Upgrade from Win Pro 2000 to XP

[GBW]

I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
do so is it a simple task, do I download from Microsoft
the upgrade and simply load it. Do I have to reinstall
all my applications? What happens to all my Outlook email
etc? Do I have to backup all my data?

Thanks

GBW

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
do so is it a simple task, do I download from Microsoft
the upgrade and simply load it. Do I have to reinstall
all my applications? What happens to all my Outlook email
etc? Do I have to backup all my data?

The XP Upgrade can't be downloaded from Microsoft. The first step is to
go to a software vendor and purchase the upgrade version of Windows XP
Pro. The upgrade over 2000 is fairly straightforward. You will not
need to reinstall all of your applications and your data files will also
be retained. When you insert the XP CD, the autorun will start the
process. Choose to do an upgrade (will be the recommended option), it
will basically walk you through the process a step at a time.

As with any major change to your computer, make sure you have a good
backup before beginning in case anything goes unexpectedly wrong.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP MCE
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You can't upgrade to XP Home from Win 2000 Pro - you will need XP Pro.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
| do so is it a simple task, do I download from Microsoft
| the upgrade and simply load it. Do I have to reinstall
| all my applications? What happens to all my Outlook email
| etc? Do I have to backup all my data?
|
| Thanks
|
| GBW

 

[GBW]

Thank you for your reply. I will go and purchase XP pro
upgrade , do a backup as suggested (which I do monthly
anyway!) and hopefully I will expereince a smooth upgrade!

Many thanks

GBW

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
do so is it a simple task,

Yes.


do I download from Microsoft
the upgrade

No, you have to buy it. It's not downloadable for free. Also note
that you can upgrade 2000 to XP Professional, but not XP Home.

and simply load it. Do I have to reinstall
all my applications?

No. That's the definition of "upgrade" as opposed to "clean
installation." Your apps, data, etc. remain in place.

What happens to all my Outlook email
etc?

The same. Everything stays.

Do I have to backup all my data?

If all goes well, and it usually does, you don't need a backup.
But it's always prudent to realize that an operating system
upgrade is a big step, and when taking any big step, something
*can* go wrong. I wouldn't recommend doing it without having a
backup of anything you can't afford to lose.

But I have a question for you. Why do you want to do this?
Windows XP (under the hood, Windows NT 5.1) is a relatively minor
upgrade to Windows 2000 (NT 5.0). Yes, XP is better, but the
differences are relatively small. If you were buying a new
computer and asking whether to put 2000 or XP on it, I would
unhesitatingly recommend XP, but whether it's worth the cost,
trouble, and learning curve for you to upgrade is a different
matter. In my view. most people running 2000 don't need to
upgrade, and should stay with 2000.

 

[Plato]

I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
do so is it a simple task, do I download from Microsoft
the upgrade and simply load it. Do I have to reinstall
all my applications? What happens to all my Outlook email
etc? Do I have to backup all my data?

Of course you need data backups as all data may be lost in a second with
any OS install.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am considering upgrading from Win Pro 2000 to XP - if I
do so is it a simple task, do I download from Microsoft
the upgrade and simply load it.

It is not a download (other than as part of an MSDN subscription, but
if you had one you would not be asking). Go to a computer store and
buy the Windows XP Pro Upgrade CD. Run it from the present system;
enter install and continue with Upgrade.

It is advisable to uninstall (not just disable) AV software, any system
utility packs like Norton, and CD burning software in advance; reinstall
in versions approved for XP after. And back up data first, just in
case, when you do anything major like this. But normally installed
software and data will be retained. Read Gary Woodruff's article on
upgrading to XP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm