Problem found. The new sata hard drive that came with this computer
needs drivers that are not on the xp pro cd. This forced me to dig up a
3.5 floppy and install the drivers before windows setup could work.

On Jan 24, 1:46 pm, Ghostrider <-...@fitron.142> wrote:
> Jamesgang wrote:
> > I purchased a Dimension E520 from Dell recently and it came with Xp
> > Home. I tested it by starting it up making sure the home edition was
> > running ok. Our company had purchaed several copies of full version xp
> > pro from a different source and I had planned to use one of those to
> > upgrade this E520 to Xp Pro. As I have done with numerous other
> > computers, I booted using the xp pro cd and it started setup process. I
> > get the normal blue screen and it starts to copy the setup files. As
> > soon as it finishes copying the files I see a "starting windows setup"
> > at the bottom of the screen. At this point I get a blue screen of death
> > and it tells me that windows has been shut down to prevent damage. I
> > have tried 3 different cds (including one oem xp pro from dell) and had
> > the same result. If I put in the xp home cd that came with the setup
> > works and I can continue with the setup it works. Is there some sort of
> > new proprietary issue here?
>
> > Tks, SamAnd from where did the company purchase the Windows XP Pro? If
> they are non-branded version of XP Pro from other OEM's or the
> retail version or VLK version, then the installation/upgrade
> would work. If not, then branded OEM versions, especially, are
> specific to the brand. The other alternative is to obtain the
> Dell Windows XP Pro installation cdrom (not the recovery disc).- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -