HD Crash

[Steve]

My HD has crashed. Computer was purchased with Windows ME
but I later later upgraded to XP free when it was
introduced a few months later. Am wondering what the best
way is to get XP installed on replacement HD. I feel it
will be too time consuming to restore ME from CD ROMS
that came with computer and then go through the upgrade
process with the XP upgrade disk. Would I be better off
to just purchase a full edition of Windows XP or would
Microsoft send me a free disk if I could prove ownership
of the XP upgrade CD ROM?
Thanks!

 

[SteveL]

You should not have to do this, install XP it will ask for
the ME CD pull the XP CD out put in the ME hit enter, XP
installation will read it then continue, don't forget to
swap the CD's again.

 

[LVTravel]

You don't state what system you have but Dell shipped an OEM "Upgrade" CD to
upgrade their ME systems with XP Home. If this is the type of disk you
have, you may be able to use the upgrade disk (boot from the CD) and see if
it will install XP. You may have to place the ME disk (it should be labeled
as your Operating System install disk They actually shipped an OEM ME
disk.) as a qualifying product in the drive when asked. You should also
have received the product key on the original sleeve that the XP CD came in.

Try it before you go out and purchase a new XP install CD.

 

[sgopus]

When using an upgrade cd, it should ask you to insert the
previous version media (cd/floppy) rather than requiring
you to install it first.

 

[Alex Nichol]

My HD has crashed. Computer was purchased with Windows ME
but I later later upgraded to XP free when it was
introduced a few months later. Am wondering what the best
way is to get XP installed on replacement HD. I feel it
will be too time consuming to restore ME from CD ROMS
that came with computer and then go through the upgrade
process with the XP upgrade disk. Would I be better off
to just purchase a full edition of Windows XP or would
Microsoft send me a free disk if I could prove ownership

They will not exchange an upgrade CD for a full one (higher price). It
is not really such a heavy task to do a basic install of ME (don't
bother with any of the extras the makers have supplied, and then run
your Upgrade CD from it, and that is the only course open short of
spending money on a full XP version or on a 'retail' type Win98 or ME CD
just to use as evidence to a clean install with the upgrade disk