R
Robert Stewart
Here is the situation. I have finally had it with Windows ME and I plan on
doing a fresh install using the Windows XP Pro Upgrade. I will also be
installing (2) 512MB DDR RAM modules from Crucial. Here are my questions.
1. I currently have 512MB SDRAM, should I remove this and install the new
memory (1GB DDR) before I do a fresh install of XP (I am aware that you
cannot mix the 2 memory types), or should I leave the current 512 SDRAM in
and replace it after the fresh install of XP? Windows ME has a limit of
512MB, yet another reason I am dumping it for XP.
2. I also have a question about the file system. Here is my current setup.
I have 2 separate hard drives. The first is an 80GB that is broken up into
3 separate partitions (C, D, and E). Of course, C is used for the OS and
programs. D is used for family downloads, pictures, songs, etc. E is used
to store my digital images, I am into photography, and MS Office files. The
second hard drive is the old 60GB drive that I had before I bought the 80GB
and it is also partitioned into 3 (F, G, and H) and is mainly used for
backup purposes. Both drives are using the FAT32 system that ME requires.
I would like to use the NTFS file system after I install XP Pro. The
information that came with the upgrade states that I can convert to NTFS at
any time. I had only planned on doing a reformat of the C drive partition
to do the upgrade, leaving D, E, F, G, and H alone and intact. Can I change
to the NTFS file system and still leave the other in FAT32 or do I have to
convert everything at once? Would it be a better idea to leave the file
system as FAT32 until after the upgrade and then change to NTFS? I have a
feeling that I am totally confused about how this is handled, so feel free
to set me straight.
3. I have had to do a fresh install of Windows ME 3 times in 3 years and I
always used the same startup floppy disk to run FDISK and FORMAT. Do I need
to have a new startup disk to reformat the C drive or can I just use the
same one that I was using with ME? If I do indeed need a new disk, where do
I get it?
I am sure that I am not the only person out there that has performed a
similar upgrade and I would like to have some input from you before I start.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
doing a fresh install using the Windows XP Pro Upgrade. I will also be
installing (2) 512MB DDR RAM modules from Crucial. Here are my questions.
1. I currently have 512MB SDRAM, should I remove this and install the new
memory (1GB DDR) before I do a fresh install of XP (I am aware that you
cannot mix the 2 memory types), or should I leave the current 512 SDRAM in
and replace it after the fresh install of XP? Windows ME has a limit of
512MB, yet another reason I am dumping it for XP.
2. I also have a question about the file system. Here is my current setup.
I have 2 separate hard drives. The first is an 80GB that is broken up into
3 separate partitions (C, D, and E). Of course, C is used for the OS and
programs. D is used for family downloads, pictures, songs, etc. E is used
to store my digital images, I am into photography, and MS Office files. The
second hard drive is the old 60GB drive that I had before I bought the 80GB
and it is also partitioned into 3 (F, G, and H) and is mainly used for
backup purposes. Both drives are using the FAT32 system that ME requires.
I would like to use the NTFS file system after I install XP Pro. The
information that came with the upgrade states that I can convert to NTFS at
any time. I had only planned on doing a reformat of the C drive partition
to do the upgrade, leaving D, E, F, G, and H alone and intact. Can I change
to the NTFS file system and still leave the other in FAT32 or do I have to
convert everything at once? Would it be a better idea to leave the file
system as FAT32 until after the upgrade and then change to NTFS? I have a
feeling that I am totally confused about how this is handled, so feel free
to set me straight.
3. I have had to do a fresh install of Windows ME 3 times in 3 years and I
always used the same startup floppy disk to run FDISK and FORMAT. Do I need
to have a new startup disk to reformat the C drive or can I just use the
same one that I was using with ME? If I do indeed need a new disk, where do
I get it?
I am sure that I am not the only person out there that has performed a
similar upgrade and I would like to have some input from you before I start.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.