installing win95 on hd that has xp

[mac71671]

Got an old computer given to me that has win xp. Dont have recover disk and having problems so decided to try installing an oem version of win95 full version and then using an xp upgrade disk to make a fresh start. Cant get it to work. Hoping someone has some advice. Really computer illiterate so please keep answers simple. Thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

There is a good chance that when XP was installed the HDD was formatted to NTFS. Win95 cannot read or write to NTFS formatted discs, so you will have to first reformat (and therefore completely wipe) the HDD back to FAT32. You should then be able to install Win95 (assuming you can get drivers etc for it).

Simplest method would be to start the install, and let the installer blow awya the partitions and create and format a new one.

[Number Six]

You can't upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows XP - you can only upgrade to XP from Windows 98 and above.

[edDV]

I haven't done this for a few years but this is what I recall.

1. You don't need to have Win95 or Win98 or Win98SE installed. You just need to have the CD . You will be prompted to load the CD as proof of original ownership.

2. XP had different types of CD discs. A PC that came retail with XP preinstalled shipped with an OEM version XP CD disc. Retail original and retail upgrade discs were different. You can't mix them.

So an OEM XP install requires an OEM CD. These may be limited to the original mobo.

Retail XP upgrade CDs should work with any hardware. Show the original Win 95/98 CD or floppy when asked.

This will get you a 30 day install. You will need a valid XP key code to activate.

[mac71671]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. Its a shame that win95 cant be upgraded to xp considering i just bought it from ebay. I have an upgrade version of win xp but whenever i try loading it an error message says there isnt an earlier version of windows. Someone else told me he had loaded xp from the upgrade cd to his blank hd but i just cant get it to work.

[edDV]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. Its a shame that win95 cant be upgraded to xp considering i just bought it from ebay. I have an upgrade version of win xp but whenever i try loading it an error message says there isnt an earlier version of windows. Someone else told me he had loaded xp from the upgrade cd to his blank hd but i just cant get it to work.

This may be true for an OEM XP upgrade disk. For a retail XP upgrade disk you need to show a 95/98/98se CD. Then you need to authenticate the key code within 30 days.

[mac71671]

Just inserted the upgrade version again and got a screen asking what i wanted to do about a partition. Not knowing i selected switch to ntfs or something like that and it started reading the disk. Then a message said there was no earlier version of windows and asked me to insert cd. After reading the win95 disk it asked for the xp disk again. Winxp started to load then a message came up that certain file couldnt be copied. Had the option of hitting enter to try again or escape key to skip file. Hitting enter had no effect so i tried esc to skip file. In all most files couldnt be copied and windows failed to install. I know this is probabbly an ID 10 T error. but still would like any assistance you can give.

[victoriabears]

Can he use a win xp full version disc, if he lays his hands on one, and use the xp serial number.

[mac71671]

The upgrade cd has a serial number so all is good there, im just not computer savy enough to get it loaded.

[MOVIEGEEK]

The upgrade XP CD won't work with 95,I would buy a XP OEM CD from a reputable dealer.

[victoriabears]

if you can get a full version cd you can just install xp clean.

When I upgraded from 95 to 98 as has been said I just needed the 95 cd in the drive to start with, but I have always had clean installs of xp, not upgrades. See if a friend has a full version, I think an oem might work, call Microsoft, see what they say, they would have you registered.

[mac71671]

Mostly a cost issue, most full versions of xp ive seen are around $200. If its possible id like to use what i have. If not ill try buying full versions when i have the money.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Mostly a cost issue, most full versions of xp ive seen are around $200. If its possible id like to use what i have. If not ill try buying full versions when i have the money.

You can get a XP Home or Vista Basic OEM CD for ~$90.
OEM is a full version but you can only install it on one machine.

[victoriabears]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2552182&CatId=672

[mac71671]

Thanks for the link, if no luck with the upgrade may go that route.

[Number Six]

Instead of wasting the extra money for a full version of XP, why don't you get a full or OEM version of 98 the same way that you got the 95 - I'm sure you got the 95 very cheap, and 98 should also be very cheap. With the 98 disk, you can still do what you want - you do not even have to install 98. Just do a clean install of XP, and show it the 98 disk when it asks you to prove that you have a valid version of Windows to upgrade from.