Clean Install ME to XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Parthum
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M

Mark Parthum

I want upgrade to XP from ME. I am having problems with
ME. SO... I have been told to do a complete clean
install on the hard drive with XP. From what I have read
online I have two choices:

1.Format the disk, by either formatting it at the
command prompt or manually deleting every program. Then
install XP. Then install everything I already have on
there

2.Partition the hard drive into two drives and put XP on
the new drives. Then run both OS at the same time and
have the computer boot up XP on the startup.

Additional notes: I am going to upgrade my memory first.
I am currently at 64 mb and am going to increase to 256
mb. I am planning on buying an OEM version of MS XP Pro.

So... is my logic and research correct about my two
choices? Or am I totally incorrect? What would you do in
my situation? Do you have any advise on how get a clean
hard drive? If I do the partition can I get the computer
back to one drive and eliminate ME completely?

Please help!
 
Mark Parthum said:
I want upgrade to XP from ME. I am having problems with
ME. SO... I have been told to do a complete clean
install on the hard drive with XP. From what I have read
online I have two choices:

1.Format the disk, by either formatting it at the
command prompt or manually deleting every program. Then
install XP. Then install everything I already have on
there

2.Partition the hard drive into two drives and put XP on
the new drives. Then run both OS at the same time and
have the computer boot up XP on the startup.

Additional notes: I am going to upgrade my memory first.
I am currently at 64 mb and am going to increase to 256
mb. I am planning on buying an OEM version of MS XP Pro.

So... is my logic and research correct about my two
choices? Or am I totally incorrect? What would you do in
my situation? Do you have any advise on how get a clean
hard drive? If I do the partition can I get the computer
back to one drive and eliminate ME completely?

Please help!
Click to expand...

Simply boot with the Windows XP CD-ROM and select new install rather than
upgrade. You will be given the option to format the drive during the
installation. Windows XP will do the format, and continue the installation.
 
Mark said:
I want upgrade to XP from ME. I am having problems with
ME. SO... I have been told to do a complete clean
install on the hard drive with XP. From what I have read
online I have two choices:

1.Format the disk, by either formatting it at the
command prompt or manually deleting every program. Then
install XP. Then install everything I already have on
there

2.Partition the hard drive into two drives and put XP on
the new drives. Then run both OS at the same time and
have the computer boot up XP on the startup.

Additional notes: I am going to upgrade my memory first.
I am currently at 64 mb and am going to increase to 256
mb. I am planning on buying an OEM version of MS XP Pro.

So... is my logic and research correct about my two
choices? Or am I totally incorrect? What would you do in
my situation? Do you have any advise on how get a clean
hard drive? If I do the partition can I get the computer
back to one drive and eliminate ME completely?

Please help!
Click to expand...

First, you should never upgrade, even a clean install of a new OS because
your current OS is giving you problems. The new operating system is likely
to have problems of its own and unlikely to solve problems you alreayd have.

Second, if you are going to do this, run the upgrade advisor first, it will
give you infomration about the compatibility of your hardware and software.
Understand, virtually all disk utilities, firewalls, antivirus or disk tools
will need to be be upgraded as those compatible with ME are rarely
compatible with XP.

The upgrade advisor is available on the XP CD but this really should be run
before purchase and is available by download at the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

You are well advised NOT to overlook anything the advisor points out as even
the most innocuous seeming item might cause setup to halt. It's easier to
make such changes when you have a fully functional OS running, something you
currently have.

Also note, a clean install means you format first, this can be done by
booting from the XP CD and running setup as follows:

Boot with the XP CD in the drive. When you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.

After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:

To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

In your case, press ENTER.

Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.

You will then be taken to a screen with two options.

To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.

This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.

Any other scenario you mentioned, deleting applications, files, etc. is not
a clean install.
 
I want upgrade to XP from ME. I am having problems with
ME. SO... I have been told to do a complete clean
install on the hard drive with XP. From what I have read
online I have two choices:

1.Format the disk, by either formatting it at the
command prompt or manually deleting every program. Then
install XP. Then install everything I already have on
there

2.Partition the hard drive into two drives and put XP on
the new drives. Then run both OS at the same time and
have the computer boot up XP on the startup.

Additional notes: I am going to upgrade my memory first.
I am currently at 64 mb and am going to increase to 256
mb. I am planning on buying an OEM version of MS XP Pro.

So... is my logic and research correct about my two
choices? Or am I totally incorrect? What would you do in
my situation? Do you have any advise on how get a clean
hard drive? If I do the partition can I get the computer
back to one drive and eliminate ME completely?
Click to expand...


You've already gotten good advice from Michael Solomon. I want to
add just two other suggestions:

1. If you have an Me boot CD (not just a restore CD) consider
buying an Upgrade version of XP instead of an OEM one. Despite
what you may have heard, you *can* do a clean installation with
the upgrade; it will prompt you to insert your Me CD as proof of
ownership. The Upgrade version costs around the same amount as as
an OEM version, and has exactly the same contents as a complete
OEM version (but not all OEM versions are complete). The OEM
version has a couple of problems: no support from MS, and its
license restricts it to the first computer it's installed on; it
can never be moved to another computer.

2. Are you sure you need XP Professional rather than Home? They
are exactly the same in all respects, except that Professional
has a few features (mostly related to networking and security)
missing from Home. For most (but not all) home users, these
features aren't needed, would never be used, and buying
Professional instead of Home is a waste of money.
For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
 
Norm said:
Drives are dirt cheap, No they're not.
buy a new one to replace your C drive and install XP
on it.
Click to expand...
Or just boot from the XP CD, and use its utilities to reformat the HD, and
install the OS.
 
I want upgrade to XP from ME. I am having problems with
ME. SO... I have been told to do a complete clean
install on the hard drive with XP. From what I have read
online I have two choices:

1.Format the disk, by either formatting it at the
command prompt or manually deleting every program. Then
install XP. Then install everything I already have on
there

2.Partition the hard drive into two drives and put XP on
the new drives. Then run both OS at the same time and
have the computer boot up XP on the startup.

Additional notes: I am going to upgrade my memory first.
I am currently at 64 mb and am going to increase to 256
mb. I am planning on buying an OEM version of MS XP Pro.

So... is my logic and research correct about my two
choices? Or am I totally incorrect? What would you do in
my situation? Do you have any advise on how get a clean
hard drive? If I do the partition can I get the computer
back to one drive and eliminate ME completely?

Please help!
Click to expand...

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

HTH


--
siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
 
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