Installing Windows XP Pro
Dear Dean,
I don’t think you need the professional version.
The problem you mention might be solved by starting your computer in MS DOS mode with CD ROM support, and then, running Windows XP setup from the CD ROM. To get to MS DOS Mode, do the following:
1) Configure your computer to boot from your hard drive that has Windows ME on it.
2) Then, restart the computer and as soon as the POST messages appear, press the F8 key a few times. This should produce a menu that allows you to start Windows in MS DOS mode. Pick this menu item.
3) Once your computer comes up, you should see just an MS DOS command prompt – no windows will appear when the computer is in this mode.
4) Then, make sure that the Windows XP CD ROM is in your CD ROM drive.
5) Finally run the Windows XP setup program from your CD ROM. :\setup.exe (I think).
Another approach to solving this problem [of your CD ROM drive not working when you're attempting to install Windows XP from it], would be for you to boot your computer up in Windows ME, and then copy the entire Windows XP CD ROM to one of your hard drives. Then, install it from that location, instead of from the CD ROM. I’ve used this procedure in past versions of Windows on my computers that do not have CD ROMs but do have network connections. I put the Windows CD ROM into one of my networked computers that has a CD, then copied the files over to a folder on the computer upon which I wanted to install Windows. Then, I go to the target computer, and run Windows Setup from the hard drive. Understand? But you don’t need a network to do this if the computer you’re installing Windows on has a CD ROM.
I’ll get more specific information tomorrow.
Tom