Can I use the Upgrade version if I formatted the harddrive?

[BB]

Am I able to use the upgrade version of Windows XP home
to start from a formatted hard drive? I have Windows 98,
so I know I qualify for the upgrade version, but I will
be installing onto a formatted hard drive that I will not
be putting win 98 back onto because I am having a problem
getting it reinstalled due to one file error.
I dont know how the upgrade version has to verify the
existing qualifing operating system. can it verify by
checking to see if you have the CD or some other way? Or
do I have to fix the problem I am having reinstalling win
98 first to be able to use the upgrade version?

(e-mail address removed)

 

[JAX]

Yes, you can do a clean install from the XP disk. You will be prompted to
insert your 98 disk to prove qualification. I think, your best bet is
re-format, using the XP CD and start over. All XP CD's are bootable and
offer all tools to format, partition and install XP.

Disconnect any printers, cameras, etc from the PC and follow the
instructions from the following link.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Thanks to Michael Stevens

HTH, JAX

 

[Alex Nichol]

Am I able to use the upgrade version of Windows XP home
to start from a formatted hard drive? I have Windows 98,
so I know I qualify for the upgrade version, but I will
be installing onto a formatted hard drive that I will not
be putting win 98 back onto because I am having a problem
getting it reinstalled due to one file error.

AS long as the Win98 CD is a retail type, with a Win98 folder containing
cab files, you are OK. You show it to setup in the drive when it asks
where Windows is. An OEM 'restore' or #'recovery disk though will
probably not be recognised - not having that layout. In that case you
can try

Run the CD from the existing system. Enter Install, change Upgrade to
New Install, then when it asks you to confirm where, you can hit ESC and
get the chance to select the current partition, delete it, and create
a new RAW one, going on to format it as part of the setup

I think that this will by then have detected that it was a legitimate
upgrade, and not even ask for the previous system's CD as evidence, but
am not certain on that and can't guarantee it

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using an
Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and
format partitions as part of the installation process.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. 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.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639


Bruce Chambers

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