Win98 v WindowsXP Home. Considering an upgrade.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Richard
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Richard

Apart from being able to run programs which do not run on Win98 what
other improvements can I expect from using WinXP Home?

Anyone had experience of making the above move? How easy?
I use my PC for working in graphics, photographic materials and OCR.
I am also sadly lacking in any understanding of Operating Systems!
The PC to me is only a terrific tool to get certain jobs done and done
well.

Dick.
 
Apart from being able to run programs which do not run on Win98 what
other improvements can I expect from using WinXP Home?

Anyone had experience of making the above move? How easy?
Click to expand...

I made the move recently. I was buying a new hard drive so it seemed
like a good time. That made the job easy as I can still see all my old
data on the old drive and copy across without worrying about not having
backed something up.

Advantages -
1) You can run the latest software.
2) It should be more stable.
3) Boots up quicker.
4) It's pretty.
5) Easier to install (it had more drivers)

Disadvantages
1) Uses more memory.
2) Costs more.
3) Time and effort to install.
4) Latest security risks target XP but not 98 (generally)

That's all I've learnt from my limited experience. I wanted to use some
software which would not run on 98 - otherwise I might have stuck with
it.

Peter
 
Apart from being able to run programs which do not run on Win98 what
other improvements can I expect from using WinXP Home?

Anyone had experience of making the above move? How easy?
I use my PC for working in graphics, photographic materials and OCR.
I am also sadly lacking in any understanding of Operating Systems!
The PC to me is only a terrific tool to get certain jobs done and done
well.

Dick.
Click to expand...

Generally speaking, you'll see a marked improvement in system
stability. However, you will need to make sure your hardware can
handle it. You can never have too much memory with XP.
 
Richard

You need to determine that your hardware is up to the job.. the minimum
requirements are:

CPU = 300mhz - RAM = 128mb - Disk space = 1.5gb free - Video = SuperVGA
800x600 - CDROM or DVD

The simple truth is that XP needs more than this to run well.. assuming that
a cpu upgrade is out of the question (down to availability as much as
anything else), you should be looking to have at least 256mb (512mb is
good), and a 20gb hard drive..

Then you need to establish what other hardware installed in your system will
work.. to do this, either download and run the Windows Upgrade Advisor (high
speed connection recommended as it is some 50mb of code) from this link..

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/advisor.mspx

OR.. borrow an XP CD from somebody, run the CD in Windows 98, and select
option 4, the system compatibility checker..

The most likely hardware items to fail this test are modems and parallel
port scanners.. while some people go searching for drivers, it is probably
best to replace both items with newer units..

Assuming all is well with the hardware, you now have to pick a version of
XP.. you have three choices.. OEM versions can only do clean installs and
have no direct Microsoft support.. there are two Retail boxed versions.. the
Upgrade allows either upgrade or clean install.. to clean install with the
upgrade version, you need a qualifying OS CD like Windows 98.. the full
Retail boxed version will upgrade or clean install regardless of any
qualifying.. there are cost inplications here, and it is not for me to
advise you.. I have just given info on the options..

Having established that harware is ok, and picked the software path, you can
now go ahead and do it.. one more thing.. if you purchase a retail boxed
version, it should already be SP2'd.. if for some reason you acquire a
version that isn't, you can get SP2 CDs from computer stores or cds from
computer magazines or you can order a CD from Microsoft (no charge)..

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

Good luck with whatever you do.. happy computing..

Mike Hall
 
Common Windows 98 Tasks Are Easier with Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/whyupgrade/sidebyside/default.mspx

Windows XP-Windows 98 Matchup
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/whyupgrade/wxpvswin98.mspx

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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