How do I change operating systems?

I have a Windows Vista Home Edition that is not updating properly and that is causing me problems with my printer connection. I have a disk for a Windows Vista Home Premium that I could possibly use on mine. Can I? Would it be like an upgrade or would I have to uninstall the present operating system before I install the Premium version? I am afraid to put the disk and lose everything I already have on the computer. I have a Dell Inspiron E1505 laptop and the other OS is also from a Dell laptop.How do I change operating systems?
You can do an upgrade install without losing anything, but that disk can only be registered to one computer at a time. If you register it to this computer (you'll have to call Microsoft to do it), the one it's already installed on will stop working in 30 days.



Or you can repair your current installation. I believe it's F11 while the computer is starting. Then just follow the prompts. (Back up any important data files - pictures, music, documents, etc., just to be sure.)How do I change operating systems?
You don't remove the existing OS but it does place the new one over the top of this one and formats the rest of the drive. You would lose everything.

As it sounds like you may be replacing this OS make sure you make 2 partitions in case something like this ever happens again. One partition for the OS and one for what is called 'home' in unix or Linux. If you have a large amount of space at the moment you could even do it now by shrinking this partition, creating another one, moving your important data across, formatting the C drive and placing the OS in its place. The data would still be on the newly made partition as this is not touched.

In any event use 2 partitions from now on.



You could contact Microsoft but if the disk is yours just use it. I did.



Good LuckHow do I change operating systems?
okay well question is the disk an upgrade or a OS system disk big difference or just do this go to MSN create an account and if everything you have is smaller than 25GB than just save in Skydrive and than go back on web and download it all back to computer and problem solved lolHow do I change operating systems?
Just do it. You can restore to old OS if upgrade is not success.How do I change operating systems?
I say just go for it. Sounds like you can't be wore off than you are now. In any case, you can probably just do a restore system.How do I change operating systems?
Im pretty sure you don't have to unistall the current operating system. As for the losing your data, just back it all up with MOZY.

feel parents advice with

red hair