Cannot Re-install CD on 8300

  I am not trying to install Windows 7. I am trying to restore the system back to the original XP-PRO using the original CD's that I used before. I get the set screen and say Install XP-PRO. That is when I get the message Newer verison of windows already installed. Cannot procced.

  I have tried booting off the CD, from file manager.

   Control panel shows system is XP-Pro SP 3. So all I can figure is the auto-update clobbered something that will not let me restore my system.

Are you trying to reinstall Windows then??  If so:

1.  Try first to do a Factory Restore by tapping F8 once-twice per second as soon as you see the F2/F12 prompts in the top-right corner, then Repair Your Computer/Factory Restore ... if you see the Windows screen and Windows start to boot, you are too late/missed your cue - try again.

2. If you can't do a Factory Restore (or don't want to), then you must BOOT to the Windows 7 DVD; you cannot install Windows from the Windows OS.  Don't choose "upgrade" during the install.

  This system has been runiing fine and I have restored it several times in the past (Clean up system to make sure) and all my problems started after I boo-bood and turned on auto-update. My .NET died etcccc Was told by a computer shop MS did something ti C++ that was stomping many of us. So I am at a loss and getting ready to get out my old MSDN CDs

Ok, so you're talking a old Dimension 8300, not a new XPS 8300 ...

Same thing with XP ... if your XP CD says SP2 (or less) and you have SP3 installed, you cannot run the installer from within Windows.  Not sure what you mean by "file manager", but you must BOOT to the CD.  Put the CD in the drive, reboot the PC ... when you see the F12 option in the top-right, hit F12, and select CD/DVD from the boot menu.

Hi CapeCodger,

Welcome to the Community.

I understand your system is running with Windows 7 and now your are trying to reinstall  Windows XP.

When your are doing a clean reinstallation,any previous updates should not stop you from being able to boot from the Cd and reinstall the operating system.

To follow the steps to manually reinstall Windows XP, use the link below for help:

support.dell.com/.../document

Note: If you have already backed up the data or you don't need to back up the data,you can proceed to Step 4 directly.

Hope this helps,

Thank You

Roshan.

Hi,

This message "Sytem has a newer version of window cannot procced" would ideally come if you try to install within the operating system.

What is  the current operating system on the Dell 8300? Are you trying to install Windows XP on it ?

Did you go to F12 ( one time boot menu) and choose Cd/Dvd Rom to boot from Cd?

Thank You

Roshan

  I DO NOT HAVE WINDOWS 7 INSTALLED ON THIS SYSTEM!!!!!

I HAVE TRIED BOOTING OFF THE CD IT JUST SEES WHAT EVER IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND EXITS. I EVEN DISABLED THE DISK DRIVE OFF THE BOOT SEQUENCE AND STILL IT WILL NOT WORK. When I am able to get the install screen up and it asks what I wish to do, when I select install XP it comes back with a newer version exists and exits.

  As far as doing the system restore that crashed and I cannot backtrack. Seems there is something that has grabbed the operating system. I have run all sorts of malware and VIrus stuff that all come up clean.

This would not of bothered me till my laptop another Dell product came unglued and my new Dell laptop will not run .NET Windows 7 (wife was sold a bill of goods when she bought for me about it would run everything). So I am trying to get this Desktop back in the groove and it does not want to go.

   Yes I have tried that. As I said earlier

   I have my old MSDN Xp-Pro CDs to fall back on, however I would much rather use my originial Dell XP-PRO setup CD's which have worked fine in the past until now.

   I even setup the system to only boot from the CD and when it does what happens is the CD spins and gets to a point and exits to the regular windows. looks like it too says this system has newer software than me, get out. The only thing I can figure is that something from MS lunched my system in the past and I should of taken care of when I first noticed it.

"I do not have Windows 7 installed on this system!"

I wasn't the only one confused by your original post.

"Booting off the CD it just sees whatever is causing the problem and exits."

What do you mean it "exits"?  Does it bluescreen?  Just reboot?  Or does it give you an actual message saying it is exiting/quiting?  Also, you say you have used these CD's to reinstall the OS before?

"When I am able to get the install screen up and it asks what I wish to do, when I select install XP it comes back with a newer version exists and exits."

Which "screen" that asks what you want to do?  There are several along the way.  Windows will not just arbitrarily exit Setup because the installed version is newer.  It must get to the point of showing you the existing partitions before it even is aware of an existing OS.

If you are able to boot to the XP CD, DELETE ALL existing partitions, then select the FULL FORMAT (not quick) before installing.  If trying to install to the existing C: drive, it will not let you do so with an older version than what is installed ... you must delete it first.

If you have MSDN media, try that ... perhaps your Dell media is bad.

What happens is I put the CD in the drive. Then there are two things I have done:

1. Let the CD come up in the Auto mode where it shows me a window with several options. The first being "Install XP on this System". When I click it comes up with error I mentioned before.

2. Reboot system to force it to come up under the CD. What happens is it starts to flash then the CD stops and the thing that happens is I am up in windows and the system is in normal operation. That is what I mean by exits the boot. Kind of the way a fail safe system would work.

   I wish it would ask me if I want to reformat, I would do that at the drop of a hat. Dread the thought of going to my old DOS 6.2 to format then go through the bull getting it up to XP-Pro.

Will be try a checked build  MSDN XP-PRO maybe the Dell Cd's will load.after that (Oh I forgot to mention, I have two duplicate sets both giving the same errors.) Kills me because normally I do a complete restore every year and a half or so and this is the first time I had any problems. As i said earlier all my new Dells are Windows 7 and can't run my compilers so I am being forced to get this old workhorse running full steam again.

Hi CapeCodger,

So right now the issue seems to about not being able to boot from the XP Cd.

Try your MSDN XP Pro Cd or even the Resource Cd from dell.Let me know if it boots from any of these cds.

Thank You,

Roshan