Disk that came with Dell Computer

[Kitty Scott]

Hi All,

I'm in kind of a strange position. 2 Years ago, I bought a Dell Dimension
8200 with XP Home Edition installed.

I have recently purchased web software that requires PWS or IIS and so I've
been considering upgrading to XP Professional.

Lo and behold, I went looking through my Dell support disks and they sent me
the XP Professional operating system for use with the computer rather than
XP Home Edition.

Can anyone tell me if I can actually use this disk and if I can, can I
install the operating system without doing a complete re-write of the hard
drive?

Would appreciate some advice.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Kitty;
I think you can perform an upgrade with the Dell CD.
Dell does it differently than many other OEMs.
The only thing you can do is try.

 

[Michael Stevens]

Hi All,

I'm in kind of a strange position. 2 Years ago, I bought a Dell
Dimension 8200 with XP Home Edition installed.

I have recently purchased web software that requires PWS or IIS and
so I've been considering upgrading to XP Professional.

Lo and behold, I went looking through my Dell support disks and they
sent me the XP Professional operating system for use with the
computer rather than XP Home Edition.

Can anyone tell me if I can actually use this disk and if I can, can I
install the operating system without doing a complete re-write of the
hard drive?

Would appreciate some advice.

(e-mail address removed)

Well, I think you should call Dell and tell them they made a mistake and ask
how you can send it back for the Home version. *-0
<joking>
If the XP Pro CD has a CD Key on the packaging, you can probably use it, but
if your CD key is on the case and you have Home installed, the CD key may
not work. You would have to try it to find out. Start the stall from Windows
and select upgrade if the CD key is accepted. This will upgrade the system
to Pro and leave all your application and setting intact. As with all
upgrade, make sure you back up all important data not available from other
media before doing the upgrade.
If the CD Key is not accepted, unless you can convince Dell to supply you
with a Pro Key or a Home disk for your existing CD key, the Pro CD will be
useless.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
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