I recently acquired a PC with Windows 2000 Professional installed and loaded some programs. I then decided I wanted to upgrade to XP Home Edition, which both the other PCs on my little home network use.

I couldn't work out how to remove 2000 so decided to load XP on top of it.

Foolishly I ignored the warnings that I shouldn't try to run XP and 2000 on the same unpartitioned disk.

The result is that I can now boot into either system, but when I'm in XP I can't run the software that is loaded on 2000 and vice versa.

I really want to get rid of 2000 and run everything off XP.

I'm thinking that the best thing to do is just format the hard disk, reload XP, and then reload all the software one program at a time.

But is there a quicker way to do this? And if I remove XP will Microsoft allow me to re-activate it?

Many thanks for your help.

First thing's first, if you have any files (documents/spreadsheets, etc.) that you will need to keep be sure to save them on a floppy disck or CD. With your computer on, put the Windows XP Install Disc in, then reboot your computer. There should be an option for a boot menu, on my computer you hit F8 (mind you this is right when the computer turns on) and choose to run off the CD-Rom Drive. It may take awhile to completely load up, but it will. When it does, choose to install a fresh copy of XP, then you will have to select your hard drive from a list and hit a certain button (it will say which) to format then install. This will indeed format your hard drive then install a fresh copy of XP on it. Now, as far as activation and such, if you bought this copy legally and have it already active, there shouldn't be a need to reactivate. Just in case, after you reinstall XP and get onto the internet, check that you are still active. If not, then activate. Oh, and in case you didn't know, you'll need to reinstall any hardware/software you previously had, so make sure you have the correct materials for such installations at your disposal. Let me know how this goes.

Many thanks, this worked perfectly

Excellent! And Thank You For Letting Me Know So!