Win98 to XP

[Vince]

I just lost the power supply on my XP machine which has two hard drives; I'm
going to toss the machine. I have an old Win 98 machine that has two hard
drives. I thought maybe I could just replace the Win98 drives on the old pc
with the XP drives and, walla, my old machine would now boot as XP. That
didn't work. Anyone care to suggest the easiest way to resurrect my old
machine with the XP drives?

Thanx.

 

[Rick]

I just lost the power supply on my XP machine which has two hard drives; I'm
going to toss the machine. I have an old Win 98 machine that has two hard
drives. I thought maybe I could just replace the Win98 drives on the old pc
with the XP drives and, walla, my old machine would now boot as XP. That
didn't work. Anyone care to suggest the easiest way to resurrect my old
machine with the XP drives?

Thanx.

Why not just buy a new power supply they cost less than $100.00US

 

[Vince]

The XP machine that's dead is not my primary PC. I used to to store files
and as a backup in case my primary failed. The Win98 machine is sitting
dormant; might as well put it to use.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Provided the older hardware is supported under WinXP, you would do a repair
installation to rebuild the core system files with the changed hardware.
Follow these steps to do a repair install which should preserve your data,
settings, and programs:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM
drive.
2. Restart your computer. If you have to, change the BIOS settings to start
from
the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer again.
3. At the "Welcome to Setup" page, press ENTER.
4. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
5. Use the arrow keys to select the installation of Windows XP that you want
to
repair, and then press R to start the automatic repair process.
6. When Setup is completed, activate Windows XP.

Note that you will need your Product Key for this procedure, so have it
handy before you begin.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Michael Wayne]

The power supply in the 98 machine might work in the XP machine. If they
have the same power connector features that connect to the motherboard, then
it should work. It would save you a lot of effort and since it is a XP
machine, it should also be a faster machine that the 98 machine.

If not, then -

To make the XP work on the new motherboard will require re-installing XP on
the new machine.

If your XP computer is a CLONE ONLY and you have your OEM cd this can be
done. If your old XP computer was a brand name like Dell or SONY, then this
Will Not work because when you reactivate it, your numbers will not work
because Microsft turned these numbers off.

Even if you select the repair option during install and install Windows on
top of itself as to save all of the software installed on the PC, you will
have to re-activate XP because you surpased the hardware changes allowed.
Microsoft Office will also require a new activation.

NOTE: ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF ALL OF YOUR DATA BEFORE TACKLING ANY JOB OF
THIS NATURE.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just lost the power supply on my XP machine which has two hard drives; I'm
going to toss the machine. I have an old Win 98 machine that has two hard
drives. I thought maybe I could just replace the Win98 drives on the old pc
with the XP drives and, walla, my old machine would now boot as XP. That
didn't work. Anyone care to suggest the easiest way to resurrect my old
machine with the XP drives?

Thanx.

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many factory-installed OEM
installations are BIOS-locked to a specific chipset and therefore not
transferable to a new motherboard - check yours before starting), unless
the new motherboard is virtually identical (same chipset, same IDE
controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the one on which the WinXP
installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair
(a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with WinXP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this point.
You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the OS. (If
you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as picking up a
Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch style
foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K before it,
is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any
old hardware configuration you throw at it. On installation it
"tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This is one of the
reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much more stable
than the Win9x group.

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more than
120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Vince]

Thanx for the response.

The dead machine is an emachine; I'm not sure what you mean by CLONE ONLY.
My research tells me that the power supply has always been a emachine
problem and sometimes the failure may take the motherboard with it. So I've
decided to toss the machine.

The emachine included a "restore cd" which can be used to restore it to a
clone of the original.. The label says it will only work on an emachine.
The Win 98 machine is a Pionex. I did not get an XP install cd. It appears
that I have no way to transfer the o/s. I've always been under the
impression that when I purchase a PC, I have the right to install the o/s
that comes with it on any machine that I choose, but only one at a time. Is
that not correct?

 

[Bob I]

Your impression is incorrect. OEM are licensed to the machine they are
first installed on. Retail licenses may be moved from PC to PC.

 

[Richard in AZ]

In addition to what Bob I told you, the emachine software is locked to the
BIOS chip on the machine it was installed on. It will not work on any other
motherboard. It just plain fails to install if it does not see the correct
BIOS.

: Your impression is incorrect. OEM are licensed to the machine they are
: first installed on. Retail licenses may be moved from PC to PC.
:
: Vince wrote:
:
: > Thanx for the response.
: >
: > The dead machine is an emachine; I'm not sure what you mean by CLONE
ONLY.
: > My research tells me that the power supply has always been a emachine
: > problem and sometimes the failure may take the motherboard with it. So
I've
: > decided to toss the machine.
: >
: > The emachine included a "restore cd" which can be used to restore it to
a
: > clone of the original.. The label says it will only work on an emachine.
: > The Win 98 machine is a Pionex. I did not get an XP install cd. It
appears
: > that I have no way to transfer the o/s. I've always been under the
: > impression that when I purchase a PC, I have the right to install the
o/s
: > that comes with it on any machine that I choose, but only one at a time.
Is
: > that not correct?
: >
: >
: > : >
: >>The power supply in the 98 machine might work in the XP machine. If they
: >>have the same power connector features that connect to the motherboard,
: >
: > then
: >
: >>it should work. It would save you a lot of effort and since it is a XP
: >>machine, it should also be a faster machine that the 98 machine.
: >>
: >>If not, then -
: >>
: >>To make the XP work on the new motherboard will require re-installing XP
: >
: > on
: >
: >>the new machine.
: >>
: >>If your XP computer is a CLONE ONLY and you have your OEM cd this can be
: >>done. If your old XP computer was a brand name like Dell or SONY, then
: >
: > this
: >
: >>Will Not work because when you reactivate it, your numbers will not work
: >>because Microsft turned these numbers off.
: >>
: >>Even if you select the repair option during install and install Windows
on
: >>top of itself as to save all of the software installed on the PC, you
will
: >>have to re-activate XP because you surpased the hardware changes
allowed.
: >>Microsoft Office will also require a new activation.
: >>
: >>NOTE: ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF ALL OF YOUR DATA BEFORE TACKLING ANY JOB
OF
: >>THIS NATURE.
: >>
: >>
: >>
: >>
: >>
: >>: >>
: >>>The XP machine that's dead is not my primary PC. I used to to store
: >
: > files
: >
: >>>and as a backup in case my primary failed. The Win98 machine is
sitting
: >>>dormant; might as well put it to use.
: >>>
: >>>: >>>
: >>>>Vince wrote:
: >>>>
: >>>>>I just lost the power supply on my XP machine which has two hard
: >>>>>drives;
: >>>
: >>>I'm
: >>>
: >>>>>going to toss the machine. I have an old Win 98 machine that has two
: >>>
: >>>hard
: >>>
: >>>>>drives. I thought maybe I could just replace the Win98 drives on the
: >>>
: >>>old pc
: >>>
: >>>>>with the XP drives and, walla, my old machine would now boot as XP.
: >>>
: >>>That
: >>>
: >>>>>didn't work. Anyone care to suggest the easiest way to resurrect my
: >>>>>old
: >>>>>machine with the XP drives?
: >>>>>
: >>>>>Thanx.
: >>>>>
: >>>>>
: >>>>
: >>>>Why not just buy a new power supply they cost less than $100.00US
: >>>
: >>>
: >>
: >
: >
:

 

[Bob Harris]

Other replies have already told you the bad news about OEM PCs, but I will
say it a little differently:

You can buy a retail copy of XP home (about $200) and use it to perform a
"repair" installation on the win98 box. That should get XP going, without
losing personal info, programs, settings, etc. You might even be able to us
ethe "upgrade" version of XP (about $100), if you have a real win98 CD.
The XP installer may ask to see proof of a previous qualifying operating
system, if you use an upgrade CD to do the repair. The repair process
should permit (if not demand) that you use the new license key that comes
with the new CD. You will likely need to "activate", but since you will be
100% legal, that should be easy, if not automatic.

However, your larger concern should be whether the BIOS of the win98 PC can
handle the disks taken from the XP PC. Older PCs had BIOS limits on disk
size. Depending on the age, these could be around 8, 32, or 127 Gig. An
early win98 PC is most likely to have a limitation around 32 Gig; a later
one around 127 Gig.

Bottom-line: Get a new power supply (and if necessary motherboard) for the
XP machine. If the motherboard is OK, then your copy of XP (on the hard
drives) will still be licensed and work. If not, plan on buying a copy of
XP.

Maybe this would be a good time to consider using pre-built PCs? Consider
instead (a) building a PC yourself, or (2) having a mom&pop computer store
build one, using a real XP CD, which they give you as part of the sale.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Other replies have already told you the bad news about OEM PCs, but I
will say it a little differently:

You can buy a retail copy of XP home (about $200) and use it to
perform a "repair" installation on the win98 box.

No, a retail copy of XP Home can do a repair installation of XP Home, and
nothing else. You can use it to perform an *upgrade* installation of Windows
98, but not a repair installation.

That should get XP
going, without losing personal info, programs, settings, etc. You
might even be able to us ethe "upgrade" version of XP (about $100),

Note that the Upgrade version is also a "retail copy." Retail copies come in
two "flavors": Full and Retail.

if you have a real win98 CD.

Yes, you can use the Upgrade version to do a clean installation. The
requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying
version's installation CD (with an OEM restore CD, see below), not to have
it installed. When setup doesn't find a previous qualifying version
installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as proof of ownership. Just
insert the previous version's CD, and follow the prompts. Everything
proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.

You can also do a clean installation if you have an OEM restore CD of a
previous qualifying version. It's more complicated, but it *can* be done.
First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD from within
that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New Install. When it asks
where, press Esc to delete the partition and start over.

The XP installer may ask to see proof of
a previous qualifying operating system, if you use an upgrade CD to
do the repair.

Again, do not mix up clean installations, upgrade installations, and repair
installations. A repair installation can only be done over an existing
installation of the operating system your CD is for. You can repair XP Home
with XP Home, and nothing else.

There is only one one situation in which you need to provide proof of a
previous qualifying version, and that's the one I describe above--when you
do a clean installation with an Upgrade version.

None of this applies with an OEM version, which can only do a clean
installation, not an upgrade.

The repair process should permit (if not demand) that
you use the new license key that comes with the new CD.

Whenever you do an installation, whether clean or upgrade (repair, as I
said, isn't possible, and is not an issue here) you must use the product key
that comes with the version you are installing.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

You will
likely need to "activate", but since you will be 100% legal, that
should be easy, if not automatic.
However, your larger concern should be whether the BIOS of the win98
PC can handle the disks taken from the XP PC. Older PCs had BIOS
limits on disk size. Depending on the age, these could be around 8,
32, or 127 Gig. An early win98 PC is most likely to have a
limitation around 32 Gig; a later one around 127 Gig.

That is correct. Older machines could have such a BIOS limitation.

 

[Vince]

My hats off to all of you. It's not what I wanted to hear, but I sure
learned a lot. It's comforting to know there are so many knowledgable
people willing to take the time to help.

I can't justify buying a new power supply and (perhaps) a new mother board.
Last year Best Buy had a new pc for $199, after rebates, on Black Friday.
Dell is selling new for $249 and Circuit City sometimes has similar offers.
I usually buy in at the low end, which is all I really need. Since I have
another XP box and the Win98, I think I'll be patient and wait for a good
deal.

I'm considering converting the 98 machine to a file server using NASLite.
That would give me a place to put the hard drives that are sitting on a
table right now doing nothing.

Thanx again everyone.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My hats off to all of you. It's not what I wanted to hear, but I sure
learned a lot. It's comforting to know there are so many knowledgable
people willing to take the time to help.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Dave B.]

If it's not booting, you need to do a repair install, if it's saying you
need to reactivate it, then you need to reactivate it.

--

 

[Tim Slattery]

sorry to but in but it seems that you may be able to help. We changed the
hard drive from one pc to another, the hard drive had xp home on it and ran
ok but slow. When we put it in another machine win xp said it wasnt
registeres tho it was. Any way the hard drive wont run in this machine. DO
you have a clue

Was that an OEM installation on that disk? In that case it was
probably locked to the BIOS on the old motherboard, and will not work
anywhere else.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

sorry to but in but it seems that you may be able to help. We
changed the hard drive from one pc to another, the hard drive had xp
home on it and ran ok but slow. When we put it in another machine win
xp said it wasnt registeres tho it was. Any way the hard drive wont
run in this machine. DO you have a clue

You can't just move a drive with a Windows XP installation on it from one
computer to another. It doesn't work that way. Unless the new computer is
almost identical to the old one, at the very least, you'll have to do a
Repair Installation. See "How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install" at
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

That usually works, but If the hardware on the new computer is different
enough, it may not, and you will need to reinstall cleanly, losing all your
data and everything else on the drive. It's certainly prudent to be sure you
have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.

Regarding "registration," first of all you mean "activation," not
"registration. Registration is entirely optional and used only for marketing
purposes; it's activation that's required. You say it was already done, but
that's not correct. Activation ties a particular Windows license to a
particular set of hardware. When you change all the hard ware but the hard
drive, that tie is broken, and the Windows license is no longer activated.

Also note that the terms of a retail license permit you to change it to a
different computer, but if yours is an OEM version, you are not permitted to
do this.

 

[Rock]

sorry to but in but it seems that you may be able to help. We changed the
hard drive from one pc to another, the hard drive had xp home on it and
ran
ok but slow. When we put it in another machine win xp said it wasnt
registeres tho it was. Any way the hard drive wont run in this machine. DO
you have a clue

Others have answered your question. I would like to add something for next
time you post. You should not post a new question onto another thread -
called hijacking. Create a new post explaining your issue and giving
relevant details.

 

[Donald A. Herman]

You really shouldn't just moved hard drives (even it does work). You should
format the drive first then install windows. Do this if you change the pc it
was in. There is allot of hardware info that needs to be changed.

--
Donald A. Herman
Software - Scheduler Pro, Disk Cataloger, Math Wizard
http://don_herman.tripod.com
Office Extras, Addins
http://don_herman.tripod.com/msoextras
..
..

 

[Lars-Erik Østerud]

You really shouldn't just moved hard drives (even it does work). You should
format the drive first then install windows. Do this if you change the pc it

Easy to say. I don't know how on earth I should install half of the
programs and games with all patches and fixes. With Win98 you could
just move the drive and Windows would find the right drivers. Why did
they remove this in WinXP? It really bad that this can't be done :-(

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Because they don't want you to buy ONE copy of Windows and install it on
multiple computers without PAYING.

Cheaters are now having a tougher time of it.

DSH