Upgrading Windows ME to XP Pro 1

[fallingrock]

Bright Idea? I want to upgrade an older Dell portable loaded with Windows ME to Windows XP Pro Spx. Can I use the disk that came with my more recent purchase of a Dell Windows XP Pro desktop computer, or should I get a warez copy of Windows XP Pro SPx to accomplish this Everestic feat? And, regardless, any hints on howbest to do this to do this OS upgrade?

 

[wolluf]

1. You need a new upgrade licence if you do this - XP is only licenced per machine - which is what activation is all about enforcing.
2. Is the machine XP compatible (if you've got an XP disk, you can run its compatibility report on the machine before deciding whether to buy the upgrade or not) - and powerful enough? (RAM particularly, should have 256MB or more).
3. If you do go for it, backup and do a clean install of XP - better in the long run (you can do a clean install from upgrade install CD - but you'll need your ME or other qualifying windows install CD to show to the XP setup)

 

[linney]

If you go down the Upgrade path these may be handy.

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP(Q316639)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q316/6/39.asp

310064 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation When You Upgrade

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310064&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

OLEXP: Mail Folders, Address Book, and E-mail Messages Are Missing After You Upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP(Q313055)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/0/55.asp

If you go down the Clean Install path (recommended) these might help.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

Those earlier mentioned articles are useful to read before any clean install too.

The Genuine Microsoft Software site:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx