[wallgood358]

I have a secondary computer that i got up and running with Xp home, but at the time was unaware that you couldnt have 2 computers running with the same Os license. Anyway, it worked fine for about 6 months till i did a couple upgrades and then it told me i had to re register my copy. Microsoft wont let me since i have it on my main computer and i dont feel like paying $80 for a new license, i want to downgrade to Windows 2000 Pro. But i am unsure of how to do this and keep all of my data. I am locked out of windows since i cant register, so i cant backup my data to anything. When i tried to do just an install of it, it tried to install it as a secondary Os, not overwriting the current, like it did when i upgraded from Windows Me to the Xp Home. Anyway, any help and advice would be appreciated

 

[Guest]

Just insert your disk and boot up into the BIOS. Change the CD-Drive to start up first and go through the on-screen instructions to format and install windows.

Heres more info from Microsoft Knowledge Base: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304868

 

[Sgt_Grim_Reaper]

it's not really a downgrade, IMAO

Home sucks. Go Pro.

 

[Old Rich]

Home sucks. Go Pro.

What are the differences between the two?

 

[Guest]

What are the differences between the two?

I am sorry to say, and I usually don't go against me team members it is just that XP Pro is well, a WHOLE lot better then home. Home was created for well. not as smart people as us tech guys. Professional can connect to servers, where no XP Edition can, it has ALL of the features that XP can produce like advanced file permissions, and it is an all around better OS f the series. Why do you like Home simp? :grin:

 

[Old Rich]

Why do you like Home simp? :grin:

Nothing agains Pro ( I use it also ) just that for 99% of home users it is a waste of $ . .

Most who say Home sucks have no idea of the differences . . just think the name sounds more powerfull. I was testing!

 

[wallgood358]

I want to keep all of my data so i do not want to do a format and install. But if i try to just install to the same partition, it makes my computer run with dual operating systems. i am just looking to take Windows Xp off, and replace it with Windows 2000. I know it is a slightly older program, but still very good and stable. So what i need to know is, if i just straight uninstall Xp, and then boot with my 2000 pro cd, after i install, will i still have access to all my data or will uninstalling Xp corrupt it in some way?

 

[Guest]

Nothing agains Pro ( I use it also ) just that for 99% of home users it is a waste of $ . .

Most who say Home sucks have no idea of the differences . . just think the name sounds more powerfull. I was testing!

Well then it was a good test cause I fell for it :grin:

 

[Old Rich]

I So what i need to know is, if i just straight uninstall Xp, and then boot with my 2000 pro cd, after i install, will i still have access to all my data or will uninstalling Xp corrupt it in some way?

There is no way to uninstall XP other than to format the partition and reinstall.

 

[Guest]

@wallgood: You will NEED to format as you cant have two OS's on the same partition. Back up all of your relevant data and reinstall with a format. It is impossible to keep the old XP OS on the same partition. Even if you did install it it would probably become corrupt from two different boot up files or some other thing with exchanges between the two OS on the same partition. Format

 

[wallgood358]

Ok. But like i said in my original post, i am locked out of windows due to the stupid activation. So i cannot back it up. It is possible to run 2 Os on the same partition, it is called dual booting. Brings up a screen where you can choose which Os to boot to. But when i select the 2000 Pro, i have to access to the files. And theoretically, you can uninstall windows in Dos using the Cd and the repair/uninstall function

 

[CMB27]

Back up files using linux

I have had a similar problem before. The basic plan is to use Linux (An free operating system) to get your files off the computer, then wipe, install windows and put your files back on.

You need a blank CD or DVD (A thumb drive will probably work too) that your main computer can write to, disk writer software, and a usb flash drive big enough to hold all of the files you want to back up.

Go to this Site "http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/download.php?lang=en&link=ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix", click accept, scroll down and click "KNOPPIX_V6.2.1CD-2010-01-31-EN.iso" this will download Knoppix, a Linux distro (Knoppix does not use the hard drive to run so it will not erase anything). you need to burn the ISO to a disk (it is also possible to put it on a thumb drive, but i think a disk is easier).

Turn on the computer and quickly place to Knoppix disk into the drive. The computer should start up into Knoppix, if it does not restart and change your boot settings so that it looks to boot from the CD drive before the hard drive. This should start you up into a somewhat familiar desktop environment.

plug in the the usb flash drive and mount it if it does not do this automatically. Mount the hard drive. Transfer whatever files you want to back up to the flash drive. when you are finished unmount the flash drive and remove it then shut down the computer. during the shutdown process it will likely eject the disk.

Now that the files are backed up you can feel free to install windows :wink: .