Hey, i recently found out that my windows XP pro is infact an illegal copy and i have also been have some problems with it and would like to downgrade back to my original windows XP home.I have all my original disk and all i would like to know is how to uninstall pro so i can install home again.

Hi there welcome to Pchf ,


( backup all important data before doing it ) ( And print these instructions off)


1. XP makes it easy to migrate your files and preferences to your new operating system, even with a fresh installation, using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. To run the wizard, load the Windows XP setup CD, choose Perform Additional Tasks from the initial menu, then select ‘Transfer files and settings’. The wizard lets you decide whether to store settings to either removable media or another hard drive or to another system via direct cable connection.







2,

At last, it's time to install XP. The best approach for a trouble-free installation is to boot your system from the XP installation CD. Insert the CD, reboot your computer and watch closely for the message ‘Press any key to boot from CD’ as the system restarts. When you see the message, press a key quickly, or you'll have to reboot and try again. If you don't see the message, you probably need to change the boot order of the devices within your system's CMOS setup routine. Make sure the system is set to boot from the floppy and the CD before it boots from the hard drive.
If your system refuses to boot from the XP CD, don't worry -- you should be able to run the routine by inserting the disc while your old version of Windows is already running and letting the disc autoplay.



3, once the process gets under way, you'll need to specify whether you're performing an upgrade or a new installation. Upgrade Installation lets you install XP without overwriting your data and applications, but you may also carry forward accumulated software problems. Choose New Installation to install XP in a clean boot partition.
If your system contains multiple hard drive partitions, the setup routine will let you choose the partition where the OS should be installed. To have XP boot as the sole OS, choose the C: drive and hit C to continue on the next screen. You should then have the opportunity to choose your file system. Choose the NT File System (NTFS) unless you plan to dual-boot XP with your current OS. Choosing the quick format avoids the process of checking the disk for bad sectors. To play it safe, opt for the regular format.
Enter other information as requested during the installation process. Some or all of this information, including networking settings, will be taken care of when you restore files and settings later.
Tip: If the XP setup routine freezes for more than 15 minutes, shut down your system for a minute or so, then reboot.

4,


When XP boots at long last, install any drivers you downloaded in Step 2, following the directions provided with the drivers. We installed drivers for our test system's Netgear MA101 wireless USB adapter to allow Internet access through our wireless network.
Tip: With wireless adapters using WEP encryption, don't forget to enter the WEP encryption key after installing XP and any necessary additional drivers.



5,

To transfer the files and settings you saved in Step 1, run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard by choosing Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. Move past the first screen by clicking the Next button, then choose New Computer on the following screen. When the next screen asks for the XP CD, select the last option to indicate you've already collected your files and settings. Specify their location on the following screen.


6,

Point your browser to Microsoft Windows Update once you get your Internet connection working. Scan for updates and install at least the critical ones. You may also want to download available driver updates.
If your display doesn't look right, check resolution and refresh-rate settings. Set your monitor's refresh rate to at least 70Hz. For other problems, try downloading the most recent driver versions for the appropriate hardware. Now you can reinstall your applications. Most should work fine with XP, but some older disk utilities won't.