xp upgrade...or full in disguise???

[sixf00t4]

ok so had to reformat a pc at work. found out that the office only bought xp upgrades. so i looked for the original 2k disk that came with the pc. no where to be found. so i figured...lets just try the upgrade. so i booted from the cdrom and formatted the pc and install xp.

it worked...

my question is...how can this be???? why would anyone ever buy the full version? or is something going to happen? i dont see any limitations.

[Bob The Great]

I don't think your supposed to, but you can. heres a chart that lists what your supposed to be able to upgrade from. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...ing/matrix.asp

[sixf00t4]

i dont really understand what you mean with that chart. i mean i installed windows and everything works fine and i ONLY used the upgrade.

[rpertusio]

strange you mention that, sixf00t4...
I've noticed the same thing with the WinXP Pro "upgrade" where I am.
Ours is a 'corporate edition', but still named an "upgrade". Maybe the corp never asks for a valid CD like the normal version does.
I thought maybe it incorrectly had the 'upgrade' label.

- rp

[zidane182]

my friend and i used upgrade disk to install xp on our neighbors computer. We were confused that we could boot from the upgrade disk and we had the option to install.. =P

[sixf00t4]

so this is something that shouldn't be happenning we agree right??

this is an xp pro upgrade....maybe our idea of "upgrade" is wrong. like M$ is giving us the benefit of the doubt that we already paid for a previous version's key and they are like giving us a discount???? find that hard to swallow though, considering it is m$

[rpertusio]

From what I understand, it should be prompting for a valid CD (such as your Win2k CD) before continuing.

Maybe if you use the GUI installation (boot into Win2k, and start the WinXP setup from within Win2k) it will prompt for a CD...

[iNeb]

Not bad, buy the upgrade instead of full

[sixf00t4]

if that is the case, it shouldnt be bootable...you know?

ineb: i clicked on your link and nothing happens????

[iNeb]

It didn't try again, works for me

[Marvinator]

It has been my expereince that there are no differences between what is installed from an Upgrade CD and a Full Version. The only difference is that it asks for verification. Somehow, it found that verification on your machine and completed the installation. There is nothing missing, so I would just make notes as to how you did it, keep them for future reference and not worry.

[cunokyle]

Originally posted by iNeb
It didn't try again, works for me

lmao
I know the WinME upgrade disk is not bootable, odd that XP is.

[sixf00t4]

so we have found a way to rip m$ off

woo hoo!

[Gait_Keeper]

Hmm.......very interesting
anyone have some facts and this is not a rare incident

[hugorudd]

The CD should of course be bootable, simply because the recommended install procedure is to run from boot. It will then search for the $p$gwindows or $p$gwinnt string on any accessible drive. (i assume it can't read a redundant FAT) If it then finds files, it assumes you have a registered MS O/S and lets you in. On a totally clean install, it should ask you for an MS O/S CD. This is stupid as all hell, tho, because an ISO of Win98 can be downloaded in about fifteen minutes.

The fact it doesn't ask for an OEM key string is puzzling, unless you have the corp version of Pro. I work for a university, so I have a legit copy of Pro Upgrade. I admit tho, that it has allowed me to boot and install without asking for key strings.

It's not bizarre at all, it's just basic common sense. There is nothing magical about MS's security procedures, they're a botch job just as everyone else's is. i remember upgrading to win 95 (a pirate job, I'm not proud to say), and using a copy of win.com to fool the package.

Hugo

[Gait_Keeper]

so if not a corporate upgrade version it may not work?

I'm looking to save a couple of bucks if I can?

Buy the upgrade xp home ( have 98se running ) or full version?

[screen]

When I bought a used laptop, it came with a version of windows ME. I had a win2k upgrade CD. When in winME, I inserted the win2k upgrade CD, I was prompted that there is a new version of windows on the CD and asked me if I would like to upgrade. I said yes and everything went smoothly.

Note: When you run win2k upgrade from the CD from winME, and when win2k reboots after copying some files on to the harddrive, don't respond to "press any key to boot from CD" (after the reboot started). Let the win2k start from the harddrive.

My friend hit the ENTER key when he was prompted "press any key to boot from the CD", and win2k told him that there is no existing installation of windows on the harddrive. Instead of upgrading, win2k formatted the harddrive and installed a new OS.

-Screen

[flickflum]

No i think it more like an owner loyality thing kinda like with cars if you buy the same brand you get more money back.

[Gait_Keeper]

same brand? more for the money??

sorry I just worked 17 hours, that one went right by me.

I have 98se running on 3 machines, and want to upgrade to XP home, may pro. One machine ( the others are too old, K6-2)
So gentlemen and gentleladies, and extraterrestrials

Full version or upgrade??

AMD for life

[Siliconjunkie]

Gait- To answer a question you didnt ask, Home unless you need SMP or EFS support or need to join a domain.

I would reccomend the full version. You can still upgrade with it and can take it with you if you sell any of your boxes or upgrade. Leave 98 on the old box.