Reinstalling XP pro over XP pro

[angstridden]

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!

[Jeff Snyder]

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?

[angstridden]

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?

[SuperSparks]

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.