Upgrade from Windows Me to XP?

[Jenn]

Have an HP computer that was custom built by HP with
Windows Me right on hard drive. I have enough room for XP
but am told that I cannot upgrade this computer... Can't
change my mouse either since there are no USB ports on the
thing. Main question, can I upgrade to XP?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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 Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) 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/Me. 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 or substandard
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

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[Myron J. Mandell]

Jenn,

First, is this really a "custom built" computer? If so, no one can answer
without a lot more info.
So, let's assume it's a standard HP configuration (or at least close).

Second, have you looked really, really hard for USB ports? I have much
older computers that shipped with USB ports, so I'd bet you really have
them. (They're probably on the back, near the PS2 ports.) If not, the first
thing I'd do is buy a PCI card (if it's a desktop) with USB 2.0 ports, and
maybe FireWire ports as well. (If it's a laptop, consider a PCMCIA card.)

Finally, it is nearly certain that you can upgrade. There's a compatibility
check available on the MS site, or you can borrow an upgrade CD from someone
to run the compatibility check. When you discover that you are compatible,
you can either upgrade your existing system or install clean from an upgrade
disk. If you have a spare partition (or second HD) you can dual set it up
to dual-boot. In any case, start the install from within your WinME system,
rather than booting from the CD. You can find further direction on the MVP
sites.

The downside is that if your computer later goes south, you will have to
begin the resurrection by restoring to factory configuration using the
Windows ME restore disk that you should have received from HP.

Good luck,

Myron