Which version of W2K to get?

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I currently have a Dell PII D266 with Win98 and some recent hardware upgrades to ATA 100 HD and AGP 4x video card. I have now decided to build a new system based on the ASUS P4T-E m/b with a P4 1.8 socket 478 processor. My O/S of choice would be W2K to be installed on a new / fresh HD. I would retain the Dell for a few months until the new system is considered stable and then move its ATA/100 HD to the new box.

The decision I am pondering is whether to get the OEM version of W2K (CDN$240), upgrade version (CDN$300) or full retail (CDN$400). I understand that for some upgrade paths to newer O/S, OEMs are not qualifying products. So getting W2K OEM, although the least expensive of the 3 versions, might not be a qualifier should I decide to upgrade to XP in the future.

Acquiring the upgrade version of W2k, poses the question, how do I install the O/S when it would be looking for a qualifying O/S on a new / fresh HD? Does the install procedure allow the temporary insertion of a previous OS’s CD in the drive in order to pass as a qualifying product?

Acquiring the full retail version would obviously resolve the issues, but is the most expensive route.

Some might say, go directly to XP but I would think that the same issues would be there and I would rather wait for SP1 or SP2 of XP before venturing into that territory.

Any and all comments would be gratefully received.

Regards,

Bob Archell

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Why not just go to Windows XP pro and save the money spent on 2K. With a blank hard drive one needs the OEM or Full version.

If one is rebuilding a system, one can format the drive with no SYS option. Then when the upgrade can not find the peoper product, just put a Windows98, Me, or Nt4 system disk in the CD and tell setup where to look. for the proper product. This trick works for MOST upgrades and Step ups.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Thanks for your input Dave. In my evaluation, I did look at the possibility of going straight to XP. While doing the research, I was able to find W2K drivers for all of my peripheral hardware such as printer, scanner, video and sound cards etc., but nothing in the way of XP drivers for those devices. It is always possible that the XP provided drivers would do the trick but I would hate like heck to go through the install and find that it doesn’t want to acknowledge the presence of the equipment.

The jury is still out.

Thanks again…

Bob

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I have been beta testing XP Pro since Beta2, MOST of the Windows 2K drivers will work with XP. If 2K will run the odds are that XP will also.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Based on Me upgrade, you can do a ‘clean’ installation with an Me upgrade disc as long as you have a ’98 installation disc. The upgrade (to a blank HDD) asks for evidence of the previous o/s – putting the cd in the drive will do.

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