strlllin--- Me again. I found an XP HOME cd for DELL in my collection. Of course it did not work. At start up I pressed F2 which got me into the boot screen. I selected BOOT FROM CD then ENTER. The screen remained as is. I have an XP PRO SP2 cd coming. Do I inset the cd as soon as I power up? Same process? What is the BOOT SCREEN supposed to change to when the cd is recognized? As I said the c drive is already XP PRO. the cd I have is marked "OPERATING SYSTEM, ALREADY INSTALLED" Is there a difference between that cd and a OS INSTALLATION cd, RCOVERY cd, REINSTALLATION cd? Is this why THIS cd does not work because it is looking for an OS that does not exist? I am replacing WIN 98 with XP as my former tech friend did. I know I am being a pest, but if I knew what is SUPPOSED to happen than I will know the process is working. Accept ALL DEFAULT SETTINGS? I hope you can reassure me.