Help re-installing Windows XP upgrade edition

[Stephen Parker]

Hello, Im considering completely reinstalling windows on
my machine. I have the upgrade version of windows XP
professional. Is there an option to completely reformat
and reinstall the upgrade version, or do I have to
find/reinstall the older version first ( windows 98
uck...). Also, I have 3 hard drives- will it just
reformat the c: drive or all of them. Any words of
advice before I byte the bullet?

thanks
steve

 

[Alex Nichol]

Hello, Im considering completely reinstalling windows on
my machine. I have the upgrade version of windows XP
professional. Is there an option to completely reformat
and reinstall the upgrade version, or do I have to
find/reinstall the older version first ( windows 98
uck...).

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

I think that this will have detected that it was a legitimate upgrade,
and not even ask for the previous system's CD as evidence, but am not
certain on that

If it does need evidence, and you only have a 'restore' type Win98 CD,
so it does not get recognised on putting it in the drive when the setup
asks where windows is, you would have to restore with that first, then
follow the same method. That will certainly have checked the
eligibility before doing the format