Expert: Troy M. MCSE, CNA, MCP, CST, IC3, A+ - 10/16/2006

Question
I have just recieve student software from my school and I dont know exactly how to install it. I have 2 disks that say windows xp on it. One says Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 edition. The other says Microsoft Windows XP Professional with service pack 2. When i first got it I tried to install it on a computer with windows 98 and it said i couldnt.
Then I looked on the back of the thing and it says:

IMPORTANT INSTALLATION INFORMATION:You may install this full version of windows only on desktops for with you have acquired:
1) a qualifying system license and a volume licensing windows xp professional upgrade license, or

2)a full license for windows xp professional through an OEM or from a retail source

Only one of the disks says that
Now this is what I need to know.

1)Why do i have 2 disks? Is it to install 2 different computers or do i need both to instal to 1 computer.

2)What does that message on the back of one of them mean?

3)How do I install it to my computer with windows 98

Answer
Hi Chuck, I am sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I have been ill the past while…

1)   The x64 edition is for 64-bit Processors. This just means that if you have a 64-bit (like 64-lane-highway) central processing chip inside the system, this version is suited directly to take advantage of that. Most home users will still have the 32-bit (‘normal’?) version of processor and you simply install the other disc (the one that says Service Pack 2, there is no SP2 for the 64bit version yet).
Do not feel like you are missing anything, there is not a lot of software for the 64bit versions yet, and it is still a little expensive to make the switch, if you haven’t. If you KNOW you have a 64bit CPU inside your system (the CPU is the ‘main brain’ chip inside that controls everything), then you can install EITHER version. It is just that the 64-bit version will take advantage of the full ‘64-lane-higheway’, but you will be a little restricted still on some of the software you can install on it.

2)   The message on the back is just letting you know that you can install XP on any one system you own. It is saying that you must have a valid license/product number in order to install it (the installation process will ask you for the number, it will be in the form of xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx).

3)   Since you seem to have the ‘full’ version of WindowsXP (not just an ‘upgrade’, where you will have to install Windows98 whenever you want to ‘reinstall’), my suggestion is to back up any files you want to keep to discs and then:

-   Boot up with the XP CD in the drive
-   The Blue Installation setup will begin, choose to Install Windows
-   It will notify you that you have ‘a version of windows already’, allow it to Format/Erase the entire harddrive and use it for WindowsXP

The reason for this is, you will find WindowsXP is a nice ‘step-up’ from Windows98 and has many functions and utilities that are new or improved versions of Windows98. You can still use 95% of your Windows98 software and can even set XP  up to ‘look like 98’ while you get used to the differences. There is a GuidedTour when you first install it that you can take as well.

I am sorry that I couldn’t get back to you sooner, Chuck – but don’t worry, you are doing things just fine – enjoy your new version of Windows and have fun exploring it!