is there an equivalent command in Win XP to the CTL/ALT/DEL
Yup. Its Ctrl/Alt/Del
exactly as with Win2K. {Edit: in Win2K Ctrl/Alt/Del gets you "Windows Security", and Task Manager is an option from that dialogue box (Click on Task Manager or press "T"). In XP, Ctrl/Alt/Del goes straight to Task Manager and Shut Down options are found in a Menu Bar option.}
I understand that any re-install would overwrite what’s there already. Is that correct?
I've not done this but understand from "Richard" in another thread that this is a benign procedure that "repairs the installation as is possible with Win2K.
I think that there is something for you in that Microsoft procedure even though you are not technically upgrading from an older OS.
Worth giving it a second look, I would think. As long as the original partition is still intact and safe, what have you got to lose?
No original disk, eh? Trust you've thought about the possibility of Activation difficulties.