Installationproblems

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cenneth Andersson
  • Start date Start date
C

Cenneth Andersson

I have a laptop running XP Home SP2. I'm trying to install XP Pro and later
upgrade to SP2.
When trying I get a message that I'm trying to install an older version and
then there is no way to continue.
The laptop has an external CDROM through USB and no floppy drive but IR.

There are no valuable files or programs in the computer.

Can I simply format C: in the DOS-window and hope that the computer will
boot with the install-CD later?
If not, what to do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

CA
 
I have a laptop running XP Home SP2. I'm trying to install XP Pro and later
upgrade to SP2.
When trying I get a message that I'm trying to install an older version and
then there is no way to continue.
The laptop has an external CDROM through USB and no floppy drive but IR.

There are no valuable files or programs in the computer.

Can I simply format C: in the DOS-window and hope that the computer will
boot with the install-CD later?
If not, what to do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

CA
Click to expand...

The Pro CD can't upgrade the Home install because of the presence of SP2.
Your options:

Clean install Pro, then upgrade it to SP2. The XP CD is bootable. Follow
the screens for new install. When you reach the "install XP where" screens,
use the options here to delete the existing windows partition. Create a new
partition in the same space. Format - NTFS or FAT32 (if partition is 32GB
or less). Then install Pro.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Or you could create a slipstreamed Pro CD that will install Pro and SP2 in
one shot. This CD should be able to upgrade the existing Home installation.
If not, it will be handy for performing any maintenance tasks that might
crop up with the XP Pro SP2 installation.

Google for "slipstream SP2" and you'll get several hits. I see the
directions from http://www.theeldergeek.com/ recommended often. Also a tool
called "autostreamer" has received several favorable comments.

Since this is a laptop, you need to make sure ahead of time that you have
drivers accessible for any specialized hardware in the unit. May want to
check for SP2 versions of those drivers before proceeding as well.
 
Thanks a lot. Your information is very helpful especially about the
slipstreamed CD.
The only question remaining is: Will my laptop boot from the external CDROM
through USB. The only boot-sequences available in BIOS is 1. Harddrive, 2.
Floppydrive
and they can be alternated.

/CA
 
Thanks a lot. Your information is very helpful especially about the
slipstreamed CD.
The only question remaining is: Will my laptop boot from the external CDROM
through USB. The only boot-sequences available in BIOS is 1. Harddrive, 2.
Floppydrive
and they can be alternated.
Click to expand...

If the BIOS does not provide a boot from CD, no. I have a portable PC with
an external CD drive but it does have that option in BIOS for recovery
purposes. Since you don't have that option, you can try starting the setup
from within XP home. Choose new setup and elect to delete/create/format
partition along the way. I've used this method before but the hole in this
plan is if you run into a problem with setup: you have no way to boot the
system from the cdrom drive to retry/continue.

There is a 6 disk set of floppies that you can make to run XP setup. That
may be a better route to go with your system's configuration.

Disk set for running Professional edition setup:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291
 
Thanks! You saved my day. I was on the edge to do something stupid, but,
your information stopped me at the right time.

CA
 
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