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i used to have win98se, last night i installed XP

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Lucky Kitten, 2003/06/17.

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  1. 2003/06/20
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    That should certainly run XP for you. Not blazing fast but will work pretty well.

    If you don't already have the full 256Mb of memory the PC will work with, you should add it. Not very expensive these days and will be the best single performance booster that system could get.

    And if you still have a little money to spend, the next hardware thing I'd suggest is a new video card. XP will operate with a 4Mb card but not real well. An 8Mb card is about the minimum you should consider running and larger if you can manage.
     
    Newt,
    #21
  2. 2003/06/21
    MIR11

    MIR11 Inactive

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    Do yourself a favor and ***get more ram-memory.. all the way to min. 256, or more if your 'puter will have room for it.

    This one came with 128 and i was amazed how adding 128 to a Total of 256 speeded it up. you will feel the breeze it will be so fast :)
    MB
     
    Last edited: 2003/06/21
    MIR11,
    #22


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  4. 2004/01/11
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    I'd like to upgrade to XP home edition from my 98SE but I'm thinking it will be a big headache. I had suspected from previous reading that uninstalling things like antivirus software and perhaps firewall, and GoBack might help. I know clean installs are usually less likely to run into problems, than installing software over software.... just seems like a lot of work. Great link Peter, thanks. Going to the ATI site and trying to figure out compatable drivers for XP makes me dizzy! I think I figured out which display driver I'd need and I do believe there are some on the XP cd, but how do you know if your DVD player will be okay or your video player? Can't find list of ATI video players for XP

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #23
  5. 2004/01/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Alicia

    Upgrading to XP from W98SE should be far less of a headache than you think.

    If your 98SE is running smoothly with no major problems then the upgrade route is the one to take. A clean install has it's advantages in that you start from square one in every respect, but, as you say, it's a lot of, maybe uneccessary, work. In any case if you run into major problems with an upgrade this option remains.

    In either case a backup of all your data is essential and should include such items as your ISP details, Address Bookk, etc. Clearly the backup must be to removable media - CD, etc and you should check that you have the install disks for your other software and copies of any programs downloaded from the Net.

    Before making an upgrade a spring clean' of your m/c would be a good idea - follow Mike Flynn's 'Clean Up Good' . Get EasyClean 2.0 rather than EasyClean 1.7 which he mentions and update Spybot and AdAware before running them - their reference files are akin to virus definitions.

    Disconnect from the Net if 'always on' and disable the AV, firewall and GoBack before upgrading - uninstalling seems a bit over the top, but enable/re-install the AV and Firewall before even thinking of going on line. Far too many people have been hit with the Blaster Worm or similar within milliseconds of going onto the Net after a re-install/upgrade of their OS without first 'putting up the shields'.

    If you purchase an Upgrade CD for Win XP Home this will enable you to make a clean install if necessary providing you have the original 98SE install CD as 'evidence'.

    The Win XP CD contains drivers for a multitude of hardware peripherals - they may be basic, but at least they are good enough to get you up and running and can be updated later.

    There should be no problem with your DVD - if in doubt visit the manufacturer's website for confirmation. I'm not that familiar with ATI - I use Matrox Dual Head cards and PowerDVD for playing DVD's. Does ATI include a player in their video software.

    Any help you need with the upgrade, drivers, software/hardware problems - post here - a new thread would be a good idea
     
    PeteC,
    #24
  6. 2004/01/12
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    I think that I'll probably save a clean install for only if have to. How can you check your settings to see if you can boot from a bootable cd out of curiousity?

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #25
  7. 2004/01/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Go into the BIOS (hit 'Delete' on bootup - as soon as bios beeps) and navigate to Boot menu. If you have the option to set the boot order to CD-ROM/Floppy/HD you can boot from a bootable CD.

    BTW the key to hit to enter the BIOS differs between BIOS makes - F1 is another favourite. Generally the key to hit is shown on the POST screen - the first DOS screen which appears on bootup.
     
    PeteC,
    #26
  8. 2004/01/13
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    Now I thought the registry was a scary place the first time I ventured into it. At least I knew how to make a backup of that.

    Anyway I pressed Delete when the first DOS screen came up and up popped that setup window. I checked the boot menu and it lists A,C,SCSI What is SCSI? The CD-rom drive? I have 2 drives you can put cds in(burner drive) and regular one. If I change the order will I still be able to boot from a floppy if needed or not?

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #27
  9. 2004/01/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Small Computer System Interface - a high speed interface for data transfer - HD's, CD-ROMs, etc - required a separate adaptor card. Now a little (very) outdated as IDE - Integrated Drive Electronics have caught up in speed terms - UDMA 133, SATA, etc. Virtually all storage devices - HD's, CD-ROM, DVD, etc are now IDE. Other standard is USB for external devices.

    Looks like your m/c does not have the capability of booting from CD-ROM - if it's not listed it isn't an option.

    The Boot order is the order in which the BIOS looks for devices to boot from so in order to boot from a floppy 'A' must precede 'C'.

    On a current m/c a typical boot order would be CD-ROM/A/HD (or the root drive if that is C).
     
    PeteC,
    #28
  10. 2004/01/13
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Did you try selecting it and seeing if it had more to offer? One of my computers shows one combination something like yours when you just look at it. If, however, I select the boot sequence, it presents a list of several different combinations to select from. The cdrom is listed in some and in others it's not.
     
    Zander,
    #29
  11. 2004/01/13
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    I guess I'm outdated even if buying this thing in Jan 2000 doesn't seem that long ago.

    If I highlight the A,C,SCSI I don't get any other options jump out at me Zander.

    I gather Pete that as long as I have this hardware I don't have the ability to boot with a CD? I would require a hardware change? New computer? :p

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #30
  12. 2004/01/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Alicia

    I checked my BIOS - under boot I have listed : -

    1. Removable Drive
    2. ATAPT CD ROM
    3. IDE Hard Drive
    4.Other Boot Devices

    By highlighting any of those and pressing Enter I am given a list of devices to choose from under that category. SCSI boot device comes up under 'Other Boot Devices'

    Unless ATAPI CD ROM is listed as shown above you cannot boot from a CD drive.

    All may not be lost - there may be a BIOS update available which would add this function.

    Either go to the mobo's manufacturer's web site and look or post full details of your mobo here and I will be happy to search for you.
     
    PeteC,
    #31
  13. 2004/01/14
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Did you try pressing the enter key while it's highlighted?
     
    Last edited: 2004/01/14
    Zander,
    #32
  14. 2004/01/14
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    Nothing under any of them when I checked. Yes, hitting enter key.
    Redid it just to make sure I had Zander. Pete I looked in my motherboard manual and it says some 'modern' computers can boot from CDROM. There is a lot of stuff I don't understand. I did go to the maufacturers website and got a zip file with a BIOS update. No clue how to update and very chicken to do so!

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #33
  15. 2004/01/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Post your motherboard details - model no - and I'll check out the bios to see what it offers.
     
    PeteC,
    #34
  16. 2004/01/15
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    Pete I can't find anything under device manager. where should I be looking. I know it tells me about my motherboard at bootup but that goes by so fast. My system list from seanix says it's a Columbia III 440BX M/B w/HM, Audio

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #35
  17. 2004/01/15
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    If your motherboard is a Seanix Columbia III have a look at this link. It's a mother board manual in .pdf format for this particular motherboard. It would appear that it does support booting from the cdrom. When in your bios, try selecting the boot sequence and then use the page up or page down key to change the sequence.
    http://mobokive.dyndns.org/Archive/Seanix/columbia3e.pdf
     
    Last edited: 2004/01/15
    Zander,
    #36
  18. 2004/01/15
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    I had read pg 32 but I assumed I had no other choices but the 3 listed since they are the only 3 that show and don't change by highlighting and hitting enter.

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #37
  19. 2004/01/15
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Try using page up or page down instead of enter.
     
    Zander,
    #38
  20. 2004/01/16
    Alicia J Lifetime Subscription

    Alicia J Geek Member

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    Zander,

    That just moves on to the next item below or above the boot sequence.

    Alicia
     
    Alicia J,
    #39
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