Re: Purchase XP, where and which version?
- From: "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 09:10:29 -0700
On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:01:47 -0800, dk_ <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <14rfo31jejuq0tbdqek0vnochfpfql3086@xxxxxxx>,
"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:22:45 -0800, dk_ <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ken and all (so far),
Thank you very much for the information!
The one remaining question is:
...Will the 'Home Upgrade Edition' doing a clean install be able to verify
a
previous Windows installation (onto a newly formatted hard drive in this
machine) by using the IBM disks that came with the computer??? (These disks
are not stand alone Windows 98 install disks AFSIK.)
Do you mean that you have a Windows 98 restore CD, rather than an
installation CD? If so, it's a little more complicated, but it *can*
be done. First restore from the Restore CD. Then run the XP upgrade CD
from within that restored system, and change from Upgrade to New
Install. When it asks where, press Esc to delete the partition and
start over.
I guess it's the IBM Windows 98 restore CD.
Ok great, I now understand how to use that restore CD!
Now another question regarading partitioning and the 'i386 folder'...
Is there a way during installation/uprade (or do I do the following after
installation)... setup a separate partition with the i386 folder and any
other recommended files that might be handy to have available for the future?
During installation you can create the main partition the size you
want it. Just leave the remainder unallocated and then create the
other partition(s) within Windows afterward.
I will have to do a clean install, because the current hard drive in the
computer is small and is of course formatted to FAT32.
The fact that it's FAT32 is not relevant. Windows XP supports FAT32
without a problem. Or, after installing XP, you can convert from FAT32
to NTFS.
Wow. Can the FAT32 to NTFS be done without losing data???
Yes, that's what "convert" means.
To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an issue regarding
cluster size that isn't obvious.
Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your
drive. When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is
always possible that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's
prudent to make sure you have a backup of anything you can't afford to
lose before beginning.
I purchased the XP Home Edition Upgrade package now and am ready to go!
Thank you again.
You're welcome. Glad to help.
I will install a
larger drive.
If you replace the drive, you *can* do a clean installation, or you
could clone the old drive to the new one (using software such as
Acronis True Image or Ghost) and do an upgrade.
I will have a Ghost backup of the current drive. Not worried about data
loss.
OK, then there may be little downside to a clean installation for you.
I'm also curious about the option to move the 'Upgrade version' to a
different machine in the future. How is that done legally?
Same as a Full version. There's no prohibition about moving to a new
computer, except for OEM versions.
This is great.
Info greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you.
-Dennis
--
Dennis Kessler
http://www.denniskessler.com/acupuncture
----------------------------------------------
In article <p9efo3pkprtmiqrk9se9dn542v2co791ts@xxxxxxx>,
"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:09:11 -0800, dk_ <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have an old IBM laptop A20m running a Celeron 500MHz with 512 MB RAM,
running Windows 98SE.
The laptop is a hand-me-down and it is not actually registered to me in
any
way. I do have the original IBM disks.
I would like to upgrade to XP.
Here comes the dumb questions...
Not dumb at all.
Do I purchase an upgrade, or a stand alone XP full version?
You *can* buy either. Since the Upgrade is cheaper, and since you
qualify to use it, you should clearly buy the Upgrade; buying the Full
version would just be wasting money. Note that both of these will do
either a clean installation or an upgrade installation, although to do
a clean installation with the Upgrade version requires that you have
your Windows 98 CD available to insert as proof of ownership when
Setup prompts you to do so.
Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost everything, and
usually works very well.
My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much
easier than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and
reinstall cleanly if problems develop.
However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need
to backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to
upgrade, it's always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden
power loss can occur in the middle of it and cause the loss of
everything. For that reason you should make sure you have backups and
anything else you need to reinstall if the worst happens.
Also note that there is a third type of CD, an OEM version. But it has
the following disadvantages as compared with the retail version:
1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away without the computer.
2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.
3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.
It's disadvantage number 1 above that's the deal-breaker
for a generic OEM version, as far as I'm concerned. An OEM version
usually costs only slightly less than a retail Upgrade version, and I
think the Upgrade is worth that slight additional cost to get rid of
that restriction.
And what about
which service pack#?
Anything you buy today (unless it's bought used) will come with SP2,
and that's fine. If you somehow got one without it, you'd have to
download it, but that's not a big problem (unless you have a dial-up
connection).
Also note that SP3 will probably be out soon, so you'll want to
download that when it's released.
And Home Edition or Pro?
That depends entirely on your intended use. Based on what you've said
so far, almost certainly Home will be just fine, and Professional
would be overkill--but you, not us, have to make that determination.
XP Home and Professional are identical except that Professional
includes a few features (mostly related to security and networking)
missing from Home? Most home users don't need and would never use
these extra features and will see no benefits by upgrading.
For details go to
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp>
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
Also note another point, not included in any of the above:
Professional allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only
five.
Where is the best legitimate place for making the purchase? What should
I
expect to have to pay?
Google and look around on the Internet. As a starting place, an XP
Home Edition Upgrade (which is probably what you should buy) is $94.99
US at Amazon.com. You can probably find it a little cheaper if you
hunt around.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
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