XP Pro upgrade install on new HD

[Richard]

I'm replacing my current harddrive and plan on starting
from scratch by reinstalling everything, including the
OS. Issue - I have an XP Pro upgrade CD, and not the
full version. Additionally it has already been activated
on my current HD. I've found a few tricks to allow
reinstall without reactiviating by copying a specific
file to the new HD. I'm wondering though if it is
possible to install the Upgrade if nothing is on there?
Will I need to install my win2k cd first?

Any suggestions?

[Tom Foolery]

Richard,

The upgrade version is a full version. Boot from the XP CD, at some point
you will be prompted to insert the Win2K CD to verify a previous qualifying
OS. It will not be installed. Follow prompts from there.


"Richard" > wrote in message
...
> I'm replacing my current harddrive and plan on starting
> from scratch by reinstalling everything, including the
> OS. Issue - I have an XP Pro upgrade CD, and not the
> full version. Additionally it has already been activated
> on my current HD. I've found a few tricks to allow
> reinstall without reactiviating by copying a specific
> file to the new HD. I'm wondering though if it is
> possible to install the Upgrade if nothing is on there?
> Will I need to install my win2k cd first?
>
> Any suggestions?
>

[Richard]

Excellent. Thanks for the prompt reply.

[Alex Nichol]

Richard wrote:

>I'm replacing my current harddrive and plan on starting
>from scratch by reinstalling everything, including the
>OS. Issue - I have an XP Pro upgrade CD, and not the
>full version. Additionally it has already been activated
>on my current HD. I've found a few tricks to allow
>reinstall without reactiviating by copying a specific
>file to the new HD. I'm wondering though if it is
>possible to install the Upgrade if nothing is on there?

You will need to show the Setup your Win 2000 CD as evidence at one
point, if you do a clean install with format. And if you do that the
trick in question is not going to work for activation. But the
activation would go through on the net if it is over 120 days since you
activated before (this with just such cases in mind), and in any case
activation over the phone is not that big a hassle. Just be sure it is
at some time convenient to you, and allow about 10 minutes on the call


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows - File Systems)
Bournemouth, U.K.