Windows ME to Windows XP???

[Paul Bruneau]

Hi Folks,

i wonder if someone will help me..

IF I convert to Windows XP, do I need to replace any of my programs
that now work quite well in Windows ME?

AND...

I have some legacy programs written in clipper, a DOS database kind
of program. Will DOS programs run under XP??


Thanks
Paul

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Don't count on anything where DOS is concerned. XP only has a DOS emulation
and its success with DOS applications is spotty. That said, you could use
XP setup to create a dual boot which would allow you to run ME or XP. In
that way, anything mission critical you could continue to run if they don't
work in XP because you could boot the ME and run those apps.

Depending upon version, there are some applications that will not run under
XP. Firewalls, antivirus, disk utilities, CD burning software among others
that aren't now XP compatible would need to be updated.

You can also run the Upgrade Advisor. While not perfect and not a guarantee
of success, it will pinpoint various trouble spots on your system. You can
download the advisor from the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

Note, it is a rather large file, if you don't have a broadband connection,
you might want to use someone else's connection for the purpose of
downloading the Upgrade Advisor.

 

[Paul Bruneau]

->
-> snipped
->
Thanks Michael!

If I can make a dual boot installatin, then I shouldn't have any problems
at all.

Thanks for the tip

Thanks
Paul

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You're welcome.

With XP setup, as long as you have an available separate partition from your
Windows 9x partition, XP setup can create the dual boot for you.

Start XP setup from the 9x desktop by placing the CD in the drive after
booting to it. Choose new install as opposed to upgrade (Even if you have
an upgrade version of XP) from the dropdown list when it asks what type of
installation.

The system will ultimately, reboot, continue setup and at some point it will
ask where you wish to install XP, choose the other available partition on
which you wish to install and when setup is complete, when the system
reboots, you will have a menu asking into which OS you wish to boot.

NOTE: There is a drawback to this and if you have dual booted in the past
you may prefer to use third party software as opposed to XP's boot loader.
When created in this fashion, the boot information for XP will be on the
partition on which the 9x operating system sits. If you wish at some point
to eliminate that 9x setup, blow out the 9x partition to regain use of that
hard drive space, you'll have to start over with a fresh install of XP as
none of the tools for rebuilding the boot record will recognize XP exists
because it searches for the boot information which would be gone if you
eliminate the 9x partition or OS. There is a way of accomplishing the task
but it quite complicated, I'm not sure it's worth the trouble nor am I sure
it always works.

Hence, I alert you to this because, if you have the necessary third party
software and you envision at some point eliminating your 9x setup on this
system, you may want to use those tools as opposed to the scenario I
described above.

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi Folks,

i wonder if someone will help me..

IF I convert to Windows XP, do I need to replace any of my programs
that now work quite well in Windows ME?

AND...

I have some legacy programs written in clipper, a DOS database kind
of program. Will DOS programs run under XP??

If your DOS programs will work okay under WindowsMe then there is a
pretty good chance that they will work under Windows XP; quite a bit
better chance than if you were using them under Windows 98 (or 95).

But you should be prepared for the possibility that they will not.

If these are commercial products then you could post the actual names
of them back here. Someone else may have actual experience with that
specific application. But if they are custom programs then your only
method of knowing for certain is to try them. Is it possible for you
to get access to a Windows XP system in order to test these programs
on it?

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."

 

[Alex Nichol]

IF I convert to Windows XP, do I need to replace any of my programs
that now work quite well in Windows ME?

Mostly they will be fine. Exceptions are some utility suites that are
system dependent (like Norton, including AV) and CD burning software,
which will need to be deleted before the upgrade. Read Gary Woodruff's
article on upgrading to XP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

I have some legacy programs written in clipper, a DOS database kind
of program. Will DOS programs run under XP??

Provided they are well behaved and do not try to 'go behind the system's
back', or need drivers etc loaded for them in config.sys or
autoexec.bat. I'm not sure about Clipper, but if it runs in ME, which
is not as tolerant as the earlier 95/98 the chances are fairly good.
You could ask in the microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment group,
or safest is probably to try a test installation on an XP machine