Upgrading to XP

I am considering upgrading to XP. Since I am not able to purchase a new computer system,I will be doing it on this computer. Have downloaded and run the the upgrade advisor. It appears I can update the drivers for my scanner and printer. Would it be better to do a clean install or upgrade over my win 98? I will backup all my data. Also would like to put XP in its own partition and my data and programs on another. I have a 600 MTZ AMD processor and 384 megs of ram .Will this this be powerful enough? Thank you for any help you can send my way.....................Mike

 

it really depends upon you. Personally when doing such a large update (98 -> xp) i would totally reformat, since most stuff would be updated anyway, it may save some HD Space! Also, you could use FDisk and partition at the same time

As for your computer, 600Mhz and 384mb RAM Is enough to run XP, I Ran it quite well on a 400mhz celeron with 256mb RAM with no problems before

 

Thank you for the info PeteC................Mike

 

Hi mtwilco,

Not sure what you mean by "dual boot ", but I find it handy to keep 98se on c: and mostly run XP on d: - occasionally, having 98 has been handy.

Would only suggest this if your 98se is running VERY well, and if you ghost it as soon as you install XP, because if it has problems later on you can't reinstall it without wiping yout XP and reinstalling it too.

 

Hello sparrow.I should have said multi-boot.My 60 gig is partitioned into three win98 operating systems One for me, one for my wife and one to experiment on.What would be the advantages of keeping win 98? It runs ok, but a clean install is probably in order. I think I have read that if you run the two systems, win 98 has to be installed first. Do you have to keep XP a Fat32 file system? I read on the Langalist that he puts XP on the C drive by itself and puts every thing else on the D drive. Also when I have looked at buying XP, there is an upgrade CD. I want to do a clean. Don't quite understand if you just install this over win98 or what you do. Any info on upgrading my PC would be greatly appreciated. I am sure there can be many pitfalls.How would I go about ghosting win98? Thanks............Mike

 

mtwilco,

"What would be the advantages of keeping win 98? "

Well, for your wife, first. We have identical home (gnome) built his and hers computers here and my wife (a retired programmer) insists there's nothing wrong with win98se, and refuses to upgrade.

Also, I just reinstalled XP on mine and foolishly went on line forgetting to install ZA (firewall) and in 30 seconds or less I got the Blaster worm. I immediately shut down XP, booted win98, downloaded the fix from Symantec and ran it. It found one occurrence and I deleted it. Then, needless to say, I installed the firewall. 98 was just handy.

"a clean install is probably in order "

You can do a clean install in a partition. Formatting the whole disk is unnecessary. You just format one partition at a time anyway.

"98 has to be installed first "

True. You already have it, though. But I think it's well to make a backup of that partition (c: ); I use Symantec’s ghost. However, I haven't ever restored 98 from the ghost image, so... I just hope I can, to avoid reinstalling both OS's. On the other hand, I just reinstalled both OS's on my computer a few weeks ago, and it's not that big a deal.

Actually, I also teach at the local community center, so it's handy for me to have both XP and 98 'cause I can't remember all that much any more.

"keep XP a Fat32 file system? "

I do, 'cause I don't like, or see a need for, ntfs, but you can do it either way. If you believe that data and programs belong on a separate partition from the OS, then fat32 can be seen by both OS's, and you can install programs in one place for both.

"upgrade CD "

I'd go for the whole ball of wax - no upgrade. I can use mine to do a fresh install or an upgrade. It's an "OEM" I purchased when I built a computer.

 

Thank you for your recommendations sparrow. You have helped me considerably...............Mike

 

Hi mtwilco. Both NewEgg and Tiger Direct have OEM full versions of XP Pro for less than $150. and XP Home for less than $100.

What you get is basicly the CD and product key. No instructions, no support from Microsft. But this board's tech support is far superior to theirs anyhow. And all the install instructions are on the CD. Just take your time and read carefully as you go along. Either will create/format a partion for install.

It would also help to have the free XP security update CD. Ordered from MSFT takes a week or so to get it. Have your firewall configured and installed before going on line.

Martin

 

sparrow

I have a strong tendency to agree with your Wife.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob.

"I have a strong tendency to agree with your Wife. "

So do I; I wouldn't DARE not!
But seriously, I just got XP so I could keep up with folks buying new computers and then coming in with loads of questions. 98se is just fine.

 

Mike - if you do decide to retain a 98 load and add on an XP load, a couple things you need to know.

98 will probably be on C: and if so, C: has to stay FAT for 98 to function. XP will drop a couple of it's files there but since it reads FAT just fine, no problems leaving that partition as FAT.

XP, for a dual boot system, should go on another drive/partition. Fine to make that partition NTFS if you want. 98 won't be able to see it without help but if it's a large partition, NTFS will be more efficient with storage. You will certainly have more security options than with FAT and I think (although you can certainly get arguments) that NTFS is a little more robust.

If you are going with a single OS, I agree with the comments to scrub the drive and do a clean install as your best option although 98 upgraded to XP (assuming you are starting with a really clean 98 load) is usually pretty trouble free.

 

Dump 98 and go XP all the way! There are very few reasons to dual boot, and XP can do anything 98 can, only better! You are going to just LOVE the pretty luna blue theme of XP. Easy on the eyes, fully functional, and very easy to use.

FWIW, I would do a clean install, too.

Johanna

 

Johanna,

You seem to be a fan of KISS.

But if you've never climbed a mountain (figuratively) just because "it's there ", you would have a dull existance. I know you do this (climb) regularly. That's the way to learn, and if nobody climbed mountains, nothing interesting would ever happen,

 

As usual there are pros & cons but the choice is really up to the user. But I have not done a clean install of Windows for so long that I may not even know what to do. I think the last clean install was when I installed OSR2 ( 95B ).

If you are upgrading to fix problems it might not be a good idea to upgrade over top of existing.

If you have a good solid no problems 98SE then XP will go over it with no problems. Actually you have nothing to lose. Even if it does not go right. And a lot of time and work saved if it does. The most you can do is have to format and start over. Which you would do with a clean install anyway.

So. My bottom line is " It is worth the gamble to upgrade overtop. "

BillyBob

 

Definitely go XP all the way with a clean installation.

I added 98 afterward just for one game that wouldn't work in XP, so that is a possibility, too.

Note that if you decide to have more than one partition, you have the option during XP setup to delete partitions, make new partitions the size you specify, and format them as you choose. No need for fdisk any more (except if you decide to add 98 afterward).

 

Before you decide, see one person's experiences with an upgrade.
http://www.aarp.org/computers/Articles/a2002-07-02-computers_features_xpUpgrade.html