Upgrading to XP

[Vantage]

We've an old ME machine, which is pretty knackered with years of use and
malware etc.

I'm going to have to do a reformat anyway, so my question is Can I boot from
the XP Pro upgrade CD and have it ask me to put in the ME disc to verify
it's an upgrade or do I have to install ME, then upgrade that to XP Pro
afterwards?

Thanks

 

[JasonA]

Yes, the advantage of a clean install with an upgrade cd is it will ask you
for the ME CD. However, that is if it is and OEM one or retail one. If it is
a recovery CD (HP, Dell, Compaq and others) you will have to install ME
first as the upgrade CD does not recognise recovery CD's as legitimate
CD's - The upgrade will find the installation and ME installation folder and
use that as a legitimate installation. Try just the XP CD first if you don't
have a DELL, Compaq or HP.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

We've an old ME machine, which is pretty knackered with years of use
and malware etc.

I'm going to have to do a reformat anyway, so my question is Can I
boot from the XP Pro upgrade CD and have it ask me to put in the ME
disc to verify it's an upgrade or do I have to install ME, then
upgrade that to XP Pro afterwards?

Thanks

Yes, as long as the Me disk is not a system restore disk. It has to be a
Windows Me install disk.
Restore XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/restore.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
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[Ron Sommer]

Have you gone to the XP website and checked if the computer meets all of the
requirements for XP?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, the advantage of a clean install with an upgrade cd is it will
ask you for the ME CD. However, that is if it is and OEM one or
retail one. If it is a recovery CD (HP, Dell, Compaq and others) you
will have to install ME first as the upgrade CD does not recognise
recovery CD's as legitimate CD's

You can also do a clean installation if you have an OEM restore CD of a
previous qualifying version. It's more complicated, but it *can* be done.
First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD from within
that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New Install. When it asks
where, press Esc to delete the partition and start over.

 

[Vantage]

thanks guys, what an OEM disc, so worked fine. Added an extra 128Mb, works
heaps better...