Change Operating system - Dell

roadsidetree

Hi,

Last week we bought a PC from Dell which contains Windows Media Center Edition 2004 OS.

Now OH found out that the software he is trying to install could not be installed in this OS but needs a server OS (Windows 2000, 2003 etc) :sad:

Neither I nor OH have done anything like this before. Can we do this OS change ourselves or is it better to go through Dell

Any advice welcome!

alared

Windows Media Center Edition 2004 has windows XP edition on it.

Skyhigh

But XP isn't really a server OS.
Well you can use XP Pro (not Home! for gods sake) as a server with the correct modules and such installed, but you'd be better off using Windows 2000 or similar.


The PC is new, you don't want to necessarily go installing a new OS on it, as it may invalidate the 12 month warranty, so - ring them up and ask.

You have about 6/7 options really.

Find out exactly whats missing from the OS that is required by the software, does it require certain packages? dll's? cab files? network components?
Then find out if its possible to download the missing files/apps and install them to your OS so that the software will run.


Try right clicking on the setup.exe file on the CD or wherever the installation file is installed and:
Properties > Compatability tab > select 'run this application as' and then select Windows 2000 or try Windows NT 4.0.
This *should* in theory try to run/install the application as if it were doing so from Windows 2000 or NT.


You could try ringing them up and asking them if they can provide you with a disk, serial or even install the OS for you, this will probably be cheaper than going out and buying the version of Windows 2000/server/etc as Dell and similar PC 'manufacturers' (ha!) pay a very small amount per serial - its nowhere near the £100-£250 you may fork out for the actual OS from a retailer.

I'm quite sure Dell provide srver software, such as 2000,etc, but really if you wanted to use a PC as a server....then you should have probably bought a server setup.


If you have the CD with the version of Windows you want on, you can simply install it by putting it in the CD drive, hitting a key during the boot sequence when it says:
"To boot from CD/device press any key"
If you want to replace the current version of Windows completely you will have to select to format/re-partition the drive - it will ask you if you want to do this, well it will ask you which "partition" you want to install it on, if you select your current partition then it will request you format it.
THIS WILL REMOVE ALL DATA FROM THE PC.
So if you're re-partitioning/formatting then ensure you have any data backed up.
Then it will go off and install the version of Windows onto the PC.


The other option is to install another version of Windows, such as 2000 or NT on the PC so that you have a dual boot.
This means, both OS' will be installed on the PC and you will have to select which one to use at PC startup.
(Sort of like when it used to ask you if you wanted to load DOS or Windows, back in the mists of time).
Dual booting is a bit more complex, you'll want to look it up online first.
Or even ask Dell to see if you could pay them X amount to install Windows 2000/NT on the PC as well in a dual boot.


Consider Linux.
If you want to run a server or server applications then you really *really* should be looking into Linux, most devs are FREE. Unlike MS Windows "we charge you £80-£5000" for an OS....


Consider an emulator.
You can run an emulator on your PC so that you basically have 'another' PC on your PC. So, basically you can run another PC setup inside your current setup.
(Think, a desktop within a desktop).
Virtual PC /VMware is ok for this.



:!:

CIS

Usually software for Win2000 will run on XP (they're both based on the same code), to get Win2000 installed legally will cost you upwards of £30 on Ebay.

Dell would charge you a small fortune for Win2000, and Iam not sure that they would install it as it wasn't bought pre-installed on the PC. If they did, they would charge a fortune for the installation.

Alared is right though, Media Centre is just an addon to the installed version of XP, have you actually tried installing the software ?

roadsidetree

Thanks for your replies

i forgot to mention something. Oh has got copy of win 2003 operating systems (subscribes msdn).

i guess we can remove win mce and install win 2003 ourselves. but as skyhigh pointed out this would invalidate the support and i was not too happy with that. also although we are what you call power users we have never done such things before.

any way i have return to dell technical helpdesk. waiting to hear from them. fingers crossed

thanks to all

Lob_Rockster

Get VMWare or MS Virtual PC. Please don't downgrade from the excellent MCE!