Me->xp

nevinenigma

New Member
I have a full copy of XP home(OEM version) and I want to upgrade my windows ME machine, however when I insert the XP installation CD it says that it doesn't support upgrading from Windows ME to windows XP home edition. Is it possible to just format the drive and wipe out the whole ME OS then just load the full XP OS?
 
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I believe so...I used to have ME and it wouldn't let me upgrade to Windows 2000 either. This was a long time ago, so the memory of it is kinda vague. I'm pretty sure I ended up reformating the HDD and the installed Windows 2000. It should be the same with XP.
 
OEM versions are made for new PCs, they are bootable and must be installed stand alone without any other operating systems already installed. If you have an OEM version and want to install it, you MUST remove the ME version you have by deleting or formatting, and then boot using the OEM Home edition CD and proceed with installation.

You will find on the label of the OEM version a statement saying, to be distributed with a new PC only, which means that this copy is not an upgrade one.
 
Lol

I never knew OEM versions do not allow you to upgrade. That was my case (ME to XP Pro) and I simply installed it over while retaining files...which was the only way because I had no burner nor another HDD. Glad to know now....not that I would need it now.

JAN :D
 
formatting in ME was a pain, since ME isn't bootable to DOS and the only way to boot to dos was using the me restore cd. Then the DOS with windows ME was fool proofed, ie microsoft removed the format c: command, so I had to download some patch that let me boot to dos 8.0. It was all a big fuss, but now xp is installing so everything is good...I hope.
 
I assume that you have another PC which is working fine, since you can post here while formatting ME and installing XP, you could have made an easier trick, connect your Hard Disk to this working computer, format it using normal windows format, whatever version it is, and then get it back to the other PC and boot with your CD and start installation, plain and simple.
 
Instead of formatting your drive and losing all of the files you need, perhaps you could purchase or even borrow a second hard-drive, to place all of your files onto.

Format the drive, install XP and then transfer the files back over to your hard-drive.
 
It's always wise to do a fresh instal from one OS to another. Upgrading OS's will just leave crap on your hd and when it's Windows me your coming from I'd rather do a fresh instal. Back up your stuff and give your pc a fresh instal of Windows XP.
 
yeah it's all working good now, there was nothing important on the computer, my sister just was using it for internet and msn and listening to music, but my mom's gonna need to use it soon for accounting, Xp runs alot faster and a lot less bugs than ME on that machine.
 
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