I want to install XP Pro over an existing XP Media version. I have my
hologram sticker with the key for Pro but only a cd copy of the OS with SP2.
What is the process to boot, reformat c: and install XP Pro?
Since you will be clean installing, the fact that there is an existing
XP Media version on the drive is completely irrelevant. The procedure
is exactly the same regardless of what is on the drive, or even
whether there is *anything* on the drive.
Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).
You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm
or here
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
or here
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
However, why do you want to do this? Are you aware that XP
Professional is a superset of XP Media Edition? There is nothing in
Professional that's not in Media Edition, with one exception--the
ability to join a domain. Since very few home users need the ability
to join a domain, it's unlikely that you will achieve anything by
doing this.
