Upgrade Problem

[Lead Head]

Originally Posted by jph1589

Thanks, I'll give that a try in the morning. Don't want to wake anyone up tonight. They had a long day of playing hard with their toys LOL!!

Actually if you just go into the Device Manager, then open the Computer sub-menu, if it says ACPI Uni-Processor PC, then you know thats your problem. If it says multi processor then something else is wrong..

[jph1589]

I checked device manager this morning and it shows up as an ACPI computer, not a uni or a multi processor. I picked the upgrade driver/advanced/ and the only two compatible options it shows are computer and ACPI computer. So I chose ACPI computer and let it reload the driver, but knew that wouldnt work. That is basically what happens when I turn off hyper threading and reboot and then turn it back on.

So I guess this operating system is too stupid to handle upgrading from a Celeron D to a P4 HT. It is funny though, this computer i'm trying to upgrade is the only one in the house with a full retail version of XP/SP2 on it. If I was going to have trouble, I would have expected it from one of the others. God it sucks when a 30 minute project ends up dragging into the next day.

Can someone remind me if there is an easy way to install windows overtop of the existing one, without losing my installed programs and files. I'm having brain lock trying to remember if that can be done.

[Capper]

are you using the latest BIOS for that board? Its an "older" board, and the BIOS version you are using might not support the Dual core processors

[jph1589]

Originally Posted by Capper

are you using the latest BIOS for that board? Its an "older" board, and the BIOS version you are using might not support the Dual core processors

Yeah, I flashed the latest bios last night and it is just a 520j P4 HT, not a dual core.

[Capper]

sorry.......sometimes I skip over posts and pages when looking.....that was clearly posted earlier.

[jph1589]

Originally Posted by Capper

sorry.......sometimes I skip over posts and pages when looking.....that was clearly posted earlier.

Hey.........it's ok.........its early.

Apparently, the retail version has an upgrade option that will allow you to reinstall over your existing xp without losing settings or files. Has anyone every used this?

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by jph1589

Apparently, the retail version has an upgrade option that will allow you to reinstall over your existing xp without losing settings or files. Has anyone every used this?

Yep, several times. Just boot from the CD, follow the install instruction. The setup will tell you that they found an existing Windows XP install, if it doesn't, ABORT. :P
So when it tells you this, you can still install over that. It will ask whether or not your want to keep your personal files, just choose keep. :)

I'd give a try at Lead Head solution if you didn't yet.

[jph1589]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Yep, several times. Just boot from the CD, follow the install instruction. The setup will tell you that they found an existing Windows XP install, if it doesn't, ABORT. :P
So when it tells you this, you can still install over that. It will ask whether or not your want to keep your personal files, just choose keep. :)

I'd give a try at Lead Head solution if you didn't yet.

Yeah i did that as soon as i got up. Post 12.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by jph1589

Yeah i did that as soon as i got up. Post 12.

Sorry missed it, I drank a bit before comming to work. :P
At this point I think you're better trying to re-install than something else, if only for the time you'll lose on this.

[jph1589]

Well, that was cool. I'm going to explain it in case anyone ever has to do this.

With the full retail version of XP/Home, you get an added feature. You can upgrade/replace an existing XP/Home system without losing a thing. You don't do it from the normal booted install screen. That was the confusing part.

You boot your computer and load the CD and it will autostart a menu that has an install option on it. You click that and then chose upgrade. It will go up on the net and get current setup/installation files first and then copy your installed programs/file/settings to a temp file and then reboot. Then it installs xp and then it migrates your stuff into it from the temp files. I must say i was a little skeptical to say the least. But it worked perfectly. I had backed up the files across my net to another machine before i started cause I didn't trust it. But there was no need.

And the best part is now there are two cpu's in the task manager and the OS is using the Hyperthreading capability of the cpu.

So, long story short......maybe there are benefits to buying full retail versions of an OS other than the support. I'm impressed.......cough....coughh........M$$ still sucks! LOL

Edit......you know what....it didnt make me activate it either.