To Update or Not to Update...

Hello everyone,

I have a four computer network that is running just fine. I have two computers on XP, one on ME, and one running W98. The two running XP were started from blank hard drives and they are running just fine. I was thinking about upgrading my W98 to XP but I am wondering if trying an update is such a good idea. I tried one once starting with ME and ended up with a trashed hard drive. I erased it and started from scratch and it ran just fine.

My question is as follows:

Is is better to start from a blank partitioned hard disk or may I expect to perform an update successfully? I am assuming that I will have to check compatability and so forth.

Thanks for any input.

 

Personally, I have "heard" nothing good about ME and upgrading. Win 98 to XP has never been a problem for me. I would suggest clean slate with the ME. JMO.

 

phar1944

I have not heard of anybody putting XP over ME with good results either.

I agree wtih baddawg621 on the ME bit.

I put XP Pro overtop of 98 SE and no problems.

But my SE was error free for 6 to 8 months before upgrading to XP.

But if an overtop install is done UNINSTALL any Anti-Virus software first. ESPECIALLY NORTON Also McAfee I believe.

Other may be OK to just disable.

BillyBob

 

It's ALWAYS better to install from a clean partition. So if it's not TOO much trouble take this path, otherwise as BillyBob suggests '98 to XP should be OK, but clean out files you don't need and uninstall apps that are not likely to migrate to XP. delete temp files, browser files etc and do a disk defrag just before as well. You WILL need to defrag the newly installed XP whether it's an upgrade or a fresh install.

 

After an upgrade to XP from '98 (if you choose this path) I'd suggest running a couple of registry cleaners across XP as well as they will find a lot of orphaned '98 files not deleted by the upgrade.

jv16 PowerTools The registry cleaner component of this programme.
http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/software.shtml

EasyCleaner 2.0 BETA 1
http://www.toniarts.com/betas.htm

RegScrubXP
http://www.lexunfreeware.com/
This link maybe down?

 

Thank you for your input. I wholeheartedly agree that a clean partition is the best way and I think I will do just that. I am happy to hear that the problems with an upgrade from ME and shared with others. I thought age was catching up with me.

Thanks again.

Paul