Re: Formatting PC
- From: Bruce Chambers <bruce_a_chambers@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:30:25 -0600
Tazzy wrote:
How do I format my pc and the load windows XP on the PC. I have Windows 98 on my pc and want to keep some files and folders on the px when I format it.
That's simply not possible. By definition, formatting a hard drive erases *everything*.
I heard that you must format your PC if you want to install a new operating system.
Not necessarily (or even commonly) true. This would be the case only if the old and new operating systems were completely dissimilar and required different, incompatible file systems.
I also heard that when you format yor pc, you can actually select what the pc should not delete.
If your physical hard drive has been partitioned into multiple logical hard drives, it is possible to specify which of these partitions to format, but one cannot pick and choose individual files and folders to "exempt" from formatting.
Since you have files that you wish to preserve, why not perform an upgrade?
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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