Is this legal?

[notfred]

So, I bought a laptop with XP Home on it, and I want to install XP Pro. I have a legal copy of XP Pro I bought, but it wont let me upgrade from XP Home, because the laptop has SP2 installed, and therefore the XP Pro CD thinks that I'm running a newer version of windows than I want to upgrade to.

So, I'm downloading a copy of XP Pro with SP2 slipstreamed, so hopefully I'll be able to upgrade, and use my legal XP Pro CD-Key.

Anyone see any problems with that?

BTW, I already tried the reformat thing - I can't install XP Pro on this laptop w/o SP2, a fresh install of windows will blue screen on my during boot up every time.

 

[His Lord Uberdude]

I dunno, but I see the Bill Gates Nazi's heading your way.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

The media doesn't carry a license. You can download a ripped copy of Windows 2003 Server and install it. If you've got the license to use it, that install will be legal.

 

[OutHouse]

try installing W2K then upgrade to XP Pro.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

 

[bunker]

As long as it's not a corporate or student version you're downloading shouldn't be a problem. You can make your own xp pro slipstreamed disk if you're really concerned.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

COOL! printed and put in my reference book.

 

[tm37]

You can boot in safe mode and load the dirvers there

D505 dell I had the same issue

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

All I have to do to install off the XP CD is format the master boot record? That would have been handy to know last night.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: notfred
So, I bought a laptop with XP Home on it, and I want to install XP Pro. I have a legal copy of XP Pro I bought, but it wont let me upgrade from XP Home, because the laptop has SP2 installed, and therefore the XP Pro CD thinks that I'm running a newer version of windows than I want to upgrade to.

So, I'm downloading a copy of XP Pro with SP2 slipstreamed, so hopefully I'll be able to upgrade, and use my legal XP Pro CD-Key.

Anyone see any problems with that?

BTW, I already tried the reformat thing - I can't install XP Pro on this laptop w/o SP2, a fresh install of windows will blue screen on my during boot up every time.

If a fresh install of Windows on a formatted drive BSODs, SP2 won't help you.

That said, what you're doing right now is just fine. Make sure it's not a pre-cracked or non-activation version of XP, though....you WANT to put in your legit key.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

COOL! printed and put in my reference book.

If you have WinXP Pro installed on a box and you try formatting and installing Windows 98, you'll not be able to do so, even if you format (unless you also format the MBR). Windows XP does some odd things with the MBR and various versions of windows during the installation process.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

All I have to do to install off the XP CD is format the master boot record? That would have been handy to know last night.

:laugh: It's all good, mah'man. That's part of learning. Keep that in mind for the future when you have problems with installing an OS on a computer that's already got WinXP installed.

 

[FlyLice]

DIABBQ MS

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

All I have to do to install off the XP CD is format the master boot record? That would have been handy to know last night.

:laugh: It's all good, mah'man. That's part of learning. Keep that in mind for the future when you have problems with installing an OS on a computer that's already got WinXP installed.

You sure that will work? I mean, I could install XP Pro before, it would just blue screen when I tried to boot it up.

I just don't want to reformat the thing again and realize it still doesn't work, and then have to reformat once more and put XP Home back on.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Nik
Oh, and you'll need to format the master boot record to get XP Pro installed.

format /mbr
fdisk (delete/re-create partitions)
format c:

install

All I have to do to install off the XP CD is format the master boot record? That would have been handy to know last night.

:laugh: It's all good, mah'man. That's part of learning. Keep that in mind for the future when you have problems with installing an OS on a computer that's already got WinXP installed.

You sure that will work? I mean, I could install XP Pro before, it would just blue screen when I tried to boot it up.

I just don't want to reformat the thing again and realize it still doesn't work, and then have to reformat once more and put XP Home back on.

Most of the time, HDD manufacturers have some sort of drive tools to check the stability of the drive. I missed the whole BSOD thing. What I was talking about is how Windows XP actually disables your ability to install a previous version of windows once it's installed.

If you're getting a BSOD after a fresh install, make sure the PC isn't overclocked. Reseat the power and data cables. You might even want to reseat the ram. Run some drive tools on it. Actually, you won't be able to use any HDD stability software that doesn't come from the HDD manufacturer because their tools have to use the PROM that's on the disk itself. If you check the bios, it should list who makes the drive whether it be the actual name or an intiutive acronym. Then go to that company's website and look for drive tools.

Good luck?

 

[tm37]

He may be getting the bluescreen because he is missung drivers and the standard windows drivers cause the system to crash.

We have this issue with the dell d505's at work. just load it to safe mode and load the man. drivers.