ME to XP

[robert.tripp \(removethis\)]

I have heard that installing XP (home) in place of ME is
not easy. What are the problems? Suggestions?
Thanks

 

[purplehaz]

It's simple. You heard wrong. You boot to the xp cd and follow the on screen
instructions. Simple.
It's best to run the compatability wizard off the cd first to identify any
potential problems.

"robert.tripp (removethis) @sbcglobal.net"

 

[JonB]

Ok. Have you heard of this?

I upgraded my OS from ME to XP home and am trying to load
ACT! and get this error message:

16 bit Windows Subsystem
An application has attempted to directly access the hard
disk, which cannot be supported. This may cause the
application to function incorrectly. Choose "Close" to
terminate the application.

An ACT! tech told me this is due to an ME to XP upgrade
glitch where the Windows on Windows (WOW) module isn't
installed. Any workarounds or fixes? Help! Thanks.

 

[purplehaz]

The tech could be right. Sounds logical. Didn't they suggest a method of
fix? If they didn't your only option might be load xp as clean install
instead of an upgrade install.

 

[Ron Martell]

Ok. Have you heard of this?

I upgraded my OS from ME to XP home and am trying to load
ACT! and get this error message:

16 bit Windows Subsystem
An application has attempted to directly access the hard
disk, which cannot be supported. This may cause the
application to function incorrectly. Choose "Close" to
terminate the application.

An ACT! tech told me this is due to an ME to XP upgrade
glitch where the Windows on Windows (WOW) module isn't
installed. Any workarounds or fixes? Help! Thanks.

I think that ACT! tech was just blowing smoke.

Here is a possible solution to the problem:

****
This error is typically the result of an invalid entry in the
command.com, autoexec.nt, or config.nt files, which NT maintains for
compatibility with 16-bit applications. To resolve this error, restore
the default versions of these files from the NT installation CD-ROM by
performing the following steps:

Run cmd.exe (go to Start, Run, and type cmd.exe).
Navigate to the %systemroot%\system32 folder by typing
cd %systemroot%\system32
Rename the current command.com, autoexec.nt, and config.nt files and
append the word "old" to the filenames by typing
rename command.com command.comold
rename autoexec.nt autoexec.ntold
rename config.nt config.ntold
Navigate to the i386 structure of your Windows installation path
(e.g., d:\i386) by typing
cd /d d:\i386
(the /d lets you change the drive and path at the same time).
Expand the original files from the NT installation CD-ROM by typing
expand command.co_ %systemroot%\system32\command.com
expand autoexec.nt_ %systemroot%\system32\autoexec.nt
expand config.nt_ %systemroot%\system32\config.nt
Restart your computer, and run your 16-bit application again.
****

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The upgrade process has been greatly improved with WinXP. If you
have a problem-free WinMe installation, and you're confident that all
of your hardware components, their drivers, and your installed
applications are WinXP-compatible, you can most likely count on a
trouble-free upgrade. If, on the other hand, you're having problems
with WinMe, or if you have a lot of untested shareware installed,
you'd be well advised to perform a clean installation.

WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating
system while simultaneously preserving your data and translating as
many personalized settings as possible. Of course, there are no
iron-clad, 100% guarantees when it comes to updating any kind of
computer software, much less an operating system. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things can
go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all
important to you, back it up before proceeding.

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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having both at once. -- RAH


"robert.tripp (removethis) @sbcglobal.net"