Will installing Windows XP erase ANY of my personal files?

[Andrea]

I have windows 98, and NO ONE seems to know whether or
not upgrading to windows XP will cause me to lose things
like word documents, mp3s, midi files, and picture files.
The thing is, I have to install it, because I can't get
onto the network without it, but my files are too big to
fit on disk, and my cd-rom doesn't have a burner. Help!

 

[Don]

So long as it is an upgrade, not a full, clean install, none of your saved
filed will be lost. But be sure to run the compatibility program first to
ensure all your hardware and software is compatible with XP or you may run
into trouble.

 

[Papa]

No, if you do an UPGRADE rather than a clean install, those files should be
OK. However, just to be on the safe side, do a BACKUP first.

By the way, you are using a web interface ("Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000")
as your newsgroup newsreader. That is probably the worst method available,
and may well be the reason you formed the opinion that "no one seems to know
....", because more often than not, users of web interfaces fail to see the
numerous responses in a newsgroup to the very same question being posed.

I suggest you use Outlook Express as your newsreader. It is far better as a
newsreader than any web interface. Rick "Nutcase" Rogers has a website that
explains how to make the switch. It is at
http://users.westelcom.com/rogersr/setupoe.htm

Regards, and I hope you see this post.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have windows 98, and NO ONE seems to know whether or
not upgrading to windows XP will cause me to lose things
like word documents, mp3s, midi files, and picture files.

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

You should not lose any such data files, or most installed programs
during an upgrade. But there is always a possibility of disaster - eg
power failure at a critical moment, so good practice says 'make a backup
first'