format disk using upgrade version

[Sharon]

Can I format my hard drive when I install Windows XP
upgrade? I would like to start out fresh and new but not
sure if it is possible. I have a machine that started out
with Windows 98 that was installed by Dell then I upgraded
to Windows ME and now I want to start fresh with Windows
XP. Can I format my disk first? I have my doubts on this
because I bought Windows XP upgrade. I have an actual
Microsoft disk for Windows ME but the WIndows 98 is on a
Dell disk but, I have certificates of authenticity for
both 98 and ME. I have not opened the Windows XP upgrade
box yet.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Can I format my hard drive when I install Windows XP
upgrade? I would like to start out fresh and new but not
sure if it is possible. I have a machine that started out
with Windows 98 that was installed by Dell then I upgraded
to Windows ME and now I want to start fresh with Windows
XP. Can I format my disk first? I have my doubts on this
because I bought Windows XP upgrade. I have an actual
Microsoft disk for Windows ME but the WIndows 98 is on a
Dell disk but, I have certificates of authenticity for
both 98 and ME. I have not opened the Windows XP upgrade
box yet.

Yes, you can. The requirement to use an upgrade version is to
*own* a previous qualifying version's installation CD (not an OEM
restore CD), not to have it installed. When setup doesn't find a
previous qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to
insert its CD as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous
version's CD, and follow the prompts. Everything proceeds quite
normally and quite legitimately.

However, my recommendation is that you at least try an upgrade
first. It's much easier, usually works very well, and if problems
develop, you can always change your mind and do a clean
installation.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Can I format my hard drive when I install Windows XP
upgrade? I would like to start out fresh and new but not
sure if it is possible. I have a machine that started out
with Windows 98 that was installed by Dell then I upgraded
to Windows ME and now I want to start fresh with Windows
XP.

you can use your ME CD as evidence. There are two ways to go about it:

Boot the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement
take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select
and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted
at the next stage. When it asks where Windows is, put your ME upgrade
CD in the drive for a moment (this will not work with most 'OEM'
restore type CDs but presumably your ME one is a regular retail one)

or

Run the CD from the existing system. Enter Install, change Upgrade to
New Install, then when it asks you to confirm where, you can hit ESC and
get the chance to select the current partition, delete it, and create
a new RAW one, going on to format it as part of the setup

This will have detected the existing system as qualifying for upgrade,
and won't need to be shown the CD

First make sure the hardware is adequate - *more* than the recommended
128MB or RAM (preferably 256, though I got by on 192 in the betas), and
say 400MHz up CPU. Personally though I would do an upgrade in the first
instance - you can always do the clean install if it does not work out.
Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm