I want to install windows XP home edition on my new pc but only have the
Upgrade Windows XP Home edition disc. I no longer have the windows 98 disc I
upgraded from. What to do?--
Three points:
1. When you do an upgrade, you end up with a single license, not two
(that's why an Upgrade version is less expensive than a Full version).
The CD you upgraded *from* and the one you upgraded* to* become tied
together, and you are required to keep them both, not give away or
sell, the CD of the old version. If you no longer have the old CD, you
are technically in violation of the license agreement.
2. Do I understand correctly that you bought a new computer and want
to install the Windows you have on the old computer on it? If so, be
aware that your license permits you to have it on a single computer at
one time. You may not install it on the new computer unless you remove
it from the old one.
3. The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous
qualifying version's installation CD (with an OEM restore CD, see
below), not to have it installed. When setup doesn't find a previous
qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as
proof of ownership. Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow
the prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite
legitimately.
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.
If you don't have a previous qualifying version's CD, you need one.
You can buy a used one inexpensively someplace like eBay.
