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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -  315341

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade
(Reinstallation)  of Windows XP

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under  Q315341

SUMMARY

This article explains how to perform an in-place  upgrade, or reinstallation, of Windows XP. This is also called a  repair installation.

When you perform an in-place upgrade of  Windows XP, you reinstall Windows to the same folder. You may want  to do this if you need to repair your installation of Windows XP. To  reinstall Windows XP, use either of the following methods.

MORE INFORMATION

Before You Perform an In-Place  Upgrade

IMPORTANT:

• If your computer came preinstalled with Windows XP, please see  the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base before you  follow the steps later in this article:

312369  May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling Windows XP

• If you perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, all existing  restore points are removed and a new System Checkpoint restore  point is created after the in-place upgrade is complete. Do not  perform an in-place upgrade if you may need to use System Restore  to roll your system back to a previous state.For additional  information, click the article number below to view the article in  the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

301224  System Restore 'Restore Points' Are Missing or Deleted

• Backup copies of your registry files (in the  %systemroot%\Repair folder) are also replaced after the in-place  upgrade is complete. The registry files in the Repair folder are  either from the first time you started Windows XP or the last time  you used the Backup utility to backup your System State. Copy  these registry backups to another location before you perform an  in-place upgrade if you may need to use them after the in-place  upgrade is complete.

Method 1: Reinstall Windows XP from Within Windows XP

To  reinstall Windows XP from within Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Start your computer.
2. Insert the Windows XP compact disc into your computer's CD-ROM  or DVD-ROM drive.
3. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP page that appears,  click Install Windows XP.
4. On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade  (Recommended) in the Installation Type box (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
5. On the License Agreement page, click I  accept this agreement, and then click Next.
6. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product  key in the appropriate Product key boxes, and then click Next.
7. On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that  you want, and then click Next.
8. Follow the instructions on the remaining pages of the Windows  XP Setup Wizard to reinstall Windows XP.

Method 2: Reinstall Windows XP by Starting Your Computer from  the Windows XP Compact Disc

To reinstall Windows XP by starting  your computer from the Windows XP compact disc, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP compact disc into your computer's CD-ROM  or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer. When the "Press  any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on the screen, press  a key to start your computer from the Windows XP compact disc.
   
   NOTE : Your computer must be configured to  start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For more information about  how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM  drive, please see your computer's documentation or contact your  computer manufacturer.
2. The following message is displayed on the Welcome to Setup  screen that appears:

   This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft 
   Windows XP to run on your computer:


                                   To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

   To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

   To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
                                

                                                                        
                                

Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.

 

3. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to  agree to the license agreement.
4. Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is  selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
5. Follow the instructions on the remaining screens to reinstall  Windows XP. After you repair Windows XP, you may be required to  reactivate your copy of Windows XP.
   
   For additional  information, click the article number below to view the article in  the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310064  HOW TO: Troubleshoot Windows XP Setup Problems When You Upgrade  from Windows 98 or Windows Me

After You Perform an In-Place Upgrade

After you perform an  in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all  updates to Windows. To reinstall Windows updates, visit the  following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

For  additional information about how to troubleshoot specific Windows XP  Setup issues, click the article numbers below to view the articles  in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

312369  You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing,  or Upgrading Windows XP

312368  Data Loss May Occur After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading  Windows XP

For additional information about Windows XP Setup,  click the article numbers below to view the articles in the  Microsoft Knowledge Base:

286463  Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in the Pro.txt File

306824  Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in the Home.txt File

286647  Windows XP Read1st.txt File Contents

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