Upgrading from ME and reformatting

[Guest]

Hi all
I want to reformat my hard drive and upgrade to XP Home Edition. I checked with Microsoft tech support before I purchased the Upgrade version. I explained that I wanted to reformat and that I had the OEM copies of the software that came with my Gateway PC. He said that it shouldn't be a problem. But, now I see that it doesn't recognize my OEM disks as "proof" of ownership. Since I've opened the package, I'm assuming I won't be allowed to return it. Anyone know anyway around this? I wanted to reformat to really clean everything up. Do you think doing a "new installation" is sufficient? I plan on talking to tech support when they're open tomorrow. I'm annoyed that it looks like they gave me bad info - or at the least, didn't really explain that OEM disks are unacceptable. Any suggestions for me?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Some OEM disks work and others do not.
It is the computer manufacturer and not Microsoft that make this
determination.
You may need to install the original Windows using the original CDs
and upgrade to Windows XP.

Also if Windows XP is retail, you have 30 days to return.
If the seller won't, Microsoft will in North America:
http://www.microsoft.com/info/nareturns.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

Hi all,
I want to reformat my hard drive and upgrade to XP Home Edition. I

checked with Microsoft tech support before I purchased the Upgrade
version. I explained that I wanted to reformat and that I had the OEM
copies of the software that came with my Gateway PC. He said that it
shouldn't be a problem. But, now I see that it doesn't recognize my
OEM disks as "proof" of ownership. Since I've opened the package, I'm
assuming I won't be allowed to return it. Anyone know anyway around
this? I wanted to reformat to really clean everything up. Do you
think doing a "new installation" is sufficient? I plan on talking to
tech support when they're open tomorrow. I'm annoyed that it looks
like they gave me bad info - or at the least, didn't really explain
that OEM disks are unacceptable. Any suggestions for me?

 

[Guest]

Yes, I just thought of reformatting with my copy of ME and then doing the upgrade. I may do that - but I'm also glad to see that I can also return it if I decide to get the full version instead. Thanks!