Upgradeing from 98SE to XP

[sharonf]

A few months ago I tried upgrading from Windows 98Se to XP but did it
over XP and had lots of problems. After a lot of work I finally reverted
back to 98 and got everything working right again. Now I want to try a
clean install of XP but am a little afraid of not being able to revert
back to 98 if something goes wrong again. I already ran the Upgrade
adviser and have downloaded the new drivers that I will need. I'm
wondering if I should update my bios first but I don't have a clue how
to do that. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to the most trouble
free method of doing a clean install? If anyone can point me to some
information on upgrading the bios that would be great too. I can find
suggestions about upgrading the bios but so far haven't found anything
that tells me exactly how to do it.

 

[DL]

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
A clean install involves removeing everything on your C drive, theres no
going back, other than by reinstalling, you will lose all data
Your mobo site would be the place to go to check on bios updates, and
whether one is required, and how to update.
Updateing the bios incorrectly can lead to a dead mobo.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

A few months ago I tried upgrading from Windows 98Se to XP but did it
over XP and had lots of problems. After a lot of work I finally
reverted back to 98 and got everything working right again. Now I
want to try a clean install of XP but am a little afraid of not being
able to revert back to 98 if something goes wrong again.

That's correct. If you do a clean installation, you will not be able to go
back to 98, short of clean installing it again.

I already
ran the Upgrade adviser and have downloaded the new drivers that I
will need. I'm wondering if I should update my bios first but I don't
have a clue how to do that.

No, do not do that--not unless you are aware of a problem that the BIOS
upgrade is known to fix. Although a BIOS upgrade normally goes well, it is
not without danger. If something goes wrong while the upgrade is an progress
(for example, a lapse in power) you can be left with no BIOS at all, and an
unbootable computer.

Can anyone give me any suggestions as to
the most trouble free method of doing a clean install?

It's not really a matter of "the most trouble free method." There's
essentially only one way to do it. Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change
the BIOS boot order if necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts
for a clean installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[philo]

A few months ago I tried upgrading from Windows 98Se to XP but did it
over XP and had lots of problems. After a lot of work I finally reverted
back to 98 and got everything working right again. Now I want to try a
clean install of XP but am a little afraid of not being able to revert
back to 98 if something goes wrong again. I already ran the Upgrade
adviser and have downloaded the new drivers that I will need. I'm
wondering if I should update my bios first but I don't have a clue how
to do that. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to the most trouble
free method of doing a clean install? If anyone can point me to some
information on upgrading the bios that would be great too. I can find
suggestions about upgrading the bios but so far haven't found anything
that tells me exactly how to do it.

First thing to do is backup *all* data you need to keep onto CD's or DVD's

Once you've confirmed that all your data is safe...
you can perform a clean install of XP...
It's not likely you will ned to re-flash your bios...
so don't worry about it.

BTW:
One other thing you could try once all your data is backed up.

Repartition your HD using some 3rd party utility such as partition magic.
shrink your present partition and create a 2nd one.
Install XP on the 2nd partition and dual boot win98 and XP


An alternative would be to simply install XP
on the same partition as win98...
though it would trash your win98 Outlook Express and possibly some other
apps...
at least your data would still be on the HD

 

[NewScience]

Do a clean install but do it as a dual boot system. That way, you still
have Win98 and XP until you don't have need 98 anymore.

You can have each as a C: partition, and set the opposite OS to Hidden when
booted in the other.
If you wish to be able to access data from one to another, create a small
partition, accessible by both so that you can copy from one and read from
the other Windows OS.

Once you are finished with Windows 98 you can remove the partition, assign
all space to Windows XP and delete the other partition used to move data to
and from, and assign to XP ... and your XP Drive letter will still be C.

I've done this on many systems with absolutely no problems. It allowed
flexibility for being able to use applications not compatible with Windows
XP (as well as games).

 

[Daave]

A few months ago I tried upgrading from Windows 98Se to XP but did it
over XP and had lots of problems. After a lot of work I finally
reverted back to 98 and got everything working right again. Now I
want to try a clean install of XP but am a little afraid of not being
able to revert back to 98 if something goes wrong again. I already
ran the Upgrade adviser and have downloaded the new drivers that I
will need. I'm wondering if I should update my bios first but I don't
have a clue how to do that. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to
the most trouble free method of doing a clean install? If anyone can
point me to some information on upgrading the bios that would be
great too. I can find suggestions about upgrading the bios but so far
haven't found anything that tells me exactly how to do it.

What are the specs of your PC? Are you sure that it can handle XP?

DL and Ken gave you good advice and sites for a clean install. Regarding
reverting to 98 SE, you'll want to use Acronis True Image to make an
exact image of your hard drive containing the 98 install. Then if you
want to go back for whatever reason, you won't be left out in the cold.

 

[NewScience]

What I forgot to mention was that I cloned my Windows 98 onto another
partition, then upgraded Windows 98 to Windows XP on the other. That way I
kept all my apps and settings.

But you must be sure that everything is correct on the Windows 98SE system.
No sense in upgrading an OS when there are system problems.

Upgrading also allows WIndows XP to locate and update drivers already
resident on the system.
However, I would still go to the manufacturers' web-site and download their
most up-to-date drivers.
MS is usually out-of-date.

 

[sharonf]

That's correct. If you do a clean installation, you will not be able to go
back to 98, short of clean installing it again.




No, do not do that--not unless you are aware of a problem that the BIOS
upgrade is known to fix. Although a BIOS upgrade normally goes well, it is
not without danger. If something goes wrong while the upgrade is an progress
(for example, a lapse in power) you can be left with no BIOS at all, and an
unbootable computer.




It's not really a matter of "the most trouble free method." There's
essentially only one way to do it. Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change
the BIOS boot order if necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts
for a clean installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Thanks for the advise and the links. I am not aware of any problems
with the bios on my computer. A few upgrading sites had suggested doing
that before installing XP. If I don't need to do it that I'll skip that
step.

 

[sharonf]

What I forgot to mention was that I cloned my Windows 98 onto another
partition, then upgraded Windows 98 to Windows XP on the other. That way I
kept all my apps and settings.

But you must be sure that everything is correct on the Windows 98SE system.
No sense in upgrading an OS when there are system problems.

Upgrading also allows WIndows XP to locate and update drivers already
resident on the system.
However, I would still go to the manufacturers' web-site and download their
most up-to-date drivers.
MS is usually out-of-date.

Since I had problems trying to upgrade over 98 last time I thought I
might have better luck with a clean install this time. I am backing up
everything unto a flash drive. I am getting a new computer for myself
and I am installing XP on this one to give to my son. Since he won't
want or need most of the software that I have my main concern is the
updated drivers.

 

[sharonf]

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
A clean install involves removeing everything on your C drive, theres no
going back, other than by reinstalling, you will lose all data
Your mobo site would be the place to go to check on bios updates, and
whether one is required, and how to update.
Updateing the bios incorrectly can lead to a dead mobo.

I tried going to my motherboard site and can't find any applicable
information on my motherboard or bios. I've upgraded several areas of
the computer but the motherboard itself is a few years old.

 

[NewScience]

Well as long as your system meets XP's requirements and you don't have
anything 'fancy' hardware wise on the system, there should be no problem.

The one's that 'gotcha', are usually Windows XP Video drivers. I've yet to
see MS have the most up-to-date versions.

The others are CD/DVD, ZIP drives, printers, cameras, scanners, motherboards
and monitors (normally for software tools).