Need to change an operating system

Question

My boss has asked me to take his new Dell computer that has windows XP home edition on it and install the Windows 2000 operating system on it.  He has a disk with the windows 2000 professional software.  My question is will I lose all the drivers and will everything work when I am done.  I do not see any cd that came with the computer that has the drivers.   Any help or suggestions is appreciated.  The last thing I want to do is mess up his new computer.   Kristen

osprey4 · Answer

Obviously, you will lose everything, since you'll need to format the drive to install Win 2000. All the drivers should be available online, but make sure you follow the reinstall guide. To find the reinstall guide, downloads and other information for your system, hover your mouse cursor over the Product Support button (upper left of this page), and select Reinstall Guide (or Downloads or whatever). Then enter the service tag number and operating system, and you'll find all the information you need.

RoHe · Answer

Better question is to ask why does he want to do that? ;)

jmwills · Answer

Because he's the boss, that's why!  Tell him/her that you need to buy and external hard drive to backup the data so it will not be lost, then see if the demand chnages.

jmwills · Answer

Do a Google search how to join XP Home to a domain.  It can be done.

VBdotNet · Answer

@RoHe wrote:
Better question is to ask why does he want to do that? ;)

If it is for work, then his boss probably wants it to have domain logon ability - and if they have a site license for W2K then there there is no need to pay extra for XP Pro.

osprey4 · Answer

Remember the rules of being a boss: The boss is always right. If the boss is wrong, see rule #1.

RoHe · Answer

I'm sorry I asked... :) Message Edited by RoHe on 06-09-2005 09:19 AM

Lemmi · Answer

Putting all the 'guess-why-he-wants-this' aside, we are talking about a new computer. Such a thing has normally no personal files on it (= no need to backup), which reduces the problem to the drivers. I would check in Device Manager and any documentation that came with the computer what is installed, and then try to obtain (download) Win 2000 compatible drivers for all that stuff from Dell or manufacturers websites, including chipset drivers (these please only from Dell, because they modify them!). That should do it. You can then proceed with the WIn 2000 install, followed by installing the drivers for the various components.   Good luck, Lemmi

Windows General

Need to change an operating system

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