Using an Upgrade Version of Windows for a New Installation

Using an Upgrade Version of Windows for a New Installation

An OEM or full version of the operating system is designed for installation to an empty hard disk (a clean install). You can also use an upgrade version of the operating system for a clean install if you have a qualifying Windows version on CD or floppy disk to provide during the compliance check portion of the installation (the compliance check uses the existing Windows installation if you are performing an upgrade or a dual-boot installation). You can use the CD or floppy disks from the previous version (and sometimes two versions back) as qualifying media.

caution

Did your version of Windows come on a recovery CD instead of an installable CD? You probably can't use it as a qualifying version.

Thus, upgrade versions of Windows Me can use Windows 98 or Windows 95 media to qualify, upgrade versions of Windows 98 can use Windows 95 or Windows/Windows for Workgroups 3.1 media to qualify, and upgrade versions of Windows 95 can use Windows/Windows for Workgroups 3.1 media to verify eligibility for an installation with an upgrade version.

tip

Always use the CD version of an operating system for the media verification step if possible. The more recent the version of Windows, the more likely it is that it will ask you to insert each and every floppy disk of a Windows floppy disk installation set for verification. This could easily be 10 or more floppy disks with a floppy-based version of Windows 95.

Besides the hassle of swapping floppy disks during verification, a second concern is the possibility of the media going bad. The Windows setup program isn't very forgiving of bad media, and might quit if it cannot read a particular floppy disk during verification.

Even if you no longer use Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me, keep those CDs handy for verification.

Windows 2000 can use Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0/3.51 media to qualify. Windows XP Home can use Windows 98 and Windows Me media, whereas Windows XP Professional can use Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Home Edition media.

Microsoft provides a quick view of eligibility for upgrades to Windows XP Home/Professional at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/matrix.asp. Although Microsoft refers to the chart on this page as "Eligibility for In-Place Upgrade," media from the eligible versions can also be used to qualify you to use the upgrade for a clean install.