Changing OS, ME to XP???

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Guest

Ok, I am considering finally getting ME off my system and going to XP.

My system runs pretty good ( I try to keep it as clean and lean as
possible) except for all the ME quirks that are well known: error screens,
restarts, improper shutdows, software conflicts, etc.

I was going to wait untill I got/built a new system but that isnt going to
happen anytime soon. And I think it (my current hardware) can handle XP
fairly well. (as far as system requirements go)

I have a gateway computer that I bought back in 2000. AMD800 (Gateway
Select 800)
I upgraded my RAM to 320MB and I have a whopping 15 gigs HD ( I am only
using 5g tho)

I want to completly clear my system and do a clean install. I am ready to
burn all my files to CD that I want to keep as well as downloads
(firewall,AV, etc)

I remember crashing once back in 2001 and I had to reinstall the OS. I had
Gateway techs help me on the phone and remeber doing what they called
"writing Zeros to the hard drive" ? is this getting as clean as an install
as you can get? I want to start as clean as possible as though the harware
components were new.
Would this mean flashing new Bios? How would I do it?

I want to know if I can just put an XP disk in and follow directions?

Also, which XP do I want?
http://iwonshopping.shopping.com/xPP-software--operating_systems
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/default.mspx
Pro or Home? SP2? , Upgrade? , OEM?, XP64?, (can it run on my system?
and then be used on a new upgraded dual core system later)
Where is a good /cheap site to order it? I am not a gamer. I run a small
business and like to my computer for research, photos, surfing etc. I
usually multi-multi task, having to much going at once.
I do not network or have wireless connections etc. I'd like something that
I can later load onto a new system.
I noticed here:
http://iwonshopping.shopping.com/xPP-software--operating_systems
that the home edition is DVD ( I only have CDROM and CDR-RW drives) whats
up with that?

Is there any new OS's that I should wait for? Do I want XP? Is the
firewall any good? Can everthing be controlled? I like to do all updating
manually ( I do manual updates more often than automatic anyways; AV, OS, etc)
Most of these reasons aren't for me:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/whyupgrade/top10.mspx
Should I wait till I can build a dual core pc and get something better?
what about XP media center? is it all XPPro and then some?

Are there any major issues I need to be aware of? Other than that I should
build a new system.

I am researching as much as I can but I completely respect all the snswers I
find here.

Thanks for your time and efforts,

Cheers,
Cliffhucker
 
If you have your original media for ME then you need an upgrade RETAIL
version of XP. Now I would normally go for PRO because I like the
security and networking features but in your case HOME edition would be
fine.

Also, 15gb is the bare minimum as by the time you have installed the OS
and Office 2003, Adobe Reader version 7, Perhaps a CD writer like ROXIO,
you will run out of space. I have a system with 20gb and it works very
fast on XP pro SP2.

You will only get XP with SP2 embedded as this is the most secure
version on the market.

Do a clean install i.e. format the disk and keep handy your original CDs
as they will be required when you are installing the Os and other
applications if they too are upgrade verions.

Hope this helps for now.
 
I think Anonymous is right. I have a Dell (1.8GHz, 256K RAM) that came with
ME, and then an upgrade to XP six months later. Since then, I have had to do
a reinstall, after losing a hard drive. XP has always worked well on that
system. You might consider adding a 2nd hard drive. If you have the spot
for it, it is not hard. My system had a 40 GB hard drive and that worked ok.
 
Anonymous,

Thank you,
I think have decided to go with XP-PRO. What of all the problems I've heard
about SP2? have those been resolved?

I do have the Gateway disks that came with my computer, they are not
standalone ME disks. They are 3 Disks entitled "Gateway Restoration Disks"
and include ME,harware drivers and applicatins etc.

Do I definately need to use an XP upgrade disk/program?
Is it the only way? Can I not do a cleaner install than an upgrade?
The reason I want this is to start as clean as possible, dissascoiating
myself from my original OEM installation.

And what do you mean by : "Do a clean install i.e. format the disk and
keep handy your original CDsas they will be required when you are installing
the Os and other
applications if they too are upgrade verions."

Also I will probably get an external hard drive which I can use when I
get/build a new system in the future.

Thanks alot Anon,
Cliffhucker
 
ANONYMOUS said:
If you have your original media for ME then you need an upgrade RETAIL
version of XP. Now I would normally go for PRO because I like the
security and networking features but in your case HOME edition would be
fine.

Also, 15gb is the bare minimum as by the time you have installed the OS
and Office 2003, Adobe Reader version 7, Perhaps a CD writer like ROXIO,
you will run out of space. I have a system with 20gb and it works very
fast on XP pro SP2.

You will only get XP with SP2 embedded as this is the most secure
version on the market.

Do a clean install i.e. format the disk and keep handy your original CDs
as they will be required when you are installing the Os and other
applications if they too are upgrade verions.

Hope this helps for now.
Click to expand...
Your computer would be fine with XP. 15GB is fine provided that you only
use 5GB now. As a guideline, I'd recommend you have a bare minimum of 15%
free space left on your hard drive at all times. I've installed XP on a
computer with a hard drive with a formatted capacity of 4GB with over half
free space. (mostly compressed of course). I have just the very basics on
it, but it's just to do word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, Internet,
etc. It's a 250MHz Compaq. It's pretty slow, but it still can run Luna
(the XP style) and it really isn't any slower than it was with Windows 98SE.
It also doesn't crash as often. Now of course, my main computer is a 2GHz
computer, but an 800MHz CPU will be fine. I've used a 750MHz AMD on XP
before without any problems and it ran nice and smooth. 320MB of RAM is
probably a good amount given what it appears you probably use your computer
for. I used to recommend 256MB around the first year or two when XP came
out, but now I'd recommend 512MB. Right in between would probably do just
fine. You might want to run the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor to see what
software and what hardware may cause problems before you make the upgrade.
 
Cliffhucker said:
Anonymous,

Thank you,
I think have decided to go with XP-PRO. What of all the problems I've
heard
about SP2? have those been resolved?

I do have the Gateway disks that came with my computer, they are not
standalone ME disks. They are 3 Disks entitled "Gateway Restoration
Disks"
and include ME,harware drivers and applicatins etc.

Do I definately need to use an XP upgrade disk/program?
Is it the only way? Can I not do a cleaner install than an upgrade?
The reason I want this is to start as clean as possible, dissascoiating
myself from my original OEM installation.

And what do you mean by : "Do a clean install i.e. format the disk and
keep handy your original CDsas they will be required when you are
installing
the Os and other
applications if they too are upgrade verions."

Also I will probably get an external hard drive which I can use when I
get/build a new system in the future.

Thanks alot Anon,
Cliffhucker
Click to expand...
You can do a clean install with the XP upgrade disc. (Including formatting
the entire hard drive.) The upgrade version only signifies that you must
have proof of owning Windows 98 or newer to use the upgrade version. If you
don't have proof of owning Windows 98 or newer, you'll need the full
edition. In order to prove that you have Windows 98 or newer, just have
your Windows disc and insert it in the drive when instructed to do so if you
don't have Windows installed already. If you are still using Windows ME
when you install the XP upgrade, you will not need the disc regardless if
you're formatting the entire hard drive or not because it nows that a
previous version of Windows exists.
 
Might want to go to the manufacturers support pages and see if they have a
upgrade to xp path ... it will include instructions, heh ... and any drivers
and hardware programs you might need.for the change over to xp.

Basically set bios or do a key press to boot from the windows CD then
choose install,,, it will give you some install options one of which is a
full format & completely new install which sounds like what you want.
It may ask for proof you have a previous copy of xp, but if your computer
maker has an upgrade path,,, it wont ask for a cd. One big thing can be
an xp compatible bios so make sure youhave the latest offered by your
computer maker.

I used xp home upgrade CD and slipstreamed sp2 installed on laptop with
14gb hdd and before any other programs were installed weaned it down to
1.5gb total used .... it now hovers around 4gb used hdd and has quite a bit
of junk programs on it as well as some of the bigger ms programming.

I first installed it as an upgrade and instantly it added 7gb, and I think
that was before adding the sp2 upgrade. Heck with that upgrade winME way.
You don't need pro.
 
TK,

Thanks, I have no doubts that my system can handle XP and I have decided on
XP Pro.
And, I am currently checking out the upgrade advisor you mentioned.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/advisor.mspx

My main issue now is to determine the possibility of a clean install rather
than an upgrade. If at all possible. I am currently trying to chat with
Gateway techs as well.

thanks again,
CH
 
My reply is between your questions:

Anonymous,

Thank you,
I think have decided to go with XP-PRO. What of all the problems I've heard
about SP2? have those been resolved?
Click to expand...


There is no problem with SP2. People like to complain about everything
especially when hey have lost the opportunity to hack into people's
systems! SP2 hs been around for sometime now and all the manufacturers
have managed to release new drives and updates for SP2. So don't worry
about this. Clean install will ensure all spywares is cleared from the
HD.


I do have the Gateway disks that came with my computer, they are not
standalone ME disks. They are 3 Disks entitled "Gateway Restoration Disks"
and include ME,harware drivers and applicatins etc.
Click to expand...

The gateway restoration CDs are not good for this purpose. However, you
will still be able to do a clean install but make sure your old system
is still in place i.e. your system is still booting up. XP needs to
verify that you have a qualifying product to install an upgrade version.

As I understand it, you are likley to change the system in due course.
If this is the case then go for full retail version (not upgrade) as
this would avoid the problems of finding a qualifying product. Also,
retail version of the software can be transferred onto a new PC easilly.
DON't GO for OEM version even if it is generic as you are likley to have
problems when you move to a new PC.

Do I definately need to use an XP upgrade disk/program?
Is it the only way? Can I not do a cleaner install than an upgrade?
The reason I want this is to start as clean as possible, dissascoiating
myself from my original OEM installation.
Click to expand...

As stated above. Go for full version if ..... OEM is definitely No
NO!!!
And what do you mean by : "Do a clean install i.e. format the disk and
keep handy your original CDsas they will be required when you are installing
the Os and other
applications if they too are upgrade verions."
Click to expand...

Clean install means you wipe everything from the system and start from
scratch. You can read it on Michael's website about this:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Also I will probably get an external hard drive which I can use when I
get/build a new system in the future.
Click to expand...

No problem with external HD. you should be OK with it.
 
Now we are gettin somewhere!

Travis King said:
You can do a clean install with the XP upgrade disc. (Including formatting
the entire hard drive.) The upgrade version only signifies that you must
have proof of owning Windows 98 or newer to use the upgrade version. If you
don't have proof of owning Windows 98 or newer, you'll need the full
edition. In order to prove that you have Windows 98 or newer, just have
your Windows disc and insert it in the drive when instructed to do so if you
don't have Windows installed already. If you are still using Windows ME
when you install the XP upgrade, you will not need the disc regardless if
you're formatting the entire hard drive or not because it nows that a
previous version of Windows exists.
Click to expand...

So is an upgrade a better option because it is cheaper?
Will using the upgrade disc completely remove all of the Gateway Cr.. from
my system?
Would it not hurt to get a full version?
I just was chatting with Gateway...oh boyy is that fun , I think she was 12
yo! She tried telling me my system was not compatible because of memory. I
told that has been upgraded. She wanted to take control of my mouse!?? Then
she said my Motherboard was not compatible for an upgrade to XP and sent me a
list of MB.. that stated this. Mine wasnt even on the list???
It is a Jabil AMD R4 ?? I am looking into it.
And, should I do this?:
http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/MICROSOF/7507189/750718957.shtml

Write zeros to my drive?? would this give me a cleaner install?

Thanks alot.
 
Thanks BUm,
I am getting lots of info like I wanted to,
I will definately take your advice. When u speak of bois would that be
something inherint on my Motherboard? Cuz I spoke to a low level tech in
chat from Gway and she said my MB was bnot compatible for XP upgrade and she
gave me a link to list of MB but mine wasnt on it so I dunno??
What's ? : "Heck with that upgrade winME way. You don't need pro." u
saying stick with ME?

Cheers
 

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