help installing WXP from reinstall cd

I have received a reinstallation CD for Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2. I have Windows ME on my Desk top and XP on my laptop. I would like to use the reinstall CD and put XP on my desktop. Dell says they can not help me with this, so I was hoping someone here could. I can follow directions, but do not have the knowledge to do this myself. Please help!!!
Thank you,
Cricket190

 

If it's a Dell CD, chances are that it also has a bunch of Dell drivers and software built into the CD, making worthless for anything other than the Dell it was designated for. Sorry, there's nothing we can do. Besides, you'd need a seperate product key for the desktop anyway, so you might as well purchase a full version, legal XP upgrade CD or live with WinME.....

hopperdave2000

 

My desktop is a dell product and a dell rep sent me the CD since I have XP on my dell laptop. I thought I could use the product key for my laptop to use the cd on my desktop. He seemed to think it was possible to use it, if I had some help from someone who knows more about computers than I do. Does this info change your opinion?
Thanks,
Cricket190

 

If you have a pc designed for millenium, you may well regret upgrading to XP, even if you can do it. Many upgraders found that some (or more) of their hardware resources did not work with XP. Have you done the Microsoft compatibility check for your hardware?

Dave is quite right to point out that you will need separate licences for the laptop and the desktop. I would think Windows 2000 might prove worth a look, although the cost of Windows usually precludes upgrading, when compared to the cost of a new system, including Windows. You can get some real XP bargains now that Vista is out.

Studio T

 

I have installed Window XP on my HP PC with no problems. Window ME is the worst OS that every came out. I would give it a shot. Would you be doing a full install?

 

I assume I would have to remove ME and then install the XP. So, I guess the answer is yes. As you can see I do not have all the computer lingo down. I taught myself to use a computer and I just really know the basics.

The dell rep said I would need to remove part of ME and get the drivers from another computer. I did the compatability test and it said I could upgrade to XP but not to Vista. I am also not sure about the product key problem.

Cricket190

 

OK. all you need to do now is find another PC with XP installed on it with the prod key label on the side of the box. And lets say just for fun you say that PC will never be used again. I think that prod key could now be used....

 

This is starting to sound rather confusing!! Maybe I should look for some good deals on XP like Studio T. suggests. I will need to study on this awhile longer.

Thanks to all for their input,
Cricket190

 

you mite try e-bay..

 

If your install CD is from Dell it will install without ANY key! I jsut put Xp on a dell 7000..It's 10 years old!!! Yes i did have problems with drivers. But basicly you can put ANY Dell XP on ANY Dell computer.Not supposed to do that but......just put the disk in ..make sure your compute is set up to boot from cd... then go from there. Reformate and wait..and wait...and wait! ha ha
BUT!!!....GO TO THE DELL WEBSITE AND GET THE DRIVER FOR XP FIRST!! Burn them to a cd and use them if you need them, and you probaly will. But remember to install the CHIPSET FIRST, then video -sound- modem. Install the driver in that order! It does make a differance.But make sure you have ALL the drivers you need BEFORE you start!!!

 

Dear Jellybean,

Thank you so much for the information. I do have an ID# as I have XP on my laptop. Now all I have to figure out is how to find the correct drivers for my PC. LOL Again, thank you and I will continue working on this and let you know how this turns out.

Cricket190

 

Consider a way of backing up or restoring your millenium if things go pear shaped.

Contrary to What Ross advised, you cant use the COA label from another XP machine, new or defunct. That's what product activation is all about. The XP will install and work for 30 days then stop unless you activate it with Microsoft, who will say it is already registered somewhere else. One of the 50 billion conditions os that the license in not transferable.


Studio T

 

For all practical purposes, he can. If it has not been used in 120 days, it will work. For ethical reasons of course, he should not use one currently in use on another PC.