Question with Windows...
 

Okay, I'm going to be getting a new gaming PC soon, either building it, or ordering it without an OS... I really do not want to pay for windows, but luckily, my mom's law school is willing to pay for a copy of windows... unfortunately, it's only an upgrade version, and I don't have a stand alone copy to install on it... so my question is, if I get my friend's standard version of Windows XP home, can I upgrade it to windows 2000 pro?

I'm, quite obviously, a bit of a noob.

i dont think that would be an upgrade, rather a down grade.

I have never tried doing this but I have a feeling that the upgrade CD will recognize XP as a newer OS and therefore won't installed over it.

Yeah, but the problem is that my friend doesn't want me using his copy of Win XP Home...

I might be able to get a copy of Windows XP Pro upgrade, but I don't know...

You shouldn't have too much trouble getting hold of a copy of 2k pro off any local geek - I'd use that. Also, anyone who's got the original disks that came with their computer should be able to help.

Is there any reason your mum's school will only fund 2k?

It's a law school, they're really particular... something about XP they don't like, but I forget.

Incidently, my mom's computer there (she refuses to upgrade because she likes WordPerfect as opposed to word) is one of a very small number still working, because she is using windows 95 or 98, as opposed to the majority of the other computers, running 2000, which got trashed by the sobig. :lol:

When you boot with the upgrade disk, at some point it will ask for proof of ownership of a previous version of Windows (if it isn't already installed on the computer). At that point, you can insert a Windows 98 or Windows ME CD, let the installer verify, then the disk will pop out and you can pop the Windows 2000 disk back in and continue installation. A 98 or ME disk shouldn't be too hard to get a hold of.

You can get an OEM disk for as little as $50, although you may have to buy another small item (since OEM disks technically aren't supposed to be sold without being packaged with something else). Or just borrow a copy from someone--but keep in mind that's technically copyright infringement.

You don't need to use a full version for verification.

I dont know if this still works with the newer versions of windows, but I have installed win98 on a computer from an upgrade disc, without having win95 on the system to begin with. it seems that the win98 upgrade disc actually contained the entire OS, not just the upgrade files.

and it never did ask to see any proof of ownership of win95.

go figure.