Upgrade Win2K Pro

Hi guys. I've read all the threads I could find here at MG about this, but I'm still confused...
I recently got a used computer; a Compaq EVO D510 SFF desktop. Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, 512Mb Ram, which I bumped up to 1 Gig., and 40 G HD.

It came with Win2K Pro factory installed, but no recovery disks.
I ordered and received from HP their "quick restore" disks, but have not used them yet. I really want to use them to remove all traces of the previous owner and reset it back to factory condition,

Then...I would like to upgrade my OS and this is where I'm confused; I've read that:
1) Win2K Pro CAN NOT be upgraded to Win XP Home.
2) Win2K Pro can be upgraded to XP Home with an XP Home upgrade disk (not the
"Full" install), but it would have to be a "clean" install.
3) An upgrade can not be done at all after using a restore program.

So what does this mean to me?
1) I can never upgrade my Win2K Pro to XP Home?
2) If I use my restore disks to restore it to factory condition, then I can
never upgrade?

What is my best route? I'm hoping to get away with an XP Home Upgrade install instead of the Full Install, as I don't have much $$ to work with. Will I have to buy the XP Home Full install, or will I not be able to use XP Home at all, and have to buy an XP Pro upgrade? I really don't want XP Pro, I'd like to get away from all that "Pro" crap...please try to explain simply. As always, thanks.

 

yo!

first off using a restore disk shouldn't stop you from upgrading.

i know from experience you can't 'upgrade' from xp to win2k, it says the new OS is older than the one installed. you should be able to go from win2k to xp

if win2k runs o.k. why upgrade? imho xp is slower and less secure.

without wanting to incriminate myself don't go buying xp, send me a message outlining what you need

word to your mother

 

Hi Road_Rocket. The reason I want Win XP is 'cos I just lost my job (All Sony SXRD TV's will now be made in Mejico...seems they work for $1.97/hr):cry and I'll be taking a computer basics class to learn resumes and such, and it will be taught on Win XP. All I've ever done on my puter is emails, IMs and web surfing. Clueless about word processing so I figured I better have the same OS they'll be using. confused

 

I know you will have time on your hands but my advice would be to not spend it fiddling about with operating systems. I take it the Win 2K (there was no home version just the pro and 'server') is working?

If you are going to be learning applications programs such as Office I would concentrate my efforts there. They will work equally well on 2K as XP. The presentation is all set by the applications program not the version of Windows so why worry. If you are on any sort of course don't forget that Microsoft offer products cheaply to students.

All my prime systems run on 2K, I only use XP to check out stuff I am telling other people.

2K does not have the product activation nonsense so its much easier to manage. And judging by the threads of woe here at MG you will not miss the daily Microsoft update either.
In fact the only thing you can't have is Internet Explorer 7, is that hardship?


Hope This helps


Studio T

 

Studio T, thanks for the good word. My Win2K Pro is running great. With 1Gig of RAM and the P4 2.4, it's as fast as anything I'll need in the foreseeable future. (I can't envision becoming a "gamer" at this point!). The only reason I plan to use the restore progs is 'cos it wasn't cleaned out very good before I got it and I just want a clean, fresh start for it. But as I said, it runs great.
Thanks for the info that the OS is not as important as the app.
BTW...wouldn't miss IE; I'm a Firefox man. :cool

 

The onlu other thing to know, really is that 2k does not have MSCONFIG. However the file msconfig.exe, copied from an XP system does the business.

Studio T

 

Got that; was one of the first things I noticed. Found a link with an installer and it runs just like it was there all along! Excellent point 'tho Studio T.