Uupgrade from Win98SE to Win XP, simple and safe?

[r_mervart]

I have Win 98SE on my computer but finding that more and more applications I
want to use ( e.g. Skype) insist on Win2000 or XP and so I am starting to
consider an upgrade. I know from previous upgrades from Win95 to Win 98 and
finally to Win98SE that it is not always plain sailing. What do I need to
get and what do I need to watch when doing an upgrade? Also, will I be able
to re-use my Office 2000 as I do not have money to buy the latest Office
software?
Thanks
Roman

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Link to the WinXP Upgrade Advisor:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

This should help detect any known issues. Make sure you have plenty of ram
(I would have 256MB as a minimum). Upgrade advice:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

Office2000 works just fine in WinXP.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Harry Ohrn]

There are some upgrading tips here that will be helpful
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/upgrade_tips.htm

 

[Test User]

I have Win 98SE on my computer but finding that more and more applications I
want to use ( e.g. Skype) insist on Win2000 or XP and so I am starting to
consider an upgrade. I know from previous upgrades from Win95 to Win 98 and
finally to Win98SE that it is not always plain sailing. What do I need to
get and what do I need to watch when doing an upgrade? Also, will I be able
to re-use my Office 2000 as I do not have money to buy the latest Office
software?
Thanks
Roman

If your system came with Windows 98 SE, it's possible that it is
underpowered for XP, so you may want to consider simply upgrading the entire
machine or adding RAM. If your system can't take more than 384 meg RAM,
definitely you should consider upgrading the system.

Definitely, though, run the Upgrade Advisor.

HTH
-pk

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have Win 98SE on my computer but finding that more and more applications I
want to use ( e.g. Skype) insist on Win2000 or XP and so I am starting to
consider an upgrade. I know from previous upgrades from Win95 to Win 98 and
finally to Win98SE that it is not always plain sailing. What do I need to
get and what do I need to watch when doing an upgrade?

WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating
system while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and
translating as many personalized settings as possible. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things
can go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all
important to you, back it up before proceeding.

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

Also, will I be able
to re-use my Office 2000 as I do not have money to buy the latest Office
software?

Sure. You shouldn't have any problems running Office2K on WinXP.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[r_mervart]

Hi,

Link to the WinXP Upgrade Advisor:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

This should help detect any known issues. Make sure you have plenty of ram
(I would have 256MB as a minimum). Upgrade advice:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

Office2000 works just fine in WinXP.

In the first reference given there is a Note which says: This version
of Upgrade Advisor tests for ability to upgrade to Windows XP Professional
only. Is this the version of XP I should upgrade to?
Roman

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You can upgrade to either Pro or Home - your choice. The advisor checks for
known compatibility problems that could occur with either.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[r_mervart]

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.

Motherboard was upgraded a couple of years or so ago to AMD Athlon based
GA-7VRX/GA-7VRXP which apparently can take up to 3.0 GB DDR RAM. I had
Win98SE from the previous configuration installed on it . I have two hard
drives, CD ROM writer and ZIP drive and vaguely remember having a bus
conflict with ZIP drive which had to be resolved by downloading some patch
so I am a little uneasy about the upgrade. Perhaps I should by a new laptop
and use this un-upgraded PC just as the Internet gateway -
Roman