I have in my laptop with window xp pro installed. I would like to replace it with xp home which is more friendly for my wife. When I try to replace it a window states that the disc I have is an older version and I would have to delete the version installed before installing the home version. How do I Delete the installed version?

Switching from Pro to Home is not a good idea in my opinion.

If you do not like certain features of Pro they can be adjusted or set to positions where they will not show. What do you want to change? We can help with this.

If you are intent on installing Home you would need to Format the hard drive. Your Home will require its' own unique license and the Pro will become null and void if it was an OEM.

There are many ways to format your hard drive but I would recommend using the manufacturer's tools which can be had on-line and loaded to a boot floppy or CD.

Who is the hard drive manufacturer? Look under the Device Manager.

Right click My Computer then click Manage then Device Manager and click the + next to disk drives.

Again I do not recommend this procedure as it will also end any warranties that you might have and Pro is easily configured.

Formatting will also remove all programs and data from the hard drive (everything). All programs will have to be reinstalled from the install CD's. If you have programs that were pre-installed with no CD's they will be lost.



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Thank you for your prompt reply. The xp pro installed,was installed when i purched the secondhand laptop from a local shop which is now closed.
I do have an authenticated Home xp with the relevent code. I'm not a real expert on computers so if you could explain in more detail I would be very much obliged Golfjack

I'd be glad to explain what I can but I need to know what you want to do.

Are you dead set on installing Home or do you want to try and get the Pro to your liking?

Yes I would like to prceed with the change and would be very obliged if you could help me with the process. The driver installed is by microsoft provider No 5.1,2535.0 I don't know if this is any help to you. If there is any more information required please let me know. sincerely Golfjack

Were you trying a Clean Install of XP Home booting from the XP CD?

Here is a good guide by the way:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

If that is what you have already tried and you still get the error re: older version then you can format the drive with this tool:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

You will have to download it to a computer with a CD RW (CD burner). You will also need an ISO burning program. If you have Nero this will work otherwise here is a free tool for ISO burning:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

After you download: gparted-livecd-0.3.1-1.iso you need to create a disk image using one of the above tools. You cannot just burn or copy the download but need to Create a Disk Image.

This then will create a bootable CD that has the tools to format and partition your hard drive.

Let us know if you need further clarification.


I would think that just booting the Home CD and following the instructions for a Clean Install would work as XP has the tools to format for itself but if the old version error persists then the latter steps will be necessary.

I have now burnt the gparted 0.3.1-1,iso on to a cd but how do you create a disc image? Thank you for your assistance so far golfjack

The Disk Image needs to be created from the download.

If you have the Nero program the last option on the list is Disk Image or saved project

You then need to choose File Types as Image files (ISO).

If you do not have Nero then download this:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

After you download this then right click the ISO that you downloaded and choose:

Create image etc. I haven't used the latter program in some time so I forget the exact command but it is added to the right click shell.

One way to test if you have burned the Image rather than the data is to right click the disk under My Computer then click Properties. The disk should be 100% full.

No matter how much or little data is involved the Image covers the entire disk so an Imaged disk will always be 100% full.

Hope I am not complicating things

I have created the disc image from my Nero program, What is my next move. It's all been very in triguing never having attempted anything like this before.
golfjack

Boot the GParted LiveCD.

You will get a few initial screens for options. Just keep pressing Enter to load the standard program and English etc.

You will see some things happening ... files loading ... just be patient and let it go.

Eventually the GUI will load and you can start to work.

If you have multiple partitions click on the partition block and then choose from the toolbar:

Partition > Delete

If you have only one partition or after you have deleted all but one partition then choose from the toolbar:

Partition > Format to > NTFS

Then Enter and let the format begin.

When done follow the prompts to eject the CD and reboot.

This time insert your XP CD and you should have a Clean slate to install on.


Again just a reminder: This process will remove all data from the hard drive!


Here is a brief overview to let you know what you will see in the GUI:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry...es/gparted.htm




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