Downgrading XP home to 2000 Server Pro

G

Guest

I need to downgrade (?) my new Dell from xp home to windows 2000 server pro.
Has anyone attempted this? When I insert my 2000 disk, I get a warning stating the setup is disabled because it is a lower version.
Thanks, jb
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

You'll need to wipe your drive clean and
perform a clean install of Server.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I need to downgrade (?) my new Dell from xp home to windows 2000 server pro.
| Has anyone attempted this? When I insert my 2000 disk, I get a warning stating the setup is disabled
because it is a lower version.
| Thanks, jb
 
N

NobodyMan

I need to downgrade (?) my new Dell from xp home to windows 2000 server pro.
Has anyone attempted this? When I insert my 2000 disk, I get a warning stating the setup is disabled because it is a lower version.
Thanks, jb

WTF are you asking?

First, there is no version of a MS product known as Windows 2000
Server Pro. There is Windows 2000, AND Windows 2000 Server, but no
combination of the two.

Secondly, this would not be an upgrade or a downgrade. XP and Win2K
Server are two distinctly different Operating Systems with radically
different purposes.

Now, if you are trying to install Win2K (Not Server, or even Pro since
there is no Pro version of 2000) over XP, OK, then you will get this
message. The only way to install that is to reformat the drive and
install 2K. You may even need to repartition; I'm not sure about that
as I've never tried it.
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Greetings --

There is no "rollback" to Win2K. To replace WinXP with an earlier
OS, you'll have to boot from the appropriate boot disk, format the
hard drive, and install. There is no supported downgrade path or
technique. Additionally, there is no supported upgrade or downgrade
path to migrate between a workstation OS and a server OS, in either
direction. A clean installation is required.

Simply boot from the Win2K installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and/or format the system partition as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the
order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH


jmbucci said:
I need to downgrade (?) my new Dell from xp home to windows 2000 server pro.
Has anyone attempted this? When I insert my 2000 disk, I get a
warning stating the setup is disabled because it is a lower version.
 
C

CS

I need to downgrade (?) my new Dell from xp home to windows 2000 server pro.
Has anyone attempted this? When I insert my 2000 disk, I get a warning stating the setup is disabled because it is a lower version.
Thanks, jb

You can't do it. You'll have to install Win 2000 Server clean, or in
a dual boot configuration with XP Home.
 
S

Steve Nielsen

Carey said:
Also, be aware that your Dell support and warranty will be forfeited
if you change operating systems.

Obviously if you don't use the OEM OS there won't be any support for it,
but you're wrong about the warranty; Dell limited warranty doesn't even
cover the factory installed OS or any other pre-installed software in
the first place.

"This limited warranty does not cover:

Software, including the operating system and software added to the
Dell-branded hardware products through our factory-integration system,
third-party software, or the reloading of software."

Dell used to have a Warranty FAQ on their site that plainly stated the
warranty is not affected by using a different OS.

Steve
 
C

CS

Obviously if you don't use the OEM OS there won't be any support for it,
but you're wrong about the warranty; Dell limited warranty doesn't even
cover the factory installed OS or any other pre-installed software in
the first place.

"This limited warranty does not cover:

Software, including the operating system and software added to the
Dell-branded hardware products through our factory-integration system,
third-party software, or the reloading of software."

Dell used to have a Warranty FAQ on their site that plainly stated the
warranty is not affected by using a different OS.

Steve

Steve:

Dell tech support in the past has refused to provide telephone support
to users who have installed a different operating system on their Dell
machines other than the one the machine originally shipped with. I'm
not refuting what you say, however, it appears that not all support
folks at Dell are using the same rule book.

Regards.
 
S

Steve Nielsen

CS said:
Steve:

Dell tech support in the past has refused to provide telephone support
to users who have installed a different operating system on their Dell
machines other than the one the machine originally shipped with. I'm
not refuting what you say, however, it appears that not all support
folks at Dell are using the same rule book.

Regards.


Not surprised at all, CS. I've dealt with Dell tech support people, too,
and they don't have a real good track record of OEM OS support anyway if
you ask me. Perhaps they've changed their support policies, but what I
wanted to point out is that according to the written Dell warranty
information they only cover their hardware, so as far as warranty
support goes it does not matter what OS or software is installed.

If the support person determines the problem to be OS related (and again
that wouldn't surprise me) and the OS is not the OEM that Dell
installed, then how can they support it?

Also, FWIW, I *never* call Dell anymore, it's a complete waste of time.
Instead I submit support tickets online with them. For one thing, email
has no accent :) .

Steve
 

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