updating to XP from Win95

[Sabina]

I am trying to find out if I need to purchase a WindowsXP
UPGRADE package...or just WindowsXP in general for
installation on a computer with the old Win95 operating
system. I assume just WindowsXP, but I can't seem to find
the answer. I'd like to know before I purchase the wrong
software.

Thanks,
Sabina

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Sabina;
You can not upgrade Windows 95 directly to Windows XP.
However you can use the Windows XP upgrade CD to perform a Clean
Installation of Windows XP.
Insert the Windows 95 CD when asked for a qualifying product.

Before you go that far, make sure the computer is ready for Windows
XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/default.mspx
Particularly #3 Upgrade Advisor.

 

[molsonexpert]

I am trying to find out if I need to purchase a WindowsXP
UPGRADE package...or just WindowsXP in general for
installation on a computer with the old Win95 operating
system. I assume just WindowsXP, but I can't seem to find
the answer. I'd like to know before I purchase the wrong
software.

Thanks,
Sabina

Upgrading from Win95 to XP isn't possible; you'd have to upgrade to Win98
first. My suggestion would be to purchase a full XP and do a fresh install,
assuming that works for your current environment.

steve.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I am trying to find out if I need to purchase a WindowsXP
UPGRADE package...or just WindowsXP in general for
installation on a computer with the old Win95 operating
system. I assume just WindowsXP, but I can't seem to find
the answer. I'd like to know before I purchase the wrong
software.

Whether you use the Full version or the Upgrade version, you can
*not* upgrade directly over the top of Windows 95. If you want to
do a clean installation of XP, you *can* use the Upgrade version
by inserting the Windows 95 CD when prompted to supply proof of
ownership of a previous qualifying version.

Of course, you never *need* an upgrade version; the full version
will do anything the Upgrade version does (but be aware that the
OEM version--which many people confuse with the Full version--can
not do upgrades, just clean installations).

Also, consider the distinct possibility that your Windows 95-era
computer may not have the power needed to run Windows XP. I
wouldn't do it unless you have at least a 400MHZ or so processor,
and at least 256MB of RAM.

 

[Andre Da Costa]

You cannot upgrade from Windows 95 to XP, only 98.

Andre Da Costa

 

[Guest]

Also make sure that it's not an upgrade cd. It woN't work.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Incorrect, an upgrade CD will work for a Clean install as I stated in
my last post.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Also make sure that it's not an upgrade cd. It woN't work.

On the contrary, it *will* work. Although you can't upgrade over
the top of 95, you *can* use a Windows 95 as a qualifying
previous version's CD.

 

[Tim Slattery]

Upgrading from Win95 to XP isn't possible; you'd have to upgrade to Win98
first. My suggestion would be to purchase a full XP and do a fresh install,
assuming that works for your current environment.

But you can use the XP Upgrade CD. It won't upgrade the Win95
installation, that's true. You'll have to delete Win95, and install
clean using the upgrade disk. When it asks for proof of a qualifying
product, put your Win95 CD in the drive. That will satisfy it, and
you'll be able to remove the Win95 disk, reinsert the WinXP Upgrade
disk and continue with the installation.

 

[Guest]

As with earlier versions of the Windows operating system, an Upgrade
installation requires that you have a previous version to serve as a
“qualifying product.†However, this time around you will not be able to use
the Upgrade from Windows 95. Windows XP requires Windows 98 or newer to
qualify.

NOTE: By design, Win95 should not work as a qualifying product. However,
there is a bug in the Setup program on Windows XP CDs (both Home Edition and
Professional). Apparently, Microsoft will not be fixing this bug. As a
result, though you will not be able to perform an upgrade installation from a
Win95 install, the following operating system CDs will suffice as “Qualifying
Media†for a clean install:

Windows NT Workstation, Versions 3.51 & 4.0
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows 95
Windows 98 (Original & Second Edition)
Windows Millennium Edition

Some peeps can't install it.

 

[Dan DeStefano]

you cannot upgrade from win95 to winxp, so you will need to either purchase
the full version of xp or the oem version. regardless, you will have to
either install xp into an alternate directory, which i do not recommend, or
format your drive and install a clean copy of xp, which is the best way to
go (of course you must back up all of your data prior to formatting your
drive). You also should check to make sure your system is powerful enough to
run xp: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/default.mspx.
Also, the recommended requirements are just enough to run xp, not to run it
well. I recommend at least 600Mhz cpu, 256MB RAM and at least 10GB hard
drive.

Dan DeStefano

 

[Malvern]

I am trying to find out if I need to purchase a WindowsXP
UPGRADE package...or just WindowsXP in general for
installation on a computer with the old Win95 operating
system. I assume just WindowsXP, but I can't seem to find
the answer. I'd like to know before I purchase the wrong
software.

Thanks,
Sabina

I was an old 95-er. My investigation of what was needed definitely
dictated a whole new system; At today's prices versus 1996, it was a value
to start completely over (new hardware, software, etc.) Note Ken Blake's
post, particularly about XP minimal RAM requirements. My old 4.6 GB hard
drive and 32 Mb RAM would never have worked.

Malv

 

[Michael Stevens]

you cannot upgrade from win95 to winxp, so you will need to either
purchase the full version of xp or the oem version. regardless, you
will have to either install xp into an alternate directory, which i
do not recommend, or format your drive and install a clean copy of
xp, which is the best way to go (of course you must back up all of
your data prior to formatting your drive). You also should check to
make sure your system is powerful enough to run xp:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/default.mspx. Also,
the recommended requirements are just enough to run xp, not to run it
well. I recommend at least 600Mhz cpu, 256MB RAM and at least 10GB
hard drive.

Dan DeStefano

As others have replied, the XP upgrade can be used to clean install using
the 95 CD as the qualifying media. It cannot be used to upgrade.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am trying to find out if I need to purchase a WindowsXP
UPGRADE package...or just WindowsXP in general for
installation on a computer with the old Win95 operating
system.

Upgrade CDs are cheaper, but you have to be able to show them you have a
'qualifying product'. While XP Upgrade will not run from 95 to upgrade
it, nevertheless if you boot the CD it will do a clean new Install (when
it asks where hit ESC so you can delete the partition and make a new
one); it will later ask where Windows is - show it your Win95 CD

First make sure the hardware is adequate - it would be surprising if a
Win95 machine was. At least a 300 or 400 MHz CPU; a 10 GB hard disk and
*more* than the recommended 128MB RAM if it is to be sensible to do it

 

[Alex Nichol]

As with earlier versions of the Windows operating system, an Upgrade
installation requires that you have a previous version to serve as a
“qualifying product.†However, this time around you will not be able to use
the Upgrade from Windows 95. Windows XP requires Windows 98 or newer to
qualify.

BUT - yet again - a Win95 CD is acceptable evidence when using an
UPgrade CD for a clean install

 

[Steve Nielsen]

Lance Le Claire wrote:




BUT - yet again - a Win95 CD is acceptable evidence when using an
UPgrade CD for a clean install

Ah, but is it "legitimate"? Doesn't MS clearly state that Win98 or
greater is required to qualify for an upgrade to XP? So what if a Win95
CD will work instead? There are ways to get around product activation
issues with multiple installations, too, but you guys are always quick
to jump all over that bandwagon.

Now don't get me wrong, I do not advocate piracy at all, I'm just
pointing out what could appear as a slight inconsistency in prinicples here.

Steve

 

[Michael Stevens]

Ah, but is it "legitimate"? Doesn't MS clearly state that Win98 or
greater is required to qualify for an upgrade to XP? So what if a
Win95 CD will work instead? There are ways to get around product
activation
issues with multiple installations, too, but you guys are always quick
to jump all over that bandwagon.

Now don't get me wrong, I do not advocate piracy at all, I'm just
pointing out what could appear as a slight inconsistency in
prinicples here.
Steve

It is a known bug in the setup, and MS decided not to change it. The setup
is crippled when 95 is the qualifier, because 95 is not tested as an upgrade
path. Hardware and software from systems that shipped with 95 were in
general way below the minimum specs.
I doubt activation would ever be a problem.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

It is a known bug in the setup, and MS decided not to change it. The setup
is crippled when 95 is the qualifier, because 95 is not tested as an upgrade
path. Hardware and software from systems that shipped with 95 were in
general way below the minimum specs.
I doubt activation would ever be a problem.

It was noticed before XP ever came out, and the attitude taken was that
95 was acceptable as qualifying, but that it was not possible to do an
upgrade over it - hence the absence of reference. Apart from things
like FAT 16 Fat 32 changes, I think the likelihood of a machine
actually running Win95 being remotely adequate for XP was seen as so
remote that working on providing for upgrade was a waste of time

 

[Guest]

Of all the posts on installing XP on a W95 computer this is the only one
that comes close to explaining what a "clean intall is". Does it mean to run
"format c:" or just "uninstall W95" if that, in fact is a W95 option? This
assumes the harware is sufficient to run XP and that you do have the
original W95 installation CD. The term "clean install" would seem to indicate
an empty primary (c partition but doesn't specifically state so or the best
way to reach that status.

 

[Bob I]

A clean install is intended to avoid "reusing" any of the files or
information from the previous operating system. A format will obviously
do this. Erasing/deleting all the operating system folders can also do this.