Installing XP with an upgrade CD on a "blank" hard drive

[Patrick Michael]

If I buy this version of Windows XP (I am a college student) -
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=37-116-192&depa=0,
will it let me do a "clean install" of XP if there are no operating systems
currently on the drive? In the past, the upgrade CDs would allow you to
upgrade if you simply inserted a CD of your old operating system. I don't
feel like going through the additional step of installing of Windows
Millenium if I don't have to.

Is this still the case?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Patrick;
The upgrade can perform a Clean Installation.
You will be asked to insert the Windows ME CD for a few minutes to verify
qualification for upgrade.

Be sure you are in compliance with the EULA.
The Academic version has different requirements than a regular retail.

 

[Patrick Michael]

Patrick;
The upgrade can perform a Clean Installation.
You will be asked to insert the Windows ME CD for a few minutes to verify
qualification for upgrade.

Be sure you are in compliance with the EULA.
The Academic version has different requirements than a regular retail.

I have a plain old OEM Windows ME CD that we got with the computer. I
assume this will work, then. The machine had a hard drive failure, so I
figured it was time to upgrade to XP anyhow. I don't want to go through the
hastle of installing Windows ME first if I don't have to.

From what I can tell, I'm in compliance with the EULA for the Academic
Requirements. I go to a state university, which seems in accordance with
Microsoft's guidelines. Anything else I need to know?

 

[Guest]

If I buy this version of Windows XP (I am a college student) -
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=37-116-192&depa=0,
will it let me do a "clean install" of XP if there are no operating systems
currently on the drive? In the past, the upgrade CDs would allow you to
upgrade if you simply inserted a CD of your old operating system. I don't
feel like going through the additional step of installing of Windows
Millenium if I don't have to.

Is this still the case?

Yes, you can upgrade by using your old Microsoft OS disk, it will ask for it during installation.

But why buy an upgrade when you can get Genuine MS OEM full version cheaper???
Recommend XP-PRO and not Home Edition, many more features.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Patrick;
You should be OK.
But some OEM CDs will not work for the upgrade as described.
In this case, you would need to install Windows ME then perform an upgrade
to Windows XP.

 

[Patrick Michael]

Patrick;
You should be OK.
But some OEM CDs will not work for the upgrade as described.
In this case, you would need to install Windows ME then perform an upgrade
to Windows XP.

OK, thanks for the information!

 

[Andrew Murray]

Yes, that's generally how it works - the previous OS doesn't need to be
installed, just insert the CD when prompted.

 

[Alex Nichol]

If I buy this version of Windows XP (I am a college student) -
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=37-116-192&depa=0,
will it let me do a "clean install" of XP if there are no operating systems
currently on the drive? In the past, the upgrade CDs would allow you to
upgrade if you simply inserted a CD of your old operating system. I don't
feel like going through the additional step of installing of Windows
Millenium if I don't have to.

Provided your ME disk is a 'proper' one with a Win9x folder of CAB
files, you can do the same thing. When Setup asks where Windows is,
show it the ME disk in the drive, when a blue screen asks for a CD put
the XP one back
OEM restore disks, that have a complete image of an installed system,
instead of CAB files will not play - you have to restore first

 

[Bruce Chambers]

If I buy this version of Windows XP (I am a college student) -
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=37-116-192&depa=0,
will it let me do a "clean install" of XP if there are no operating systems
currently on the drive? In the past, the upgrade CDs would allow you to
upgrade if you simply inserted a CD of your old operating system. I don't
feel like going through the additional step of installing of Windows
Millenium if I don't have to.

Is this still the case?

It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier
OS.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

--

Bruce Chambers

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