imho any OS install should be froma clean install.
to be honest the simplest way is to format the drive using fdisk then install xp from scratch
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Possible to go from XP Pro to Home?
Hello all,
I currently have XP Pro as my OS, but I would like to install XP Home instead, because I do not need some of the features of Pro, so I might as well return it.
So I bought the Full Version of Home, but my installation seems to freeze when I install WIndows Home from the CD, at the point when it is "Copying Installation Files". I have also tried to boot my setup CD, but then when I choose XP Setup, I get a message about a missing HAL.
So, my question is if it is even possible to switch from Professional to Home Edition, even with a New Installation. And, how do I go about doing it? I have a PIII with 512 Ram. Thanks.
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Answers
I agree with the previous comments that if this is what you want to do then it is best to format. If I were you though I wouldn't want to revert back to home, but that's my personal opinion. In respect to fdisk, I think the XP home setup has built in a format utility, although I'm not certain. I know the Pro install disk does. Good luck!!
When you say you might a swell return the Pro version do you believe that you will get a refund of the cost so that you can save some money on the home version? I have not come across many software vendors that will accept returned software that has been opened unless it is faulty.
So maybe if XP Pro is working okay then why change it?
If you still need to then yes you should be able to boot the PC from the XP CD. When prompted you should select the option to install a fresh copy of XP. When you are asked which partition you want to install in you should delete any existing partitions. As Ghostrider says, if you can you should always install an OS on a fresh disk.
When you are given the option to create a partition and only have uinpartitioned space just press return. XP Setup will then create a partition using all available space. You then have to choose the file system - NTFS or FAT? It's down to personal choice really, but NTFS makes sense.
After that it's fairly simple. Just make sure you have your valid Product Key.....
Cheers!!!
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by: guidwayPosted on 2004-02-15 at 13:17:10ID: 10367175
if you have nothing you need to save on the harddrive repartition/reformat the drive and start fresh with a new install. I think I read somewhere that it does not like it if you try to revert from Pro back to home but I'm not positive if that is true or not. Preferably a reformat is better in my opinion since you know you are starting on a clean slate. just my thoughts...
guid