I wanted to reload XP to clear/clean my system out, but when I ran the xp disc it said that the version I was trying to load was older than the one running, so to install the disc (older disc ) I would have to shut down and boot on the disc, the problem is my pc has not auto ran a cd / dvd for a long time and do not know how to switch auto run on ( or off)

Thanks
Ned Autorun will not help in this instance as XP will still do the version search prior to install...

What's happened here is your XP install has probably had Service Pack2 and maybe 3 INSTALLED and the CD you have is probably XP with SP1...therefore it reads as an older version.

@ ways around this: Borrow an XP CD that includes SP2 ( versions MUST match i.e. Home=Home and Pro=Pro ).
Or if you have a floppy drive in there you can DLoad and create a bootable floppy and format from there.
Last option would be to DLoad a third party hard disk utility to wipe the drive...they are FREE from the drive manuf. websites...
GOOD Luck and let us know.Another option to supplement Patio's advice:

1) Copy the CD's contents to a folder. Something like C:\XPCD

2) Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 from Microsoft's website.

3) Download nLite: http://www.nliteos.com

4) Use nLite to slipstream Service Pack 3 into C:\XPCD and create a new CD.Hi and thanks,
I have XP home which includes service pack two, in the past (long time ago) I would install the xp and then download the updates, anyway if I wiped clean and STARTED again would I then be able to install my xp home with SP2 on and then download service pack 3.
Would this be the easy/best way to GO !

Thanks
Ned Yes.
What method would you be doing the wipe ? ?

P.S. Be sure to collect all your drivers beforehand to speed up the process...especially the MBoard drivers.Quote from: patio on January 03, 2009, 12:31:03 PM

Yes.
What method would you be doing the wipe ? ?

P.S. Be sure to collect all your drivers beforehand to speed up the process...especially the MBoard drivers.