upgrading from Win98 to XP Pro

[Guest]

At work we are currently running 6 computers with win98 and looking
to upgrade them all to XP Xpro.
Do we need to reformat all computers and re install all software again
or just purchase a XP Pro upgrade. Would all software that works
under win98 still be ok for XP Pro after upgrading??

 

[Ken Blake]

In

At work we are currently running 6 computers with win98 and
looking
to upgrade them all to XP Xpro.
Do we need to reformat all computers and re install all
software again
or just purchase a XP Pro upgrade.

You can do an upgrade without reformatting and reinstalling all
software. But note that you need to purchase, not one XP Pro
Upgrade, but six.

Would all software that works
under win98 still be ok for XP Pro after upgrading??

*Most* software that runs under Windows 98 will also run under
Windows XP, but nobody can say *all* with certainly. Run the
Microsoft Upgrade Advisor at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
to determine whether what you have is compatible with XP.

 

[R. McCarty]

Download and run the Windows XP Advisor. It will locate and
document hardware and programs that aren't compatible with
Windows XP.
You'll likely have a little clean up to do before, but yes 98 should
upgrade to XP. Because older machines may not be totally able
to support ACPI, check for BIOS updates for the PCs.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/advisor.mspx

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

No, the computers do not need to be formatted.
An upgrade normally leaves all data and settings intact.
Back-up all important data just in case.

Typically most if not all older software works with Windows XP.
However verify compatibility with the manufacturer at least for
mission essential hardware and software.

See this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/default.mspx
Especially #3 Upgrade Advisor.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that. All the office computers are approx 1 year old.
We didn't want to upgrade to XP Pro if it meent spending all weekend
reformatting and re installing softwares again.

Thanks
again

 

[Alex Nichol]

At work we are currently running 6 computers with win98 and looking
to upgrade them all to XP Xpro.
Do we need to reformat all computers and re install all software again
or just purchase a XP Pro upgrade. Would all software that works
under win98 still be ok for XP Pro after upgrading??

You need to buy an upgrade copy of XP for each of them, so as to have
each machine its own license (as you ought to have separate copies of
Win98 - do you?)

At six machines you can get into the start of the volume license
program, but I don't think that is likely to work out cheaper

 

[Andre Da Costa]

You can upgrade from Windows 98 to XP Pro using the upgrade version, but
make sure you have the Windows 98 full version license and disk on hand to
qualify for the upgrade.

Open license is a great to upgrade small amount of desktop computers without
the need to purchase separate licenses:
https://eopen.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

Andre Da Costa

 

[Alex Nichol]

You can upgrade from Windows 98 to XP Pro using the upgrade version, but
make sure you have the Windows 98 full version license and disk on hand to
qualify for the upgrade.

You do not have to have a *full* 98 CD as evidence, an upgrade one will
do perfectly well