Simple Method:
When you boot, choose XP Professional (on D: ). Make a new folder on C: named xfer. (C:\xfer.) Copy all your desired personal files to C:\xfer.
NOTE: Any files which are the result of "programs" must have the same "programs" installed on C: in order to run/work. Example; if you copy MS WORD ".doc" files over to C:, MS WORD must be installed on C: as well, or else they will open in WORDPAD. Files with unique extensions (such as .pdf for Adobe Acrobat Reader) will not open unless Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed on C:.
When copying, you may wish to copy entire folders to c:\xfer so you know where they came from (when they were on D: ) if you wish to copy them back to the same folders on C:.
ie; copy your entire Desktop folder from
D:\Documents and Settings\
YOUR_USER_NAME\Desktop to place them back into
C:\Documents and Settings\
YOUR_USER_NAME\Desktop. Same with "Favorites" etc.
If you wish to save emails, post back indicating what mail utility you use. ie; Outlook or Outlook
Express etc. It's a bit more complicated so if you want to save these we'll address that as a seperate issue
before you carry out the below instructions and get rid of XP Professional.
After you've copied all your files to C:, right click on
My Computer, click
Properties, Advanced, then
Settings under the
Startup and Recovery section. Under
System startup,
ensure that XP Home (on C: ) is highlighted in the box for the
Default Operating System, then remove the check mark from the box for "Time to display list of operating systems".
Click OK, OK to exit from the My Computer properties. Restart your machine.
It should boot directly to XP Home on C:. Ensure your files are in c:\xfer. Then open My Computer or Windows Explorer and right click on your D: drive and choose FORMAT. Format the drive with the file system you want (FAT32 or NTFS). After that, XP Professional should be gone.
Now, you stated; "
... i want to take off professional and re-install xp..."
If you
really want to
reinstall XP, be aware that
all unique programs you have , and, all MS Updates will have to be
reinstalled.
So, if that's what you want, after D: has been formatted, copy your xfer folder (C:\xfer) over to D:. Then copy any and all personal files which reside on
C: over to this folder on D: as well.
Put your appropriate XP CD (Home) into your CDROM drive (if/when the CD autoruns when you insert it, just click Cancel or Close the window).
Restart your machine.
You may have to enter your machines
bios to set the CDROM drive as the first boot device to boot from your XP CD.
When it boots, choose "Setup Windows XP" (by hitting ENTER). During the setup,
ENSURE ENSURE ENSURE you choose the C: partition/drive to setup on.
Better yet, if D: is a physically seperate hard disk, (with the machine off of course) remove the data and power cables from the D: drive before you reinstall windows.
During the setup, when given the opportunity to format the C: partition before the installation begins, do so. This will give you a totally clean/fresh install.
Once it's completed setup and running smoothly, power down and reconnect the D: drive/disk.
