Upgrade from Win98

[TheJouster]

If I have a PC with Win 98 installed and want to purchase WinXP Home upgrade
Edition. Can I still do a clean installation of XP Home, I don't really want
to just install over 98, I would like to format the drive then install the
new version of XP. Is this possible with the upgrade version?

 

[Jerry]

Yes, but have the 98 CD ready because the upgrade setup program will look
for a vakid pre-installation and you'll have to insert the 98 CD to satisfy
the requirement.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Yes it is possible, but you will need a qualifying CD from a previous
version of Windows there is a link on the following page:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/advisor.mspx

The following article may be useful as well:

"HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to
Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316639&Product=winxp

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| If I have a PC with Win 98 installed and want to purchase WinXP Home
upgrade
| Edition. Can I still do a clean installation of XP Home, I don't really
want
| to just install over 98, I would like to format the drive then install the
| new version of XP. Is this possible with the upgrade version?
|
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier
OS.

Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS. Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive. In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS. This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.

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 Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) 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/Me. 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 or substandard
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

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



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[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

If I have a PC with Win 98 installed and want to purchase WinXP Home
upgrade Edition. Can I still do a clean installation of XP Home, I
don't really want to just install over 98, I would like to format the
drive then install the new version of XP. Is this possible with the
upgrade version?

Yes. The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a
previous qualifying version, either installed or an an
installation CD.

But I recommend rethinking your decision not to do an upgrade.
Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost everything,
and usually works very well.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much
easier than a clean installation. You can always change your mind
and reinstall cleanly if problems develop.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the
need to backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting
to upgrade, it's always prudent to recognize that things like a
sudden power loss can occur in the middle of it and cause the
loss of everything. For that reason you should make sure you have
backups and anything else you need to reinstall if the worst
happens.

 

[Papa]

Yes, and you are smart to do it that way because any flaws in your existing
system will not be carried forward into your new system. All that is
required is that you have proof of owning the previous version (W98). You
will be asked to insert the W98 disk at some time during the process of
installing XP. Make sure the BIOS is set up so that you can boot from your
CD drive, and then insert the XP disk, do a restart, and follow the install
instructions. You will be given an opportunity to repartition and reformat
your hard drive (I suggest NTFS rather than FAT32), and then XP will be
installed. Have your XP Product Key ready. It should be on an orange sticker
on your CD jewel case.

Of course doing a clean install wipes everything off of your hard drive, so
back up anything important in advance.