Win XP downloaded wrong-how to fix????

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Guest

Am a novice. I paid to have Win XP Home downloaded on my computer (had
Windows 98se). They downloaded their disk which was Windows XP Profesisonal.
I do not have a dist so numerous items that I need (updates, problems, etc.)
I cannot get as the disk I have is Windows XP Home. This place is no longer
in business. I have never downloaded any type of Windows & am afraid to as I
don't know how to copy all already have on computer (do not have a CD
burner). Please advise if I can just download XP Home over XP Pro, what
precautions I need to know about & with REAL, REAL SIMPLE instructions (too
much info. seems not absorb on what I really need to know). If I need to
back up everything on a disk or 2, how do I do that? I'm on limited income
now & can't aford to pay someone to do this for me.
I don't use my hotmail address anymore (too much spam) & only check it once
per month. I now use (e-mail address removed). All help welcome.
 
HAPPYGRANDPARENT said:
Am a novice. I paid to have Win XP Home downloaded on my computer
(had Windows 98se). They downloaded their disk which was Windows
XP Profesisonal. I do not have a dist so numerous items that I need
(updates, problems, etc.) I cannot get as the disk I have is
Windows XP Home. This place is no longer in business. I have
never downloaded any type of Windows & am afraid to as I don't know
how to copy all already have on computer (do not have a CD burner).
Please advise if I can just download XP Home over XP Pro, what
precautions I need to know about & with REAL, REAL SIMPLE
instructions (too much info. seems not absorb on what I really need
to know). If I need to back up everything on a disk or 2, how do I
do that? I'm on limited income now & can't aford to pay someone to
do this for me.
I don't use my hotmail address anymore (too much spam) & only check
it once per month. I now use . All
help welcome.
Click to expand...

Download
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/d/download.html

Install
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/i/install.html

The business screwed you.

Your only recorse - being they are gone - is to backup all your
files/folders/emails/contacts/favorites/documents/photos/pictures/graphics/etc
to external media and install from the Windows XP Home media and Product Key
you seem to say you have.

Your email address you gave will now get spam.

There is nothing simple really about what you are about to do - particularly
with the limitations you have given.

Your best bet would be a learned and willing family member with access to an
extrnal hard disk drive they could use to put your data on as they rebuild
your system.
 
I goofed & replied to your e-mail (more info. there) - I'm hoping there's
some way I can fix this as there's no one in my family (or friends) know much
about computers. They all seem to pay for everything to be done - which I
can't anymore. Maybe I could do this step-by-step. Learn how to copy my
files since I do have a D drive eventhough I don't have a CD burner...can I
copy & then download later? I do have Norton System works that has a back up
area - would this work for everything? Or is it just for basics only?
 
If you have 2 hard drives as you stated...or one HD patitioned into 2 parts.
Copy all of the work/personal files to a directory on that D
drive/partition.
Next locate all of the CD's that hold the programs that you use....Money/Ms
Works/ etc etc.
This procedure involves "erasing" formatting the drive..everything on that
drive will be gone
XP PRO uses the NTFS file system which cannot be read in DOS mode so you
will need to format that C drive in order to get rid of XP pro as well as
change the file system to FAT32. An ordinary DOS or WIN 98 boot disk cannot
see your C drive.
I use BootItNG................you download it and expand the file to a
floppy.Restart your system with the floppy in place.
It will ask if you wish to install....you say NO....it will then run off the
Floppy.
Once it does pick Partition Work and you will see both
partitions/drives...with their respective sizes and formats.
You want to format the C drive at this point back to FAT32...........leave
the D drive alone.If not sure about which is which look at their size.This
should erase that drive and remove XP pro.Now remove the floppy and insert
your XP CD and restart the system.
Watch for "press any key to boot from CD"....push any and I mean any key and
XP will start the installation procedure.
see this site for detailed instructions
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

once you have XP up and running then you need to install all of those
programs off their CD's
hope this helps some............if that is too much then you will definitly
need some help.
There are organizations out there that have people give free
help..........check with your local Seniors Center.
Heck if you lived close I'd come and do it...........but I live in Canada
peter
 
Thank you - & yes it's more than I know how to do. Was in hopes I could just
put in a CD, call up a program & copy it (for everything even if it was 1 at
a time). Then install XP Home by CD, then reinstall everything else (I do
have a CD for Norton & my ISP, Word & Works, but basically everything else I
downloaded off the internet). I guess I just need to search & search &
search to have someone do this...out of the goodness of their heart???

Thank you - What you wrote I'm sure is correct. Someone needs to write a
program & sell the disk(s) that can easily do this if something major
happens...like 1 click & it's done (HA). They'd make millions.

Thanks again.
 
I ready your link - it seems easier than I thought, especially with diagrams,
etc. Now all I have to do is learn how to back up everything. Thanks so
much. I guess I'm going to give it a try...hope I don't lose everything (8+
yrs worth).
 
Someone needs to write a
program & sell the disk(s) that can easily do this if something major
happens...like 1 click & it's done (HA). They'd make millions.
Click to expand...
Reply:
those are called restore disks.......a computer company like Dell sells you
a system with all software installed and gives you a "restore disk".If
something goes wrong you use the restore disk and everything goes back to
the way it was when you 1st purchased............but you will still have
lost any programs you installed after purchase and of course all of your
personal files if you did not back them up.
Good Luck in your effort ........everyone had to learn at some time.and no
one is too old to learn!!
peter

--
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
HAPPYGRANDPARENT said:
Thank you - & yes it's more than I know how to do. Was in hopes I could
just
put in a CD, call up a program & copy it (for everything even if it was 1
at
a time). Then install XP Home by CD, then reinstall everything else (I do
have a CD for Norton & my ISP, Word & Works, but basically everything else
I
downloaded off the internet). I guess I just need to search & search &
search to have someone do this...out of the goodness of their heart???

Thank you - What you wrote I'm sure is correct. Someone needs to write a
program & sell the disk(s) that can easily do this if something major
happens...like 1 click & it's done (HA). They'd make millions.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
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