Installing XP over Win 3.1

[Peter T]

I have an old machine running 3.1 and I am considering
upgrading to XP to resolve some hardware driver issues. I
am hoping this will not interfere with my old files and
programs. Key programs running under 3.1 are a Lotus
SmartSuite and WordPerfect 6.0, plus I have some old DOS
applications.

Should I expect big problems, or is this a suitable
solution to my hardware incompatibility with Win 3.1?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

One cannot upgrade from Windows 3.1 to Windows XP. Providing your
hardware meets the minimum requirements to install and run Windows XP
(and I don't think yours does), you'll need to perform a "clean install".
Please visit the following websites for information:

Windows XP Upgrade Advisor
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307726

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/evaluation/sysreqs.asp

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I have an old machine running 3.1 and I am considering
| upgrading to XP to resolve some hardware driver issues. I
| am hoping this will not interfere with my old files and
| programs. Key programs running under 3.1 are a Lotus
| SmartSuite and WordPerfect 6.0, plus I have some old DOS
| applications.
|
| Should I expect big problems, or is this a suitable
| solution to my hardware incompatibility with Win 3.1?

 

[Jim Macklin]

Your best option, in my opinion, would be to spend a few
hundred dollars on a low-end Dell and install your W3.1
drive as a slave.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But legislators see it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message | I have an old machine running 3.1 and I am considering
| upgrading to XP to resolve some hardware driver issues. I
| am hoping this will not interfere with my old files and
| programs. Key programs running under 3.1 are a Lotus
| SmartSuite and WordPerfect 6.0, plus I have some old DOS
| applications.
|
| Should I expect big problems, or is this a suitable
| solution to my hardware incompatibility with Win 3.1?

 

[Steve Nielsen]

Don't do it. XP requires more modern hardware for one thing, for another
your old applications may very well not work in XP. You might be better
off trying Windows 98.

How about we try to solve the driver issue directly?

Steve

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have an old machine running 3.1 and I am considering
upgrading to XP to resolve some hardware driver issues. I
am hoping this will not interfere with my old files and
programs. Key programs running under 3.1 are a Lotus
SmartSuite and WordPerfect 6

You cannot do an upgrade to XP over any system earlier than Windows 98
(not even over Win95, though a CD of that is accepted as evidence for
using an XP Upgrade CD, which an Win3 one is not).

It is highly unlikely that a machine that has never run anything but
Win3.1 is remotely powerful enough to run Windows XP. You would need at
least a 350MHz CPU and *more* than 128 MB of RAM, with at least a 10GB
hard disk - all about 10 times more than was typical for Win3.1. So you
would be looking at a new machine. XP will run both Lotus and WP; but
you should have 32 bit versions rather than the 16 bit ones you have now