i think most ppl will suggest you backup docs and app settings (email msgs, filters, etc; whatever newest setings files you find
in your app's program files and common files). possibly fastest and easiest to extract later if you just backup whole mess to an
exteranl drive. (i lack exper wiht that)
if you can, pre-download and burn to CD standalone installs for firewall and AV updates.
wipe out winme, partition for efficincey ... search for recommendations... NTFS size partitions
then clean install xp. somewhere in the process, setup shoudl ask you to insert your ME cd (?) to prove previous ver ownership
for xp upgrade. in my case, setup must have found the win sys on anohter partitoin, and never asked me to insert the CD.
the xp firewall is automatically set when installed. you should install your AV. then connect to net, begin DL winupdate. then
Dl & install zonealarm if you havn'et installed from a cd. then yuo'll have to use XP help to find where MS has re-hidden stuff
you've leanred to locate in ME
i make txt notes throughout the process, for reference...
xp's sys restore is a little more user frinedly (it labels restore points per the installed software's name) and so far seems more
relaibe than Me's sys restore. thre'rs more detail in the task manager/ process watcher/whatever it's called. (ctrl+alt+del)
xp's been pretty good. even have a win98 (or late win95??) era software working (infrequent use, so only worked on a few files
as of today)
i've had a few troubles, most fixed soon. but, one recent post of mine has attracted no replies :-(
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&scoring=d&q=xp+"drag+to"+|+"to+desktop"+desktop++drag+
+&btnG=Search