upgrade or full version of XP?

[v8440]

Hi all,

I was wondering what the difference is between the upgrade and the full version of XP? Is it that the upgrade is the same as full but will only install if a previous version of windows is already present? Or is the upgrade a less complete version of the OS? I seem to recall reading somewhere that upgrades to 98 functioned less satisfactorily than full installs. Is this true of XP, or can I save the money with the upgrade version and come out the same as if I had bought the full version?

[primal51]

IN my experience, if you use the upgrade, then any problems you had with your previous OS then they will stay iwht your new OS, but with a fresh install, you will have no such problems, so I edorse the fresh install over the upgrade.

[Ohgr]

The upgrade is basicly the same as the full version. So if you get the upgrade do a format on your HDD and install the upgrade, when asked for previouse versions of windows stick in your previouse win disk and away you go...saves you money too.

[jw50]

The only difference between the upgrade CD and the full CD is that you must have a previous version of windows to use the upgrade CD. With the upgrade CD you can do three types of installs.

You can do the upgrade of your previous OS which is the quickest install but causes the most long term problems because of all the old drivers and programs that will still be on your hard drive.
You can also do a full install over the existing OS, you will need to reinstall all of your apps and old files and programs will still be there wasting hard drive space.

The best way to install XP in the long run is to backup all your data files, reformat your hard drive and do a clean install. If you boot to the XP CD it will give you the option of formatting the drive before installing XP, you can also format in NTFS if you do it this way.