xp upgrade from 98se

[dougie]

Hi,

I have xp pro upgrade package from win 98 and would like some info about if
I need to reformat my hdd - do i need to completely reinstall win98 before
xp pro or can i simply copy a few files across from win 98 to allow xp pro
to recognise that I have a license for both?

thanks

--
___,
\o
| |>
/ \ . l
____________o

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Formatting the drive defeats the purpose of upgrading because it destroys
everything on the drive. All you have to do is start Win98 and at the
desktop insert the XP cd. When the XP splash screen appears, select
install. That's it. All your files and settings will be preserved.

 

[philo]

Hi,

I have xp pro upgrade package from win 98 and would like some info about if
I need to reformat my hdd - do i need to completely reinstall win98 before
xp pro or can i simply copy a few files across from win 98 to allow xp pro
to recognise that I have a license for both?

it's best to do a clean install of XP rather than do an "inplace" upgrade of
win98

backup and data you need first...
then bootup with the XP cd and do a clean install
(you will get the option to format the drive)

during the install, you will need to insert your win98 cd for product
verification
but win98 does not need to be installed first..

believe me, i have done many upgrades
and a clean install is the way to go...
"inplace" upgrades of win9x , though they can work...often tend to have
problems

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Philo.

it's best to do a clean install of XP rather than do an "inplace" upgrade
of
win98

An upgrade from one version of Windows (Win98) to another (WinXP) is an
"upgrade", but not an "in-place upgrade".

An "in-place upgrade" is what we might call an upgrade from one version
(WinXP) to the same version (WinXP). See KB article 315341 for instructions
for doing this.
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

We frequently recommend an in-place upgrade when a user needs to reinstall
WinXP without destroying the existing Registry. The Registry is contained
in several files within the \Windows folder. It holds a lot of critical
information about the existing WinXP installation, including entries for all
the installed applications, users, etc. A "clean install" erases the
existing Registry and creates a new, empty one, with none of that history or
other information. A reformat, of course, would do that and much more. But
an in-place upgrade will reinstall WinXP itself while leaving most of the
Registry intact, preserving the installed applications and data, plus most
of the user's "tweaks". The in-place upgrade reinstalls the version that is
on the WinXP CD-ROM used, so a visit to Windows Update is urged -as soon as
the proper protection (firewall, antivirus, etc.) are in place - to be sure
that SP2 and any later updates are (re)installed.

and a clean install is the way to go...
"inplace" upgrades of win9x , though they can work...often tend to have
problems

I agree with this (if we delete "inplace"). While many (most?) users have
success with an upgrade from Win98 to WinXP, others report - as you said -
that the "migration" of drivers and applications is less than 100%
successful. Many upgraders experience nagging minor hassles later and end
up doing a clean install after all. As you said, an upgrade from Win98 to
WinXP requires only that the Win98 CD be inserted momentarily to verify that
the upgrade is permissible.

Dougie, you can boot into Win98, then insert the WinXP CD-ROM and upgrade
that way, as Colin suggested. Or you can boot from the WinXP CD and choose
to upgrade; this way, the Win98 drivers (which WinXP cannot use) never get
loaded and don't have to be migrated to the WinXP version. (I've never
actually done a Win98-WinXP upgrade, so this advice is based on theory, not
on my own experience.)

RC

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have xp pro upgrade package from win 98 and would like some info about if
I need to reformat my hdd - do i need to completely reinstall win98 before
xp pro or can i simply copy a few files across from win 98 to allow xp pro
to recognise that I have a license for both?

thanks

Should it become necessary, sometime in the future, 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.


--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

it's best to do a clean install of XP rather than do an "inplace" upgrade of
win98

On what specific data do you base this assertion? WinXP is designed to
install and upgrade the existing operating system while simultaneously
preserving your applications and data, and translating as many
personalized settings as possible. The process is designed to be, and
normally is, quite painless.

Some people will always recommend that you perform a clean
installation, rather than upgrade over an earlier OS. For the most
part, I feel that these people, while well-meaning, are living in the
past, and are basing their recommendation on their experiences with
older operating systems.

WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating
system while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and
translating as many personalized settings as possible. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things
can go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all
important to you, back it up before proceeding.

backup and data you need first...

Always a good idea. Things can go wrong, in a small number of cases.
If the data is at all important, it should be backed up before proceeding.

then bootup with the XP cd and do a clean install
(you will get the option to format the drive)

Again, why? The OP'd probably save a lot of time by upgrading his PC
to WinXP, rather than performing a clean installation, if he's no
hardware or software incompatibilities, and if his current OS has no
problems. Microsoft has greatly improved (over earlier versions of
Windows) WinXP's ability to smoothly upgrade an earlier OS.

during the install, you will need to insert your win98 cd for product
verification
but win98 does not need to be installed first..


Correct.

believe me, i have done many upgrades
and a clean install is the way to go...
"inplace" upgrades of win9x , though they can work...often tend to have
problems

Only if one hasn't properly prepared the system for the upgrade, or if
there are underlying hardware and/or software incompatibilities.


--

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

 

[RRR_News]

dougie,
I did not see it mentioned yet, but you should go to Microsoft's
compatibility page, and make sure that your PC is capable of handling XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/sysreqs.mspx

1. I would recommend that you have 512 MB of RAM on your PC, for XP.
2. Either way you chose to upgrade, clean install or upgrade over present
OS, make sure that you back up all your important data, such as email
messages and other data files. Just in case things go wrong.
3. You should check all your hardwares' manufacturer sites and make sure
that there is an upgrade drivers for XP. Such as printers, scanners, modems,
digital cameras, network equipment, etc... If they don't have the XP
drivers, sometimes Win2000 drivers may work, if available.

 

[JT]

Hi,

I have xp pro upgrade package from win 98 and would like some info about if
I need to reformat my hdd - do i need to completely reinstall win98 before
xp pro or can i simply copy a few files across from win 98 to allow xp pro
to recognise that I have a license for both?

thanks

You have several practical (although perhaps not strictly legal)
options when using the XP Pro upgrade disk.

1) A true upgrade to your Win 98 computer in which case you simply
stick in the XP Pro upgrade disk and proceed. Not advised.

2) A clean install of XP Pro to the old Win 98 computer, in which case
the best option is to simply Fdisk the Win 98 OS into oblivion
beforehand. Keep reading...

3) A clean install of XP Pro to a *new* computer, different from your
old Win 98 computer. In this case simply stick a virgin hard drive
into your new machine and install away. Keep reading...

For cases 2 and 3, the XP Pro "upgrade" installation will ask for a
Win 98 install CD for proof of ownership. Note that a Win 98 SE
upgrade CD will suffice for such proof.

If you want to do case 2 or 3 but you don't have a Win 98 install disk
for proof, then you can try to borrow one. Otherwise, you will have
to install XP Pro onto a system with Win 98 OS installed. If you are
building a new computer for your XP Pro system then simply clone your
working Win 98 hard drive and install the clone in the new computer.
It doesn't matter that your cloned drive might not actually boot to
Win 98 on your new computer (hardware conflicts etc). All that
matters is that the Win 98 OS is on the drive. Be warned, however,
that if you attempt to do a *clean* install of XP Pro using your XP
Pro *upgrade* CD onto a Win 98 computer that has more than one hard
drive partition available (C and D partitions for example), XP Pro
will *insist* on creating a dual boot system. Therefore, for the
special case detailed in this paragraph, simply make sure that the
drive with Win 98 on it has only one partition and that there is only
one hard drive in the new system when you attempt your clean install
using your XP Pro upgrade disk.

JT

 

[Ken Blake]

In

You have several practical (although perhaps not strictly
legal)
options when using the XP Pro upgrade disk.

1) A true upgrade to your Win 98 computer in which case you
simply
stick in the XP Pro upgrade disk and proceed. Not advised.

Not advised by you, but advised by many of us.
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.

 

[philo]

Hi, Philo.


An upgrade from one version of Windows (Win98) to another (WinXP) is an
"upgrade", but not an "in-place upgrade".

An "in-place upgrade" is what we might call an upgrade from one version
(WinXP) to the same version (WinXP). See KB article 315341 for instructions
for doing this.
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

We frequently recommend an in-place upgrade when a user needs to reinstall
WinXP without destroying the existing Registry. The Registry is contained
in several files within the \Windows folder. It holds a lot of critical
information about the existing WinXP installation, including entries for all
the installed applications, users, etc. A "clean install" erases the
existing Registry and creates a new, empty one, with none of that history or
other information. A reformat, of course, would do that and much more. But
an in-place upgrade will reinstall WinXP itself while leaving most of the
Registry intact, preserving the installed applications and data, plus most
of the user's "tweaks". The in-place upgrade reinstalls the version that is
on the WinXP CD-ROM used, so a visit to Windows Update is urged -as soon as
the proper protection (firewall, antivirus, etc.) are in place - to be sure
that SP2 and any later updates are (re)installed.


I agree with this (if we delete "inplace"). While many (most?) users have
success with an upgrade from Win98 to WinXP, others report - as you said -
that the "migration" of drivers and applications is less than 100%
successful. Many upgraders experience nagging minor hassles later and end
up doing a clean install after all. As you said, an upgrade from Win98 to
WinXP requires only that the Win98 CD be inserted momentarily to verify that
the upgrade is permissible.

Dougie, you can boot into Win98, then insert the WinXP CD-ROM and upgrade
that way, as Colin suggested. Or you can boot from the WinXP CD and choose
to upgrade; this way, the Win98 drivers (which WinXP cannot use) never get
loaded and don't have to be migrated to the WinXP version. (I've never
actually done a Win98-WinXP upgrade, so this advice is based on theory, not
on my own experience.)

thank you for the clarification

at any rate, i have performed many XP installs
and upgrading an existing win98 installation
is just plain looking for trouble

 

[philo]

On what specific data do you base this assertion? WinXP is designed to
install and upgrade the existing operating system while simultaneously
preserving your applications and data, and translating as many
personalized settings as possible. The process is designed to be, and
normally is, quite painless.

Some people will always recommend that you perform a clean
installation, rather than upgrade over an earlier OS. For the most
part, I feel that these people, while well-meaning, are living in the
past, and are basing their recommendation on their experiences with
older operating systems.

WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating
system while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and
translating as many personalized settings as possible. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things
can go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all
important to you, back it up before proceeding.




Always a good idea. Things can go wrong, in a small number of cases.
If the data is at all important, it should be backed up before proceeding.




Again, why? The OP'd probably save a lot of time by upgrading his PC
to WinXP, rather than performing a clean installation, if he's no
hardware or software incompatibilities, and if his current OS has no
problems. Microsoft has greatly improved (over earlier versions of
Windows) WinXP's ability to smoothly upgrade an earlier OS.





Only if one hasn't properly prepared the system for the upgrade, or if
there are underlying hardware and/or software incompatibilities.

first off...
a direct upgrade of win98 to XP *can* certainly work...
but it is less likely to.

win9x opertating systems
are quite different from NT-based operating systems
and only *rarely* would use the same drivers.
and yes, the drivers are supposed to be replaced during an upgrade...
but in actual practice there are often compromises made that leave one with
an unsatable
system

to upgrade win95 to win98 for example is quite safe

to upgrade win2k to XP is quite safe...

but it's not a good practice to attempt an upgrade from a win9x based OS to
an NT based OS
(regarless of what Microsoft has designed for)

FWIW: i have done well over 500 installations (of various operating
systems... not all microsoft)
for people over the last few years and have just wasted too much time
attempting to repair
bad upgrades!

OTOH: clean installs have worked fine virtually 100% of the time
( the ones that had problems, were typically minor and easy to fix)

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

That is always an option after the OP tries an upgrade. He can always
convert to NTFS afterwards.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It depends on whether motherboard drivers are available to the OP on a cd.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Or insert the cd and run the upgrade advisor from the splash screen.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

And then there is the issue of motherboard drivers as well.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

He cannot do a clean install if his XP is an upgrade edition and his Win98
was preinstalled or he does not have a retail cd to use during the
installation. Just saying do a clean install without checking his
preparation could cause the OP to not have a functioning computer anymore.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I agree with Ken. Do a virus scan and remove any spyware, defrag, and then
upgrade.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Check here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/upgrade_tips.htm

 

[Harry Ohrn]

philo wrote:

[snip]

FWIW: i have done well over 500 installations (of various operating
systems... not all microsoft)
for people over the last few years and have just wasted too much time
attempting to repair
bad upgrades!

OTOH: clean installs have worked fine virtually 100% of the time
( the ones that had problems, were typically minor and easy to fix)

check here for instructions on how to be more successful with your upgrades
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/upgrade_tips.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

philo wrote:

first off...
a direct upgrade of win98 to XP *can* certainly work...
but it is less likely to.

Again, what documentation or evidence can you provide to support this
claim? *Why* is it less likely to work? Nothing you've said below even
applies.

win9x opertating systems
are quite different from NT-based operating systems

Obviously.


and only *rarely* would use the same drivers.

That should read "never..."

and yes, the drivers are supposed to be replaced during an upgrade...

Not only "supposed to be," but have to be, if the device is to work
under the new operating system. WinXP won't even attempt to use the
Win9x device drivers, even if the files do remain on the hard drive.
The worst problem the Win9x drivers can cause is a the waste of a small
amount of hard drive space.

but in actual practice there are often compromises made that leave one with
an unsatable
system

"Unsatable?" Does an upgrade somehow make the computer hungry? (And
the correct word would be "insatiable.") If you mean "unstable," this
would occur only if the original OS were problematic to start with, if
other installed applications were incompatible with the new OS, or if
the hardware platform were incompatible, defective, or sub-standard.

to upgrade win95 to win98 for example is quite safe

Assuming there are no problems with the original OS, that all of the
Win95 device drivers were compatible with Win98 (which was often not the
case, if memory serves), other installed applications were compatible
with the new OS, and if the hardware platform is compatible,
non-defective, and not sub-standard, and there is no malware installed.

to upgrade win2k to XP is quite safe...

Again, assuming there are no problems with the original OS, that all of
the Win2K device drivers were compatible with WinXP (or were replaced by
WinXP-specific drivers), other installed applications were compatible
with the new OS, and if the hardware platform is compatible,
non-defective, and not sub-standard, and there is no malware installed.

Do you notice a trend, yet? Any upgrade can be problem-free, if the
underlying hardware is fully compatible with the new OS, if the existing
applications are fully compatible, and if the computer user properly
prepares and plans for the upgrade. Conversely, any upgrade over a
problematic OS, onto incompatible, defective, or sub-standard hardware
is likely to fail.

but it's not a good practice to attempt an upgrade from a win9x based OS to
an NT based OS

Again, can you produce any industry white-papers to this affect? On
what do you base your opinion?

FWIW: i have done well over 500 installations (of various operating
systems... not all microsoft)

Relevance? What percentage of these were properly prepared and
performed upgrades? What percentage were ill-prepared and poorly
performed upgrades? What, specifically, went "wrong" in the majority of
cases? What single common factor applies universally, to lead you to
summarily conclude that all upgrades are "bad?"

for people over the last few years and have just wasted too much time
attempting to repair
bad upgrades!

Well, obviously, an improperly performed upgrade can cause problems.
But how many properly executed upgrades have caused problems, though?




--

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