Can't install Windows XP Professional on Compaq

[BillByce]

When I install Windows XP Professional on my Compaq Presario (which came with XP Home version), it wipes out all the software that came with the computer, including the "H" partition on the C: drive, which I need to do a non-full recovery.

When I use the system recovery software, it wipes out everything on the hard drive and re-installs XP Home.

Isn't there a way to have the software that came with the machine as well as XP Professional?

By the way, someone told me I should uninstall XP Home first, and the help tutorial says that I can do it, but the system won't let me; XP Home doesn't show up in the "Add/Remove Programs" list, even when I'm logged on as the administrator.

The Compaq help line was no help.

Thanks.

Bill Byce

[onespeedreed]

"XP Home doesn't show up in the "Add/Remove Programs" list,"

This kind of floored me. Study up these links a bit.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/dual_and...booting_xp.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_i..._-_graphic.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/index.htm

[BillByce]

What I really want to do is install XP Professional on the C: drive, not create a new partition with a copy of everything on it. I don't want Home on one partition and Professional on another.

I couldn't find out how to do that in the above links.

Did I miss something?

Thanks.

Bill Byce

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by BillByce

When I install Windows XP Professional on my Compaq Presario (which came with XP Home version), it wipes out all the software that came with the computer, including the "H" partition on the C: drive, which I need to do a non-full recovery.

When I use the system recovery software, it wipes out everything on the hard drive and re-installs XP Home.

Isn't there a way to have the software that came with the machine as well as XP Professional?

By the way, someone told me I should uninstall XP Home first, and the help tutorial says that I can do it, but the system won't let me; XP Home doesn't show up in the "Add/Remove Programs" list, even when I'm logged on as the administrator.

The Compaq help line was no help.

Thanks.

Bill Byce

Get Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
and Everest http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...-Edition.shtml
and http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...entifier.shtml


these programes will tell you all that is installed on your comp, drivers, motherboard etc, you can then collect all the drivers you need, make your own disc and wipe the system clean.HP and Compac give dummy names to boards to make them difficult to find but it can be done.Find your motherboard and your set.

Hope this helps

[onespeedreed]

Originally Posted by BillByce

What I really want to do is install XP Professional on the C: drive, not create a new partition with a copy of everything on it. I don't want Home on one partition and Professional on another.

I couldn't find out how to do that in the above links.

Did I miss something?

Thanks.

Bill Byce

Ok Bill, that clears things up. You want to do a clean install of Xp pro. Make sure you follow bookworm's advice and have any needed software and drivers ready and waiting.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[BillByce]

It will wipe out the H: partition that allows me to install selected pieces of the recovery disks.

My only way to get the wiped-out software back is to use the recovery disks, but they will wipe out XP Professional

XP Professional wipes out all the software and restoring the software wipes out XP Professional.

[BillByce]

I can't connect to the internet (through our company's network) until I have XP Professional.

That means that I can't use the above program that saves off software to a web page. It's a great idea, but I have to have XP Professional first.

[onespeedreed]

Oh!

Now that makes sense. Why did you not tell us that in the first place?

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by onespeedreed

Oh!

Now that makes sense. Why did you not tell us that in the first place?

The recovery discs that are supplied by Dell, contain the drivers that are needed to run your system, sound, display, lan chipset these are the motherboard drivers and also the drivers needed by the Win XP system. If you have a retail copy of Win XP Pro and a disc of all your motherboard and installed hardware drivers, you will not need recovery discs unless they contain additional sofyware programes that you need. I have a desktop with Win XP Pro ( retail ) installed, when I purchased my laptop I had a Win XP Pro system with recovery discs supplied. I immediatley did a clean install of Windows with my retail copy of XP Pro the only thing different was I used the Product Key supplied with the laptop.If there is software supplied by Dell, then check their site to see if it is available as a download, or speak to Dell to see if they will supply a disc for you to install it.

Hope this makes it a little clearer

[plthayer]

Just a quick question but have you thought about just upgrading your system to XP Pro??? You can run the installation from within xp home and tell the installer to upgrade and it will retain all of your files and settings, just make sure that during setup you tell it to leave the current file system in tact if it does ask you about it. XP Pro has all of the same features as Home, it's just better for networking.

[BillByce]

The problem was that I couldn't upgrade to XP Pro from XP Home on my Compaq Presario. It would just go into an endless reboot loop. The reason is that Compaq uses Intel software on their AMD computers (which they put in the Presario).

There's a switch that my boss set in one of the files (sorry, I don't know exactly which) and that fixed the problem.

To find the problem, and get the error code that's listed in the upgrade manual, see http://www.theeldergeek.com/auto_reb...stem_crash.htm.

[ANZAC_ELITE]

you will not be able to install Pro clean and retain H drive ........ its a simple as that, Bookworm has given you the answer, round up all your drivers, clean install XP Pro install your drivers.