URGENT -- Windows XP Upgrade!

[Mule]

Here's the deal. I have windows 2000 on my laptop and windows just crashed on me. It will not start up, just a blue error screen. I tried safe mode, debug mode... nothing works.

I don't have a windows 2000 CD-ROM disk, but I do have a "restore" disk that will wipe out my whole drive.

Anyways I have a copy of Windows XP that I can upgrade to so I can access my files. Problem is that when I boot up with the Windows XP disk it finds the old copy of windows 2000 and asks me if I want to "install over it", is this the same as an upgrade?? Will I still have my files and programs after the install??

Please help me if you know if I can "upgrade" through command mode.

BTW This is Windows XP Professional

 

[Lord Evermore]

If you install over it, you will be installing WinXP freshly, overwriting any of the common files in directories that both OSes use (like Program Files) I think. However none of your programs will be ported over to WinXP, that only happens with an "upgrade". All of your data files should be accessible still, and all the files making up your applications will still be there. You can also install to a different folder, which will leave the Win2000 install folder clean, but won't preserve any of the other Win2k files like Program Files.

I don't know about whether you can upgrade using a full WinXP CD, either from Setup or with a command line switch.

You know you can download the Win2000 setup floppies from Microsoft? They should include the Recovery Console (or you can maybe download it separately) so that you might be able to fix whatever is wrong. Or, does your "restore disk" boot and give you an option for the recovery console? Does the disc only contain an image of the original drive or can you access the i386 folder for WinXP?