Will I lose my files?

[MC]

Have a Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3 GHZ P4, 384MB RDram. Windows XP Home SP2 is
running fine. I need to upgrade to XP Pro.

I realize that a "clean" install is always the best and safest, but time is
short, and I would like to do an "In-Place Upgrade". KB315341 tells how to
do it, but it isn't clear as to how much (if any) installed third party
programs and associated data will be lost or retained.

The article does refer to KB312369 which covers the loss of data which
occurs during an In-Place Upgrade performed on an OEM installation. This is
not the original Dell installation - the D 8100 shipped with W ME (ARRGGH!).
Also, the article states that data loss in the All Users and Default User
folders can be prevented by installing the latest service pack (which has
been accomplished).

So, will I lose anything or not?

TIA

Santa

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Have a Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3 GHZ P4, 384MB RDram. Windows XP Home SP2 is
running fine. I need to upgrade to XP Pro.

I realize that a "clean" install is always the best and safest, but time is
short, and I would like to do an "In-Place Upgrade". KB315341 tells how to
do it, but it isn't clear as to how much (if any) installed third party
programs and associated data will be lost or retained.

XP Pro over XP Home in place upgrades generally go just fine, but I think
you'll need to uninstall SP2 first if you can't slipstream SP2 into your Pro
upgrade CD (or it isn't in there already) or you'll get an error message
when you try to upgrade.

Also, in any OS upgrade: back up *all* your data externally just in case -
and uninstall any antivirus software, unplug all peripherals (leave only
keyboard, mouse, monitor).

 

[CWatters]

So, will I lose anything or not?

Make a drive image backup first just in case?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Have a Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3 GHZ P4, 384MB RDram. Windows XP Home SP2 is
running fine. I need to upgrade to XP Pro.

I realize that a "clean" install is always the best and safest, but time is
short, and I would like to do an "In-Place Upgrade". KB315341 tells how to
do it, but it isn't clear as to how much (if any) installed third party
programs and associated data will be lost or retained.

If you run the Pro Upgrade (or retail full, but why waste money) *from*
the existing system, take Install and continue with upgrade, it will
normally leave all installed software, data and almost all settings as
they are. But this is a major operation - and things *can* go wrong, eg
a power failure at a critical moment, so be sure of backup

 

[MC]

Thanks to all who took the time to reply!

I was definitely planning on backing up critical files and a compressed
image, just for good measure. Sorry that I didn't include this in original
post.

I've never UNinstalled an SP before, and SP2 looks like the mother of all
SPs. Probably took 1 to 1.5 hour to download (over cable) and install.
Taking this out ought to be interesting!

Thanks again, everybody!

MC


|
| >Have a Dell Dimension 8100, 1.3 GHZ P4, 384MB RDram. Windows XP Home SP2
is
| >running fine. I need to upgrade to XP Pro.
| >
| >I realize that a "clean" install is always the best and safest, but time
is
| >short, and I would like to do an "In-Place Upgrade". KB315341 tells how
to
| >do it, but it isn't clear as to how much (if any) installed third party
| >programs and associated data will be lost or retained.
|
| If you run the Pro Upgrade (or retail full, but why waste money) *from*
| the existing system, take Install and continue with upgrade, it will
| normally leave all installed software, data and almost all settings as
| they are. But this is a major operation - and things *can* go wrong, eg
| a power failure at a critical moment, so be sure of backup
|
|
| --
| Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
| Bournemouth, U.K. (e-mail address removed)8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks to all who took the time to reply!

I was definitely planning on backing up critical files and a compressed
image, just for good measure. Sorry that I didn't include this in original
post.

I've never UNinstalled an SP before, and SP2 looks like the mother of all
SPs. Probably took 1 to 1.5 hour to download (over cable) and install.
Taking this out ought to be interesting!

Thanks again, everybody!

MC

If you have a CD Burner and if your XP Pro Upgrade does not have SP2
included then you can create a new "slipstreamed" installation CD with
SP2 incorporated. That may simplify the upgrade process.


http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."