Upgrading from Win98 to XP Home Edition

[Guest]

Hi All:
I recently bought a new dual core XP computer to replace my old computer
with a bad hard disk. Feeling brave, I installed a new 120 GB hard drive
and doubled the memory on the old computer, installed Win98 and realized that
it was about to become obsolete next year. I am planning to give this old
computer to my niece as a first computer and would like to update it to XP
Home O.S. It is a Gateway Pentium II desktop with 256 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard
drive and runs at 350 MHz. This seems to meet the requirements for XP Home
O.S. My question is....I think the old AGP graphics card and PCI sound card
may not be compatible and am wondering if I should replace them with new ones
prior to or after installing XP Home O.S.? I am not too familiar with
installing drivers and software for new hardware and thought maybe it might
be easier to do with XP than Win98? I usually run into trouble when the box
comes up saying new hardware has been detected and it wants me to point out
where the driver and software are! I know it's on the cd that comes with the
hardware but don't know how to tell the O.S. how to download the drivers and
software. Any help you can provide me would be appreciated!

xiowan....retired in Tucson

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

Hi All:
I recently bought a new dual core XP computer to replace my old
computer with a bad hard disk. Feeling brave, I installed a new 120
GB hard drive and doubled the memory on the old computer, installed
Win98 and realized that it was about to become obsolete next year. I
am planning to give this old computer to my niece as a first computer
and would like to update it to XP Home O.S. It is a Gateway Pentium
II desktop with 256 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard drive and runs at 350 MHz.
This seems to meet the requirements for XP Home O.S. My question
is....I think the old AGP graphics card and PCI sound card may not be
compatible and am wondering if I should replace them with new ones
prior to or after installing XP Home O.S.? I am not too familiar
with installing drivers and software for new hardware and thought
maybe it might be easier to do with XP than Win98? I usually run
into trouble when the box comes up saying new hardware has been
detected and it wants me to point out where the driver and software
are! I know it's on the cd that comes with the hardware but don't
know how to tell the O.S. how to download the drivers and software.
Any help you can provide me would be appreciated!

xiowan....retired in Tucson

Try running the compatibility check (insert the upgrade CD and autorun
should take you from there). You can also check the hardware compatibility
list (see Microsoft's website for this; I don't have a link handy.

Re driver updates - get them from the hw manufacturer as needed, and install
them in device manager.

Remember to uninstall your antivirus software before you do this upgrade,
and I also suggest you run some antispyware scans to make sure the machine
is as clean as you can get it.

Note that 256MB RAM will run, but it'll be pokey. If you can upgrade it to
512 she'll have a much better experience.

 

[Guest]

Hi Lanwench:
Thanks for the quick reply. The computer I'm upgrading only has three
memory slots; 2 have 128 MB already. Can I put in a different capicity such
as 256 MB in the remaining slot or does it have to match the 2 128 MB cards?
And......how do I tell how much memory the old computer can handle without
suffering a premature demise? I'm sure XP can handle anything I put in but
does the motherboard have a maximum capacity?
I plan on just wiping the new hard drive before installing the O.S. so
should be no virus probs. I have already bought a new AGP graphics card and
PCI sound card compatible with XP or Win98 so just need to decide when the
best time to install them.....prior to, or after XP O.S. install? I still am
confused on how to get the "device manager" to find the new software on the
card cds or from downloaded files. I suppose there must be a command you
type in the window under "search for" ?

xiowan....retired in tucson

 

[Bob Harris]

Before upgrading t XP< run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/advisor.mspx

This is a large download, about 40 Meg, but the information it will provide
is well worth the time to get it and run it. A copy of it may also be on
the XP CDROM.

Definitely un-install all anivirus software, system-like utiltities (e.g.,
Norton), GOBACK, firewalls, and CD-writing software. Be certain that no
files are encrypted by third-party software, wich may break during the XP
upgrade. Re-install XP-compatible antivirus before attaching to the
internet. Also, turn on the XP firewall (default is on for SP-2), or
install another firewall, before going on the internet.

As far as whether to install new hardware befre or after the upgrade, if
win98 can support the hardware, definitely install it before the upgrade to
XP. The reason is that when XP is installed it checks all the hardware and
loads default drivers for them. These drivers may be very good, or just
fair, but they will work on most hardware. Then, after the XP upgrade, use
the built-in update feature to check for newer drivers on the Microsoft
site. The update feature will only offer drivers that are appropriate for
your hardware. Finally, you might be able to get newer XP drivers from the
hardware manufacturers. However, if the XP default drivers work well, it
may not be worth the time to look fior newer ones.

Note: I agree with the previous reply: XP likes RAM. If the motherboad
can supprt more than 256 Meg, add more. Check the Gateway support website
for details on the motherboard capabilities, or search the PC or its
assciated CDs for a PDF file containing hardware info. BUT, do not install
512 Meg or more until after you install XP. Win98 has some issues with 512
Meg or more of RAM.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

Hi Lanwench:
Thanks for the quick reply. The computer I'm upgrading only has
three memory slots; 2 have 128 MB already. Can I put in a different
capicity such as 256 MB in the remaining slot or does it have to
match the 2 128 MB cards?

Depends on your motherboard, really. Check with Gateway support.

And......how do I tell how much memory the
old computer can handle without suffering a premature demise?

Check with Gateway or the documentation.

I'm
sure XP can handle anything I put in but does the motherboard have a
maximum capacity?

Yes, likely.

I plan on just wiping the new hard drive before
installing the O.S. so should be no virus probs. I have already
bought a new AGP graphics card and PCI sound card compatible with XP
or Win98 so just need to decide when the best time to install
them.....prior to, or after XP O.S. install?

Well, if you're not planning to do an upgrade in place, but wipe/reinstall,
install the new hardware first.

I still am confused on
how to get the "device manager" to find the new software on the card
cds or from downloaded files.

I suppose there must be a command you

type in the window under "search for" ?

Choose the option to load drivers from "location x" (that being a folder
where you've got the drivers) when prompted - if you even need to do this.
Windows will likely recognize most of what you install. But do have drivers
handy for the video & network card at the very least, so you can do the rest
of the driver/Windows updates on that PC. (don't download device drivers
from Windows Update!)

 

[Guest]

Hi Lanwench, Bob Harris:

Just wanted to return to say thanks for your advice. I followed all
of it but the uninstalling my Norton Anti-Virus and installed XP Home Edition
Upgrade today. I choose the "new install" and assumed it would wipe out all
the previous data and install a whole new operating system. The install went
ok but I'm guessing it just overwrote the previous Windows 98 data but didn't
actually erase ALL the existing data. I say that because I can't install
Norton Anti-Virus no matter how hard I try. I've used all of Norton's
removal tools but there is an "Internal
error2753.SAVScan.exe.3333244E_F73A_407A_B74A_569A9EO9D5B3". It seems some
data must have been left from the previous operating system or the scan the
install program does is screwing things up! Everything is working just fine
otherwise....even my non-functional onboard audio is working again now.
Wanna buy a cheap sound card I don't need now? I guess I'll try
installing McAffee anti-virus and hope that works. Thanks again.......I
wouldn't have even tried this without your helpful support!

xiowan........retired in tucson

 

[Tommieg]

There is also a great web site,crucial.com that can tell you exactly how much
memory you can put in each slot...