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@Frank071305 wrote:

Is it possible to "upgrade" from XP Home to XP Pro using the Dell reinstallation CD (Microsoft Windows XP Professional Including Service Pack 2)?  After changing out a failed hd, the Dell tech set up the Home version on my system (4700C) instead of Pro version that was factory installed.  FYI, I tried to do an "upgrade" install by inserting the CD, but the software would not accept the 25 character security tag on the chassis.  Any assistance would be much appreciated.

 

Frank 

 

Regardless of what you're doing, you don't insert the CD, you boot to it. 

 

The Pro CD will NOT perform an upgrade, you need to do a CLEAN install.  And you'll need the driver floppy for the SATA drive. 

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@Frank071305 wrote:

I was hoping to avoid doing a clean install, having just finished doing one on account of the (Maxtor) hd failing after, oh, 7 months.  Re. the difference between loading the CD or booting to it, would that explain the failure of the upgrade wizard to recognize the 25 character code?  And as the original hd was a SATA drive, could I not use the driver on the drivers and utilities CD?  Thanks!

You can't do any Windows XP install or repair or anything else w/o booting to the cd.

Yes, you can pull the driver off the CD as long as you put it on a floppy.  Mentioned several times per day on these forums.