Questions about the conversation to XP home

[Greg12]

1.) Should I upgrade or format my disk and then clean boot. (I have an OEM WIndows ME installer)

2.) R their probelms associated with upgrading?

3.) Will I loose space on my HDD by upgrading?

4.) Will it see what I have installed on Windows Me or will I have to re-install everything.

5.) What problems can I expect in the FAT 32-NTFS conversation.

[devinemi83]

I would do a clean install, I have heard of people that upgraded,even more so with WinME that have had problems that get pretty bad and end up blasting the disc anyway just to fix it. Besides this is a great chance to get a fresh start, everything all neat and clean no junky programs that you dont use,less chance for hassles.But if you do boot from the XP cd to clean install it WILL ask for your former windows version disk to validate,you would simply insert your ME disc in it would look it over and say ok, just make sure its a real windows disc and not one of those Restore cds, they dont work from what I hear.


As for any problems with upgrading, anytime you go from one system to a system that is very much more advanced you can plan on running into some problems.Some hardware may not work,like anything on serial port,serials have been declared legacy hardware and left behind. Run the windows XP advisor to give your system a once over, but dont trust it alone,go to pc pitstop and run their compatibility checker. Even after that, any software that you really want to take with you, go to the manufacturers site and check to see if its XP ready. also check http://www.ntcompatible.com they have a list of thousands of games, util, and software that works, and stuff that doesnt.


HDspace- this may be a little shocking but a standard winXP install eats up 1.5GB compare that to the 300 MB win98 install. So have plent of open country side for xp roam on.



dont do a format conversion, when clean installing, when it asks if you want NTFS say yes, and you will have the increased safety and reliability from the get go, no risky conversion.



If you do decided to do an upgrade, be ready once its installed,pending that goes well, to troubleshoot, alot of software you have may not work properly or in the worse cases in the instance of utilities could damage your system by treating it like it treated winME.

in closing, I too have considered upgrading from win98SE to XP, but I found out I would have to replace alot of my software. So i am waiting,but dont let this scare you away, your system and its software may become quick friends with XP

[Greg12]

If i had Win 98SE, i would download it to that.

Basically ME is a piece of sh!t.

It crahses like 15 times a day, I have to force reset it alot (involves removing batties n unplugging)

How Can I tell if I have full disk. IT came with my Dell n it says "Windows Me Reinstallation CD"

I assume that is an installer not a restore

[homerpez]

2-cents.

The best chance you have to "Upgrade" to Windows XP is going from 2000 to XP. The two are so similar you will probably have everything tranfer, with the exception of an obscure driver file or two (so keep disks handy with drivers on them)!

I just did a very painless Upgrade from Windows 2000 to Windows XP Pro. All I had to re-install was Daemon Tools.

[devinemi83]

I too have a dell, and it comes only with a Restore disc. Sorry man but it looks like an upgrade is in your future, unless, you have a friend with 98 or a ME disc, that would be perfectly legal since you already own a copy.

My best advice is clear about 4 hours to do this upgrade, because the install itself takes about 60-75 minutes and then you got reinstalls of software and troubleshooting.
But homerpez is right, I shift from 2000 to XP pro is the easiest possible install type since its just and high performance version of 2000 anyway.

I do feel for ya because I was faced with the same problem, since like I said I have 98se and only a restore disc(dumb dell couldnt give me a real disc could ya) and I would have to upgrade which is alot more stable than upgrading from ME which anything that has to do with ME is a total nightmare.


But if you have any more questions or anything dont fear to drop me an email.

[d4n13l]

"It crahses like 15 times a day, I have to force reset it alot (involves removing batties n unplugging)"

Greg12,
I hope that Dell are going to refund you for what they added on to the price of the laptop for having ME installed. IMHO, you have a very good case for a refund; no properly configured computer should crash 15 times a day. Are Dell refunding you for ME?