changing OS's

[jacito]

Here's my situation. I have a Dell Latitude with Windows 2000 Professional. There is a sticker on the bottom of the laptop is the product key for Windows XP Professional. I recently acquired a Dell Reinstallation CD. What do I need to do change to XP pro, and how do I go about it?

thanks in advance,
Jacito

 

[ch33zw1z]

The Dell Reinstallation CD probably doesn't offer the "upgrade" option from 2k to XP, so you will probably have to fresh install...and hope your cd key works!

 

[bruceb]

I would agree that you might not get the upgrade option.
You need to try it and see. Since it is a Dell CD on a Dell
computer, if you do a fresh install, you should not be asked
for the Key as it is embedded in the setup files.

 

[degibson]

... and if you ARE asked for a CD key, you have to call Dell. (lucky you)

 

[jacito]

I have the key. It's the sticker on the bottom of the laptop, and it is for XP Pro. How do I go about doing a fresh install?

 

[mechBgon]

Put in the Dell CD and boot the computer directly from the CD. What happens?

 

[jacito]

I still boots to Win 2000 Pro.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: jacito
I still boots to Win 2000 Pro.

Then I don't think you're actually booting the CD, or else it isn't a bootable CD. When you power up the computer, look at the white text on the black background and one of the options probably lets you select the boot device. Use that hotkey (maybe F2) to bring up the menu, then select the CD-ROM drive. What happens now?

 

[jacito]

It now asks if I want to install XP Pro. Don't I need to format the drive or remove 2000 Pro first?

 

[bruceb]

No you do not, unless you want to.

 

[jacito]

I think it would be best to start fresh, but I don't know how.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Format the drive man. If you have data on the drive try to back it up if possible, the full format will wipe it out..

 

[jacito]

I didn't format the drive, but got XP Pro installed. Everything seems OK, except now the built-in networking doesn't work. What gives?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Check device manager to see if you have all the drivers installed.

 

[jacito]

The network adapter does not show up in the device manager until I choose the "Show hidden devices" option.

 

[Dizzymon]

You probably need the most updated INF updated for your hardware. Go to the dell website and download the updates or go straight to the intel site to get them. It's some kind of chipset update.

 

[jacito]

SOLVED

Somehow the LAN was disabled in the BIOS or CMOS thingy, whichever one opens when you hit F2 during bootup.

thanks for all the suggestions,
Jim