Full XP installed over Windows 98

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg
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Greg

I installed fhe full version of XP hoe edition over my
windows 98 and now none of my previoulsy installed
programs work. How can I fix this?
 
More info needed. What kind of install did you do, clean or upgrade? How do
the programs "not work". What happens, errors, etc..........
 
In
Greg said:
I installed fhe full version of XP hoe edition over my
windows 98 and now none of my previoulsy installed
programs work. How can I fix this?
Click to expand...



What does "none of my previoulsy installed programs work" mean? Exactly what happens when you try? If you get an error message please quote it verbatim.
 
Hi, Greg.

What do you mean by "over my Windows 98"? Did you ask Setup to do a "clean
install"? Or to "upgrade" Win98 to WinXP?

There are basically three ways to transition from Win98 to WinXP:

1. Upgrade: You end up with WinXP only; Win98 disappears. WinXP Setup
tries to migrate all your hardware device drivers and your applications to
work with WinXP, but the migration is often imperfect.

2. Clean install into the same partition where Win98 was: Backup your
data, then let Setup reformat the partition before installing WinXP. You
end up with WinXP only; Win98 disappears, along with everything else that
used to be in that partition. You must reinstall all your applications from
scratch, then restore your data.

3. Dual Boot: Clean install into a different partition from Win98: You
end up with Win98 still functioning in its original location (usually Drive
C:), with all its applications intact, PLUS WinXP in a second partition
(D:?). Your applications won't work in WinXP until you boot into WinXP and
install them, so that each can make its own entries in the WinXP Registry.
WinXP cannot read the Win98 Registry. It can see those program files on the
HD, but it does not know how to use them.

Method 1 is the quickest and easiest - in the short run. But most upgraders
wind up reformatting their drive and doing a clean install later, after all,
because of all the little annoyances caused by the
almost-but-not-quite-perfect migration process. A clean install (now or
later) also lets you dump all that accumulated garbage that you've been
meaning to clear out, anyhow.

Method 3 is good if you are not sure that all your hardware and applications
are compatible with WinXP. You can continue to operate under Win98 while
you iron out any problems and get comfy with WinXP. Then you can (a) delete
Win98 from the opening dual-boot menu and (b) delete all the files in the
Win98 boot folder (C:\Windows).

So the answer to your question is easy if you chose Method 2 or 3: Boot
into WinXP and install the applications from their original media. If you
chose Method 1, the apps should be working. If not, post back with some
details, including the name of the application and exactly what you mean by
"none...work". (Do the programs not load? Load but can't find their data?
Or what?)

RC
 
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