Upgrade from 98 to XP

[Susan]

Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
Windows 98 and not Windows SE?) in order to be able to use
firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.

I know can purchase Upgrade to XP for about $100 at Wal-
mart. But am concerned about other programs on PC. For
instance she has Microsoft Works. Will she have to
purchase upgrades for other programs? Where is the best
place to find out details?

Thanks for information!
Susan

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Read and follow this upgrade procedure:

You can perform an "Upgrade" to Windows XP from Windows 98
by selecting the default "Upgrade" option during the initial setup phase.
The other setup option, "New Installation", should only be selected if
your wish to reformat your drive (thus removing Windows 98 and all
files), or install Windows XP on an available empty drive or partition
and create a dual-boot scenario.

Do not make the mistake of selecting "New Installation" and proceed
to install Windows XP in the same partition as Windows 98. The
end result will be instability and conflicts.

If you wish to upgrade to Windows XP, read the following:

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or
Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;316639

Before upgrading any existing Windows installation, it would be prudent to
run the Upgrade Advisor for Windows XP. This tool will report what hardware
or software may be incompatible with Windows XP. If you follow the Upgrade
Advisor's recommendations, you should not have any problem upgrading to
Windows XP.

If you fail to utilize the Upgrade Advisor, you may run into incompatibility issues.
Just inserting the Windows XP Upgrade CD in the CD Drive and selecting
"upgrade" is not going to give you the desired result. You must "prepare and
plan" your computer before beginning the upgrade process.

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

It is imperative that you have the latest BIOS update installed. Visit the support
website of the manufacturer of your computer or motherboard for instructions
on updating your computer's BIOS.

Accessing Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Also, physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware devices,
especially USB devices (not including your mouse, keyboard or
monitor). Uninstall any antivirus program, too!

HOW TO: Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

Most of all, *** BACKUP *** your critical files and documents!

Note: Laptop computers require specialized hardware drivers.
After upgrading to Windows XP, visit the support website of
the manufacturer of your laptop and download all the Windows
XP drivers designed to work with your specific laptop model.

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

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

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


| Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
| Windows 98 and not Windows SE?) in order to be able to use
| firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.
|
| I know can purchase Upgrade to XP for about $100 at Wal-
| mart. But am concerned about other programs on PC. For
| instance she has Microsoft Works. Will she have to
| purchase upgrades for other programs? Where is the best
| place to find out details?
|
| Thanks for information!
| Susan
|

 

[Guest]

It's the BIOS thing that scares me. All I know is the
computer is NEC and model number is PN7701. We tried
support number obtained from system but another company
has taken over support and it is fee-based. BIOS Name is
American Megatrends and is version V2.8 but that does not
help because need computer manufacturer support to find
the correct BIOS update--right? or can the BIOS
manufacturer American Megatrends help?

Lady bought computer and camera from shop and salesman
told her today that all she needed to do was apply
updates from CD for Windows 98 SE but she has Windows 98
(4.10.2222- that is 98 and not 98 SE right?). I believe
that she must upgrade based on KB 284837 which states
following:
Windows 98 version 4.10.1998 (the original release)
includes limited support for 1394 technology, which was
an emerging technology when Windows 98 was released.
Microsoft has determined that functional upgrades to 1394
support cannot be made sufficiently reliable, and
therefore has no plans to produce updates or
enhancements. For this reason, Microsoft recommends that
you update your operating system to a newer version if
you are experiencing the problems that are documented in
this article.

So we need to find out from NEC what the BIOS updates are
somehow-right? if we wanted to upgrade. But I am not sure
I would want to take on this responsibility? Think I want
to go talk to salesman with her.

Thanks for the information that you have already
provided. Thank you for any additional information.

Susan

-----Original Message-----
Read and follow this upgrade procedure:

You can perform an "Upgrade" to Windows XP from Windows 98
by selecting the default "Upgrade" option during the initial setup phase.
The other setup option, "New Installation", should only be selected if
your wish to reformat your drive (thus removing Windows 98 and all
files), or install Windows XP on an available empty drive or partition
and create a dual-boot scenario.

Do not make the mistake of selecting "New Installation" and proceed
to install Windows XP in the same partition as Windows 98. The
end result will be instability and conflicts.

If you wish to upgrade to Windows XP, read the following:

HOW TO: Prepare to Upgrade Windows 98 or
Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN- US;316639

Before upgrading any existing Windows installation, it would be prudent to
run the Upgrade Advisor for Windows XP. This tool will report what hardware
or software may be incompatible with Windows XP. If you follow the Upgrade
Advisor's recommendations, you should not have any problem upgrading to
Windows XP.

If you fail to utilize the Upgrade Advisor, you may run into incompatibility issues.
Just inserting the Windows XP Upgrade CD in the CD Drive and selecting
"upgrade" is not going to give you the desired result. You must "prepare and
plan" your computer before beginning the upgrade process.

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

It is imperative that you have the latest BIOS update installed. Visit the support
website of the manufacturer of your computer or motherboard for instructions
on updating your computer's BIOS.

Accessing Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Also, physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware devices,
especially USB devices (not including your mouse, keyboard or
monitor). Uninstall any antivirus program, too!

HOW TO: Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

Most of all, *** BACKUP *** your critical files and documents!

Note: Laptop computers require specialized hardware drivers.
After upgrading to Windows XP, visit the support website of
the manufacturer of your laptop and download all the Windows
XP drivers designed to work with your specific laptop model.

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

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

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


| Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
| Windows 98 and not Windows SE?) in order to be able to use
| firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.
|
| I know can purchase Upgrade to XP for about $100 at

Wal->| mart. But am concerned about other programs on PC.
For

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
Windows 98 and not Windows SE?)

No, that's 98SE.

in order to be able to use
firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.

I know can purchase Upgrade to XP for about $100 at Wal-
mart. But am concerned about other programs on PC. For
instance she has Microsoft Works. Will she have to
purchase upgrades for other programs? Where is the best
place to find out details?

Most Windows 98-era programs will work on XP. But have your
friend run the Run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

 

[Susan]

Thanks everyone!- supposedly the fixes on CD will correct
problem and can forget upgrading. That BIOS thing sounded
scary. I never knew what SE stood for -- thought it was
different OS for networked PC's or something!

 

[Alex Nichol]

Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
Windows 98 and not Windows SE?) in order to be able to use
firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.

I know can purchase Upgrade to XP for about $100 at Wal-
mart. But am concerned about other programs on PC. For
instance she has Microsoft Works. Will she have to
purchase upgrades for other programs?

The upgrade will take Win98 (and that is SE) forward OK, provided the
hardware is adequate. I think the 'recommended' 128 MB is *not* enough,
and really one should have 256 (or of course more) with a 400MHz CPU as
absolute minimum, and say 3 or 4 GB free disk space.

Older applications for Windows should just come forward - certainly
Works for WIndows. DOS programs may try to do things that XP plain does
not allow, as may drivers for some old parallel port scanners (in
particular). You should uninstall AV, system utilities like Norton and
CD burning software. Then Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to
XP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

 

[Plato]

Friend needs to upgrade Windows 98(4.10.2222 -- isn't this
Windows 98 and not Windows SE?) in order to be able to use
firewire(IEEE 1394)for digital video camera.

Dont bother if you have less than 256 ram.