"kiwi",
You are NOT necessarily doing anything wrong. An retail upgrade version of
Windows XP will simply replace Windows files with their counterparts, not
necessarily OEM functionality placed on your machine. HOWEVER...
The upgrade you purchase today from the store shelves or from Amazon will
very likely be Windows XP Service Pack 2, fully integrated. However, this
will also be an UPGRADE. You will need a qualifying CD of Windows 98, ME,
NT 3.51, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP. OEM cds are usually not qualified as they
lack the i386 folder. It is also highly likely that your hard drive has
simply developed bad sectors in it in a random way, and perhaps it is time
to back up your data, format the drive, reinstall your software, and then
download your backed up data.
In theory, you can go either way, here. The question is what is your time
worth? I'll illustrate what I mean:
Option A: OEM reinstallation
1. You back up all files (pictures, docs, etc.) you want to keep to another
computer or burn them off on CD.
2. You use your Restore disc from the computer manufacturer to reinstall the
Operating System, formatting the drive and installing clean.
3. You install your antivirus program and update it's signature immediately.
4. After OS installation, you go to Windows Update immediately and download
SP2 and reboot.
5. After reboot, you again go to Windows Update and start downloading every
critical fix for your PC and rebooting when asked.
6. You repeat the previous steps until all critical fixes have been taken.
7. You add your programs back onto the machine.
8. You download all of the data you backed up earlier.
Benefit: This costs $0.00 of your money.
Cost: Lots of your time.
Option B: XP Upgrade
1. You back up all files (pictures, docs, etc.) you want to keep to another
computer or burn them off on CD. This is just in case something goes wrong.
2. You buy your new copy of Windows XP Upgrade, which already has SP2.
3. You install the Upgrade.
4. You then perform steps 4, 5, and 6 from Option A. Only in the case of
data loss do you perform step 8.
Benefit: Your programs remain and do not require reinstallation, while the
data may not need to be recovered from CD or another computer. This could
actually save a lot of time.
Cost: $100.00, and perhaps lesser performance than a fresh installation.
Let us know how this goes.
Sincerely,
--
Pat Walters [MSFT]
"Noel Paton" <> wrote in message
news:...
> There is no functional difference between Windows XP OEM and Windows XP
> Retail (as sold by Amazon).
> Installing a retail version over an OEM version has no benefit whatever
> (except to Amazon) apart from that of removing/breaking any customisation
> for your PC that your OEM installed.
> You need to sort out your own PC - which means that you have to learn what
> you're doing wrong.
> You may have a virus/spyware hijack
>
> download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure that A-V-disabling
> viruses are not present on your PC
> http://download.nai.com/products/mca...rt/stinger.exe
>
> - update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of all files.
>
> download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to
> remove spyware, adware,
> and other such nasties from your system.
>
>
> --
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>
> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>
> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
>
> "kiwi" <> wrote in message
> news:81C28984-454C-401C-9E54-...
> >I have Windows XP OeM with my computer, but over time this has become
> > corrupted. Does anybody have experience of buying the upgrade version
> > [sold
> > by amazon] do use as an upgrade? Do you have to clear existing Windows
XP
> > OEM
> > with the long list of updates that have occured in the last year.
>
>
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