can i run windows xp on my "older computer"?

[slimjnelson]

I have a computer I had bought about 3 yrs ago. It came
with windows 2000 me. I was wondering if anyone would know
if i was able to upgarde to windows xp.

 

[David Candy]

Probably.

 

[Jim Macklin]

see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941
see
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;winxp
see your answer
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/sysreqs.asp


| I have a computer I had bought about 3 yrs ago. It came
| with windows 2000 me. I was wondering if anyone would know
| if i was able to upgarde to windows xp.

 

[Jim in Canada]

I have a computer I had bought about 3 yrs ago. It came
with windows 2000 me. I was wondering if anyone would know
if i was able to upgarde to windows xp.

Which opererating system is it? Windows 2000 or Windows ME?

2000 is an updated Windows NT o/s and ME is an updated (some will argue
downgraded) Windows 98 o/s.. . .

A good article:
http://windows.about.com/library/weekly/aa011007a.htm

Jim

 

[Jane Doe]

Probably.

It'll depend on whether it has any non-standard hardware.

Just give it a try. Backup your old Wme. Borrow a
friends copy of XP & reg key. Install XP. DO **NOT**
activate.

This will find out if XP will actually work on it or not.
You'll actually be able to spend a few hours seeing if
things work right or not.

There is an "upgrade advisor" at

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/a
dvisor.asp

that you can download and see if XP should work with the
computer. It basically is the initial hardware check part
of the regular installation routine for XP.

Personally, I think the first choice would be best, since
that way you can see for yourself how well it works or
not, rather than just being told whether it will or will
not work.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I have a computer I had bought about 3 yrs ago. It came
with windows 2000 me.

??? Windows 2000 and Windows Me are two very different operating
systems. Which do you have?

I was wondering if anyone would know
if i was able to upgarde to windows xp.

If it's Windows 2000, you can almost certainly upgrade to XP
(although the difference between 2000 and XP is small enough that
it might not be worth doing so). If it's Windows Me, you may or
may be able to without upgrading some hardware.

Run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a computer I had bought about 3 yrs ago. It came
with windows 2000 me. I was wondering if anyone would know
if i was able to upgarde to windows xp.

It might be Windows 2000, or it might be Windows Millennium Edition
(often called Windows ME). They are quite different,. Either way you
can upgrade the system - Win2000 though only to XP Pro. From ME I would
suggest XP Home unless you *know* you will need one of the extra items
in Pro only, which are mainly directed at corporate network use. Either
way get an 'Upgrade' CD

You need to check that you have adequate hardware - in particular that
you have enough RAM. Although 128 MB is the officially recommended
level, almost everyone agrees you need more - 256MB is fine for most
people. And CPU at 400MHz or more, with say 4GB hard disk space free.
Your machine is probably at this level, but be sure

Then Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm - and to stress the point,
make sure you uninstall (not merely disable) Antivirus; System utilities
like Norton; and CD burning software *before* running the Upgrade CD
from the present system

 

[R. McCarty]

One additional item that the article does not address is the
PC's BIOS Firmware. Windows XP interrogates the BIOS
to help it determine which Hardware Abstraction Layer to
install. Generally, there are two categories that apply, either
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) or
the older "Standard PC". You should visit your motherboard
manufacturer's website and determine how your current BIOS
version compares with the latest available.
Example, your PC may have version 1.4 while the Mfg has
released version 1.7. Most BIOS updates have a Readme.Txt
that lists bug fixes and enhancements to the code.
This is a more "advanced" step in the upgrade process, but can
affect how well XP will run on your machine. Most times if a
user omits this step their PC may not power off correctly.

Flashing the BIOS is still considered a moderately dangerous
process that if not done correctly can render the machine to be
unbootable. Many motherboards have revision and step ID's
that must be matched with the correct flash code.

A 3-Year old PC is probably ACPI compliant, but a BIOS
update is something to consider when moving up to XP.

 

[Alex Nichol]

One additional item that the article does not address is the
PC's BIOS Firmware. Windows XP interrogates the BIOS
to help it determine which Hardware Abstraction Layer to
install. Generally, there are two categories that apply, either
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) or
the older "Standard PC". You should visit your motherboard
manufacturer's website and determine how your current BIOS
version compares with the latest available.

If a BIOS is not supporting an adequate ACPI interface, it is easy to
install XP with an older APM one - it will probably do so anyway. There
is little lost on a desktop; you would be unable to go to Standby or
Hibernate, hat is all. And will have to switch APM on in Power Options,
to get the machine to power off for itself at shutdown

 

[R. McCarty]

Alex,

There is much more to ACPI than just Power options.

I would suggest that you take some of your own advice and
read up a little.

http://www.acpi.info/spec.htm