XP Installation Questions

I know these are probably very basic questions to most of you, but here they are. I'm getting ready to do a clean install of XP on my Dell Dimension 4100 Series, Pentium III presently running Windows ME. I have a 40GB hard drive partitioned into three drives with Partition Magic 6.0. Will XP recognize the partitions that are already present? Second question - since my drives are presently formatted for FAT32 and I plan on changing to NTFS, will I have any problem with data/file backups that I create with older versions of software (i.e. ExpressAssist for my favorites and contacts). I ran the Upgrade Advisor and I'm upgrading the programs that the Advisor suggests will not work with XP (it's costing me a fortune ) Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

Not really a problem

Windows XP SHOULD automatically recognize the Partitions and respect them.
Should NOT lose any data from that.

However, Personal preference, myself...
Before you commit, and hit the full install reconfigure from FAT32 to NTFS, Go buy a secondary HDD. They are basically cheap enough that it should not pose a problem.

Stick all the programs that you do NOT have original copies of on CD or Diskette into backup folders on the secodnary.

Next stick all of your documents, pics, music, whatever data that you do not want to lose on the secodnary HDD in a seperate folder.

Now then when you upgrade to WinXP, and reconfigure the C: drive as NTFS, do NOT configure the D: drive leave it as FAT32.

If you deceide later to return to FAT32 you do NOT lose anything whatsoever.

Windows XP can read either way, and that does not bother it.
Always try to leave yourself an out....
However I am not sure, but is partition Magic 6 compatible with WinXP. The partitions yes, but can you run the program AFTER...?
Check you updates...

 

Thank you for responding so quickly.

- If I have disk (CD/floppies/Zips) copies of all the programs that I will be installing in XP, is it really necessary to have the extra HDD? And if my hard drive is partitioned into three sections, C, D, and E, can I not perhaps leave E formatted for FAT 32 and format C and D for NTFS?

- Might I have a problem with XP recognizing my ZIP drive?
Should I put the patches and updates which I have downloaded on to CDs instead of the Zip Disk to which I downloaded?

Also, you are correct. Partition Magic 6 will not work with XP. I have obtained v. 7.01 which is supposed to be XP compatible.

 

Your are right.

If you have CD's of the programs then those can be excluded from the extra hard drive. However, I come from a very old school. If something as delicate and fragile as a HDD can go wrong, then it will.
By actually putting the information backed up on a different HDD, then you are guaranteed, that it is there.
The prices of HDD are really dirt cheap compared to a few years ago.
Here take a look... http://www.pricewatch.com

Check out the HDD's available, these are NOT used, unless that is what you do want. These are new with complete warranty.
And no, I do not make anything off of them...

And if my hard drive is partitioned into three sections, C, D, and E, can I not perhaps leave E formatted for FAT 32 and format C and D for NTFS?

Yes, you could leave E as FAT 32, and then reconfigure C & D fpr NTFS. But I suggest not for the above reason. Old school..

- Might I have a problem with XP recognizing my ZIP drive?

The zip drive definately needs the updates to the program running it, and firmware. I have heard some minor problems with this, but the patches should pull you through fine.

Should I put the patches and updates which I have downloaded on to CDs instead of the Zip Disk to which I downloaded?

NO you should not, CD RW possibly, but consider, the way somethings change, and especially with Windows XP patches are continually coming out, what may be a workable patch today may be quite buggy, and may be improved upon tomorrow or next week.
You write these patches to a CD, then it is WRTITTEN and you can't over write them.
Or a CD RW, that works, because, you can change only that which needs to be changed.
Still I have confidence in a secondary HDD. Old school..

Reasons why.. CD's permenent can't be changed., CD-RW's, can be scratched accidents do happen, Zip disks, can be accidentally wiped, or lost.. HDD's don't move, don't get scratched, aren't messed with.

Glad you did that, check for patches for BIOS, Video, Modem, Sound Card, CD RW, CD RW Software, Zip Drive, Zip Drive Software, etc. ad nauseum...

Enjoy... and keep posted...?

 

Thanks. You've given me lots to think about. I was hoping accomplish this changeover today, but I guess I need to do a little more work before I actually cross over (perhaps to the dark side .

 

Crossing over..

Polly, it really is not a difficult thing, installing Windows XP, that is.

just make sure that you have your backups, make sure you have FAST access to yuour Upgrades. and just take it easy.

another possible thing to not forget
Copy your Favorites fodler to the backups area.

But in each of the things I suggested, In each one, I said it from experience...

If something can go wrong, then it will....

Remove the possilbility of something going worng. Don't take chances.. Enjoy.. and go for it.

 

current for HDD new

Hard Drives Links
Quotes @9:53 - 1/21

$30 - Pen Drive
$259 - EIDE 160GB
$205 - EIDE 120GB
$193 - EIDE 100GB
$115 - EIDE 80.0GB
$198 - EIDE 75.0GB
$ 84 - EIDE 60.0GB
$ 79 - EIDE 45.0GB
$ 67 - EIDE 40.0GB
$ 70 - EIDE 30.7GB
$ 72 - EIDE 30.0GB
$ 67 - EIDE 25.0GB
$ 57 - EIDE 20.0GB

Include on the above $5.00 to $15.00 for shipping and handling.
Now these are NOt offered by me, I do not sell them, But it is for you to decide.

 

Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

XP Installation

Just wanted to let Jerry know that my installation of XP went fine. I did a lot of prep work ahead of time and downloaded drivers, etc. and did backups, etc. I did buy upgrades for several of the programs I was running. I learned alot. Everything seems to be running fine. The only thing I haven't done yet is install an antivirus. Posts here conflict as to which AV works best with XP. I'm sort of nervous about installing something that's going to mess us a good thing.

 

Fantastic....

And congratulations to you.
As they do say, it is all in the homework you do, and how well you prepare.

But then the key to preparation is knowing what to prepare for.

Congratulations are to you though, because it WAS you who did it.

 

Thanks. Now I just have to tackle the AV question.

 

Suggestions...?

Try this...
#1. If you have a CD burner, Burn a copy of the ENTIRE C:\Windows folder along with your Users folder to a CD.

Blank CD's are relatively cheap. but you can also try just those folders to a CD-RW, a bit more costly, but not bad.

Save it.

#2. Goto you Favorite confidence only site for Virus protection. Most of them are fairly equal, each have good things, and bad things, just depends on what YOU Deam most important.

#3. download a test copy for Windows XP to your hard drive. Using Administrators Log on, Install it.

Give it a shake down, 30 days. It works great. It messes up,
Uninstall, delete all folders ti left behind, and then copy the CD back over into your hard drive, and try another virus program. and delete the folders for the virus program befroe installing another one.

Doing this, you return to previous time of before the virus program was installed. Adn don't lose data.
Plus auto backup of all data to that point in time.

 

Will give it a try. Thanks.