upgrade me to xp pro

I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that there's an os
"ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean install to that disk or
any other disk. When I do a clean install it runs okay, so there doesn't seem
to be any hardware problems. The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has
been validated on MS web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd
as valid.
What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it there's
an os there?
Could there be info missing from MBR?

acdskye wrote:
> I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> there's an os there?
> Could there be info missing from MBR?

Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP Professional? Or an
OEM?
OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.

If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does recognize
the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install? That is a
possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs. You just have to
have the qualifying media available (the Windows ME CD) when doing the
install.

May want to read over the information here:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

The upgrade is a retail version.
I would rather do it as an upgrade in order to save data, programs, and
settings.
This problem has given me one more reason for doing it as an upgrade and
that is to learn why it doesn't work.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> acdskye wrote:
> > I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> > there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> > install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> > it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> > The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> > web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> > What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> > there's an os there?
> > Could there be info missing from MBR?
>
> Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP Professional? Or an
> OEM?
> OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.
>
> If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does recognize
> the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install? That is a
> possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs. You just have to
> have the qualifying media available (the Windows ME CD) when doing the
> install.
>
> May want to read over the information here:
> http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

acdskye wrote:
> I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> there's an os there?
>
> Could there be info missing from MBR?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP
> Professional? Or an OEM?
>
> OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.
>
> If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does
> recognize the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install?
> That is a possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs.
> You just have to have the qualifying media available (the Windows
> ME CD) when doing the install.
>
> May want to read over the information here:
> http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

acdskye wrote:
> The upgrade is a retail version.
>
> I would rather do it as an upgrade in order to save data,
> programs, and settings.
>
> This problem has given me one more reason for doing it as an
> upgrade and that is to learn why it doesn't work.

I still point you to the link I provided.

Also - you are leaving out enough information that it's difficult (at best)
to give you an answer.

You say, "... the xp upgrade not recognizing that there's an os (ME) already
on the drive ..."
How do you know this? You put in the CD while you were in Windows ME and it
autoran or you opened the CD to start it running and "upgrade" was/was not
an option?

Or are you trying to boot from the CD instead and perform the install that
way?

Also - have you uninstalled any antivirus/antispyware/firewall software that
may be preventing you from performing the upgrade properly?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

After reading your question I reread the instructions for the umpteenth
time. I see there are two ways to interpet them. It tells me to turn on
computer and then insert cd. I took that to mean before os booted so that it
booted from cd. Should I actually be loading cd after the system boots?

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> acdskye wrote:
> > I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> > there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> > install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> > it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> > The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> > web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> > What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> > there's an os there?
> >
> > Could there be info missing from MBR?
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
> > Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP
> > Professional? Or an OEM?
> >
> > OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.
> >
> > If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does
> > recognize the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install?
> > That is a possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs.
> > You just have to have the qualifying media available (the Windows
> > ME CD) when doing the install.
> >
> > May want to read over the information here:
> > http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
>
> acdskye wrote:
> > The upgrade is a retail version.
> >
> > I would rather do it as an upgrade in order to save data,
> > programs, and settings.
> >
> > This problem has given me one more reason for doing it as an
> > upgrade and that is to learn why it doesn't work.
>
> I still point you to the link I provided.
>
> Also - you are leaving out enough information that it's difficult (at best)
> to give you an answer.
>
> You say, "... the xp upgrade not recognizing that there's an os (ME) already
> on the drive ..."
> How do you know this? You put in the CD while you were in Windows ME and it
> autoran or you opened the CD to start it running and "upgrade" was/was not
> an option?
>
> Or are you trying to boot from the CD instead and perform the install that
> way?
>
> Also - have you uninstalled any antivirus/antispyware/firewall software that
> may be preventing you from performing the upgrade properly?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

acdskye wrote:
> I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> there's an os there?
>
> Could there be info missing from MBR?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP
> Professional? Or an OEM?
>
> OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.
>
> If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does
> recognize the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install?
> That is a possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs.
> You just have to have the qualifying media available (the Windows
> ME CD) when doing the install.
>
> May want to read over the information here:
> http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

acdskye wrote:
> The upgrade is a retail version.
>
> I would rather do it as an upgrade in order to save data,
> programs, and settings.
>
> This problem has given me one more reason for doing it as an
> upgrade and that is to learn why it doesn't work.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> I still point you to the link I provided.
>
> Also - you are leaving out enough information that it's difficult
> (at best) to give you an answer.
>
> You say, "... the xp upgrade not recognizing that there's an os
> (ME) already on the drive ..."
> How do you know this? You put in the CD while you were in Windows
> ME and it autoran or you opened the CD to start it running and
> "upgrade" was/was not an option?
>
> Or are you trying to boot from the CD instead and perform the
> install that way?
>
> Also - have you uninstalled any antivirus/antispyware/firewall
> software that may be preventing you from performing the upgrade
> properly?

acdskye wrote:
> After reading your question I reread the instructions for the
> umpteenth time. I see there are two ways to interpet them. It
> tells me to turn on computer and then insert cd. I took that to
> mean before os booted so that it booted from cd. Should I actually
> be loading cd after the system boots?

Boot system as is - with Windows ME.
Log in.
Put in Windows XP upgrade CD.
Let it autorun or open the drive to make it autorun/run setup from the CD.
Choose to "upgrade".

May want to read over this first:

How to prepare to upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316639

Straight from this article:

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP
http://www.support.microsoft.com/kb/316941
----
How toupgrade to Windows XP:
1. Start your computer, and then insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the
CD-ROM drive.
2. If Windows automatically detects the CD-ROM, click Install Windows to
start the Windows XP Setup Wizard.
If Windows does not automatically detect the CD-ROM, click Start, click
Run, type the following command, and then click OK:
CD-ROM drive letter:\setup.exe
3. When you are prompted to select an installation type, select Upgrade
(the default setting), and then click Next.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade.
----

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks for the help. It's usually the simple things that cause the most
problems.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> acdskye wrote:
> > I'm having a problem with the xp upgrade not recognizing that
> > there's an os "ME" already on the drive. It will let me do a clean
> > install to that disk or any other disk. When I do a clean install
> > it runs okay, so there doesn't seem to be any hardware problems.
> > The ME is an OEM version from Gateway and has been validated on MS
> > web site. The XP does recognize/accept the ME restore cd as valid.
> > What is the file/files XP looks for on the hard drive that tell it
> > there's an os there?
> >
> > Could there be info missing from MBR?
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
> > Did you purchase a retail/upgrade verison of Windows XP
> > Professional? Or an OEM?
> >
> > OEMs cannot upgrade anything - clean installs only.
> >
> > If the Windows XP Professional (if it is an upgrade only CD) does
> > recognize the Windows ME CD as valid - why not do a clean install?
> > That is a possibility with an Upgrade version of Windows XP CDs.
> > You just have to have the qualifying media available (the Windows
> > ME CD) when doing the install.
> >
> > May want to read over the information here:
> > http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
>
> acdskye wrote:
> > The upgrade is a retail version.
> >
> > I would rather do it as an upgrade in order to save data,
> > programs, and settings.
> >
> > This problem has given me one more reason for doing it as an
> > upgrade and that is to learn why it doesn't work.
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
> > I still point you to the link I provided.
> >
> > Also - you are leaving out enough information that it's difficult
> > (at best) to give you an answer.
> >
> > You say, "... the xp upgrade not recognizing that there's an os
> > (ME) already on the drive ..."
> > How do you know this? You put in the CD while you were in Windows
> > ME and it autoran or you opened the CD to start it running and
> > "upgrade" was/was not an option?
> >
> > Or are you trying to boot from the CD instead and perform the
> > install that way?
> >
> > Also - have you uninstalled any antivirus/antispyware/firewall
> > software that may be preventing you from performing the upgrade
> > properly?
>
> acdskye wrote:
> > After reading your question I reread the instructions for the
> > umpteenth time. I see there are two ways to interpet them. It
> > tells me to turn on computer and then insert cd. I took that to
> > mean before os booted so that it booted from cd. Should I actually
> > be loading cd after the system boots?
>
> Boot system as is - with Windows ME.
> Log in.
> Put in Windows XP upgrade CD.
> Let it autorun or open the drive to make it autorun/run setup from the CD.
> Choose to "upgrade".
>
> May want to read over this first:
>
> How to prepare to upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to
> Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316639
>
> Straight from this article:
>
> How to install or upgrade to Windows XP
> http://www.support.microsoft.com/kb/316941
> ----
> How toupgrade to Windows XP:
> 1. Start your computer, and then insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the
> CD-ROM drive.
> 2. If Windows automatically detects the CD-ROM, click Install Windows to
> start the Windows XP Setup Wizard.
> If Windows does not automatically detect the CD-ROM, click Start, click
> Run, type the following command, and then click OK:
> CD-ROM drive letter:\setup.exe
> 3. When you are prompted to select an installation type, select Upgrade
> (the default setting), and then click Next.
> 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade.
> ----
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>