computer won't let me reinstall Win XP

[Guest]

My son got a new computer, so he wants to give his old computer to a friend
who can't afford to upgrade right now. We want to do a clean install of XP,
but when I try, Win gives me the message I'm trying to install an older
version of XP and then ends the install. I know it's the correct CD for this
computer; all I can imagine is that it has SP2 installed, along with all the
usual updates, etc... Should I uninstall SP 2 via the Control Panel & then
try again?

We really want to do a clean install; we've run Norton's, Adware & Spybot,
but the system seems to have some glitches, so thought it best to try & give
his friend a completely clean machine.

Suggestions appreciated!

Jane

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Jane,

You need to boot up with CD in your Drive to start installation. I
suggest have a look here:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

You don't need to do anything else.

hth

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My son got a new computer, so he wants to give his old computer to a
friend who can't afford to upgrade right now. We want to do a clean
install of XP, but when I try, Win gives me the message I'm trying to
install an older version of XP and then ends the install. I know
it's the correct CD for this computer; all I can imagine is that it
has SP2 installed, along with all the usual updates, etc...

Yes, that's the reason for the message. You're trying to install a pre-SP2
version over SP2. But you're doing it wrong, and this doesn't matter. See
below.

Should
I uninstall SP 2 via the Control Panel & then try again?

No.


We really want to do a clean install; we've run Norton's, Adware &
Spybot, but the system seems to have some glitches, so thought it
best to try & give his friend a completely clean machine.

When you install Windows cleanly, it doesn't matter what version is already
installed, or even if anything is already installed. A clean installation
formats the drive and wipes out everything. You can't format the Windows
drive from within Windows, since that would leave Windows without a leg to
stand on.
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://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[neil]

You need to boot from the XP CD is that what you are doing. Have a look at
this link:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

hope that solves it for you.
Neil