Reinstalling XP

[Matt]

I have an older computer that came with a Windows XP Upgrade CD. I am
trying to reinstall with that CD but I get a message saying the version of
Windows on my hard drive is newer than the CD and will not let me proceed. I
have everything backed up I want, how do I get around this?

 

[Big_Al]

I have an older computer that came with a Windows XP Upgrade CD. I am
trying to reinstall with that CD but I get a message saying the version of
Windows on my hard drive is newer than the CD and will not let me proceed. I
have everything backed up I want, how do I get around this?

And the manufacturer didn't send you both the older OS and the new OS?
And you've contacted them to see if they could send you the older OS?

Its an upgrade so you have to have an earlier version. You probably
have applied a service pack to the current version on your hard drive
thus its a later version than the one on your CD.

You could slipstream the SP3 into your CD and make a new one, at least
it would then be the save version and might let you continue, its not an
upgrade technically, but at least its not a downgrade, and that's the
current issue.

I won't tell you to find a buddy that had win98 and use it as that would
technically not be *your* upgrade.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an older computer that came with a Windows XP Upgrade CD. I am
trying to reinstall with that CD but I get a message saying the version of
Windows on my hard drive is newer than the CD and will not let me proceed. I
have everything backed up I want, how do I get around this?

You get that message because you have a service pack that's not on the
CD, but is installed on the drive.

But it doesn't matter. You're doing the reinstallation incorrectly. If
you do it correctly, it doesn't matter what's on the drive. Just boot
from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if necessary to
accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean installation
(delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when prompted, then
create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Note that you *can* do a clean installation from a Upgrade CD without
regard to what's on the drive, or even whether there is *anything* on
the drive. Despite what some people think, an Upgrade copy *can* do a
clean installation as long as you own a CD of a previous qualifying
version to show it as proof of ownership when prompted to do so. Most
people have a Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if you don't, you
can buy one inexpensively someplace like eBay.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

And the manufacturer didn't send you both the older OS and the new OS?
And you've contacted them to see if they could send you the older OS?

Its an upgrade so you have to have an earlier version. You probably
have applied a service pack to the current version on your hard drive
thus its a later version than the one on your CD.

You could slipstream the SP3 into your CD and make a new one,

Please note that although that might be a good thing to do, it's not
Matt's problem. His problem is that he's trying to do the installation
incorrectly, and needs to do it by booting from the CD. Please see the
message I sent.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have an older computer that came with a Windows XP Upgrade CD. I am
trying to reinstall with that CD but I get a message saying the version of
Windows on my hard drive is newer than the CD and will not let me proceed.
I
have everything backed up I want, how do I get around this?

As noted, you're just doing the wrong thing for a "clean" install, and to
do it correctly, you need to have on hand another Windows install CD, such
as a Windows 98SE CD. *If* the XP version is XP Pro, you can also use a
Windows 2000 CD, but that won't work for XP Home.

Setup will halt at the point where it asks you for the qualifier CD. You
can't proceed till you get one.

HTH
-pk

 

[Big_Al]

Please note that although that might be a good thing to do, it's not
Matt's problem. His problem is that he's trying to do the installation
incorrectly, and needs to do it by booting from the CD. Please see the
message I sent.

Yes, I read it. I have my old Win98, I never throw anything away. So
its never been an issue to get over that hurdle. I'm glad you
responded, to both us.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, I read it. I have my old Win98, I never throw anything away. So
its never been an issue to get over that hurdle. I'm glad you
responded, to both us.

Good, I'm glad I was able to help.