Can I reformat with an upgrade cd?

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

02/03/2007 03:39:46 PM · #1

I suspect I already know the answer to this but just in case...

I have a valid copy of a Windows XP upgrade. I don't have any previous OS discs handy. Is there any way I can reformat without a previous version? I'll borrow one off someone else if I have no alternatives but I was kind of hoping to do it today. (-30F makes for good inside days.)

muckpond

Nikon D200

02/03/2007 03:42:49 PM · #2

:( prolly not. i've tried it before and always had to have a copy of an original disc to get the thing started.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/03/2007 03:45:40 PM · #3

Strangely, there *is* a way to do it with Vista, but I don't think it works with XP.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/03/2007 03:50:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by kirbic:

Strangely, there *is* a way to do it with Vista, but I don't think it works with XP.

How stupid is that?

EBJones

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/03/2007 03:52:10 PM · #5

Yes.?

//windowssecrets.com/comp/070201/

Too slow. :(

Message edited by author 2007-02-03 15:52:41.

02/03/2007 03:57:00 PM · #6

But I don't haaaaave Vista. >:(

UNCLEBRO

Canon EOS-30D

02/03/2007 04:05:40 PM · #7

I know some newer dell laptops have a sequence of keys that you press on the boot up - something like ctrl+shift+f11 and that will revert it back to the same condition that the laptop arrived in from the factory.
evrything else will be deleted so you'd have to back it up.
I'm also not sure what models it works on, but I'm sure a Google search would help.
I would look for you, but your're a big girl and can look after yourself.
Also I'm now going to a three year olds birthday party at the house of bounce.

Boooooiiiiinnnnnngggggg!!!!!

02/03/2007 04:12:57 PM · #8

Originally posted by mk:

Nope.
You will need a full version of Windows on floppy or CD to do it, as it will not let you go past during the search for the qualifying product you are upgrading from.
Sorry.

I could say you could go download a hack version somewhere to burn
to a CD, but that would be unethical, so I won't. <--- see? I didn't say it.

wavelength

Nikon D300

02/03/2007 04:22:09 PM · #9

I have two or three copies of 98, you want one?

02/03/2007 04:24:00 PM · #10

Heck I even have all 11 floppies for Windows 3.11

_eug

Nikon D50

02/03/2007 04:28:26 PM · #11

Originally posted by BradP:

Heck I even have all 11 floppies for Windows 3.11

Um, WHY?

wavelength

Nikon D300

02/03/2007 04:29:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by BradP:
Heck I even have all 11 floppies for Windows 3.11

Um, WHY?

I think you can still run the upgrade from 3.11 to XP, but I'm not really sure... ?

02/03/2007 04:30:21 PM · #13

Thanks, guys. It's a homemade machine so no Dell-fu on it. I'll hook up with someone else tonight who has copies of 98 so I'll just use that. It's not like it's going to be any warmer tomorrow anyway.

(Of course, I was able to easily locate Windows 95 but that doesn't upgrade to XP. Humph.)

Maybe I'll...like...take a pitchur or sumfin instead.

Message edited by author 2007-02-03 16:30:30.

02/03/2007 04:32:52 PM · #14

Originally posted by wavelength:

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by BradP:
Heck I even have all 11 floppies for Windows 3.11

Um, WHY?

I think you can still run the upgrade from 3.11 to XP, but I'm not really sure... ?

Nope.

Do your machines even still have floppy drives? Mine don't.

Edited to say: Now that I actually look at that page closer, it says "in place-upgrade." I don't want an in-place upgrade, I want a reformat. So maybe it works? I am off to Google!

Edited AGAIN to say I was right the first time. :)

Message edited by author 2007-02-03 16:38:55.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/03/2007 04:38:09 PM · #15

Win3.11 floppies used to upgrade to Win95 after a fresh format, then upgraded to Win98 after a fresh format, then upgraded to Win2000P, until I bought a full version of Win200P for my business.
Yes, I still do have floppy drives in every PC I've built, mainly for DOS boot-up reasons doing /mbr formats and such on new drives.

Besides, those Win3.11 floppies will be worth money someday - like about 300 years from now - LOL!

XP needs Win98 & above, though they do list Win95 as a qualifying product. Most PC's will promptly spit out a Win3.1x floppy if trying to upgrade to XP and a BillGatesLaugh.wav sound plays in the background...

Message edited by author 2007-02-03 16:46:13.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/03/2007 05:38:36 PM · #16

Originally posted by BradP:

Besides, those Win3.11 floppies will be worth money someday - like about 300 years from now - LOL!

Hey! That means my DOS 2.11 5 1/4" floppies (and the working AT&T PC6300 they belong to) will be worth something in only 290 years!

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/03/2007 05:50:00 PM · #17

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by BradP:
Besides, those Win3.11 floppies will be worth money someday - like about 300 years from now - LOL!

Hey! That means my DOS 2.11 5 1/4" floppies (and the working AT&T PC6300 they belong to) will be worth something in only 290 years!

299 years! I still have them. But nope, you won't upgrade unless you have the full version of XP or 98.

fotomann_forever

02/03/2007 06:04:05 PM · #18

I wonder if you can upgrade from the Beta? Just a though ...

Nobody

Pentax K-S2

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Pentax

02/03/2007 06:10:58 PM · #19

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by BradP:
Heck I even have all 11 floppies for Windows 3.11

Um, WHY?

that was the most stable OS microsoft has developed to date. I really miss those days.

EDIT - sorry - I thought that was DOS 3.11 - I'm getting to old to even read well. :(

Message edited by author 2007-02-03 18:11:46.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/03/2007 06:12:37 PM · #20

I recently ran across a stack of 5.25 floppies and even one of the biggies (is it 8inch? - I forget but they were mini types) - they have been in storage for a l o n g time :-) Thinking of doing a modern art geek thing and hang them together on the wall :-)

fotomann_forever

02/03/2007 07:17:40 PM · #21

Originally posted by mk:

Do your machines even still have floppy drives? Mine don't.

Mine does, but it has huge dust bunnies hanging out in it... LOL

_eug

Nikon D50

02/03/2007 10:32:21 PM · #22

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by mk:
Do your machines even still have floppy drives? Mine don't.

Mine does, but it has huge dust bunnies hanging out in it... LOL

None of mine do whether I built them or bought them. If they came with one they've LONG been removed. lol

I bought a docking station for my Dell laptop last summer off Ebay. It shipped with a 3.5 inch drive that I promptly removed and threw in the JUNK box! I now have 2 of these useless things in that box...

02/03/2007 10:38:41 PM · #23

But I still have a camera that uses a floppy as a memory card, and have the only image on site, used in a challenge with it.
I wonder how thick the dust layer is on it..

_eug

Nikon D50