Help Installing Win XP

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finners

Member
Apr 26, 2006
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0
I had a copy of XP Pro for a Dell Pc installed on my own non-dell system and when the 30 day trial ran out i went out and bought a legit XP Pro Retail version.

The problem is that when I try to activate my Dell Xp with the new Retail Product Key it doesn't work....Ok this is understandable so I tried to boot from my new Retail XP cd by changing the boot settings in the Bios to boot from IDE CD-ROM. However the system just boots straight up into the Dell version of Win and looks for me to activate as before. How can I install my new XP?
I dont have a FDD so cant use a floppy

Any thoughts appreciated
 
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unfalliblekrutch

Golden Member
May 2, 2005
1,418
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Keep messing with those BIOS settings. You need it to boot from the cd.

There's another choice though: you could just insert the cd while windows is running and install that way, but if your 30 days is over, I'm not sure if it'll let you...I've never experienced what happens after the 30 days.
 
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mauiblue

Senior member
Aug 8, 2004
652
1
81
Originally posted by: finners
it wont let me install when windows is runnning.

Ive tried everything in the Bios
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that Windows XP Pro will not run when you already have the current OS running. When I insert my CD of Win XP Pro, the installation setup will start and give me a dialog box on what I want to do (install, repair).

On my Toshiba notebook, there is an app that you use to setup the boot order. See if Dell tech support will give you some leads on how to change the boot order or even Google your question.

BTW, if your mobo has RAID controller, you'll need to have a floppy drive to install the RAID drivers or Windows installation will not see your hard drives. Good luck.
 
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finners

Member
Apr 26, 2006
45
0
0
when asked to press any key to boot from CD ...I dont press anyhting but it goes ahead and boots up Win from the HD anyway???
 
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JDMnAR1

Lifer
May 12, 2003
11,984
1
0
Originally posted by: finners
when asked to press any key to boot from CD ...I dont press anyhting but it goes ahead and boots up Win from the HD anyway???
Click to expand...

Ummmm - if you are trying to boot from your XP CD to reinstall, I might be inclined to press a key when prompted. ;)

 
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