Windows XP upgrade question

[joepa99]

I am building my first PC with all new items. I have heard that I can use a Windows XP upgrade CD to make the first OS installation, as long as I have a full-version Windows 98 CD that I can slide into the CD-ROM tray when asked by the XP upgrade CD. Is there any validity to this?

 

[rkoenn]

If it works the way that the 9x/ME upgrades worked, yes. With those, very shortly into the install when the upgrade did not find a previous version of the OS on the hard drive, it asked for you to show it the CD. You could then insert the previous version CD and direct it to browse to that CD to validate it. With those it did that soon after starting the install so that you didn't go through an entire install only to reboot and find it didn't work. I would hope XP is the same way. Definitely the best way to install, cleanly and not on top of a 9x.

 

[bozo1]

That's how it works.

 

[xmyxgiantx]

im in the same situation...im building a new pc, and i want to use windows xp.

my question is...isnt xp only able to install from 95 or higher? or will it install from dos?

thanks

 

[Johnbear007]

it will install to a bare drive

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: xmyxgiantx
im in the same situation...im building a new pc, and i want to use windows xp.

my question is...isnt xp only able to install from 95 or higher? or will it install from dos?

thanks

XP will not install from DOS

Win95 is not a qualifying upgrade OS

Boot PC with XP disk in CD, go through the install. When it says it cannot find a qualifying OS to upgrade from, insert the Win98 CD, browse to it, click yes or whatever it is. When 98 is verified, you will remove the 98 CD, stick XP back in and go from there. That is all there is to it..

 

[Stratum9]

Will the same work for upgrading Win2k Pro to WinXP Home edition?

 

[bozo1]

XP will not install from DOS

Of course it will. Run winnt.exe from the \i386 directory. Of course, the preferred method is to boot off the XP CD.

Will the same work for upgrading Win2k Pro to WinXP Home edition?

No, you can only upgrade to XP Pro from W2K Pro.

 

[snidy]

Will it work with Windows 98 upgrade or do I need the full version? I only have Windows 95 in full version, and I don't want to install it over 98.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: bozo1

XP will not install from DOS
Of course it will. Run winnt.exe from the \i386 directory. Of course, the preferred method is to boot off the XP CD.

I was assuming that one would be booting off a Win98/ME boot floppy and typing "setup" from DOS prompt.. My bad, I will now go sit in the corner.

 

[prosaic]

Originally posted by: snidy
Will it work with Windows 98 upgrade or do I need the full version? I only have Windows 95 in full version, and I don't want to install it over 98.

Yes. The qualifying OS CD does NOT have to be a full version. I've upgraded several home systems using upgrade CDs as the qualifying product for a clean installation. And WinXP Pro and HE will even install if you use a Windows XP RC2 CD as the upgrade basis. But you are supposed to maintain the Certificate of Authenticity chain all the way back to the the most recent full OS version for each system.

- prosaic