WinXP Pro to WinXP Pro Upgrade!!! (not a typo)

[BoomAM]

HI,
i have been running win xp pro RC2 for some time now, and although its fast and stable and easy to use, it has a few very annoying bugs that i think might have been ironed out in the released version. for example, unless i use driver v21.85 with my video card, then i cant get the advnaced driver options in windows display panel.

if i brough the release version of XP Pro, would i be able to do a re-install with the new components(hopefully bug free).

is this possible?, upgrading from a release candidate version to a public version.

thanx in advance.

before you ask, no its not a coppied version of windows, its an official RC disk.

 

[crazyinjun]

i cant really help u w/ ur question but i like ur signiture!

 

[Smilin]

You can try this.

1. Backup Winnt, documents and settings and your system state.

2. Reinstall w2k with the same components you have now OVER THE TOP OF ITSELF.

3. Restore just documents and settings and the system state from step 1.

4. Apply service pack 2 to catch any wierdness that got missed file wise.

That *should* leave your programs and whatnot installed. This is definately a nonstandard procedure but if you run into trouble, restore all of the stuff you backed up in step one and you should be back where you started.

 

[Smilin]

D'oh! couple more things...

you said xp, not w2k...substitute the windows folder in place of the winnt I mentioned above.

Also when I say "backup" I mean use ntbackup.exe and simply backup to a file on your drive somewhere (NOT a file anywhere in windows or docs and settings . You're not actually formatting so you should be ok with this.

 

[BoomAM]

thanx crazyinjun, have'nt played quake3 for a bit now, been playin GTA3.

anyway, in theory, if i reinstalled it over my windows, it should work. for example when upgrading 98 to Me, the wallpaper, shortcuts, start menu and document all remain intact, so wouldnt XP work in this way, by just updating the files that are out of date?