Flaggingred

I tried to do a clean install using my Gateway supplied version of W98 and the XP upgrade cd. I knew it would ask for the old cd, but didn't think it would be a problem- I have it, it's mine, it's registered, it's clean. About 45 seconds into the procedure it asked for the prior version CD, I popped it in, XP said there was nothing on there. Tried again. Tried again from scratch. Same result. MS tech Support said I just had to enter my key. I asked where. Thirty minutes on hold he comes back and says he was wrong, I needed a CD, and get this: I should get another copy from Gateway! They offered to send me a copy of W98SE, but it would take two weeks. Hey folks here's the bottom line- to do a "clean install," you probably have to reinstall your prior (OEM) version before you can use the XP Upgrade package. Hello Microsoft- isn't that just about the entire population? Hello Microsoft why can't Windows XP EXPLORE a cd? Hello Microsoft why can't I enter my old key anywhere? Hello Microsoft, ever hear of Overnight Delivery?

Because IE is so deeply embedded into XP, be extremely careful when tweaking. There is no straight-forward way of reinstalling IE6 from XP and it might be easier to do a clean install if it's messed bad enuf. The KB has a number of articles on this subject.