Clean install using WinXP Pro upgrade

[DerekG]

Easy question: I'm a licensed owner of Windows XP Home
Upgrade and Windows 98SE. I'm thinking of purchasing
WinXP Pro Upgrade edition. Can I do a clean install from
this upgrade version? I thought I read somewhere that
WinXP Pro Upgrade required an earlier O/S to already be
installed (as opposed to just validating I have an earlier
version).

Thx in advance.

DG

 

[DerekG]

I found XP Pro Upgrade for $129 (after rebate) at Amazon.
But my question is regarding a new "clean" installation
(as opposed to an upgrade over an installed Win98) will
work with an retail upgrade version.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It is possible to perform a clean installation using an Upgrade
CD.

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.


Bruce Chambers

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[David]

I thought of buying the upgrade as well, but got tired of
going through the upgrade procedure, so I just bought full
copies of XP.

If you go to www.outpost.com and buy any piece of computer
hardware, you can buy oem XP for $99 (home) and $129 (Pro)
full versions. The cost of any hardware plus the OEM is
cheaper than buying the full boxed version by alot...

Donald

You don't need to have the old OS installed. Merely have the CD to slip
in the drive to prove you own a copy.

--

David

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