Re: Better to start afresh than upgrade

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospamcableone.net)
Date: 03/31/04


Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 18:53:59 -0700

Greetings --

    Some people will recommend that you perform a clean installation,
rather than upgrade over Win98/Me. For the most part, I feel that
these people, while well-meaning, are living in the past, and are
basing their recommendation on their experiences with older operating
systems. You'd probably save a lot of time by upgrading your PC to
WinXP, rather than performing a clean installation, if you've no
hardware or software incompatibilities. Microsoft has greatly
improved (over earlier versions of Windows) WinXP's ability to
smoothly upgrade an earlier OS.

    WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating
system while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and
translating as many personalized settings as possible. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things
can go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all
important to you, back it up before proceeding.

    Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

    You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

Bruce Chambers

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"Bratha" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:E867023F-0837-4347-9268-D8D3064C1160@microsoft.com...
> I've heard that it is better to start afresh with a new install 
> version of XP than to upgrade from 98 second edition. I'd rather 
> upgrade (as its cheaper), will I notice many negative repacussions?
>
> Thanks! 


Relevant Pages

  • Re: Windows XP Pro update from Windows98
    ... If you wish to proceed with WinXP, ... > Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components ... >manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows ... >HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Replacing ME with XP
    ... Professional software and want to download it on to my PC. ... WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating system while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and translating as many personalized settings as possible. ... Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent hardware quality requirements. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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