Pages: 1

 

2008-04-04 05:19:07
Aries_37
arrivederci frog
+368|6847|London
My parents' old pc is a Dell, with OEM windows XP that is locked to the crappy motherboard. I want to transfer the old hard drive to the new computer that I've bought and have it as the boot ( C: ) drive as it has looaads of programs installed on it that I cba to redownload/rebuy and then reinstall. Windows is on the same partition as the program files atm.

So what I'd like to know is whether:
1) There is a way to replace the OEM locked windows with a retail/cracked version of windows without losing all their program files and settings.
I was thinking maybe I could insert a retail/cracked boot cd, and do a repair install or something which would overwrite the crappy OEM version while still leaving my program files and everything working as before. Or perhaps do some ingenious partitioning to seperate program files from windows and reformat windows partition and fresh reinstall retail/cracked XP into that partition.

Or as a less desireable alternative:

2) Is there a way to uninstall windows from the drive but leave the program files working if I install windows to a new hard drive and use the old drive as a storage drive. However if this is possible I'm assuming all programs would run slower as they are no longer on the same physical drive as windows. Doubt this one is possible as program files need a registry right?

Last edited by Aries_37 (2008-04-04 05:20:04)

2008-04-04 05:24:40
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6469|Winland

Well, if you install Windows on hard drive controller X, it will not work on hard drive controller Y.There is no way to really uninstall Windows at all, except from formatting the drive. I just say, back up, reformat. If you have got a ton of programs on it, it's gonna be a lot quicker (As in boot, performance, etc) to reinstall them and start off fresh.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
2008-04-04 05:26:31
jamiet757
Member
+138|6894
No, you will have to uninstall windows, backup anything that you want to keep, and reinstall from some other source. Of course the cd-key from the OEM version that is on there won't work, if you try to activate it you will have to call microsoft and go through the whole process only for them to tell you that you cannot activate it because it is a version that came from the factory activated.
2008-04-04 05:34:12
Aries_37
arrivederci frog
+368|6847|London
Argh I was afraid of that, so no hope for me repair installing windows with a different (retail) disc?
2008-04-04 05:35:16
jamiet757
Member
+138|6894
Nope, you could repair it (possibly) but it wouldn't do what you want it to do.
2008-04-04 05:42:28
Aries_37
arrivederci frog
+368|6847|London


Thanks a lot for the help guys!

I've got a hard drive in my pc that I use only for storage- like films, music, documents. Could I install windows on that drive and still keep all the files on it? Would I need to partition first? Unfortunately my pc has also got a retarded OEM windows so now that I know what a pain in the ass it is I'm going to sort out windows on all the pcs in the house.

Last edited by Aries_37 (2008-04-04 05:44:40)

2008-04-04 05:44:27
jamiet757
Member
+138|6894
Yes you would need to partition it so that you have a free partition, then install windows to that partition.
2008-04-04 10:07:21
ReTox
Member
+100|6771|State of RETOXification

jamiet757 wrote:

Yes you would need to partition it so that you have a free partition, then install windows to that partition.
Sorry no.

As long as you have enough free space on a drive you can install windows anywhere (mine is on my I drive currently... don't ask).  One of the options when installing is to format the partition or leave it alone, just leave it alone and it will install.  You won't lose files.

As for the OEM, all you need to do is repair it.  OEM versions are the same as normal versions with some upgrade limitations but a repair should still work.  Windows creates a config file that is based on your hardware, change to much hardware and the machine won't boot.  This is an old NT trick to stop theft.  but when you repair windows it rebuilds that config to the new hardware.  I've done this so many times I can't guess at a number, hardly ever fails.
2008-04-04 10:59:49
mikkel
Member
+383|6873

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Well, if you install Windows on hard drive controller X, it will not work on hard drive controller Y.There is no way to really uninstall Windows at all, except from formatting the drive. I just say, back up, reformat. If you have got a ton of programs on it, it's gonna be a lot quicker (As in boot, performance, etc) to reinstall them and start off fresh.
All it takes is deleting the controller related drivers before switching the drive to an incompatible controller, and you're good to go. Even if you don't, it can be done with a recovery console session and listsvc to disable any drivers keeping your installation from starting up.
2008-04-04 11:10:20
Aries_37
arrivederci frog
+368|6847|London

ReTox wrote:

jamiet757 wrote:

Yes you would need to partition it so that you have a free partition, then install windows to that partition.
Sorry no.

As long as you have enough free space on a drive you can install windows anywhere (mine is on my I drive currently... don't ask).  One of the options when installing is to format the partition or leave it alone, just leave it alone and it will install.  You won't lose files.

As for the OEM, all you need to do is repair it.  OEM versions are the same as normal versions with some upgrade limitations but a repair should still work.  Windows creates a config file that is based on your hardware, change to much hardware and the machine won't boot.  This is an old NT trick to stop theft.  but when you repair windows it rebuilds that config to the new hardware.  I've done this so many times I can't guess at a number, hardly ever fails.
Are you saying that I might be able to keep the program files intact?!? I knew that a repair install would solve the hardware migration if I used the same OEM disc on the OEM OS, but wasn't sure if I could overwrite the OEM OS and fix the migration if I repaired with a retail disc though. Could you clarify on this point please?
2008-04-04 11:16:05
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6853|SE London

mikkel wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Well, if you install Windows on hard drive controller X, it will not work on hard drive controller Y.There is no way to really uninstall Windows at all, except from formatting the drive. I just say, back up, reformat. If you have got a ton of programs on it, it's gonna be a lot quicker (As in boot, performance, etc) to reinstall them and start off fresh.
All it takes is deleting the controller related drivers before switching the drive to an incompatible controller, and you're good to go. Even if you don't, it can be done with a recovery console session and listsvc to disable any drivers keeping your installation from starting up.
^^^^^

What he said...
2008-04-04 13:28:39
ReTox
Member
+100|6771|State of RETOXification

Aries_37 wrote:

ReTox wrote:

jamiet757 wrote:

Yes you would need to partition it so that you have a free partition, then install windows to that partition.
Sorry no.

As long as you have enough free space on a drive you can install windows anywhere (mine is on my I drive currently... don't ask).  One of the options when installing is to format the partition or leave it alone, just leave it alone and it will install.  You won't lose files.

As for the OEM, all you need to do is repair it.  OEM versions are the same as normal versions with some upgrade limitations but a repair should still work.  Windows creates a config file that is based on your hardware, change to much hardware and the machine won't boot.  This is an old NT trick to stop theft.  but when you repair windows it rebuilds that config to the new hardware.  I've done this so many times I can't guess at a number, hardly ever fails.
Are you saying that I might be able to keep the program files intact?!? I knew that a repair install would solve the hardware migration if I used the same OEM disc on the OEM OS, but wasn't sure if I could overwrite the OEM OS and fix the migration if I repaired with a retail disc though. Could you clarify on this point please?
A repair of the windows setup, as long as the program files haven't changed locations should work and you should be able to run your programs.  The only caveat here is that windows will likely want to download and apply tonnes of patches and hotfixes.  You could slipstream SP2 into you OEM and mitigate that to only a few but after that you should be good to go.  The key is that it has to be a working install on the old PC or hardware before migrating to the newer.
2008-04-04 13:47:09
Lucien
Fantasma Parastasie
+1,451|6925
There is a chance it will work, and any minor problems can be fixed by reinstalling windows. If it does start going wrong at all, save yourself a headache and just start anew.
https://i.imgur.com/HTmoH.jpg
2008-04-04 20:37:57
jamiet757
Member
+138|6894

ReTox wrote:

jamiet757 wrote:

Yes you would need to partition it so that you have a free partition, then install windows to that partition.
Sorry no.

As long as you have enough free space on a drive you can install windows anywhere (mine is on my I drive currently... don't ask).  One of the options when installing is to format the partition or leave it alone, just leave it alone and it will install.  You won't lose files.

As for the OEM, all you need to do is repair it.  OEM versions are the same as normal versions with some upgrade limitations but a repair should still work.  Windows creates a config file that is based on your hardware, change to much hardware and the machine won't boot.  This is an old NT trick to stop theft.  but when you repair windows it rebuilds that config to the new hardware.  I've done this so many times I can't guess at a number, hardly ever fails.
You didn't read his post did you? He has windows that was preinstalled from the manufacturer. If he does a repair install, it will not work. It won't work because OEMs embed their drivers in the OS, so it will install windows again with the drivers for the devices that are supposed to be in the machine, but if you change the components (like motherboard) it won't work.

And what you said at the top is exactly what I was saying. Windows will create a new partition in the free space.
2008-04-05 01:06:08
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,054|7043|PNW

jamiet757 wrote:

No, you will have to uninstall windows, backup anything that you want to keep, and reinstall from some other source. Of course the cd-key from the OEM version that is on there won't work, if you try to activate it you will have to call microsoft and go through the whole process only for them to tell you that you cannot activate it because it is a version that came from the factory activated.
Microsoft gets so many of those calls that they just hand activations out like candy...

...like they were doing you some sort of a favor by having that system in place to begin with.

Yeah...
2008-04-05 06:31:16
_j5689_
Dreads & Bergers
+364|6988|Riva, MD
This might come in handy when I get that new rig soon.
2008-04-05 10:56:17
SpIk3y
Minister of Silly Walks
+67|6411|New Jersey
You just have to lie to Microsoft when you call them... say that your hard drive died and you bought a new one but it won't let you put the OS on it.  Worked 3 times for me
2008-04-05 15:57:44
ReTox
Member
+100|6771|State of RETOXification

jamiet757 wrote:

You didn't read his post did you? He has windows that was preinstalled from the manufacturer. If he does a repair install, it will not work. It won't work because OEMs embed their drivers in the OS, so it will install windows again with the drivers for the devices that are supposed to be in the machine, but if you change the components (like motherboard) it won't work.

And what you said at the top is exactly what I was saying. Windows will create a new partition in the free space.
Sorry, no again.   Windows doesn't create a new partition unless you have unpartitioned free space and specifically tell it to do so.  I said that if you have enough free space (on a partition) then you can install XP on it and none of the current files will be changed.  This is directly what was being asked and is accomplished by choosing to leave the current file system intact when prompted in the text mode phase of install.  Repairs don't have that option.

As for drivers in an OEM, only the ones where the XP setup files are on the hard drive or on a restore CD and not on an XP OEM CD have that issue.  And it's quite easy to remove those drivers if you know what you're doing anyways.  If he received an OEM copy on CD then he's off to the races.

I also know a way to successfully activate a copy with an illegal key over the internet.  Won't pass WGA but unless you are a developer or MS professional you don't really need the WGA validation anyways.

Believe me, I've been working with Microsoft OS's since the early DOS days and there is very little I haven't seen or done.

 

Pages: 1

Board footer

Privacy Policy - © 2025 Jeff Minard