xp home upgrade

[kennedyb]

I purchased xp home upgrade and now realize I cannot upgrade win 2k pro with this cd. Is there anyway around it? I doubt I can return the product as I opened the package.

tia

[mobo57]

Do you have the original 2000 disk? If so, boot from the XP disk, then it will ask you for the 2000 disk. It will create dual boot.

[rwest]

All you should need is a valid Windows original disk. You'll have a product key to use with the upgrade.

When you first boot with the XP upgrade disk if setup doesn't find a valid copy of Windows on your hard drive it will ask for one. I used a Windows 98 disk. I think all it does is verify that you have an original copy of Windows. I'm pretty sure you can also use an original Win '95 disk. I Don't know why it wouldn't work for Win 2K Pro, unless it was pirated somehow. Maybe, because it's a Pro version?

Anyway; if all your trying to do is upgrade, I wouldn't sell it. '98 and '95 disks are easy to come by and the're cheap. In my opion, unless you need or just want the full verson the cost difference isn't worth it.

[mobo57]

Can't upgrade from 2000 Pro to XP upgrade. It's a M$ quirk.

[kennedyb]

I wonder if I do dual boot as you suggested?

Also, if there is no OS on the hard drive then I wonder if I could do it? OR I could reinstall win 98 as a dual boot and upgrade that?

[mobo57]

XP will upgrade from 98, 95 or ME but not 2000. If you already have 2000 installed, dual booting is easy. That way you can keep your programs files and settings you currently have on 2000 and have XP also. No problem if you do not have a os installed, the XP installation will ask you to insert the disk for the os you are upgrading from during the installation process.