Upgrading to XP PC issues

[Guest]

I want to upgrade to XP from ME. (All started with researching getting my
kids ipods! They are not compatible with ME) PC has a few conflicts that
would be fixable with new drivers. Contacted my PC Support and was told that
my HP Pavilion is tested for ME not XP. Guy said to format HD at install XP.
Would not say whether or not PC would work if I installed XP but I could use
recovery disc to get back to ME. Told me to contact microsoft support. What
is my best bet?
Ready to thow this PC out the window!!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If HP has not certified your computer for XP then you proceed at your own
risk. If you have to use the HP restore cd to get back to ME you will lose
all data on the computer.

Having said that, start ME and let it finish loading Windows. Then put the
XP cd in the drive. When the XP splash screen appears choose Perform Other
Tasks and run the Upgrade Advisor. When it finishes, it will display a
report of the tasks you should take care of before upgrading. If the report
looks pretty bad or you feel intimidated by the task, just don't upgrade.

You do NOT want to format the hard drive if an upgrade looks feasible
according to the report.

For sure you will need to scan for viruses and spyware (use AdAware and
Spybot S&D or any others that you prefer). Back up the hard drive if you
have the facilities to do so. If the Upgrade Advisor suggests that you
remove any programs, do so. If it suggests that you download any drivers,
download them to the desktop so you can find them after XP is installed.
Some HP drivers for your computer may be XP compatible even though not all
are. The HP website will say one way or the other.

When you feel you are ready, turn off the antivirus scanner. Then go back
to the splash screen (open the cd drive tray and close it again) and when
the splash screen appears again, choose Install. You will have the option
to upgrade from ME to XP. That's what you want to do.

Good luck.

Allow XP to save the old system to a folder (don't worry about where at this
point, just say OK) and the installation will proceed.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Also, see: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316639

 

[Michael Stevens]

If HP has not certified your computer for XP then you proceed at your own
risk. If you have to use the HP restore cd to get back to ME you will
lose all data on the computer.

Having said that, start ME and let it finish loading Windows. Then put
the XP cd in the drive. When the XP splash screen appears choose Perform
Other Tasks and run the Upgrade Advisor. When it finishes, it will
display a report of the tasks you should take care of before upgrading.
If the report looks pretty bad or you feel intimidated by the task, just
don't upgrade.

You do NOT want to format the hard drive if an upgrade looks feasible
according to the report.

For sure you will need to scan for viruses and spyware (use AdAware and
Spybot S&D or any others that you prefer). Back up the hard drive if you
have the facilities to do so. If the Upgrade Advisor suggests that you
remove any programs, do so. If it suggests that you download any drivers,
download them to the desktop so you can find them after XP is installed.
Some HP drivers for your computer may be XP compatible even though not all
are. The HP website will say one way or the other.

When you feel you are ready, turn off the antivirus scanner. Then go back
to the splash screen (open the cd drive tray and close it again) and when
the splash screen appears again, choose Install. You will have the option
to upgrade from ME to XP. That's what you want to do.

Good luck.

Allow XP to save the old system to a folder (don't worry about where at
this point, just say OK) and the installation will proceed.

Colin gave you very good advice, but you should also consider it might be
just as cost effective to purchase a new XP computer if your Me system does
require any hardware or software upgrades.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Guest]

Thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCH! I "think" an upgrade does look feasible. There were
actually only 4 hardware compatabilty issues. For 1 I have the XP drivers on
a disc, the other I found the driver on the manufacturers website. Found the
driver for the software issue as well.
The only 2 that I am concerned about are the following under hardware
compatability issues:
Ports (COM & LPT) USB to serial port (com5) not ccurrently present
Universal Serial Bus Controllers
Prolific USB-to-Serial Com Port (not currently present)
Any idea what they mean? And is it something I need to be worried about?

Thanks.

If HP has not certified your computer for XP then you proceed at your own
risk. If you have to use the HP restore cd to get back to ME you will lose
all data on the computer.

Having said that, start ME and let it finish loading Windows. Then put the
XP cd in the drive. When the XP splash screen appears choose Perform Other
Tasks and run the Upgrade Advisor. When it finishes, it will display a
report of the tasks you should take care of before upgrading. If the report
looks pretty bad or you feel intimidated by the task, just don't upgrade.

You do NOT want to format the hard drive if an upgrade looks feasible
according to the report.

For sure you will need to scan for viruses and spyware (use AdAware and
Spybot S&D or any others that you prefer). Back up the hard drive if you
have the facilities to do so. If the Upgrade Advisor suggests that you
remove any programs, do so. If it suggests that you download any drivers,
download them to the desktop so you can find them after XP is installed.
Some HP drivers for your computer may be XP compatible even though not all
are. The HP website will say one way or the other.

When you feel you are ready, turn off the antivirus scanner. Then go back
to the splash screen (open the cd drive tray and close it again) and when
the splash screen appears again, choose Install. You will have the option
to upgrade from ME to XP. That's what you want to do.

Good luck.

Allow XP to save the old system to a folder (don't worry about where at this
point, just say OK) and the installation will proceed.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

I want to upgrade to XP from ME. (All started with researching getting my
kids ipods! They are not compatible with ME) PC has a few conflicts that
would be fixable with new drivers. Contacted my PC Support and was told
that
my HP Pavilion is tested for ME not XP. Guy said to format HD at install
XP.
Would not say whether or not PC would work if I installed XP but I could
use
recovery disc to get back to ME. Told me to contact microsoft support.
What
is my best bet?
Ready to thow this PC out the window!!!!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

XP will handle that for you. USB support is built into XP. It looks like
you are good to go. Good luck.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCH! I "think" an upgrade does look feasible. There
were
actually only 4 hardware compatabilty issues. For 1 I have the XP drivers
on
a disc, the other I found the driver on the manufacturers website. Found
the
driver for the software issue as well.
The only 2 that I am concerned about are the following under hardware
compatability issues:
Ports (COM & LPT) USB to serial port (com5) not ccurrently present
Universal Serial Bus Controllers
Prolific USB-to-Serial Com Port (not currently present)
Any idea what they mean? And is it something I need to be worried about?

Thanks.

If HP has not certified your computer for XP then you proceed at your own
risk. If you have to use the HP restore cd to get back to ME you will
lose
all data on the computer.

Having said that, start ME and let it finish loading Windows. Then put
the
XP cd in the drive. When the XP splash screen appears choose Perform
Other
Tasks and run the Upgrade Advisor. When it finishes, it will display a
report of the tasks you should take care of before upgrading. If the
report
looks pretty bad or you feel intimidated by the task, just don't upgrade.

You do NOT want to format the hard drive if an upgrade looks feasible
according to the report.

For sure you will need to scan for viruses and spyware (use AdAware and
Spybot S&D or any others that you prefer). Back up the hard drive if you
have the facilities to do so. If the Upgrade Advisor suggests that you
remove any programs, do so. If it suggests that you download any
drivers,
download them to the desktop so you can find them after XP is installed.
Some HP drivers for your computer may be XP compatible even though not
all
are. The HP website will say one way or the other.

When you feel you are ready, turn off the antivirus scanner. Then go
back
to the splash screen (open the cd drive tray and close it again) and when
the splash screen appears again, choose Install. You will have the
option
to upgrade from ME to XP. That's what you want to do.

Good luck.

Allow XP to save the old system to a folder (don't worry about where at
this
point, just say OK) and the installation will proceed.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

I want to upgrade to XP from ME. (All started with researching getting
my
kids ipods! They are not compatible with ME) PC has a few conflicts
that
would be fixable with new drivers. Contacted my PC Support and was told
that
my HP Pavilion is tested for ME not XP. Guy said to format HD at
install
XP.
Would not say whether or not PC would work if I installed XP but I
could
use
recovery disc to get back to ME. Told me to contact microsoft support.
What
is my best bet?
Ready to thow this PC out the window!!!!

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCH! I "think" an upgrade does look feasible.
There were actually only 4 hardware compatabilty issues. For 1 I have
the XP drivers on a disc, the other I found the driver on the
manufacturers website. Found the driver for the software issue as
well.
The only 2 that I am concerned about are the following under hardware
compatability issues:
Ports (COM & LPT) USB to serial port (com5) not ccurrently present
Universal Serial Bus Controllers
Prolific USB-to-Serial Com Port (not currently present)
Any idea what they mean? And is it something I need to be worried
about?

Thanks.

May I suggest that if the hardware is peripheral, remove it before running
setup and the same goes for the questionable software. It will be easier to
reinstall with the proper XP drivers after XP is setup than it will to
troubleshoot it afterwards.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

If HP has not certified your computer for XP then you proceed at
your own risk. If you have to use the HP restore cd to get back to
ME you will lose all data on the computer.

Having said that, start ME and let it finish loading Windows. Then
put the XP cd in the drive. When the XP splash screen appears
choose Perform Other Tasks and run the Upgrade Advisor. When it
finishes, it will display a report of the tasks you should take care
of before upgrading. If the report looks pretty bad or you feel
intimidated by the task, just don't upgrade.

You do NOT want to format the hard drive if an upgrade looks feasible
according to the report.

For sure you will need to scan for viruses and spyware (use AdAware
and Spybot S&D or any others that you prefer). Back up the hard
drive if you have the facilities to do so. If the Upgrade Advisor
suggests that you remove any programs, do so. If it suggests that
you download any drivers, download them to the desktop so you can
find them after XP is installed. Some HP drivers for your computer
may be XP compatible even though not all are. The HP website will
say one way or the other.

When you feel you are ready, turn off the antivirus scanner. Then
go back to the splash screen (open the cd drive tray and close it
again) and when the splash screen appears again, choose Install.
You will have the option to upgrade from ME to XP. That's what you
want to do.

Good luck.

Allow XP to save the old system to a folder (don't worry about where
at this point, just say OK) and the installation will proceed.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

I want to upgrade to XP from ME. (All started with researching
getting my kids ipods! They are not compatible with ME) PC has a
few conflicts that would be fixable with new drivers. Contacted my
PC Support and was told that
my HP Pavilion is tested for ME not XP. Guy said to format HD at
install XP.
Would not say whether or not PC would work if I installed XP but I
could use
recovery disc to get back to ME. Told me to contact microsoft
support. What
is my best bet?
Ready to thow this PC out the window!!!!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I want to upgrade to XP from ME. (All started with researching getting my
kids ipods! They are not compatible with ME) PC has a few conflicts that
would be fixable with new drivers. Contacted my PC Support and was told that
my HP Pavilion is tested for ME not XP. Guy said to format HD at install XP.
Would not say whether or not PC would work if I installed XP but I could use
recovery disc to get back to ME. Told me to contact microsoft support. What
is my best bet?
Ready to thow this PC out the window!!!!

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

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