I am getting a Sony Vaio desktop computer for free, but it's pretty old and is running Windows ME. Is there anyway to upgrade it to XP? I have an XP installation CD from another computer...
2007-02-07 10:49:41 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
You cannot upgrade to XP, you have to install from scratch. If there is anything on that PC, you will have to back it or copy it first. If you don't want to burn CDs, the cheapest ways to copy the data are to buy a second hard disk to set as master and set the existing drive as slave. Install XP on the new hard disk, then copy anything you want over to the new primary hard disk. Afterwards, you can use the second hard drive for anything you want. The second way, if not alot of data to copy, would be to buy a small USB flash drive that you can use for a variety of things after you copy the data.
Remember, neither way will copy programs and most software requires the original installation disk.
Update: I know for a fact that every version of XP Professional that I have tried to install will not update Windows 2000 Professional. Maybe someone found another version that will update, I'd like to see it, because it wouldn't work for us. The author mentioned it was an old system. In the Microsoft world, any OS more than a couple products old generally will not upgrade. Also on the downside of upgrading, you usually bring a lot of garbage with your new OS. Fresh installs are a chance to start over clean. As far as Vista goes, I NEVER install any Microsoft package until at least the 1st (preferably 2nd or later) patch is release, and if you can wait long enough, until at least the 1st Service Pack is released. Otherwise, you are just debugging Bill's software for free as an unaware beta tester and living with the buggy, unreliable software.
2007-02-07 10:57:53 · answer #1 · answered by JD_in_FL 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
upgrades are possible, the install disk from another computer won't work. a microsoft xp install disk will work (3x i've heard) pick one up at wal mart, etc. about $150-180 u.s.
you may want to google the sony/upgrade/xp subject (esp. chat rooms) to see what issues have come up when doing this.
maybe consider the cpu speed/c drive size/processor maker also to get a handle on the practical useability of xp on this system.....xp does not do too good on slower/older stuff. if performance is not an issue, just storeage or basic functionality, consider cost/benefit.
2007-02-07 19:04:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that XP CD can go on more than one computer, or you will get a "genuine validation" error.
2007-02-07 18:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Mazz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why would you want xp? vista just came out. in a year xp will be as stupid as ME
2007-02-07 18:57:44 · answer #4 · answered by mastermind9999 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Get UBUNTU, it's free.
2007-02-07 23:02:39 · answer #5 · answered by hitechsleuth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋