WIN XP Pro OVER WIN @K Pro?

[Harry Keijzer]

I just read on the Web that if you install Win XP Pro OVER
Win2K Pro, you can avoid all the hassles of formatting
your drive and partitioning it; that all that will be
taken care of in the process. Mind you, we are NOT
talking upgrade, but Install. So I did, and now when I
start up, I get a choice of starting either Win 2K Pro OR
Win XP Pro, BOTH of which appear to work.

The problem is that I wanted to get rid of Win2K Pro,
because it was infected with the TROJ_AGENT.AC virus.
Also, I bought this PC a couple of years ago with the OS
installed (in somebody else's name), so I had always
wanted to re-install a new OS anyway.

Anyway, it sounds like I am going to have to go the FORMAT
C: route anyway & start from scratch. I have been trying
that for a number of days now, though, from a number of
different boot disks downloaded from different web sites,
but that won't work: the boot disks don't contain the
FORMAT command, and they won't let me change to the c:
drive, which I assume would contain the FORMAT command, so
I can proceed.

So:
1) Was I completely misinformed about installing XP Pro
over 2K Pro?
2) Where can I find a boot disk that either contains the
FORMAT command itself, OR allows me to switch to the C:
drive? (You do that by just typing "C:\" at the A: prompt,
right?

The PC in question is an old Dell Dimension P III 600.

Many thanks in advance,

Harry Keijzer

 

[Guest]

Harry,

You don't need to format anything prior to XP install - you'll be given that option during the install:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353

But if you insist, check "#6. Boot Disk" here:

http://www.fixyourwindows.com/windowsxpsolutions.htm

Good Luck!

 

[Test Man]

Installing WinXP Pro over Win2000 Pro is an upgrade. To keep both OSes, you
install WinXP into a completely different partition from Windows 2000. This
is what you have done.

If Windows 2000 Pro has been infected with a virus, installing Windows XP
Pro won't get rid of it (and the virus will possibly stop the installation
from completing properly. In this instance, you should have used a virus
scanner to remove the virus on the Windows 2000 installation PRIOR to
installing Windows XP Pro.

This said, you can install Windows XP Pro as clean, completely wiping
Windows 2000. Just boot with the install CD inside and follow the
instructions. You will get the chance to delete the Windows 2000 Pro
partition before formatting the whole disc within the install setup.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I just read on the Web that if you install Win XP Pro OVER
Win2K Pro, you can avoid all the hassles of formatting
your drive and partitioning it; that all that will be
taken care of in the process. Mind you, we are NOT
talking upgrade, but Install. So I did, and now when I
start up, I get a choice of starting either Win 2K Pro OR
Win XP Pro, BOTH of which appear to work.

The problem is that I wanted to get rid of Win2K Pro,
because it was infected with the TROJ_AGENT.AC virus.
Also, I bought this PC a couple of years ago with the OS
installed (in somebody else's name), so I had always
wanted to re-install a new OS anyway.

Anyway, it sounds like I am going to have to go the FORMAT
C: route anyway & start from scratch. I have been trying
that for a number of days now, though, from a number of
different boot disks downloaded from different web sites,
but that won't work: the boot disks don't contain the
FORMAT command, and they won't let me change to the c:
drive, which I assume would contain the FORMAT command, so
I can proceed.

So:
1) Was I completely misinformed about installing XP Pro
over 2K Pro?

Yes. If you Upgrade, you avoid hassle and retain your programs and data
- and it usually works out. But what you did (probably) resulted in an
XP in C:\Windows with your 2K in C:\Winnt. Your XP would know nothing
of the installed software so you would have to install it again anyway;
but stuff installed during setup to Program Files - like IE or OE -
would have over-written 2K versions with XP ones. This is probably not
good news - fighting in Program Files in the future certainly is not.

Anyway, to format and start over with XP. First back up data, and
consider using the Files and settings Transfer Wizard to take settings
forward: read Gary Woodruff's article on FAST at
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Then do the format as part of a reinstall of the system after booting
the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New
Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete
the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next
stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

And make sure you get the XP Firewall in place before you go on the net
*even for a minute* or you will get hit by Blast, Sasser or one of their
friends

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I just read on the Web that if you install Win XP Pro OVER
Win2K Pro, you can avoid all the hassles of formatting
your drive and partitioning it; that all that will be
taken care of in the process. Mind you, we are NOT
talking upgrade, but Install.

No, "over" means upgrade. You have three choices:

1. Upgrade "over" Windows 2000

2. Clean Install, replacing Windows 2000

3. Clean install as a dual boot, keeping Windows 2000 alongside
XP.

You may have wanted to do number 2, but you chose number 3.

So I did, and now when I
start up, I get a choice of starting either Win 2K Pro OR
Win XP Pro, BOTH of which appear to work.

The problem is that I wanted to get rid of Win2K Pro,
because it was infected with the TROJ_AGENT.AC virus.
Also, I bought this PC a couple of years ago with the OS
installed (in somebody else's name), so I had always
wanted to re-install a new OS anyway.

Anyway, it sounds like I am going to have to go the FORMAT
C: route anyway & start from scratch. I have been trying
that for a number of days now, though, from a number of
different boot disks downloaded from different web sites,
but that won't work: the boot disks don't contain the
FORMAT command, and they won't let me change to the c:
drive, which I assume would contain the FORMAT command, so
I can proceed.

So:
1) Was I completely misinformed about installing XP Pro
over 2K Pro?
2) Where can I find a boot disk that either contains the
FORMAT command itself, OR allows me to switch to the C:
drive? (You do that by just typing "C:\" at the A: prompt,
right?

No boot diskette is needed, nor desirable. Just boot from the
Windows XP CD and follow the prompts for a clean installation. It
will do the reformat for you.

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

Make sure this time that you don't create a dual boot scenario,
and that you understand that "over" is not what you want.