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On my p3 800 I originally had windows ME installed. I installed windows XP (using the XP pro upgrade cd) over this using the "new install" feature off the cd. I expected this to delete all old information off of my hard drive during the convert to NTFS file system in which i thought my hard drive would be formatted. This didn't happen. There are still many old applications and files on my system from when i had Windows ME. Now what I want to do is do a FRESH install of windows XP pro using this upgrade cd but and this time I want nothing left on the hard drive.
Basically I'm looking for the best way to fresh install windows XP pro using the upgrade CD but without using the built in new install feature because it's not a new install. I was thinking of formatting the hard drive and then installing it, but would that work with the upgrade CD? I really need advice. Thanks
Change boot sequence in BIOS to boot from Cd; boot with XP Pro upgrade cd; format and install. Upgrade CD will format/install.
JRF
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it will work as long as you have a "qualifing product" the me disk, the 98 disk. but it must be a retail disk, not a restore disk.
hope this helps.
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If XP is already installed, a format and reinstall will not require a qualifying Microsoft product for installation - this is only required if you are installing XP on a system with prior non XP os on it.
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Hello there and wake up everyone.
If one 'reformats' the hard disk all information [data etc] is LOST.
Any 'install' done after a reformat is regarded as a CLEAN install.
You will be obliged to insert a qualifing CD during the installation of XP.
To start the installation just make sure that your BIOS is set to boot from CD-ROM. If it won't do that boot from a Win98 start-up disk, then run SMARTDRV.exe and swith to the CD: change to the I386 directory and run WINNT32.exe to begin the installation process.
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Brian, instead of theorizing why not try it and see for yourself as I have done over 50 times with numerous XP reinstalls. After XP loads and initiates copying it's files it will recognize a prior XP install BEFORE you format from within the XP shell - no qualifying CD required...
JRF
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Guys I appreciate all the responses but I need additional information. A couple days ago I built a computer and after I was done I attempted to install XP with the upgrade CD just as you have described above (booting from the CD and later putting my win98 CD in to show my proof of an earlier microsoft operating system). Unfortunately it didn't work like that. When I tried to run the setup from the CD in DOS it simple said "This program can only be run in windows". Now this made me think that I actually needed a microsoft OS installed on my hard drive before attempting to "upgrade" and that just having a previous CD of a microsoft OS wasn't good enough. My point is the setup never asked me to prove that I had an old microsoft OS, it just simply wouldn't even let me run the setup.
Now here is the issue. According to you guys after I format my pentium 3 and try to boot from the XP upgrade CD it will run the steup normally and not say "this program can only be run in windows." If it's anything like my new computer it wont do that and I will have to install 98 before i install XP. Any additional information is appreciated. My ultimate goal (if this is possible) is to FRESHLY install XP using the upgrade CD without installing an old microsoft OS. Thanks
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Hi there Viscious
With respect to your 'ultimate goal' XP will install if you format the Hard Drive and boot up etc as I have previously described.
Make sure you have a 98 / Me start disk with SMARTDRV.exe copied to it as it makes the file copy process hours shorter[get this from the 98 / Me CD]. It will work without this if you are not able to find it.
Boot from a Win98 start-up disk, then
1. run SMARTDRV.exe and
2. swith to the CD:
3. change to the I386 directory and
4. run WINNT32.exe to begin the installation process.This will give you a 'CLEAN' install, where clean means NO FILES ON HDD.
JRF refers to a RE-install and is absolutely correct in what he says, however this will not delete files that already exist on the HDD [not being part of an operating system] and that are not 'COPIED' onto the HDD as part of the complete installation process.
I recognise that this will avoid the need to insert a 'qualifying product' CD for upgrade purposes.
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Excellent clarification Brian - thanks for the good info; I will be trying that shortly.
JRF
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The only problem is that Brian's directions do not work. After switching to to I386 and running WINNT32.exe you still get the same message, "This program cannot be run in DOS mode"
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