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DougD wrote: I have had three years of problems with my Windows ME. I would like to upgrade to XP Professional. I get mixed advice about doing it. At one place Dell says I must stick with the OS that came on my Inspiron 8000, but their upgrade adviser tells me I can upgrade. Someone told me that an upgrade would use parts of my ME and I should be the complete XP (about $100 more). Is that true? I have been told that I should do a "clean" from scratch install. Any advice? Where can I find instructions on how to do it if I decide on the XP?

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If the Upgrade adviser says you can then you can.
You don't need Full XP CD as the Upgrade XP CD is also a Full version thats why you can Clean Install (recommended).
It just checks for Windows OS Installed & if not found asks for previous Windows CD to be inserted  to verify you have a valid Windows OS CD already.

Use this link for Clean Install of XP , if you click on Pictures they Expand for easy view
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or use this link & 1st Delete existing partition at step 5 for Clean instal
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

or this link & select XP Home or PRO with large pictures
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

Also check "Upgrades" link at top of Forum.
Upgrade your OS.
I see they have BIOS A22 3/13/2003

Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 11-14-2003 08:29 AM

Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 11-18-2003 06:37 AM

You can do a clean install from an upradable version of xp; can you upgrade Millenium to xp pro is the question. If you can I know no good reason for putting out the extra cach. You will need the Millenium cd during the clean install of the Upgrade version. There will be things on your system that won’t work in all likelihood; you can run the MS utility to tell you what they are. Your hardware support is probably over and you’ll get better support here than from the majority of Dell techs although the Pro version is less used by most of the replyers. Pro is to Home like Home is to Millenium esp. for security and troubleshooting (eg ASR). There are a couple of excellent install sites mentioned on this board frequently so that's not a problem.

Here is how I did a clean install from ME to XP using the upgrade disk.

You can still do a clean install using the WinXP upgrade disk. Use the upgrade disk as if it were a full version type. Somewhere along the installation process you will get a prompt something like this, "Window did not detect a previous version of Windows, please insert the (list of versions) disk in the CD drive." After about 10 seconds, continue the installation with the Win XP version.
Windows just wants to know if you have the previous version.

DougD

Do not hesitate - install XP as soon as you can (Pro or Home). It is streets ahead of Me and infinitely more stable unless you are extremely unlucky.

My only words of advice would be - (1) do a clean installation (2) make sure you pare your system down to the basics before you run the installation i.e. remove all peripherals and un-necessary PCI cards etc. (3) do not contemplate trying to run with less than 256 MB of RAM & preferably use at least 512 MB RAM.

Good luck......

DougD-

There is much wisdom in the previous replies to your question. Based on everything I've read here on the forum boards, if you just do an "upgrade" from ME you are begging for trouble. Clean Install is the only way to go!

Rob

Thanks for all of the good advice, especially telling me that I can still get a clean install if I buy the upgrade. It sounds a little complicated for me but I figure if I really goof it up I can take it to the local computer shop. I have downloaded quite a bit from Dell telling me how to install. The only thing I noticed was the advice about 256MB of memory. I only have 192, a 128 and a 64. My Inspiron only has two memory slots. Should I order another 128 and take out the 64?

Microsoft recommends 128 MB so try with your current memory & if needed you can increase later.

Gary is, of course, correct - XP will run using 128 MB Ram. However, it is generally much more satisfactory with more memory. Try it first and see if you need to upgrade.

See comments below. 

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@DougD wrote:

Thanks for the info. I might ask for more memory for Christmas. I am trying to get all the info I can before I start upgrading. What is the difference between a regular upgrade and the clean upgrade? The upgrade doesn't always completely eleminate ME?       CLEAN install removes everything.  Upgrade install leaves vestiges of old OS and all your programs and data. 

I have been reading in some downloaded info about a partition. I don't think I have a partition on my hard drive now???  Yes you do, or your computer would not work. 

Also, I am getting a new message on the blue screen when I boot sometimes, and a lock up. It says that my computer is waiting for a close program dialog box to appear. I have to shut down with my start button. Thanks again to all for your advice/help!  Putting XP on it will eliminate many problems such as this.   ME stinks. 

Doug

Thanks for the info. I might ask for more memory for Christmas. I am trying to get all the info I can before I start upgrading. What is the difference between a regular upgrade and the clean upgrade? The upgrade doesn't always completely eleminate ME?       I have been reading in some downloaded info about a partition. I don't think I have a partition on my hard drive now??? Also, I am getting a new message on the blue screen when I boot sometimes, and a lock up. It says that my computer is waiting for a close program dialog box to appear. I have to shut down with my start button. Thanks again to all for your advice/help!

Doug