Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

[PlasmaRelay]

I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.
No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows
XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a
"clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really
the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

 

[Alias]

I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.
No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows
XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a
"clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really
the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

Yes, back up your data and do a clean install. No use dragging Me
baggage with you and you should format the drive to NTFS first, which XP
will do as a matter of course during the install.

Here's a good guide for clean installing XP:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

You can use an Upgrade XP CD if you still have your Me CD. I trust you
have your motherboard CD, sound, video, etc, yes? If not, get the
drivers and put them on some external media to have them on hand to
insall when you finish installing XP.

Alias

 

[JS]

Since you are in the position to try both:
Start with the 'Upgrade' path (no need to activate XP immediately after
upgrade), try your applications after the upgrade and if you find no
problems after a few days then Activate. Also check your disk space before
your start.

My personal preference is to do a 'Clean Install'.
However before you start:
Make sure you have the XP version of drivers you need for your motherboard,
video card, sound card, Etc. you will need from Dell's web site.
Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Belarc does a good job of providing a wealth of information including
software Key codes
and identifies the Devices you will need Drivers for (works on ME and XP).
Next: Back up any important data files, documents, email, etc to a CD/DVD
Do this before you start the clean install.
Next check to make sure you have all your application CDs and key code for
each app that requires it.
Then do the clean install, see below.

How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP:
From Michael Steven's: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm
also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

JS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.
No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows
XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a
"clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really
the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

Four comments:

1. As much as I think Windows XP is a much better operating system
than Windows Me, I never agree with a point of view like "it is about
time to upgrade to ...," regardless of what or how good whatever you
are considering upgrading to is. You should upgrade, not because
something new and *perhaps* better is available, but only if you have
identified clear advantages to the new operating system--for example,
it supports newer hardware or software that you want to acquire, and
your present operating system does not. Whenever you upgrade, there is
*always* a risk of problems, and there is always a learning curve. You
should go through that learning process and accept that risk, only if
there is a clearly-defined advantage to doing so.

2. 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.

3. There have been a couple of generations of new Windows versions
since Me. If you do decide to upgrade, to me it makes no sense to take
the intermediate step of going to an operating system on its way out.
Despite the naysayers, Vista works just fine, if your hardware is
adequate for it, and I recommend that you upgrade to that, if
anything.

4. Whether you upgrade to XP or to Vista, if your computer dates from
the Windows Me era, it is *highly* unlikely that your hardware is
anywhere near adequate. Besides upgrading the operating system, you
would also need to make substantial hardware improvements, and if you
have to upgrade a lot, it's often less expensive to just buy a whole
new computer.

 

[Bill in Co.]

But if he does this, he's going to end up with a somewhat dirty system, AND
he will be stuck with FAT32 (at least for awhile). Doesn't it make more
prudent sense for him to start afresh?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Windows ME was the only edition of Windows that I felt was a mistake to
migrate from using an in-place upgrade. I used the Dell provided upgrade cd
to upgrade to XP Home (XP had just released and Dell had offered a free
upgrade to XP with new machines). The system was stable for no more than
six hours. I made several reinstallations and upgrades with the same result
and wound up buying a retail edition of XP and doing a clean install.

Dell knows what they are talking about here. Do a clean install.

 

[Soundlady]

we recently upgraded a family members computer from me to xp and did not do a
clean install we kept partitions from old one and now that we have xp on it
and it wont let us reinstall to go back and delte all old stuff because it
says we have a newer version than is on the disk. I suppose this was due to
upgrading after we installed. So i suggest to any wipe it all out and install
all new otherwise u will have problems with the old stuff sitting in ur
computer. I am no expert but I am disappointed that xp will not let me
reinstall because of this.

 

[JS]

I did indicate my preference, but if he has time to play/try the upgrade
path it can't hurt and even if the upgrade is mucked up he can always start
clean.

JS

 

[philo]

I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.
No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows
XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a
"clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really
the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

I work on literally hundreds of machines a year
and am an authorized Microsoft refurbisher and I assure you a clean install
is the way to go.

I can elaborate in full if you wish..
but want to keep this post short

However, if your present system is working OK...
I'd just keep it. No need to upgrade merely for the sake of having something
new.

 

[Karl Snooks]

PlasmaRelay,
Follow the advice of the people in the Dell forum and do a clean install.

I assume they also are familiar with your particular model and whether all
components are compatible and advising you on using the /checkupgradeonly
option of the XP CD winnt32.

__________
Karl Snooks

 

[Script]

You will likely find that only W2K drivers are available for that machine,
not true XP drivers.

 

[Soundlady]

Thank you all for the info I may try a clean instal and redo it this week end
i want all the old files gone all they are doing is taking up memory for
what i see. Thank you again
God Bless'
Soundlady

 

[philo]

Thank you all for the info I may try a clean instal and redo it this week end
i want all the old files gone all they are doing is taking up memory for
what i see. Thank you again
God Bless'
Soundlady

Ok please post back and let us know how it went.

BTW: If there is anything on the machine such as pictures or letters etc
that you do not want to loose...
be sure to burn the data to a CD's or DVD's first.
If you format the drive and perform a clean install. everything on there
will be gone...
but it sounds like that's what you want to do

 

[Mazie]

Four comments:

1. As much as I think Windows XP is a much better operating system
than Windows Me, I never agree with a point of view like "it is about
time to upgrade to ...," regardless of what or how good whatever you
are considering upgrading to is. You should upgrade, not because
something new and *perhaps* better is available, but only if you have
identified clear advantages to the new operating system--for example,
it supports newer hardware or software that you want to acquire, and
your present operating system does not. Whenever you upgrade, there is
*always* a risk of problems, and there is always a learning curve. You
should go through that learning process and accept that risk, only if
there is a clearly-defined advantage to doing so.

2. 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.

3. There have been a couple of generations of new Windows versions
since Me. If you do decide to upgrade, to me it makes no sense to take
the intermediate step of going to an operating system on its way out.
Despite the naysayers, Vista works just fine, if your hardware is
adequate for it, and I recommend that you upgrade to that, if
anything.

4. Whether you upgrade to XP or to Vista, if your computer dates from
the Windows Me era, it is *highly* unlikely that your hardware is
anywhere near adequate. Besides upgrading the operating system, you
would also need to make substantial hardware improvements, and if you
have to upgrade a lot, it's often less expensive to just buy a whole
new computer.

As someone with the same model of Dell laptop computer from the
same year, I'll say - This computer worked reasonably well with
WinMe but better with XP (plus the service packs) even if not
overly blessed with ram. Never had a problem with running older
software, peripherals, external devices, drivers once upgraded.
If you can do it cost effectively, I'd recommend upgrading it to
XP. However, there is no way it will ever run Vista.

Ann