i know… read the key label. not that simple. bought a used nortgate pc with xp installed in it, re-formatted and installed win2k. now i want to set it up to dual boot but dont have the windows xp disk that matches the keycode on the case which says “windows xp home edition- lan plus” i cant seem to find information on any “lan plus” version of xp, and usuing a friends copys of diffrent versions of winxp cannot find any version that takes that code. any help?
You’ll need to find the Northgate “OEM” version to match the number - most likely in the form of a “restore” disc, which won’t be too useful for setting up dual-boot as it will simply re-image the drive for single-booting XP.
That won’t do much good, as it won’t let you partition the drive, and XP wants to be installed on a partition after any earlier versions are installed on their repspective partitions.
You’ll need to buy a normal copy of XP to get the right license key, and to set up dual-boot.
The key to an OEM won’t work on a retail version. The manufacture can help you with how you are expected to handle a reinstall.
The XP was likely installed to partition 1, so a working image restore will need to be to partition 1. You can install 2000 to partition 2. Restore the XP from the back up and then do some system repair from XP to add in the 2000 operating system to partition 1. A reinstall can leave 2000 where it is now and install XP to another partition. The XP must always be installed last on a dual boot. Being a XP Home addition removes a lot of commands and function that XP Professional has. If you can’t make the partitions without instructions this whole bit will overwelm you. It gets way complicated. Don’t take it as a put down, it gets really complicated, and I haven’t given you all of what needs to be done.
The computer should have a Microsoft sticker on it, that list the version and license key. It’s a requirement that sellers put this on the computer case. Where did your key come from?
The easiest way to dual boot a computer is two separate drives. You must disconnect the 2000 drive before installing XP, or the XP install routine will disable 2000 boot code. Disconnect the drive that you want to install XP to, and install 2000. Disconect the drive you installed 2000 to, and install XP. Reconnect all hard drives and use the F11 key during start up to select what drive to boot to. Install the most used operating system to be the first drive checked to boot from, then you only have to use F11 for the lesser used operating system.
its the key on the case. i was trying to identify what “lan plus” edition was
microsfts website said to just install xp (defaults to a hard drive w/o an existing os) and it should work with the pre existing win2k installation no prob
There’s a significant difference between imaging and installing.
The image disc that will match the license key on the PC won’t give you any options about preserving earlier versions of Windows or dual-booting. It’s just going to pour itself onto the drive, obliterating anything that’s already on the drive.
The XP install will remove the start up ntldr file from the 2000 during the install to the same hard drive, and require 2000 to read the file in the XP directory to start. 2000 will not start for you if the XP gets messed up, since the ntldr file in the XP partition will be required to start 2000. The seperate drive method I discribed leaves the 2000 ntldr file in place and directed to the 2000 partition only. Best of luck.