Technical Issue

[AP]

We have 8 PCs in our company, all running Windows XP-Pro (activated but not
registered).

We also have an older Pentium-3 Dell notebook, pre-installed with Windows
98. My boss asked me to buy a retail version of Windows XP (not an upgrade)
to install in the Dell. I have to physically go to the PC store to buy the
Win-XP.

I have 2 questions:-

1. Can I use one of the existing Win-XP CDs & install in the Dell first
(without activating)? I will have to use the existing serial. When I buy
the retail version on Monday and before activating the software, I need to
change the serial to match the one I purchased in the store. I need to do
this without having to reinstal the entire Win-XP that I purchased in the
store. Is this possible? (or alternatively, could I activate by phone &
give the serial of the Win-XP from the store).

2. Where can I check if Win 98 qualifies for an upgrade to Win-XP Pro?

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[Jerry]

Win98 is a valid upgrade route to XP - it states that on the box. The
problem is hardware and/or software compatibility betwen the older laptop
and XP. You can run the Upgrade Advisor which is on the XP CDs you already
have to review any issues before purchasing the upgrade. Then go online and
download all drivers/updates/etc required.

I would not recommend using a CD from an installed system. Wait till you buy
the upgrade.

 

[Guest]

1) No the retail version of XP is not the same as Dell's (OEM) version (which
uses the serial number label on the Dell

2) I doubt it qualifies -- but I'd check with Dell.

3) Yeah, I know you didn't have a 3 - -but pah-lease do NOT do an upgrade to
Windows 98 -- the only way to do upgrade to XP s to backup their data and
reformat and load from scratch!

 

[Chuck]

Remember to check for BIOS updates, and install before you change to XP Make
sure any needed XP compatable drivers are at hand. In general, all the
drivers will need to be changed to later versions.
Before you install XP, you might want to make a "slipstream" XP2 install CD.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Considering your time and the cost of an upgrade CD,
consider an over-night order to Dell for a new laptop, with
a new warranty, a modern CPU and a big hard drive.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm



| We have 8 PCs in our company, all running Windows XP-Pro
(activated but not
| registered).
|
| We also have an older Pentium-3 Dell notebook,
pre-installed with Windows
| 98. My boss asked me to buy a retail version of Windows
XP (not an upgrade)
| to install in the Dell. I have to physically go to the PC
store to buy the
| Win-XP.
|
| I have 2 questions:-
|
| 1. Can I use one of the existing Win-XP CDs & install in
the Dell first
| (without activating)? I will have to use the existing
serial. When I buy
| the retail version on Monday and before activating the
software, I need to
| change the serial to match the one I purchased in the
store. I need to do
| this without having to reinstal the entire Win-XP that I
purchased in the
| store. Is this possible? (or alternatively, could I
activate by phone &
| give the serial of the Win-XP from the store).
|
| 2. Where can I check if Win 98 qualifies for an upgrade to
Win-XP Pro?
|
| Thanks for your assistance.
|
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have 2 questions:-

1. Can I use one of the existing Win-XP CDs & install in the Dell first
(without activating)?

No. The Dell OEM Installation CD is locked to the BIOS of the computer
with which it was purchased. It may not install, and certainly won't
activate, on another system.

When I buy
the retail version on Monday and before activating the software, I need to
change the serial to match the one I purchased in the store. I need to do
this without having to reinstal the entire Win-XP that I purchased in the
store. Is this possible? (or alternatively, could I activate by phone &
give the serial of the Win-XP from the store).

No. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are
purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any
retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD,
and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail
product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot be mixed & matched.

2. Where can I check if Win 98 qualifies for an upgrade to Win-XP Pro?

That's 3 questions. Anyway, Win98 is a qualifying product for the
upgrade to WinXP. To answer your question, though, www.microsoft.com
would be the place to check, if you didn't want to read the system
requirements information on the WinXP Upgrade's box.

Have you made sure that the laptop's PC's hardware components are
capable of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm



--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

....Snipped
-but pah-lease do NOT do an upgrade to
Windows 98 -- the only way to do upgrade to XP s to backup their data and
reformat and load from scratch!

Why do you make this technically absurd claim? Have any empirical
data to support it?

Granted, many uninformed people do recommend that one always
perform a clean installation, rather than upgrade over an earlier OS.
For the most part, I feel that these people, while usually
well-intended, are living in the past, and are basing their
recommendations on their experiences with older, obsolete operating
systems or hearsay. One would save a lot of time by upgrading a PC to
WinXP, rather than performing a clean installation, if there're no
hardware or software incompatibilities. Microsoft has greatly improved
(over earlier versions of Windows) WinXP's ability to smoothly upgrade
an earlier OS.


--

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