Upgrading from Win XP SP2 Professional Pirated to Licensed

Ppl!!.. Just decided to blog this in case anyone got stuck like me..

I am using a Pirated version of the Win XP SP2 Professional version and decided to purchase the licensed version to get rid of the nagging warnings from Windows that I am not doing the right thing.. I think it got to me finally :))..

So I went ahead and bought a personal OEM version of my own Win XP SP 2 Professional for 209 Sing $.. Cool huh :))..

So came home and started up my comp and inserted the CD. It did some checks and told me that it cannot upgrade from my current version and that I would need to do a new installation.

So I said ok go ahead pal!.. When It was all done.. I found that I was stuck with 2 version of Windows.. one my old one and the other the new one.. and to my horror the new one dint have any of my old installations meaning none of the applications I use..

Ok so I decided to uninstall this new XP and try it all over again.. I went to Control Panel and checked out the add/remove software option. I couldnt remove it from there.

I did some reading on windows support site and checked out the osuninst.exe command in DOS prompt. I even tried editing the registry as suggested by the windows support site. But all to no avail!!.. I kept getting hit with the message that "necessary registry information is missing"!!

I did a little bit of more reading in some non microsoft sites and came about some text that osuninst cannot be used for any new installations of Win XP and can only be used for upgrades!

Damn!!.. Almost 2 hours wasted!!...

Next plan was to first remove the 2 options while I was booting and make it boot to my old version. So I read about this and found the file I was looking for..

boot.ini

To edit this file in Win XP

1.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
-or- Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2.
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
3.
Under System Startup, click Edit.

U can find more information here if you need it .. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

After I finished doing this.. I was able to boot normally to my old version of Windows..

I just went ahead and deleted my new Windows XP installation folders in D drive ... like the windows folder, program files and documents and settings folders..

Thats it I had managed to undo whatever I had in past 4 - 5 hours!!.. cool..

Now back to square one...

So what did I do.. I tried the windows way... Clicked on that blue star that caused the whole problem in my taskbar. It took me to a windows page where I had the option to download a
tool for updating my license key. So I just downloaded that tool and it asked me for my license key, I entered the license key from the new CD.. The sticker that was stuck behind the cover of the cd and voila.. My problems were solved!..

I stoved the new cd away and now am writing this blog to you all..

If this helps anybody or if something is not clear.. feel free to add ur comments here...

Dubai The Amazing Desert

Dubai.. Looking around the places.. The tall buildings, the big roads, the long traffic jams, the amazing malls.. You never realize that all this is actually a desert!

You cannot imagine the level of progress Dubai has had in spite of the fact that its a desert. Therez no problem with water unlike in Chennai, South India where I did all my studying, even though chennai was a coastal place there was always scarcity of water!

Once I happened to spot this construction spot in Dubai were some of the roads were being dug up for some cabling work. It amazed me to see that below the roads, there was some layer of concrete and then it was all just desert sand! I was pretty shook up and amazed at how all these buildings around me were standing in this desert sand on which walking itself is so difficult!

I would say many nations have a lot to learn from the way Dubai has progressed! Did I hear someone say Democracy is the way to go? Yeah look where democracy is taking India??..

Ok Politics is not my cup of tea.. but makes me wonder what has made Dubai grow at such an amazing pace.. No No.. its not all petrol .. in fact Dubai buys most of its petrol from Abu Dhabi.

Well more about Dubai in my next post...

Until then... 

Dubai Creek View

This weekend went to visit a relative of mine who lives alongside the creek!
I should say I was astounded at the view from their home. Here are two snaps I shot from their balcony! Imagine sitting in this balcony in a comfortable sofa and just watching the boats sail by after a tiring day at the office and a journey home from office through the busy traffic in Dubai....

Dubai creek is certainly a place to walk along or just sit and watch and you will feel lost in a world far away from all the traffic and fast pace of life around you.

The Abra

One of Dubai's most popular modes of transport across the creek is the Abra service. Transporting more than 1000's of passengers between Bur Dubai and Diera and operating round the clock, this transport service provides a breather in Dubai's fast paced life. Moving slowly across the dubai creek alongside big boats and speed boats, offering a panoramic view of the well lit buildings along the creek side, is an experience not to miss.

Being one of the cheapest modes of transport in Dubai and the only public transport system for the mass which is not affected by traffic during the peak hours, does not need advance booking, no long waits and no long queues. What more could one ask for?...

Personally I find the Abra a great mode to transport on just enjoying the mild breeze and the fantastic views. 

New York Nagaram

Hi People!

This is my first blog entry.. Actually I dont think I will find time to update this space regularly. Being an avid music lover, I would like to first start this post by updating the lyrics of my current fav track.. New York Nagaram.. I had to google for a while to get this one in english..hpe this post eases the search of others like me :)..

If there are any mistakes would appreciate the corrections..

"New York nagaram urangum neram thanimai adarndhathu
paniyum padarndhathe
kappal irangiye
kaatrum karaiyil nadanthathe
naangu kannaadi chuvargalukkulle naanum mezhuguvarththiyum
thanimai thanimaiyo thanimai thanimaiyo
kodumai kodumaiyo

New York nagaram urangum neram thanimai adarndhathu
paniyum padarndhathe
kappal irangiye
kaatrum karaiyil nadanthathe
naangu kannaadi chuvargalukkulle naanum mezhuguvarththiyum
thanimai thanimaiyo thanimai thanimaiyo
kodumai kodumaiyo

pechellaam thaalaattu pola ennai uranga vaikka nee illai
Dhinam oru muththam thandhu kaalai kaappi kodukka nee illai
vizhiyil vizhum dhoosi thannai naavaal edukka nee ingu illai
manathil ezhum kuzhappam thannai theerkka nee inge illai
naan inge neeyum ange indhath thanimaiyil nimishangal varushamaanatheno
vaan inge neelam ange indha uvamaikku iruvarum vilakkamaanatheno

New York nagaram urangum neram thanimai adarndhathu
paniyum padarndhathe

naatkurippil nooru thadavai undhan peyarai ezhudhum en penaa
ezhudhiyathum erumbu moikkap peyarum aanathenna thenaa
jill endru bhoomi irundhum indha tharunaththil kulirkaalam kodai aanadheno
vaa anbr neeyum vandhaal senthanal kooda panik katti pole aagume

New York nagaram urangum neram thanimai adarndhathu
paniyum padarndhathe
kappal irangiye
kaatrum karaiyil nadanthathe
naangu kannaadi chuvargalukkulle naanum mezhuguvarththiyumthanimai
thanimaiyo thanimai thanimaiyo
kodumai kodumaiyo"