ladybegood

Computer technician scrubbed down my Dell laptop computer (long sad story as to why needed) and then installed Windows 2000 instead Windows XP it came with. Never got a good answer as to why he did this--supposedly because he did not at that time have my XP disk--although he knew I was bringing it in and I know he has switched other computers between XP and Vista and v v so would have thought he had the needed disks.

Computer is about 2 years old and expect/hope to use it at least 2 (maybe as long as 5) more years.

Will having Windows 2000 cause problems--and if so what? Did XP add significant improvements? Do not want to complain if difference is only with items and/or matters I am unlikely to use or need.

Please help. Thank you

DarkFury

Well.. I'd tell him to get XP back on there. Windows 2000 support probably is close to nil right now, and XP got a short extension based on it's popularity.

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Jeffbx

Who was the technician - I assume not a Dell guy?

Do you still have the XP disk it shipped with? Loading XP is VERY easy. I'd switch back. XP is much nicer than W2K.

ladybegood

Computer came originally with XP and fortunately have the XP disk.

Do not understand why Computer Tech (supposedly the "Expert") loaded 2000 instead.

Unfortunatley even though you "guys" say it is easy to load XP, I really have virtually nil computer skills and concerned about the programs and data I have on the computer. Plus

DarkFury

I hope you didn't pay that guy much to do that.

My recommendation... backup all of your data to a safe place (possibly an external drive, CDs, or DVDs), locate the copies of your programs (if you have the originals).

Next re-install Windows XP by putting the XP disk in the CD drive and turning the computer on (hopefully the CD drive is still set to be the first readable device... if not, then you'll have to enter the BIOS (usually the Delete key when booting or possibly the F1 or F2 key... the screen usually tells you which one.) and set the CD as the first boot device.

Windows XP should then start and ask you a few questions before loading (You'll probably already have a partition set up for Windows, but I usually reformat that partition then start fresh with XP)

If all of this is too complex for you, consult your local "computer nerd" (hopefully not the "Geek squad") and have them walk you through it.

ladybegood

Will bring XP disk to orginal Computer Tech and tell him to install and if (more likely when) that fails, will "beg" friend to help (admit I am a coward and afraid of doing damage or losing needed info)

Additional Question. Any Guesses on why he installed 2000 instead of XP? The age of my Dell laptop indicates XP, I do not have a license for 2000 and he worked on my computer many times before (supposedly trying to resolve a problem that finally caused the "scrub down"--at least one of these times, in fact, involved using my XP disk). So I do not understand why he would install 2000? Also, according to him, much of his business involves putting in XP in computers bought from him to replace the originally installed Vista system--so presumably he has access to XP. So do not understand WHY. Any guesses?

Paymaster

You will have to tell us more about who this "tech" is for us to venture a guess on that.

My "worst case" assumption would be that he used your XP license key on someone else's computer, and downgraded you to whatever he had kicking around...

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Jeffbx

My guess is laziness. He installed the wrong OS & was too lazy to fix his error.

There is NO reason in the world to instll W2K on a system that's licensed for XP.