xp upgrade to full xp install

  • Thread starter Thread starter rich
  • Start date Start date
R

rich

Is there any way to upgrade to a full xp install rather
than an upgrade for which I purchased for $180. Had bad
luck with the upgrade from windows 2000.
Everyone says to get a full install for xp rather than
the upgrade that is causing me grief...

Thanks
Rich
 
Hi Rich,

You don't need the full version, you can do a clean install with the upgrade
disk. Just start a new installation, and after validating with the Win2000
CD, you can format and install with the upgrade disk.

The problem, however, may not lie in the upgrade, as it is essentially the
same as a clean installation. I would lean more towards incompatible
software or unsupported hardware.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
"Everyone" is frequently wrong. The only difference between full retail and
upgrade retail is the requirement to show the upgrade setup engine licensing
compliance.

Assuming you have a retail Upgrade distro, you can do a clean install as
long as you have standard install media from 95, 98, SE, ME, NT4 or Win2K.
You do not need a full retail version. Assuming you're Win2K media looks
like a standard install CD rather than an OEM image CD then you can simply
flash it the Win2K media and do a clean install.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
 
In
rich said:
Is there any way to upgrade to a full xp install rather
than an upgrade for which I purchased for $180. Had bad
luck with the upgrade from windows 2000.
Everyone says to get a full install for xp rather than
the upgrade that is causing me grief...
Click to expand...


"Everyone" is giving you terrible advice.

First of all, using an upgrade version and doing an upgrade from
a previous Windows version are two different things. Contrary to
what you (and "everyone") apparently think, the upgrade version
and the full version contain exactly the same software and the
upgrade version *can* be used to do a clean installation.

The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous
qualifying version's installation CD (not an OEM restore CD), not
to have it installed. When setup doesn't find a previous
qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD
as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous version's CD, and
follow the prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite
legitimately.

So your question should be about doing an upgrade over the top of
a previous operating system versus doing a clean installation,
not about which version to use. The answer here is less
clear-cut, but I still say the "everyone" giving you advice is
giving you poor advice.

Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost everything,
and usually works very well.

My recommendation to almost everyone is to at least try the
upgrade, since it's much easier than a clean installation. You
can always change your mind and reinstall cleanly if problems
develop.

One final point: your question about upgrading "to a full xp
install" makes no sense. Once again, the upgrade version and the
full version are identical except for the rules for qualification
to install; they contain the identical software. So you can't
*upgrade* to what you already have.

Your only choice is to clean install, which again you can do with
your upgrade version if you own a previous version's installation
CD. However, I wouldn't assume that that will necessarily solve
your problems or is the best thing to do. Your problems likely
have little or nothing to do with your having done an upgrade.
What you should do is explain exactly what "causing me grief"
means. Describe your problems here and it's likely that someone
can help you.
 
vey good

Walter Clayton said:
"Everyone" is frequently wrong. The only difference between full retail and
upgrade retail is the requirement to show the upgrade setup engine licensing
compliance.

Assuming you have a retail Upgrade distro, you can do a clean install as
long as you have standard install media from 95, 98, SE, ME, NT4 or Win2K.
You do not need a full retail version. Assuming you're Win2K media looks
like a standard install CD rather than an OEM image CD then you can simply
flash it the Win2K media and do a clean install.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
Click to expand...
 
Before trying anything else, run the free Microsoft Upgrade Advisor and let
it tell you what hardware and/or software must be removed and/or upgraded
before installing XP. This can save you a lot of pain later.

One you resolve all issues noted by the advisor, think about re-trying the
upgrade installation. It does actually work for many people; it did for me.

If that fails, then do a clean install, using the upgrade CD for XP, which
you already own, plus a CD of any previous qualifying system you own (insert
it when asked for proof).
 
Back
Top