Upgrading to Windows XP using Windows 98 upgrade to qualify

[Guest]

I want to purchase a copy of Windows XP Home on my computer. I am currently
running Windows 2000 Pro on this machine, but I want to change to XP so that
I can add this computer to my wireless network. I already have a laptop
running XP and I like the security features of the XP operating system and
I'd like to remove some of the wires I have running all over my office.

My question is: Can I purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP Home or do I
have to buy the regular version (which costs an extra $100)? I own the
Windows 98 upgrade program that I previously used on this machine. Has
anyone tried to use this to qualify for the XP upgrade? I don't really want
to reload the 98 program as I have converted all my files to NTSF. I still
have the original Windows 98 upgrade disk and the Windows 95 program that I
started with. I've had this machine for quite a while.

Thanks

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

In order to upgrade from Windows 2000 to Windows XP,
you'll need to purchase a "Retail Upgrade Version" of
Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Home Edition
cannot upgrade over an existing Windows 2000 installation.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I want to purchase a copy of Windows XP Home on my computer. I am currently
| running Windows 2000 Pro on this machine, but I want to change to XP so that
| I can add this computer to my wireless network. I already have a laptop
| running XP and I like the security features of the XP operating system and
| I'd like to remove some of the wires I have running all over my office.
|
| My question is: Can I purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP Home or do I
| have to buy the regular version (which costs an extra $100)? I own the
| Windows 98 upgrade program that I previously used on this machine. Has
| anyone tried to use this to qualify for the XP upgrade? I don't really want
| to reload the 98 program as I have converted all my files to NTSF. I still
| have the original Windows 98 upgrade disk and the Windows 95 program that I
| started with. I've had this machine for quite a while.
|
| Thanks

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I want to purchase a copy of Windows XP Home on my computer. I am currently
running Windows 2000 Pro on this machine, but I want to change to XP so that
I can add this computer to my wireless network. I already have a laptop
running XP and I like the security features of the XP operating system and
I'd like to remove some of the wires I have running all over my office.

My question is: Can I purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP Home or do I
have to buy the regular version (which costs an extra $100)? I own the
Windows 98 upgrade program that I previously used on this machine. Has
anyone tried to use this to qualify for the XP upgrade? I don't really want
to reload the 98 program as I have converted all my files to NTSF. I still
have the original Windows 98 upgrade disk and the Windows 95 program that I
started with. I've had this machine for quite a while.

Thanks

Win2K cannot be "upgraded" to WinXP Home, but it can be upgraded to
WinXP Pro.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/matrix.mspx

If you want to replace Win2K with WinXP Home, you'll have to format the
hard drive and perform a clean installation. It is possible to perform
a clean installation using the Upgrade CD, provided you have the true
installation CD an the earlier, qualifying 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.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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both at once. - RAH

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I want to purchase a copy of Windows XP Home on my computer. I am
currently running Windows 2000 Pro on this machine, but I want to
change to XP so that I can add this computer to my wireless network.
I already have a laptop running XP and I like the security features
of the XP operating system and I'd like to remove some of the wires I
have running all over my office.

My question is: Can I purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP Home

No.


or do I have to buy the regular version (which costs an extra $100)?

Either that or you might consider buying an Upgrade copy of XP Professional,
which might be a better buy. You can't upgrade from Windows 2000
Professional to XP Home (going from a Professionalversion to a Home one is
considered a downgrade) but you can upgrade to XP Professional.

Also note that you can do an upgrade with either the Upgrade version or the
Full version (but *not* with an OEM version which some people confuse with
the Full version).

-

I own the Windows 98 upgrade program that I previously used on this
machine. Has anyone tried to use this to qualify for the XP upgrade?

Yes, that's another choice. That would permit you to use a WIndows XP Home
Upgrade CD.

I don't really want to reload the 98 program as I have converted all
my files to NTSF. I still have the original Windows 98 upgrade disk
and the Windows 95 program that I started with.

You can use either the 98 or 95 CD as qualifying media if you are willing to
do a clean installation (which you can do with the Upgrade version)..

I've had this
machine for quite a while

Are your sure your hardware is adequate for XP?

 

[Kerry Brown]

I want to purchase a copy of Windows XP Home on my computer. I am
currently running Windows 2000 Pro on this machine, but I want to
change to XP so that I can add this computer to my wireless network.
I already have a laptop running XP and I like the security features
of the XP operating system and I'd like to remove some of the wires I
have running all over my office.

My question is: Can I purchase an upgrade version of Windows XP Home
or do I have to buy the regular version (which costs an extra $100)?
I own the Windows 98 upgrade program that I previously used on this
machine. Has anyone tried to use this to qualify for the XP upgrade?
I don't really want to reload the 98 program as I have converted all
my files to NTSF. I still have the original Windows 98 upgrade disk
and the Windows 95 program that I started with. I've had this
machine for quite a while.

Thanks

As others have already mentioned you can't upgrade directly from Windows
2000 to XP Home. You would have to format the drive then do a clean install
of Windows XP Home Upgrade. During the installation you will be asked for
your eligible upgrade media. Insert the Windows 98 CD and the install will
continue. Please note: This will mean re-installing all your programs and
restoring all your data from a backup. It may be cheaper to buy an OEM copy
of XP Home as you will have to format anyway using this method.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

Thanks, that's a good point. I may just pick up a new hard drive and start
over with XP.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, that's very helpful. I may just pick up a new hard drive and start
over with XP.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I may just pick up a new hard drive and start over with XP. You have
been very helpful. I hate to admit it, but I am not certain whether or not I
have the original 2000 Pro program or if the only copy I have was illegally
copied. One of the IT guys where I worked many years ago gave me a copy so
that my home system would be the same as the one at work. It may be licensed
or it may not be, but since I am no longer with that company it's a moot
point.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I appreciate the advice. I may just pick up a new hard drive and
start over with XP.

 

[Guest]

My computer is a 1.7 Gig Pentium 4 with 1Gb RAM. It was top of the line when
I bought it.

 

[Plato]

The upgrade cd will work just fine on a clean HDD.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks, I may just pick up a new hard drive and start over with XP.
You have been very helpful.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My computer is a 1.7 Gig Pentium 4 with 1Gb RAM. It was top of the
line when I bought it.

That should be fine for XP. 1GB is probably even more than you need.