Check it?

[beerbelly]

I have Windows Pro. OEM on its way now. This will make it official, everything I want on my hard drive, I own on CD.

I plan on erasing my hard drive, (with zero fill) to get rid of all the Dell junk (and anything else).

If my Windows CD doesn't work at this point, I'm in deep trouble.

So here is my question, is there any way to test my new CD without corrupting my one and only computer?

[classicsoftware]

Put it in and boot up. It will boot and you bail on the installation before any damage is done.

[beerbelly]

So if it will boot, does that tell me the whole disc is ok?

I'm not trying to be a pest here, I'm trying to be cautious. If that disc doesn't work, and maybe screws up my internet explorer, I cant even get back here to the forums. Then I'm spending money to pay someone to straiten it out. If you tell me that all I can do is roll the dice, I get it, sometimes in life you get that.

[jlreich]

The only way to see if the whole disk is OK is to do the install. But the chances of it being a bad disk are slim.

Hmm.. Actually now that I think about it there is a way. Perhaps Paul Komski or someone else who knows will chime in because I haven't done it myself. But you can transfer the setup files on the CD to your HDD using a windows boot disk. If the files transfer without problem then it is an indicator of the disk being fine.

But like I said before there is little chance of the CD being bad. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Your getting it from Newegg after all. ;)

I would back up the system before you wipe the drive and do the new install anyway. That way you know your safe if something goes wrong. BootIt NG is my favorite program for backing up, and it is fully functional trialware. Just remember to hit the cancel button when it prompts to install. And have several blank CD's/DVD's on hand depending how much data you have on your HDD.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

[beerbelly]

I just had a thought, I have read here in the forums (I cant remember where), about loading two OS's on the same drive (such as linux and windows), couldn't I do this here? Load Pro totally seperate from home?

[jlreich]

Yes you can do that but it could get complicated. You would probably have to resize your current partition to make room for it. Which always carries some risk to your data. Plus the current XP will not work on your new system, then when your satisfied everything is fine you have all this useless XP home stuff on your.... well I would say it's better not to go that way.

Like I said if I were you, I would make an image of the current XP as you have it now with BootIt NG. That way you know if all else fails you can restore the image and be back as if nothing happened. Also you can use a plugin for BootIt NG to view and grab files from the image, that way you can get your data from the image and put it on your new install of XP pro.

If your worried about getting help when you are putting together the machine download and burn Knoppix. It will run from CD/DVD without a HDD and you can get online to post for help if needed. It's very easy if you have a broadband connection, no configuring at all. Just boot it up and go. If you have dialup I would ask for help in the Linux forum to find out how to set it up for dialup. Since I have never had to do it I don't have any idea.

[beerbelly]

Ok, jlreich, I hear you.

Certainly if you say "complicated", it is certainly not welcome here.
I guess I'll put the disc in and see what happens. I know newegg will stand behind it, so I will end up with a good one no matter what.

I'm way leary here, because I have never even thought about changing the OS on a computer before. What the heck, jump in with both feet. That's how I have learned all my lessons in life, both good and bad, but all educational.

Thanks much!

ps. will certainly back up.