Upgrade from 98se to XP home

I am considering an upgrade to XP home from 98se. What kind of problems if any, how much re-configuration if any and what do I need do before I start? Wally-Word has XP home, 2002 upgrade. $99. Or is there a new Version coming soon that I should wait for? Do I just Install over top of 98se? Any suggestions welcome.

IE6
Win 98se
DELL XPS T700r
384 MB RAM

 

Here is a place to start
http://pcpitstop.com/xpready/default.asp

Good Luck
GIFFYO

 

Thanks Giffyo,
I ran the test and everything seems OK. Although, a BIOS update was reccomended.

 

I would not even consider it - hang on to 98SE as long as you
can. This "upgrade" will give you nightmares.
WinXP - and I have looked at it very carefully - is the worst
OS I have ever seen. It does not crash and does not work either.
regards

 

Would installing the Full Version be any better?

 

Thanks Christer,
I will consider all opinions before I make a decision.

 

WinXP - and I have looked at it very carefully - is the worst
OS I have ever seen. It does not crash and does not work either.
regards

As far as the BIOS goes that might be needed whether a clean or overtop install is done.

I would not go with XP home. I would prefer to see XP Pro used. I believe it is much more flexible. I THINK as I have not had anything to do with the HOME version.

I but XP Pro over top of 98 SE and NO problems. That part went very well. In fact better than expected.

Just need to make sure you have room enough on the C: drive.

No it is not the Worst. ME has the market cornered.

I have not had it really crash. But I will not say that it won't either. But I never had SE really crash either.

It seems to be good at self repair.

But it DOES WORK ALSO. ( if I keep MY FINGERS out of it.

THe biggest thing is getting used to it and realizing that it is a bit ( lot ) different than SE. But once you do get used to it it still ( in my book ) is no better then 98SE.

But as far as the orighinal install goes there is really nothing lost by putting it over SE. The worst that could happen is to have to format and go in clean. But an overtop install can SAVE A LOT of work by not having to re-install everything. .

BillyBob

 

I just installed XP home over Win 98 se and I have never been happier in my life. The "upgrade" disk actually isnt a upgrade at all. It is a full installation disk. I installed it on a new Maxtor 40 gig drive. The only thing I had to do was insert my Win 98 disk when prompted to do so to show that I had a licensed copy of a previous Windows OS. It formatted the drive in NTFS let me set my partitions, everything the "full" install disk does for half the price. The only time you need the full install is if you have no other Windows disks. After 2 weeks and three kids installing, surfing and creating all the havoc that kids do, the OS is running as steady as the day I installed it. No more crashes, lockups or anything like that. I would never go back again. This from a guy that said only 3 months ago that I would NEVER switch to XP. Only took about 2 hours to change my mind. In my humble opinion, its the best Windows OS ever!!!!!!!!!!!

 

With good computing practices all important stuff should be on ( or at least backed up on ) a partiton other than C: anyway and therefore would not be lost to a format.

Not only for the case of installing of but ANYTHING can happen to the C: drive at ANYTIME.

BillyBob

 

AHHH !!! lets check out and clear up something here.

I read the above as saying that you did not put XP over SE.

I see it as saying XP REPLACED 98 SE as a clean install. Otherwise you would not have needed the SE CD.

It formatted the drive in NTFS This says it too. SE will not handle NTFS.

Putting one OS overtop of the other does not involve formating. And if all goes well NOTHING needs to be re-installed.

BillyBob

 

Yes. The upgrade disk is a full install with the only difference beng proof of a previous OS is required. Therfore the UPGRADE label.

The FULL install CD ( $100 more ) does not need a previous OS.

BillyBob

 

Up grade to XP

BillyBob,Cdlcrash and others,
Thanks to all of you for the insight about upgrading from 98se to XP. I was thinking the FULL version had something the UPGRADE did not and was before long going to spend that other $100. Glad to know I dont have to. As for the BIOS update, how can I tell what I have and how and where do I go to get an update BIOS? I need lots of guidance on that aspect also. Thanks in advance for any help.

IE 6.0
Win 98se
20.4 GB ULTRA ATA HD, 7200 RPM (abt. 17GB free)
384MB RAM
DELL XPS T700r

 

The BIOS updates and how to do it may more than likely need to come straight from DELL

They have a habit using different brands Motherboards.

It is also possible that any driver upgrades for XP may also need to come from DELL

I can't say the above is 100% true but it is I believe something to think about before getting too deep into things.

BillyBob

 

Christer,
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Partitions

In a confab with others, Billy Bob said, kind of "off the cuff ", that all "important stuff" should be on a seperate partiton other than "C Drive ". Wow! If I'd only known... I have a VERY full 20g HD on a well-running (Thanx to this BBS) 98SE system. It has LOTS of "important stuff" .... no partition. I'm running 128MB and don't think I can upgrade that any more (?). I've got it de-fragging and doing every kind of scheduled maintenance just about every day. ( "Haven't had a "crash" in a LONG time!) But about that partition thing... I haven't the first clue how to, or for that matter WHAT to partition. I know I have so-o-o-o much more stuff in the HD than I'll ever need, but how to go thru it all and then send it elsewhere? I don't know.

Also, with my system, does it pay for me to add a bigger HD? Do I keep the "old" one?