XP Upgrade--How?

[Guest]

I have two computers--Upstairs/Downstairs, (up) p pavilion a650y, Windows XP
Home Edition, (down) Gateway that came with Windows ME, and I recently
Upgrade w/ Windows XP Home Edition. My Upstairs is exclusively Windows XP,
but Downstairs is XP's upgrade of Windows ME (ME is still on that computer).
My problem is that recently I had to do a Destructive Recovery on my Upstairs
Computer, and for whatever reasons the Downstairs Computer doesn't work right
now. First, AOL won't connect to my Cable, and I keep getting Error
Messages. So, I figured I'd completely un-install AOL, reboot, Re-install
AOL on the Downstairs, and all would be well, BUT I first tried to go to
Windows Update, but--and I tried just about everything I know, which isn't
much, but I'm not ignorant either, and I couldn't connect to Windows Update.
I couldn't connect to this Newsgroup either. Bottom line is that the
Downstairs Computer's Registry seems screwed. So I put the old CD of Windows
XP Upgrade in the CD-ROM, and was told, because I'd forgot, that that version
was older than recent. I'd upgraded XP to the SP-2. So, before I could do
an Upgrade from the CD of Windows XP Upgrade, I had to un-install XP's SP-2.
Then I probably could go ahead and re-install Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade
over Windows ME again.

My question here is this. Is there anyway to do a "clean" install from a
Windows XP Home Edtion Upgrade CD, and completely get rid of that old and
miserable Windows ME, so that both the Upstairs and the Downstairs Computers
are running on the exact or nearly exact same registry? Or, What's the
easiest way to fix these problems I'm having, i.e. AOL won't find my cable to
connect, can't use Windows Update, can't even access Windows Newsgroups for
help, and, bottom line, I think the registry for the Downstairs Computer is
Screwed, and I think I have to restore it. Any help would be appreciated.

P. S. Remember, I just finished or am still in the process of a Destructive
Recovery for my Upstairs Computer, and that somehow is what confused the
Downstairs Computer and/or at least revealled some of the Downstairs
Computer's Windows XP registry problems. Please help.

 

[Mike Hall]

Mordido

Just to get things straight here.. you have an HP A650y running XP Home
upstairs, and a NETWORKED Gateway running XP Home downstairs?

If the above statement is true, you need to get upstairs working properly
and connected to the net before troubleshooting downstairs..

Ensure that SP2 is in place.. download and run the following programs..

SPYBOT 1.3 download.. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

AdawareSE.. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

When upstairs is running ok, turn your attention to downstairs..

The XP Home upgrade CD can be used to clean install providing that you have
a FULL ME installation CD, either OEM or retail version.. boot from the XP
Home CD, and place the previous qualifying OS CD in the drive and follow on
screen instructions..

When you are satisfied that downstairs is working well, then try to connect
them again..

This is an AOL help link that may prove useful to you once you have both
machines in working order..

http://help.channels.aol.com/article.adp?catId=3&sCId=424&sSCId=4117&articleId=218144

Good luck..

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My question here is this. Is there anyway to do a "clean" install
from a Windows XP Home Edtion Upgrade CD, and completely get rid of
that old and miserable Windows ME, so that both the Upstairs and the
Downstairs Computers are running on the exact or nearly exact same
registry?

It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier
OS.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

if you boot from your XP upgrade CD and it sees your current install of XP,
it will not ask for qualifying media, and you would be able to perform a
clean install.

Delete\create partition(s), format, install

 

[Rock]

I have two computers--Upstairs/Downstairs, (up) p pavilion a650y, Windows XP
Home Edition, (down) Gateway that came with Windows ME, and I recently
Upgrade w/ Windows XP Home Edition. My Upstairs is exclusively Windows XP,
but Downstairs is XP's upgrade of Windows ME (ME is still on that computer).
My problem is that recently I had to do a Destructive Recovery on my Upstairs
Computer, and for whatever reasons the Downstairs Computer doesn't work right
now. First, AOL won't connect to my Cable, and I keep getting Error
Messages. So, I figured I'd completely un-install AOL, reboot, Re-install
AOL on the Downstairs, and all would be well, BUT I first tried to go to
Windows Update, but--and I tried just about everything I know, which isn't
much, but I'm not ignorant either, and I couldn't connect to Windows Update.
I couldn't connect to this Newsgroup either. Bottom line is that the
Downstairs Computer's Registry seems screwed. So I put the old CD of Windows
XP Upgrade in the CD-ROM, and was told, because I'd forgot, that that version
was older than recent. I'd upgraded XP to the SP-2. So, before I could do
an Upgrade from the CD of Windows XP Upgrade, I had to un-install XP's SP-2.
Then I probably could go ahead and re-install Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade
over Windows ME again.

My question here is this. Is there anyway to do a "clean" install from a
Windows XP Home Edtion Upgrade CD, and completely get rid of that old and
miserable Windows ME, so that both the Upstairs and the Downstairs Computers
are running on the exact or nearly exact same registry? Or, What's the
easiest way to fix these problems I'm having, i.e. AOL won't find my cable to
connect, can't use Windows Update, can't even access Windows Newsgroups for
help, and, bottom line, I think the registry for the Downstairs Computer is
Screwed, and I think I have to restore it. Any help would be appreciated.

P. S. Remember, I just finished or am still in the process of a Destructive
Recovery for my Upstairs Computer, and that somehow is what confused the
Downstairs Computer and/or at least revealled some of the Downstairs
Computer's Windows XP registry problems. Please help.

In addition to the other advice, make a slipstreamed WinXP installation
CD with SP2. Download the full version of SP2 or get one of the free
CD's the slipstream that with your upgrade CD so if you ever have to
reinstall XP it can be done with the slipstreamed CD, rather than having
to remove SP2, reinstall XP then add SP2. Here is a link on how to
slipstream using either Roxio or Nero.

Slipstreamed Windows XP CD Using SP2
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

One last suggestion, and it's just my opinion, but get rid of AOL. It
is very intrusive replacing system files with ones of it's own.

 

[Guest]

Hi, Mike, and thanks for your reply. I just want to make you aware that I
have Norton 2003 running along with SpySweeper. I've used Ad-Ware on both
Computer, though not on the upstairs since the Destructive REcovery I just
did. Does this alter anything you've said?

 

[Guest]

Hi, Bruce: Thanks for the reply. I had Windows ME on the Downstairs
Computer, whcih uses a three disk Restoration CDs. Windows ME itself is on
the second CD. When one wants to do a Restoration of Windows, you'd put the
second CD in the drive, reboot, and follow the information, and Windows Me
can be either non-destructively installed, or you can choose a destructive
install. That all depends on if you've upgrade IE Explorer, then you may
have problems. Anyway, does this alter anything you've said?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, Rock. It'll take me some time to get all this done,
but I want you to know I haven't forgot you guys and gals and I do appreciate
your help. Again, thanks, and I'll be back.

 

[Guest]

Rock, sorry to bother again, but how does one go back in history to find
previous replies on this forum?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi, Bruce: Thanks for the reply. I had Windows ME on the
Downstairs
Computer, whcih uses a three disk Restoration CDs. Windows ME
itself
is on the second CD. When one wants to do a Restoration of Windows,
you'd put the second CD in the drive, reboot, and follow the
information, and Windows Me can be either non-destructively
installed, or you can choose a destructive install. That all
depends
on if you've upgrade IE Explorer, then you may have problems.
Anyway, does this alter anything you've said?

I can't tell from your description. Does the WinMe CD contain the
real installation files, or an image of the hard drive? Look at the
contents of the CD using Windows Explorer.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Rock]

Rock, sorry to bother again, but how does one go back in history to find
previous replies on this forum?

:

You are using the web interface to access the newsgroup. This doesn't
work well. Try using a newsreader. XP comes with one already, Outlook
express. Here is a link on how to use it:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Guest]

The real thing.

I can't tell from your description. Does the WinMe CD contain the
real installation files, or an image of the hard drive? Look at the
contents of the CD using Windows Explorer.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH