Windows XP on a Dell Dimension XPS T600r

[Aaron]

I am helping someone with their Dell Dimension XPS T600r home
computer. They would like to upgrade to windowsXP from Win98. I told
them that they should do a clean install of the operating system so
the system would be more stable, than if it had WinXP loaded over
Win98.
A Few questions:
Has anyone else installed WinXP on a Dell Dimension XPS T600r? If so,
any problems?
Can I use the restore disk that came with the computer to verify a
previous version of windows, and then do a reformat and a full
installation of Windows XP?

TIA
-Aaron

 

[Mike Mulligan]

"Has anyone else installed WinXP on a Dell Dimension XPS T600r? If so,any
problems?"

That's a question for Dell technical support. Dell also has their own user
forum, which you can find here: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/.

"Can I use the restore disk that came with the computer to verify a previous
version of windows, and then do a reformat and a full installation of
Windows XP?"

To the best of my knowledge, Dell ships full copies of Windows, not restore
CDs. It sounds like you want to know if your friend qualifies for the
upgrade version of Windows XP. The answer is yes, so long as your friend
still has the original Windows CD that shipped with the computer.

Before installing XP, you should do two things:
1. Be sure that your friend's hardware and software are compatible with
Windows XP.
2. Consult Dell's technical support web site for guidance on upgrading to
Windows XP.

Mike Mulligan

 

[Dave - Freedonia]

You probably can't use the original restore disk for the verification of
the old operating system. What you can do is to either get a Retail
version of XP (instead of the upgrade version). If you get the upgrade
version, here's what you do...
Keep Win98 on the computer. Insert the XP CD and boot from it. The setup
screen will recognise the SO and start to upgrade it. During the process,
I believe you will get the blue partitioning screens where you can erase
the Win98 partition and create a new partition for XP.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am helping someone with their Dell Dimension XPS T600r home
computer. They would like to upgrade to windowsXP from Win98. I told
them that they should do a clean install of the operating system so
the system would be more stable, than if it had WinXP loaded over
Win98.

I would not agree - do an upgrade in the first instance. It replaces so
much that you have a near equivalent of a clean install as far as the
system goes, but bring installed software forward. And you can always
go back and do a clean install.

First make sure the hardware is adequate - a machine with Win98 may well
have far too little RAM for a satisfactory XP installation. ANd Read
Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

A Few questions:
Has anyone else installed WinXP on a Dell Dimension XPS T600r? If so,
any problems?
Can I use the restore disk that came with the computer to verify a
previous version of windows, and then do a reformat and a full
installation of Windows XP?

Not direct (unless Dell are now shipping 'proper' CDs with the Win98
folder of cab files). What you can do for a clean install is Run the CD
from the existing system. Enter Install, change Upgrade to New Install,
then when it asks you to confirm where, you can hit ESC and get the
chance to select the current partition, delete it, and create a new
RAW one, going on to format it as part of the setup
That will by then have completed the eligibility check.