2' CD that I bought, and would like to install. Can I simply

> reinstall this authentic 'Windows XP w/SP2' over my existing windows without

> losing any files? Also since my current version of windows does not have SP1,

> can I automaticcaly go from no service packs to SP2 or do I to have SP1

> already installed in order to go to SP2. Basically does SP2 contain

> everything SP1 does and then somemore? How exactly do I go about installing

> this Windows XP w/SP2 without losing my current

> programs/files/configurations? Thank you

You boot from the 'new' CD you just purchased with a valid licens key and

opt to do a REPAIR install. This will preserve all your settings and make

things legal. Go here:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

for info with pix on doing a repair install.

 

"Fazal" <Fazal@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A26358B9-F5C2-4B96-9FEE-C7099835909F@microsoft.com...

> Ok this is my situation: I am running Windows XP which was installed from

> a

> CD that was pirated. Now I would like to have the SP1 and SP2 updates, and

> obviously I cant due to the invalid product key. I also have an authentic

> 'Windows XP w/SP2' CD that I bought, and would like to install. Can I

> simply

> reinstall this authentic 'Windows XP w/SP2' over my existing windows

> without

> losing any files? Also since my current version of windows does not have

> SP1,

> can I automaticcaly go from no service packs to SP2 or do I to have SP1

> already installed in order to go to SP2. Basically does SP2 contain

> everything SP1 does and then somemore? How exactly do I go about

> installing

> this Windows XP w/SP2 without losing my current

> programs/files/configurations? Thank you

Fazal wrote:

> Ok this is my situation: I am running Windows XP which was installed from a

> CD that was pirated. Now I would like to have the SP1 and SP2 updates, and

> obviously I cant due to the invalid product key. I also have an authentic

> 'Windows XP w/SP2' CD that I bought, and would like to install. Can I simply

> reinstall this authentic 'Windows XP w/SP2' over my existing windows without

> losing any files?

 

 

Yes, but you should back up any important data, just in case something

goes wrong.

 

> Also since my current version of windows does not have SP1,

> can I automaticcaly go from no service packs to SP2 or do I to have SP1

> already installed in order to go to SP2. Basically does SP2 contain

> everything SP1 does and then somemore?

 

 

Yes, WinXP's service packs are cumulative, so SP2 contains everything

that SP1 had, plus subsequent fixes.

 

> How exactly do I go about installing

> this Windows XP w/SP2 without losing my current

> programs/files/configurations? Thank you

 

 

You need to use the _legitimate_ license of WinXP Pro to perform a

repair (a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, using the new CD and

Product Keys.

 

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

Hi Fazal,

 

In additional to all the other great advice, even after getting SP2

installed, be sure to visit Windows Udate, as there are somewhere in the

neighborhood of 60-80 *additional* updates that have come out after the SP2

was realeased.

 

--

HTH,

Curt

 

Windows Support Center

http://www.aumha.org

Practically Nerded,...

http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm

 

"Fazal" <Fazal@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A26358B9-F5C2-4B96-9FEE-C7099835909F@microsoft.com...

| Ok this is my situation: I am running Windows XP which was installed from

a

| CD that was pirated. Now I would like to have the SP1 and SP2 updates, and

| obviously I cant due to the invalid product key. I also have an authentic

| 'Windows XP w/SP2' CD that I bought, and would like to install. Can I

simply

| reinstall this authentic 'Windows XP w/SP2' over my existing windows

without

| losing any files? Also since my current version of windows does not have

SP1,

| can I automaticcaly go from no service packs to SP2 or do I to have SP1

| already installed in order to go to SP2. Basically does SP2 contain

| everything SP1 does and then somemore? How exactly do I go about

installing

| this Windows XP w/SP2 without losing my current

| programs/files/configurations? Thank you