XP Upgrade

[maddly]

On a clean formatted PC when you use an upgrade CD it asks you to do the CD swap thing (show it an old version of windows)...once I get past that point will the unattended install still work? I have the Full Home version working, now I want to make an upgrade version because the serial numbers are different for the different versions (I am assuming I can't use an 'upgrade' CD key with a 'full' version).

I'm very new to all this, hopefully you'll all be patient with me, I did a search here, and on the web and everyone seems to address unattended with 'full' versions.

Thanks!

[[BM]Crusher]

You can't do an unattended upgrade...

and you can modify your installation to accept a normal or an oem cd key on an upgrade disk by modifying the *insert file name here* file I can't remember what it's called hahahhaha oh my god it's late!

[[BM]Crusher]

I couldn't remember the file name, but I just did a search on these forums and found out

setupp.ini

you need to modify the Pid=55274270 part of the file (second line usually)

To modify the Setupp.ini file, open it in notepad. It will look like this:

[Pid]ExtraData=6376796F71737A76767385CA66F124

Pid=51873OEM

Change the OEM to 270  on the Pid Value so it looks like this:

[Pid]

ExtraData=6376796F71737A76767385CA66F124

Pid=51873270

This should work on most CDs. This will allow you to install Windows 2000 without a serial number, this will NOT work on evaluation versions of Windows, or Windows 2003

[maddly]

Once again, thanks!

I would like to clarify and make sure we're saying the same thing. I'm not trying to do an upgrade, I'm just trying to use the upgrade version because that's what most of my clients purchase since they do have an existing version of windows. I fdisk and then run the boot cd. So it's a clean install, but just from an upgrade CD.

Getting late here too...am I making any sense? *grin*

[LiquidSage]

changing the pid is not a solution for xp. It's best to get a full copy of xp because what it takes to promote a upgrade to full would require replacing certain files to work around the limitation .

In the end, for business...you expose your clients to an operating system enviroment that is not legal.

[maddly]

I'm not trying to circumvent the legality, we have a legitimate computer repair business and the clients provide the software or purchase new as needed - what happens is, they bring in pcs all the time with XP upgrade on it, and want it reformatted and re-installed. They upgraded and currently have thier win98, win2000, winME or whatever disc also.

I am just trying to find a way to automate the process so that AFTER I show the upgrade disc a legal, valid, client owned copy and then swap the CD at the prompt, that somehow I can have the setup 'take off' from that point and be automated. I just want to save time and if it's not possible, then it's not possible. I will just have to swap them (the CDs) and help the install along.

If changing the PID puts them in legal jeopardy, then I won't do it.

It's only a small percentage of the customers I deal with, but anything I can do to save time helps! :-)

[[BM]Crusher]

changing the PID is technically against copyright, as it converts a cheaper (usually) or OEM specific upgrade product to a full/corporate/full-oem version which would normally cost more etc etc...

if it were for your own machines and you had to hassles about it, then do it

if it's a customers computers, then... maybe you could use your own personal copy of xp, change the pid so that it will accept an upgrade cd key... that way you could use your full installer version and still retain the customers legit key (and thus activation)... i dunno if that will work?

[Bâshrat the Sneaky]

I think the following solution might be better and easier:

1. make another partition and move all your documents and all settings of all programs to this drive (start, programs, accesoires, wizard move files and settings)

2. insert (Unattended) Win XP CD and install it on the partition where your windows was before.

finished!

hope this is a good solution to you