Changing to XP

I was having problems trying to install an HP printer and when working with HP it was discovered that my inf file in windows was missing. My computer came with windows 2000 but know disk. Even so the tech said if I reinstall windows 2000 I would have to format and lose all I now have on my hard drive. He also said if I install windows XP I wouldn't lose anything. Is this true? I really don't need the type of OS that 2K is and would prefer XP.

 

Hello glohar,

He also said if I install windows XP I wouldn't lose anything. Is this true?
Depends on the type of XP install.

Upgrade install (over the top of WK2) will keep your settings/data. But as with any operation of this sort, you should first backup your user data: archived E-mail - .txt - .doc - images - data base files, and so on.

With WK2, you can only upgrade to XP Pro http://www.pcpitstop.com/xpready/upgrade.asp

There are two install versions of XP, full retail and Upgrade, both can be used. The Upgrade version should approx. be half the cost.

Regards - Charles

 

How do I back up my user data?

 

Hi glohar,

With a CD burner, hope you have one. The other more recent way is to add an external hard drive to the system and copy files to that.

As I wrote - the upgrade should not disturb your data, but things can go wrong, so this is precautionary.

By your response, you haven't done this up to now, bad idea, you should learn how to do this. If for no other reason, you may have a hardware failure - the hard drive may drop dead.

Regards - Charles