upgrading to XP

I know this question has probably been beat to death but ...

What are the pros and cons of installing Winxp over Win98SE--upgrading, in other words? I guess I could reformat my C drive but what a hassle! ...and all the apps on the C drive will have to be reinstalled (as well as all the apps on other drives just to re-register them with the new OS). Is there an easier...better...way? MIcrosoft never makes it easy, I know, but if you can't install XP over 98 without having major speed and functionality issues, it makes it doubly hard to upgrade. I would be happy with 98 except that I have 512 mb ram on my computer and Nvidia is telling me that there's a bug in 98 that creates file corruption and video problems--especially with Detonator drivers.

So again, what are the pros and cons of simply upgrading Windows and are there any options short of reformating the C drive?

thanks

 

Have you considered installing XP to the same drive and dual booting? I have no experience with the 98 upgrade to XP but have heard it's virtually a rewrite anyway. In other words, it overwrites everything 98. Good luck with whatever you decide. I'll keep my eye on the BB for your progress.

 

DWFII

I have done many upgrades. For the same reasons you are considering.

Too many customizations and little tweaks etc. The time it takes to not only install the OS but to reinstall all software also.

There are steps to take to help increase the chance of a successful upgrade. Here are the steps.

Run the Compatabity wizard.

Latest BIOS! This even if clean install!

BACKUP, IMAGE, BACKUP, IMAGE........... If things don't work at least get back to normal!

1. Cleanup the old OS to a squeaky clean condition. This includes Windows temps and Internet temps. And the last thing before the upgrade the Swap file.

This cleanup includes going carefully thru Add/Remove and cleaning up old or unused programs. Perhaps a potentially troublesome program.

In cleaning up old programs you must remember that the programs in Add/Remove are not usually all the programs to consider. You must then go thru Program Files and other locations for programs that have no Add/Remove entry. These must be removed with their own uninstall program or manually. Remember I speak of old or unused/forgotten programs not programs you want to keep.

To cleanup after manual and even Add/Remove and uninstall programs because these are notoriously sloppy and leave residues requires specialty cleaners. Temp cleaners and Reg cleaners like EasyClean RegCleaner etc.

2. Cleanup of Spy/Aware by the use of SpyBot and Adaware.

3. Double check for Viri by at least 2 different Scanners. Your installed Virus scanner plus an online like Bitdefender or Panda.

4. Definitely get completely rid of Norton System works (if you have it, it is a good time to trash it completely as it wants to completely takeover the system, provides very little benefit and when it goes bad it is bad). Disable any system restore and or Ghost that is running at startup.

5. Clean all startups so that nothing is running except Explorer and Systray. Use MsConfig or even better Startup control panel to insure this.

6. Unplug all external devices especially USB. Everything modems, broadband everything.

7. Full surface scan and defrag.

8. There should be no problems existing like recurring lockups or other problems.

Do the above and if you have a problen installing you would most likely had problems with a clean install.

Mike

 

I disagree with Mike on all of the above except unloading it before upgrading.

Hey Mike It only takes over if you allow it to. It is just like Windows itslef. It must be controled. I have not had a problem with it for YEARS.

Also one or two other suggestion that I would add.

9- Make sure the existing video drivers are un-installed and the video back to a standard VGA setup. This ( along with un-installing AV and Firewall software ) should be done when upgrading anything to anything

10- Whether upgrading overtop or clean install. Make the first order of business the install of any Motherboard drivers if required.

BillyBob

 

hee hee

BB always the devils advocate!

I repeat and expand. If you want to use System works at least uninstall it completely as it has hooks into the OS more than any other program in existance. Reinstall it afterwards.

Win98 does not need this program, and XP for sure has every thing it proports to have.

Don't use it withXP! For sure do not upgrade with it installed!

Uninstalling the Virus scanner will not hurt but it must be completely disabled if not. May require reinstall after upgrade. The goal here is to upgrage. There will be a few things to fix anyway after installation. Which is easier if the OS is working!

Mike

 

Thank you! I am going to print this out and follow these steps religeously.

One further question...or maybe ten ... What do you mean by

I have my swap file on a separate partition that I created especially for it. What do I need to do to it to prepare it for the upgrade?

Is XP's defrag utility as fast as Norton's? That's about the only reason I use Norton.

Thank you again folks, this has been most helpful and very encouraging.

Tight Stitches--DWFII

 

Yeah that don't read correctly! Hee hee.

What I meant to say is before booting from the XP CD to do the install, boot to dos and delete the swap file.

I would use the XP defrager as you now have the possibility of NTFS file system and your version of Norton may or may not support this.

That brings up the NTFS file system. I reccomend leaving the FAT32 at first anyway so you will have DOS access to the C: drive.

I myself still use FAT32 on the OS drive but have NTFS on a data drive for its security and access features.

In any case a fat32 drive can be easily converted later!

Mike

 

I will post a list of detailed proceedures and links to the programs you will need to do this correctly.

Later today!

mike

PS: Pray tell me you bought XP PRO (not XP HOME).

 

Mike,

XP pro is what I intend to buy...haven't bought it yet. Someone told me (and this may be completely false), that among other good reasons to use Pro as opposed to Home, I would be able to install it on my laptop, as well, without a separate licence. True? False?

I've been slowly but surely positioning myself for XP for some time--more ram, updates to WordPerfect and other software, and updated drivers. I am a bit nervous about bios updates. I did one of those years ago--on my old 486--but not since and while I am almost nonchalant about replacing or adding hardware, I hate to fiddle with something that is not only working but if it goes wrong can leave me completely dead in the water.

Thanks again, I'll look forward to your detailed list of steps for upgrading.

DWFII

 

Mike,

BTW, I have some small utilities that I keep in my tray...like a clipboard manager (ClipTray) and even DeskMenu--which were both on the 98 install disk under "options ", I believe...will they survive the migration to XP?

DWFII

 

Sorry so long getting back, appearently the backbone (infoave) that I need has been down for a few hours.

Not true you will have to activate it to use it and it can only be active on one computer. Home or Pro!

Your programs may work OK, the point is not while doing upgrade!

Since it is late you don't even have XP yet and I have been off line most of the day today I will get you the proceedue etc tomorrow.

Mike

 

Mike,

While I'm at it let me ask if, when I buy XP Pro, do I need the full version or can I use an upgrade version? Can I use an OEM ? I have found OEM versions on PriceWatch for remarably less than the versions you might find at Office Max, for instance. The OEM versions on PriceWatch come with COA, Licence, CD, manual, etc., boxed and sealed. I'm mostly concerned that these versions might not be suitable for an upgrade from Win98.

Thoughts?

DWFII

 

The OEM version doesn't come with all the packaging and I believe the paper manual, which is of little use anyway! Apart from that there is no difference.
Providing you have a FULL version install CD of a quallifying OS like 98, ME or 2K (not sure about NT4?) then save some money and go for the upgrade version of XP pro. During the install the upgrade XP CD will as you to insert the full CD of the previous OS, and it briefly checks this then asks you to reinsert the XP CD.

 

A few other tidbits -

- XP over 9X is one of the few upgrades to the OS I'd ever recommend. Seems to work well. XP over ME is likely to give you bad dreams for years.

- Norton Systemworks with XP works great for me. I had 2002 and just updated to 2003 and problem free with both. BUT I had to stop using Norton's defrag with 2002 since the built-in defrag program in XP does some background work when the system is idle and the approach to an optimized disk according to Norton is very different than the one with the version of diskeeper that XP has so the two work against each other. Haven't tried 2003 to see if maybe Norton has taken care of this particular glitch.

- I have rechecked your original post for a mention of Systemworks and can't find it. But in case you do have it, at least 2002 required to run with XP.

- mflynn (Hi Mike) is normally a very level headed fella but I really think he must have been attacked by Systemworks at some point in his life. I would happily follow his advice on any other topic though.

 

I am using Norton System Works 2003 and Norton Internet Security 2003 ( letting System Works put NAV in )with 98SE and it seems to be preforming better than ever.

BillyBob

 

Paul,

Thanks for the response...I am not sure I quite understand, though. the OEM versions I see on PriceWatch are *full* versions (with manual and COA and sealed in the box). You mention "upgrade." What am I missing? Can I use the full OEM version to upgrade over Win98SE? Or will I need an "Upgrade" version of XP?

And if you are upgrading over 98 with a full OEM version, will XP ask for a verifying CD? I have a Win98 CD, but the OS on my machine was an OEM installed by the maker of the box.

Let me say again, to eveyone...thanks for the help. I am nervous about this (heard too many horror stories, I guess) and I appreciate the encouragement.

Tight Stitches
DWFII

 

DWFII,
I see where you're coming from,
Yes, if you have the full version (which you can install on a freshly formated drive without having to put in a full version earlier OS's CD to continue the install) you can still upgrade over a previous version. Just you won't need that full previous OS to use to qualify for the upgrade or fresh install.

Paul

 

DWFII

Yes by all means take the full OS over an upgrade. Like Paul says only thing you will notice is you will not have to prove ownership of an upgrade candidate.

Only one thing you may not get. At these prices they could be a release before the service pack.

But that is no problem because all you need do is download the entire SP1 to one of your other partitions before you install.

Then install it from disk after the install. This is less potentially troublesome. And while I am thinking about it you would do this right after the clean install (after an Image backup) before reinstalling or activating any of you old applications like Virus scanners Firewalls or even activating the internet connection.

Actually the steps here would be clean win98 as I mentioned earlier (the steps in my next post) then install SP1. Then activate your Internet connection and get all updates. Then Virus scanners and firewalls etc.

Your old win98 apps should be the last thing you deal with. Here I speak of your Startup programs that autostart when windows start. Not the normal workday apps like MS office and games etc they will already be there ready to run.

In other words don't put anything in the way of the install and windows update.

MORE ABOUT SYSTEM WORKS! DWFII don't have it I mentioned it before I knew this just in case.

Have had a few bites from Norton System Crasher at some of my clients. Seems to work OK if run by knowleable people. But it has so many hooks in the OS that when it goes bad it IS BAD BAD! Additionally it has dubious benefits and the so-called system crash protection can potentially cover up a problem that could or should be fixed.

But my point here is it should not be installed during and upgrade. It has to be the KING OF HOOKS when it comes to imbedding itself into the OS, way, way worse than other Norton products that are as bad as it gets on this.

After a run of 4 of the best RegCleaners and Norton’s own SysClean there will remain many hundreds of registry entries. I know because I went hunting. Use it if you have too, but don't do a project like this with it installed.

Back to the win98 upgrade my opinion is a clean install if practical. Especially since you could move the entire C: drive to another partition and use the XP files and setting transfer wizard to get the apps. But it will work if done properly.

Additionally once XP is installed and working. Early before any of the startups and etc is put back, another run with the RegCleaners will then be able to find most of the rest of the win 98 registry entries.

This is what most (well except for a very few of us) all, forget. Once XP is installed many remaining Win98 registry entries are no longer valid that Win98 saw as OK. They are now foreign to XP so it can now finish cleaning them.

Well DWFII, I got verbose and ran out of time again to give you the detailed steps. Time to shower for work. Maybe tonight. You still don't have the OS yet.

If this all seems like work it is. 6 of 1, half dozen of another. You would have to do many of these steps plus others to do a clean install of the OS and then reinstall everything else. Probably very little difference in the end.

Do you have indigestion from reading all this yet!!! Smile.

Mike

 

Would it not be a better idea to reverse that and get the AV & Firewall installed before going on line ?

Then make them the first items to update.

Those are my thoughts and actions anyway.

BillyBob

 

Mike, Paul,

Microsoft doesn't make it easy. In fact, I think going from Win98 to WinXP is the most problematic upgrade since DOS--which is where I came in. Winxx to WinXP may be the hardest, most fraught with danger, upgrade that Microsoft has ever put us through. And then the activation bull ****. I upgrade, or swap out, hardware often...it almost makes me want to forgo WinXP altogether. But as I said, in my first post on this subject, I just topped off my ram and now I find out that Win98 can't address all 512 of it.

Mike, if I'm reading you correctly, you suggested that I could copy my whole C drive to another partition, reformat the C partition and then do a clean install with an OEM full version. Then, at the same time, since I had the C drive copied to another partition, I would be able to migrate my settings and apps to the new OS. Is that correct?

The OEM versions I'm looking at (starting at $137.00) are dsp versions??? I can also get a "upgrade version for right at $180.00 but I am still not clear as to whether I can use the full OEM version to upgrade right over the top of my Win98 or if I have to do a clean install to use the full versions. I've heard that you can use the upgrade version to do a clean install (as long as you have the Win 98 install disk.)

This whole business with old registry settings is part of what make this whole process so daunting. I use RegCleaner and regclean (from MS) and try to keep extra **** out of my registry, but with the new OS, who knows what's supposed to be in there.

BTW, I am using SystemWorks 2002 but have it pared way down. About the only thing I actually have activated is SystemDoctor, Norton Protection, WinDoctor and the defrag utility. I have even abandoned the Antivirus in favor of AVG, but I take your point about hooks.

Indigestion? No...that's why I'm asking all these questions. I'm no expert, but I'm not a novice either. I've been down this road before a number of times and I have been burnt enough times to know that you need to be prepared. I don't mind the work--if everything goes as planned. I do mind having something go catastrophically wrong and then not know how fix it or why it happened. As I said, I'm experienced but I'm no expert.

I guess I got a little verbose, too.


Tight Stitches
DWFII