Installing Windows XP upgrade

[Tina]

Does anyone have any advise for installing Windows XP
Upgrade to a system that is currently running Windows
ME... I understand that it would be better to rebuild the
system entirely, but do not know how to do this.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciates!

Thanks!
Tina

 

[Mike Brearley]

You'll get quite a few different opinions here. My preference is to install
XP fresh on a system. Basically, backup everything you want on your
existing system, format it (can be done from booting to the XP CD) and
install a fresh copy of XP. You'll have to re-install all of your
applications and restore your data files, but you'll have fewer problems in
the long run.

If you have problems booting to your CD, you'll need to configure your BIOS
to boot to the CD before the harddrive.

--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.

Mike Brearley

 

[Edward]

I agree with Mike, Tina, but if what he suggests scares you a bit, I suggest
visiting the websites for updated drivers for all your programmes and
peripherals - printer, scanner etc - before upgrading. Store them in a
special folder. That way you have everything ready.

You can then uninstall everything, upgrade and then reinstall each piece
before uploading the new drivers.

It's a long haul but better than just putting XP on top of everything which
will almost certainly give you a load of headaches.

Even after a clean install - which virtually reformats your hard drive,
wiping out everything, you will probably need updated drivers.

Good luck

Ed

 

[Steve C. Ray]

I differ a little from the other posts. If ME has been running OK, I would
try the Upgrade first. Insert the XP CD and do a upgrade installation. By
doing a upgrade you won't lose your data. If you have problems, then you can
always do a clean install, (loosing all your data in the process if you
don't backup), but try the upgrade first. All you have to lose is some time.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Does anyone have any advise for installing Windows XP
Upgrade to a system that is currently running Windows
ME... I understand that it would be better to rebuild the
system entirely, but do not know how to do this.

The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous
qualifying version's installation CD (not an OEM restore CD), not
to have it installed. Just boot from the CD. When setup doesn't
find a previous qualifying version installed, it will prompt you
to insert its CD as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous
version's CD, and follow the prompts. Everything proceeds quite
normally and quite legitimately.

However, despite what you understand, my recommendation is that
you at least try the upgrade, since it's much easier, and works
very well for most people. Worst case, if problems develop, you
can always change your mind and reinstall cleanly.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility
List: (http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/default.asp) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective hardware
(particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will still
support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639


Bruce Chambers

--
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[Alex Nichol]

Does anyone have any advise for installing Windows XP
Upgrade to a system that is currently running Windows
ME... I understand that it would be better to rebuild the
system entirely, but do not know how to do this.

I regard it as better to do an upgrade in the first instance, which is
quite likely to work well (on this machine it has been for two years
now). ANd you can then go back to install clean if it does not work
out..

Be sure the hardware is adequate - more than the recommended 128MB of
RAM, and at least 400MHz CPU and 5 GB spare hard disk space, or stay
put. Then Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm