can i upgrade from windows 98 to XP?

Hi all,

I would like to upgrade our upstairs computer from Windows 98 to Windows XP. Would the Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition With SP2, Upgrade Version, work to upgrade from Windows 98?

Thanks.
Kara

 

I do not know about XP Home but XP Pro will upgrade over 98 very nicely. I did it. I had 98SE.

AS LONG AS you are not upgrading to fix problems.

BillyBob

 

Thank you for your response.
No, I am not upgrading to fix problems. I am upgrading because I was told by the Linksys Technical Support that my new wireless router will not work on that computer unless I upgrade from 98 to 98SE or higher, so I just thought I'd upgrade to XP because my other computer is XP. I already re-formatted the hard drive, so I am starting fresh.

 

When upgrading 98 to XP, it really is a better idea to clean install it. During the XP upgrade process, all files and folders are deleted in the Windows folder, including the registry.
You are left with the task of installing hardware drivers and your software, the same as with a clean install.

 

Yes, you can do that upgrade. But in case you don't know it, you don't need to install 98 on that formatted drive of yours. Just go ahead and install XP. As mentioned, there can be problems upgrading from 98 so a clean installation of XP is preferable.

Since you have the upgrade version, you can install XP completely from that CD on a blank drive, but it will ask you to insert the 98 CD at some point to prove that you are really upgrading, even though you don't have 98 installed on the hard drive.

 

I have to completely disagree with that.

I installed XP Pro directly over top of the existing 98SE. 98SE had been installed over top of 98FE which had been installed over top of 95.

I lost ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

I know that others say this is a NO-NO but I personaly have never had a problem.

But could it be the way XP is installed ? Over time and a couple of mess ups I find that the best way to install ANY OS in ANYWAY is to make DAM SURE that machine is setup to boot directly to the floppy or CD WITHOUT going to the HD first.

BillyBob