Upgrade and partition questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Rocah
  • Start date Start date
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David Rocah

I want to upgrade a 5yr. old Dell Dimension XPS-T500 machine to XP from Win
98 SE. In doing some web browsing in preparation, I'm come to worry about
the pitfalls of the upgrade process. It seems like doing a clean install is
the best way to go. Since I don't have a 2nd computer, I think I'd like to
partition my harddrive, and install XP from scratch on the new partition.
Once its clear it works fine, I'd like to migrate my programs and files to
the new partition, then erase the old one, leaving me with a single partion
on the existing harddrive (because the drive is only about 12.7 GB, with 9.5
GB currently free). My questions are:
1. Can I do this?
2. Is this the most sensible way to do things?
3. If the answer to 1 & 2 is yes, is there a FAQ or website that will give
me step by step instructions (I can handle the install, but I've never
partitioned a disk before, don't know how to make the new partition
bootable, don't know how to tell XP to install in the new partition; am not
sure that the XP partition will be able to see, read, and transfer files
from the Win 98 SE partition; and am not clear whether I can eliminate a
partition, and the best way to erase the files there once I"m sure the
transition is complete). I'm sure this gets asked a lot. I did a search,
but didn't find an answer to these questions.

Thanks,

David
 
David

The website that you should be browsing is Dell support.. realistically,
your computer is too old, and will not run XP at all well.. Win 2K is the
latest OS that Dell considers your computer able to run..
 
I don't mean to argue (especially with a MVP :-)), but what's likely to be
the problem? The processor is a 500 mhz PIII, and I've added memory to 384
MB. I ran the XP upgrade advisor, and the only hardware that it said might
be incompatible is my printer (so I double checked that; there's a Windows
XP driver available for that printer on the HP website) and the iVasion PoET
adapter (which isn't hardware, but I'm assuming there's similar software
built in to XP, or available for XP). If I was going to have to spend a
bunch of money on new hardware, or on the software, I agree, it wouldn't
make sense to do this. But the XP software will be free because of
Microsoft's license with my wife's employer (employees can upgrade their
home computers for work use), and I'm planning to use the hardware I've got.

Thanks,

David
 
The Dell website is not the friendliest I have ever seen.. maybe if I had
wanted to buy one.. :).. however, what I found out was that Dell offer no XP
support for your model.. that is not a good thing because some or all newer
Dells have problems with SP2 for which fixes were made available..

Second point.. I noticed that the maximum memory slot capability is 128mb..
assuming four slots, that amounts to 512mb at best.. while 512mb is optimum
for an XP system, attempts to multitask to any great degree, especially with
graphics programs will see the system scrabbling for resources a little.. if
you only have three slots, your system will struggle..

A 12.5gb HDD five years ago would be akin to inheriting Texas.. that was
then.. now an XP installation complete with SP2, the pagefile and various
other updates will swallow up large amounts of disk space.. your 9.5gb free
space will soon wane.. it is a good idea to have at least 25% free space on
a drive..

I would be tempted to do a clean install of XP, dumping Win 98 for good.. on
a clone system, I would not hesitate, but the Dell problem with SP2 might
put me off.. you might want to ask Dell about it.. for all I know, older
systems may not be affected..

As for arguing with MVPs?.. We are MVPs because we have shown a commitment
to helping people voluntarily in newsgroups, forums, through web pages etc..
it does not guarantee that we are always right, so argue away if you so
wish..

If you want to multiboot Win 98 and XP until you decide what best to do, go
to this site which will tell you all about it..

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/multiboot.mspx



--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Just to add to Mike Hall's reasoning, when Dell does not support XP on an
older model that means that they did not update the drivers for the
motherboard or onboard peripherals, like the NIC, modem, video, etc. That
means that a clean install of XP may not be a good idea because no XP
drivers are available. It also means that the Win98 drivers may not work
right with XP after an upgrade to XP. What this all means is that your
computer is not certified by Dell as XP compatible. I suggest that you not
try to swim upstream. You might have had a chance with the first version of
XP but probably not with XP as it is today.
 
Colin

Nicely put.. way to go..

I took me three hours and more to get my post out.. I typed a bit, then had
to rescue somebody from a snowdrift, and then sort a power failure out at my
mother-in-laws house.. by the time that I arrived back, I was pooped..
looked at the screen.. my reply was still there waiting.. looked at what I
had typed.. hit send on the basis that I could clarify in another post if
asked so to do..

David

Older computer systems produced by the big names are often a problem when
upgrading.. while they may use 'named' motherboards, they have their own
signatures built into their specific requirements by whoever the board
manufacturer is.. in part, this ensures that owners of such systems become
reliant on the vendor.. in this way, if a Dell user wants to hardware or
software upgrade, they will use Dell and pay their prices..

A case in point here is the inability of some Dell models not accepting the
SP2 update.. you have to wonder what Dell did that a system would require
patching before SP2 could be installed.. I have set up many 'clone' systems
that have had no problems, some on the face of it less specified than your
own.. the difference is that 'clone' systems are universal, and not doctored
to produce a 'corporately' recognisable product..

I would suggest that if you choose to replace your system at any time,
bearing in mind that you have access to OS software that is not OEM, you
purchase a 'clone' system and avoid the big name manufacturers..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user







Colin Barnhorst said:
Just to add to Mike Hall's reasoning, when Dell does not support XP on an
older model that means that they did not update the drivers for the
motherboard or onboard peripherals, like the NIC, modem, video, etc. That
means that a clean install of XP may not be a good idea because no XP
drivers are available. It also means that the Win98 drivers may not work
right with XP after an upgrade to XP. What this all means is that your
computer is not certified by Dell as XP compatible. I suggest that you
not try to swim upstream. You might have had a chance with the first
version of XP but probably not with XP as it is today.
Click to expand...
 
In
Mike Hall (MS-MVP) said:
Colin

Nicely put.. way to go..

I took me three hours and more to get my post out.. I typed a bit,
then had to rescue somebody from a snowdrift, and then sort a power
failure out at my mother-in-laws house.. by the time that I arrived
back, I was pooped.. looked at the screen.. my reply was still there
waiting.. looked at what I had typed.. hit send on the basis that I
could clarify in another post if asked so to do..

David

Older computer systems produced by the big names are often a problem
when upgrading.. while they may use 'named' motherboards, they have
their own signatures built into their specific requirements by
whoever the board manufacturer is.. in part, this ensures that owners
of such systems become reliant on the vendor.. in this way, if a Dell
user wants to hardware or software upgrade, they will use Dell and
pay their prices..
A case in point here is the inability of some Dell models not
accepting the SP2 update.. you have to wonder what Dell did that a
system would require patching before SP2 could be installed.. I have
set up many 'clone' systems that have had no problems, some on the
face of it less specified than your own.. the difference is that
'clone' systems are universal, and not doctored to produce a
'corporately' recognisable product..
I would suggest that if you choose to replace your system at any time,
bearing in mind that you have access to OS software that is not OEM,
you purchase a 'clone' system and avoid the big name manufacturers..
Click to expand...

Nicely explained by the both of you and I would like to add that usually
after spending the money for the XP upgrade plus upgraded hardware and
software necessary for compatibility the end result is an obsolete 98
computer running XP that a entry level system for around the same price as
the upgrade plus all the hidden upgrade costs that would run circles around
the upgraded 98 computer.
In this case the OS is free and would make the upgrade attractive on cost,
but with limited driver availability the upgrade doesn't make sense.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm


Colin Barnhorst said:
Just to add to Mike Hall's reasoning, when Dell does not support XP
on an older model that means that they did not update the drivers
for the motherboard or onboard peripherals, like the NIC, modem,
video, etc. That means that a clean install of XP may not be a good
idea because no XP drivers are available. It also means that the
Win98 drivers may not work right with XP after an upgrade to XP. What
this all means is that your computer is not certified by Dell
as XP compatible. I suggest that you not try to swim upstream. You
might have had a chance with the first version of XP but probably
not with XP as it is today. --
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
Mike Hall (MS-MVP) said:
The Dell website is not the friendliest I have ever seen.. maybe if
I had wanted to buy one.. :).. however, what I found out was that
Dell offer no XP support for your model.. that is not a good thing
because some or all newer Dells have problems with SP2 for which
fixes were made available.. Second point.. I noticed that the maximum
memory slot capability is
128mb.. assuming four slots, that amounts to 512mb at best.. while
512mb is optimum for an XP system, attempts to multitask to any
great degree, especially with graphics programs will see the system
scrabbling for resources a little.. if you only have three slots,
your system will struggle..

A 12.5gb HDD five years ago would be akin to inheriting Texas..
that was then.. now an XP installation complete with SP2, the
pagefile and various other updates will swallow up large amounts of
disk space.. your 9.5gb free space will soon wane.. it is a good
idea to have at least 25% free space on a drive..

I would be tempted to do a clean install of XP, dumping Win 98 for
good.. on a clone system, I would not hesitate, but the Dell
problem with SP2 might put me off.. you might want to ask Dell
about it.. for all I know, older systems may not be affected..

As for arguing with MVPs?.. We are MVPs because we have shown a
commitment to helping people voluntarily in newsgroups, forums,
through web pages etc.. it does not guarantee that we are always
right, so argue away if you so wish..

If you want to multiboot Win 98 and XP until you decide what best
to do, go to this site which will tell you all about it..

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/multiboot.mspx



--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user







I don't mean to argue (especially with a MVP :-)), but what's
likely to be
the problem? The processor is a 500 mhz PIII, and I've added
memory to 384
MB. I ran the XP upgrade advisor, and the only hardware that it
said might
be incompatible is my printer (so I double checked that; there's a
Windows
XP driver available for that printer on the HP website) and the
iVasion PoET
adapter (which isn't hardware, but I'm assuming there's similar
software built in to XP, or available for XP). If I was going to
have to spend a bunch of money on new hardware, or on the
software, I agree, it wouldn't make sense to do this. But the XP
software will be free because of Microsoft's license with my
wife's employer (employees can upgrade their home computers for
work use), and I'm planning to use the hardware I've got.

Thanks,

David

David

The website that you should be browsing is Dell support..
realistically,
your computer is too old, and will not run XP at all well.. Win
2K is the
latest OS that Dell considers your computer able to run..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user







I want to upgrade a 5yr. old Dell Dimension XPS-T500 machine to
XP from
Win
98 SE. In doing some web browsing in preparation, I'm come to
worry about the pitfalls of the upgrade process. It seems like
doing a clean install is
the best way to go. Since I don't have a 2nd computer, I think
I'd like
to
partition my harddrive, and install XP from scratch on the new
partition. Once its clear it works fine, I'd like to migrate my
programs and files
to
the new partition, then erase the old one, leaving me with a
single partion
on the existing harddrive (because the drive is only about 12.7
GB, with
9.5
GB currently free). My questions are:
1. Can I do this?
2. Is this the most sensible way to do things?
3. If the answer to 1 & 2 is yes, is there a FAQ or website that
will give me step by step instructions (I can handle the
install, but I've never
partitioned a disk before, don't know how to make the new
partition bootable, don't know how to tell XP to install in the
new partition; am
not
sure that the XP partition will be able to see, read, and
transfer files
from the Win 98 SE partition; and am not clear whether I can
eliminate a
partition, and the best way to erase the files there once I"m
sure the
transition is complete). I'm sure this gets asked a lot. I did
a search, but didn't find an answer to these questions.

Thanks,

David
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