Installing XP on new HDD

[DaNkinator]

Do I absolutely have to have a previous version of windows on disc to install from an upgrade version?

I just bought a new hdd, and was told that I could use my windows xp upgrade to install the windows OS. But it's asking for a previous version of windows in order to complete the upgrade, however, I do not have one. This is pc I got from a friend that had windows 98 SE loaded on it. I upgraded the memory and the os to windows xp but only did so with the upgrade version of xp.

Does this mean I have to go back and buy the new install version of xp??

 

[linney]

In order to qualify for the Upgrade Version of XP you will need to upgrade an older installed operating system with it, or if you clean install, you will have to show XP an older operating system CD during the clean install setup.

Haven't you got an old 98, ME or 2000 CD laying around somewhere?

 

[KenB]

I don't know about XP but 2000 would let you use the startup floppy from 95/98 as proof.

HTH
Ken

 

[DaNkinator]

I do not have an old version of windows lying around. This pc was given to me by a friend. I didn't get any software with it.

 

[DaNkinator]

I went to bootdisk.com and made a windows 98SE bootdisk, tried to use that, but it did not work. Should it have?

 

[alidabiri]

that's just a "boot disk". i don't think it has any proprietary information about windows. you can find a 98 cd anywhere. i have been able to install upgrade as a full version, even though i had 98se, but i can't discuss it here. it's doable.

 

[DaNkinator]

Well, I found the recovery disk for this pc. And according to the manufacturer's specs on their website, it said this -

"#
If the hard drive was a replacement hard drive, insert the first recovery disk or a startup disc into the first optical drive, restart the PC, and follow the instructions that appear to recover the PC. Do not use the rest of these steps. You are done."

So if I'm reading that correctly, if I use that recovery disc, it should install whatever OS came on the PC to begin with.