operating systems

Ok, I am in the market to buy a new operating system. I have a few questions before I buy though. First, if I buy the operating system will it work on my computer not spec-wise but will it give me errors like when I put my old Dell back together to reinstall Windows from a problem? What happened was I installed Linux but accidentally deleted my partition because I did not know what to do. Then I put the Dell back together because that was the only way I could install Windows successfully without getting any problems. After I did that I figured that I could just move that hard drive to my self made computer. When I did that, Windows could not even load because of a blue screen error that could not be fixed unless I were to keep the hard drive in the Dell computer. So long story short, I have to buy an operating system if I ever want to use my self made computer again, which I do. Second, I do have the upgrade cd to get Media Center which will only work if I have any instance of Windows XP installed on the hard drive. But I am not 100 percent sure it will work.With that said, it would be in my best interest to buy the cheapeast WIndows XP Home edition OEM right? I am a very hardcore gamer so to speak, so do you think I should invest in probably buying Vista Home Premium OEM?

Thank for being patient and taking the time to read my question. :)

....Okay, I'm not sure exactly what you are trying to say (try to explain better and use paragraph structure next time), but it sounds like you just wrecked your Windows install.

Did you already attempt to use safe mode and system restore?

If you did what videocard are you running? Because what I have in mind would be a lot easier on a Nvidia 7 series card.

Pretty much what you want to do is get a Knoppix CD (Linux Pro had one awhile back, or you could download the image and burn it to disc from another computer) boot into it and without installing it run GParted and delete the hard drive partition.

Once you've done that, shut down your computer (the Knoppix disc should autoeject) and find your Restore CDs that should have come with your Dell and do a clean install of Windows.

Keep in mind that will make you lose all your previous data and you'll have system patch hell for a few weeks, but unless you can explain in better detail thats the best I can suggest. 

Hmm...so let me get this straight. The restore discs are tied specifically to the Dell system and you can't get them to run off of your custom build pc (have you attempted it already)?

You have a upgrade disc for Windows XP Media Center edition but you think it may be unable to run as well (in any case, I think you'll need Windows XP installed to begin with before you can use this)? 

If both of these are true, try putting the HDD back into the Dell system and running the restore discs from there, then try putting it back into your custom built computer and seeing if you can get it to run. DON'T INSTALL ANY DRIVERS, just shut it down and put it from the Dell system into your custom one, that should work I think as Windows has drivers for pretty much any hardware you can think of. 

To your first question yes I have attempted. True to your second question. I tried the last thing you said and I have confirmed that it does not work.

To your first question yes I have attempted. True to your second question. I tried the last thing you said and I have confirmed that it does not work.

mejia13fernando

Then you are SOL I believe (if anyone else has an idea feel free to say) and yes, you need to buy a Windows License I'll go ahead and say yes, get XP Home OEM I'm not sure how it compared in Spain but I heres the prices here..you may actually want to go ahead and get Vista if the pricing difference is similar there.

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

I have another question. How do upgrade cds like this work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16837116194mejia13fernando

They are exactly what they say they are, upgrades. With that I believe you could upgrade from Windows 98/98SE or Me (the last of which everyone should have - its nicknamed Mistake Edition for a reason). It necessitates that you already have one of the other OSes that I listed installed so its worthless to you.