Re: Upgrade from ME to XP Pro - Please HELP ME!!!! Ahhhhhhh!

AWA wrote:
I have an UPGRADE CD version of XP Professional. Originally I wanted to reformat my hard drive that has Windows ME on it and start fresh, but then I read something in the XP manual that states I can perform a new installation "if my current operating system supports an upgrade to Windows XP Professional, but I do not want to keep my exisiting files and personalized settings" and/or "my computer does not have an operating system". So, my question is, by putting in the XP Pro upgrade CD and choosing "New Installation", will this in effect give me the same result I want - by deleting my operating system completely and then simply installing Windows XP Professional Edition? In other words, will it be the same as reformatting my hard drive and installing XP Pro as my new OS? If not, can I reformat my hardrive, then pop in this Upgrade CD and choose "New Installation"?, since that would fall under the category of "Your computer does not have an operating system"? - OR-, am I going to have to reformat my hard drive, reinstall WIN ME and its drivers, then use the upgrade XP Pro CD?(maybe not in that order?)

Please help me!!!!!! :-/ 


    It's quite possible to perform a clean installation using the
Upgrade CD, provided you have the true installation CD for the earlier
OS.

    Simply boot from the WinXP Upgrade CD.  You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process.  The Upgrade CD checks to see if a qualifying OS
is installed, and, if it finds none, it asks you to insert the
installation media (CD) of that OS.  Unfortunately, an OEM
"Recovery/Restore" CD will not work for this purpose; you must  have a
true installation CD, complete with the "\Win98" folder and  *.cab
files, or the "\i386" folder of WinNT/2K.

    Alternatively, or especially if all you have is an OEM Recovery CD
for the earlier OS, you can even start the upgrade from within the
current Win98/Me/NT/2K installation, and still elect to perform a
clean installation, to include formatting the drive.  In this case,
there's no further request for the qualifying OS's installation CD,
because the installation routing "remembers" that you started from
within the qualifying OS.  This process is more time-consuming, but
you get the same results: a clean installation of WinXP.

    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



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