Installing XP Pro

[mccoady]

My nephew and I are trying to install XP Pro on a computer that already has 98SE on it and neither of us know how to reformat the drive. Is there any simple instructions for us to replace 98 with XP on our computer? I'm hoping between the two of us if the instructions aren't too complicated we may be able to do this. I don't need to save any data just want to set this up for internet use only. I don't think it has any partitions.

[dwill123]

If your equipment is up to the task (meets XP system requirements), then just put the cd in and reformating the drive will be one of your options. XP will handle that for you. Just follow the on screen instructions. Good luck.

[Jeremiah58]

Use Google, search for example with these key words:
upgrade windows 98 xp install clean

Be patient and read the results to get an idea what options you have and procedures to follow.
You could find the complete guides how to do it.
Basically, it is not complicated.
You have 2 options:
- to upgrade from 98SE to XP
- to clean install XP

Since you said that you do not need any data from 98SE, go for the clean install of XP.
Print some guides and use them during the install.
When you are prepared, just put your XP pro CD in your CD-ROM and follow those on-screen instructions.

[mccoady]

Well we already tried putting in the XP Pro cd but kind of got lost at some point. I also just read that you cannot upgrade from 98SE to XP Pro only from 2000 Pro and XP on one website but going to Microsoft website says you can, which is it? Are you saying I do not have to reformat my disc?

[JoeTheDude]

Is your your XP Pro CD the "Upgrade" version, or the "Full Version"?

If it is the Upgrade Version:
1. Get a Full Version CD of either 2000 or XP handy.
2. Place the XP Pro CD you bought for his PC into his computer.
3. Restart the computer, and when you see "Press any key to boot from CD" press the Spacebar.
4. Follow the directions that appear onscreen, and ignore the "Press so and so key to install RAID" message at the bottom of the screen.
5. You will be prompted to put either the 2000 CD or XP (Full version) CD in the drive at some point during the install.
6. You will eventually get to a screen that lets you select where you want to install XP.
Choose the option to "Delete A Partition".
Pick one to delete.
7. Next, choose to create a partition.
Choose the option for NTFS that does not say (Quick).
8. When it's done, choose the new partition for your destination to install XP.

You can choose to use All the space on the drive to make a single large partition, or you can make multiple partitions.
It's up to you.
I reccomend making a single large partition, but that's just the way I prefer.

Step 6 might come before step 5.

If you have the Full Version of XP Pro, you can ignore steps 1 and 5.

I also just read that you cannot upgrade from 98SE to XP Pro only from 2000 Pro and XP on one website but going to Microsoft website says you can, which is it? Are you saying I do not have to reformat my disc?

You don't Have to reformat your disk, it's just reccomended by most people to do that so that any bugs in 98SE won't migrate over to your XP Install.

As for it being okay to upgrade to Pro from 98SE, I'm not sure.
However you can try using it Step 5 above and see if it's accepted or not.

[dragon_1]

those are the steps ^^^^ upgrade or full it will boot from the CD as long as it come with SP2

Ok i've done for some friends before, it will be prompted window 98 or higher CD, i know it even works for win ME upgrade disc lol weird

anyways heres the microsoft link make sure to read that and the system requirements

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/matrix.mspx

[mccoady]

Few more questions, do we need to run the Files and Settings Transfer settings and if so is it on the XP Pro disc?

Also during setup should we be connected to the internet? This leads to another question, since the main reason we're upgrading to XP Pro is because we want to setup this computer to use in a network. I bought a wireless router and wireless adapter only to find out the adapter only works with XP. So since the adapter won't work until I get XP loaded on the computer how do I handle this during setup? How do I answer the questions during setup on how the computer will be connected when it's not actually connected at all now but will be to a network?

Should I temporally hook it up to our dsl modem?

[Jeremiah58]

You said that you do not need any data from your 98SE, so there is no need for the file transfer.
Go for a clean install.
Here, this is a detailed guide of a clean install of XP pro:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_install_-_graphic.htm

Follow this and you cann't go wrong.

Do not bother with your future wireless network, you will install it and configure it after you install your new OS.

[mccoady]

Well it looks like everything well went without a hitch. Thanks all!