Upgrading to Windows XP Pro from Windows 98SE

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Guest

I have several queries and I apologise if any have been covered by earlier
threads. Firstly, if I upgrade to XP Pro from my non OEM version of Win 98SE
will I be able to uninstall XP Pro if I need to for any reason? Secondly,
does XP Pro have the same games installed as XP home (this matter is of great
importance to my young daughters!!) Also, the pc in question is about 4
years old so should I check first that I can get XP drivers or should they be
okay if I just upgrade? Finally, if I do upgrade will XP Pro be totally
compatible to network with XP home pc's?

Please help! Thanks in anticipation,
 
Joolz said:
I have several queries and I apologise if any have been covered by earlier
threads. Firstly, if I upgrade to XP Pro from my non OEM version of Win 98SE
will I be able to uninstall XP Pro if I need to for any reason? Secondly,
does XP Pro have the same games installed as XP home (this matter is of great
importance to my young daughters!!) Also, the pc in question is about 4
years old so should I check first that I can get XP drivers or should they be
okay if I just upgrade? Finally, if I do upgrade will XP Pro be totally
compatible to network with XP home pc's?

Please help! Thanks in anticipation,
Click to expand...

Yes to all the questions. Make sure you run the upgrade advisor to see
if there will be a problem in updating that computer. You need to make
sure you have all XP drivers available for the components in the system.

See this for more info:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
 
The question about the games is one that depends on exactly which games you
are referring to. Some old DOS games might not run on XP. Most programs
designed for Windows 95 and higher will run natively or you can use the
Compatibility wizard to get then to run. I have upgrading tips here
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/upgrade_tips.htm
 
Joolz said:
I have several queries and I apologise if any have been covered by earlier
threads. Firstly, if I upgrade to XP Pro from my non OEM version of Win 98SE
will I be able to uninstall XP Pro if I need to for any reason? Secondly,
does XP Pro have the same games installed as XP home (this matter is of great
importance to my young daughters!!) Also, the pc in question is about 4
years old so should I check first that I can get XP drivers or should they be
okay if I just upgrade?
Click to expand...

If you run the XP Pro Upgrade CD (or the Full, non OEM one, but why pay
more) *from* the Win98, take Install and continue with Upgrade, you will
retain installed software, and also can take up the option to save
previous system files against a possible uninstall.

It will do a check on the way that there are not problems with drivers.
That may slightly over do it; for example the HP Deskjet printer drivers
it installs miss some of the bells and whistles you get in 98 (so it
says there may be 'issues') but print perfectly well. The main trouble
would be likely to be any parallel port device like a scanner. The
drivers for those were usually written in a way XP will just not allow,
and the makers are not providing new drivers for what they regard as an
obsolete technique. (But new USB scanners are pretty cheap items now)

One can't give an absolute guarantee on games; they again *may* use
techniques XP will not allow. Mostly if they are straightforward
Windows programs, and not old DOS ones, they should be OK.

One point - make sure you *need* one of the additional XP Pro only
facilities, See
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
for the list of things that are in Pro only. In addition Pro will
support ten simultaneous connections in a network - Home only five.
If you see no need for any of these Pro only matters, save money and get
XP Home

Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
 
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