Reinstalling XP pro over XP pro

Hello there. Got a quetion that is bothring me for a a while. Hope someone can help!

I had used a crappy CD to install Windows XP Pro on my machine (you know what I mean by crappy) but I shelled out a load of cash last night and got me some real Windows XP Pro CD. Feels good. Anyway, I sort of thought that when I insert the new CD it would just overwrite the OS and leave all my mail, firewall etc etc in place as is. However it gives me a message saying "Cannot upgrade this version of Windows" ...i.e., I only get the option to install a FRESH windows xp.

Is there any way in which I can reinstall my real Windows XP and still retain all my programs and configs from the old setup I have been test-driving since 4-5 months?

Thanks!

You can used the files and transfer wizard to save all your settings and things like favorites, my documents, ect. ect.

Is this what you were looking for?

Yes, but how about all the programs, the icon changes, the shortcuts, the tweakUI tweaks? I uess files and transfer just takes my documents etc, which is not too useful...I can take a backup in a jiffy anyway. Thanks for responding, but would like to know how to install on top of my current OS, or perhaps change the registration etc only?

I suspect that your, ahem, "extended demo" was the corporate version - I take it you didn't need to activate Windows after you installed it? If that's the case, then you can't do a repair install with the normal retail version, you'll just have to bite the bullet & do a clean install. Once it's installed, though, you'll be able to do an over the top install as often as you need.