update from windows 95 to xp home edition

  • Thread starter Thread starter bill bartlett
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bill bartlett

I have a computer that runs on windows 95, i want to
install/update to windows xp home edition. how do i go
about this, i already have the discs for this, as i
already use xp on another computer.
bill bartlett
 
bill said:
I have a computer that runs on windows 95, i want to
install/update to windows xp home edition. how do i go
about this, i already have the discs for this, as i
already use xp on another computer.
bill bartlett
Click to expand...

You might have the disc, but you don't have the right and the fact you're
using 'discs' plural indicates to me that your other computer came with
Windows XP preinstalled. This version is known as OEM and it cannot be
separated from the computer it came with. Most of the major manufacturers
(Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway) BIOS-lock their installations. This means that
there is a code on the installation disc that must match an identical code
in the BIOS. If one doesn't match the other, then the installation will not
proceed.

Windows 95 is not a qualifying product for an upgrade
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/matrix.asp) -
you would need to purchase the full retail version of the flavour of XP you
desired. You will also need to run the Upgrade Advisor
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp) to
check whether your hardware is up to standard and here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/sysreqs.asp to
check whether your computer meets the hardware requirements. You may also
like to check the HCL here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/compat.asp.

You have never been allowed to installed one licence on more than one
system - it may have been possible but it was still a breach of the EULA.
 
bill said:
I have a computer that runs on windows 95, i want to
install/update to windows xp home edition. how do i go
about this, i already have the discs for this, as i
already use xp on another computer.
Click to expand...

First - you may have the disk but it is licensed only for one computer -
you may not use it to install on a second one so it is on both at the
same time, you would need to buy another one

Second - you cannot upgrade 95 to XP, though if you do a clean install
of XP after booting an Upgrade CD you can use a Win95 CD as evidence of
entitlement

Third - it is unlikely that a machine that has had Win95 has anywhere
near the needed hardware for XP. It is likely to have maybe 32 or 48 MB
RAM - you need *more* than 128 MB for a minimally decent performance, as
well as needing a 300 plus MHz CPU and about 5GB free disk space. You
might get respectable performance if you upgraded to Win98, but I very
much doubt if XP is a realistic proposition.
 
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