Is Upgrade Advisor telling me something?

[Guest]

I am getting ready to upgrade from Windows 98 SE to XP Home (Upgrade). I downloaded the Upgrade Advisor and it did'nt run properly. 1st it froze during the update from the internet. Second it froze without getting the updates - no information was obtained. Since the Upgrade Advisor is supposed to be the first part of the XP install, what's going to happen when I install? My guess is a crash. Question 1 - Should I try the upgrade or do a clean boot install from a freshly formatted disc ? Which brings on the second --Question 2: If I wipe the disk clean and go to install XP, no 98 info will be found to prove I can get an upgrade. How do I prove I'm a 98 owner? Do I have to reinstall 95 (full version)-> 98 (upgrade)-> 98SE (upgrade) or is there an easier way? Is there an install sequence where I can just put a 98 (upgrade) disc in with serial numbers and qualify for the XP upgrade?

 

[Mike Brearley]

I'd try the upgrade first. What do you have to lose really? If it doesn't
work, then format and isntall XP on the freshly formatted disk. During the
install, XP will ask for a qualifying CD, any of your win98 disks will work
as a qualifyer. No matter which way you go, backup your system!!! If
possible, back up your entire hard drive, that way you won't be s.o.l.
because a file you needed wasn't in your 'My Documents' directory or any of
the other select few directories to get backed up.

Personally I prefer clean installs as they seem to be less troublesome, but
then you have to go through the process of installing all the software that
you had installed and restoring your data files.

--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

I am getting ready to upgrade from Windows 98 SE to XP Home (Upgrade). I

downloaded the Upgrade Advisor and it did'nt run properly. 1st it froze
during the update from the internet. Second it froze without getting the
updates - no information was obtained. Since the Upgrade Advisor is supposed
to be the first part of the XP install, what's going to happen when I
install? My guess is a crash. Question 1 - Should I try the upgrade or do a
clean boot install from a freshly formatted disc ? Which brings on the
second --Question 2: If I wipe the disk clean and go to install XP, no 98
info will be found to prove I can get an upgrade. How do I prove I'm a 98
owner? Do I have to reinstall 95 (full version)-> 98 (upgrade)-> 98SE
(upgrade) or is there an easier way? Is there an install sequence where I
can just put a 98 (upgrade) disc in with serial numbers and qualify for the
XP upgrade?

 

[dmac]

try doing it without the upgrades and then after it is installed just go to
the update site.

--
Dave M
Etna, Maine USA
Radeon 9800Pro 256mb
P4 2.8 oc to 3.1

I am getting ready to upgrade from Windows 98 SE to XP Home (Upgrade). I

downloaded the Upgrade Advisor and it did'nt run properly. 1st it froze
during the update from the internet. Second it froze without getting the
updates - no information was obtained. Since the Upgrade Advisor is supposed
to be the first part of the XP install, what's going to happen when I
install? My guess is a crash. Question 1 - Should I try the upgrade or do a
clean boot install from a freshly formatted disc ? Which brings on the
second --Question 2: If I wipe the disk clean and go to install XP, no 98
info will be found to prove I can get an upgrade. How do I prove I'm a 98
owner? Do I have to reinstall 95 (full version)-> 98 (upgrade)-> 98SE
(upgrade) or is there an easier way? Is there an install sequence where I
can just put a 98 (upgrade) disc in with serial numbers and qualify for the
XP upgrade?

 

[dmac]

sorry, when he spoke of failing during update I thought it was part of the
get updates while upgrading thing.
my bad!

 

[Mike Brearley]

Not a problem. I just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same track.


--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Frankly, if the WinXP Upgrade Advisor cannot successfully run on
that particular PC, it's extremely unlikely that WinXP will install
and run properly.

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility
List: (http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/default.asp) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective hardware
(particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will still
support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

I am getting ready to upgrade from Windows 98 SE to XP Home

(Upgrade). I downloaded the Upgrade Advisor and it did'nt run
properly. 1st it froze during the update from the internet. Second it
froze without getting the updates - no information was obtained. Since
the Upgrade Advisor is supposed to be the first part of the XP
install, what's going to happen when I install? My guess is a crash.
Question 1 - Should I try the upgrade or do a clean boot install from
a freshly formatted disc ? Which brings on the second --Question 2: If
I wipe the disk clean and go to install XP, no 98 info will be found
to prove I can get an upgrade. How do I prove I'm a 98 owner? Do I
have to reinstall 95 (full version)-> 98 (upgrade)-> 98SE (upgrade) or
is there an easier way? Is there an install sequence where I can just
put a 98 (upgrade) disc in with serial numbers and qualify for the XP
upgrade?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice. I believe the reason The Upgrade Advisor is not working is due to a software problem with Win 98SE I have been having off & on since recovering from (and removing) a worm infection (speedy.bat). Some programs load and run OK but others, and even some Microsoft Critical updates fail to load (although they seem to download OK). I believe the problem is with the Microsoft Installer (MSI) -- possibly a file was deleted when worm cleaning. I have updated to MSI version 2 and most programs can be installed or removed but a few - like the Upgrade Advisor want to hang. I have seen a message with a "NSIS Error" but don't have a clue what that is or how to fix it. I will likely back every thing up and have to do a clean install -- such a pain to have to get all your software "Tweaked" the way you like it, but if XP is more stable than Win 98 it'll be worth it !

 

[Mike Brearley]

Just because the upgrade advisor won't run properly, doesn't mean that XP
won't install properly. The upgrade advisor depends on your current OS to
install and run. The upgrade to XP replaces your existing OS, so any issues
with it will likely be null and void. Any files from Win98SE that were
missing or currupt will not likely be an issue when upgrading.

If you hate the thought of getting everything back to the way it was, then
try the upgrade first, if it doesn't work, you've only wasted an hour as
opposed to the hours upon hours of re-installing and tweaking your programs
that you had installed.

If you're like me and don't mind taking the extra time to re-install
everything, then do a clean install. With a clean install, you get rid of
all the cr@p from your previous OS and files/settings left behind from
programs that were installed then removed.

--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

Thanks for the advice. I believe the reason The Upgrade Advisor is not

working is due to a software problem with Win 98SE I have been having off &
on since recovering from (and removing) a worm infection (speedy.bat). Some
programs load and run OK but others, and even some Microsoft Critical
updates fail to load (although they seem to download OK). I believe the
problem is with the Microsoft Installer (MSI) -- possibly a file was deleted
when worm cleaning. I have updated to MSI version 2 and most programs can be
installed or removed but a few - like the Upgrade Advisor want to hang. I
have seen a message with a "NSIS Error" but don't have a clue what that is
or how to fix it. I will likely back every thing up and have to do a clean
install -- such a pain to have to get all your software "Tweaked" the way
you like it, but if XP is more stable than Win 98 it'll be worth it !