Installing New Drive and Windows XP

Question

I have been considering upgrading my operating system from Windows 98se to Windows XP Home for two reasons.  First, I would like to get broadband internet service (probably DSL) and Microsoft, security experts, and many Dell posters think that using broadband internet service with Windows 98se is dangerous now that Windows 98se is not supported by Microsoft.  Second, starting in 2006 TurboTax no longer runs on Windows 98se.   Many of you have provided very useful information regarding such an upgrade.  Nevertheless, I have been reluctant to wipe out my Windows 98se hard drive which works fine and which contains programs which are currently up-to-date but for which the vendors no longer provide updates such as old TurboTax programs.  Once I wipe out the hard drive I can reinstall the programs with the CDs but I won't be able to get the updates.   Now I am thinking of leaving the old drive undisturbed, installing a second hard drive, and installing Windows XP Home on the second drive.  My questions are partially hardware and partially software related.   1.  Will the upgrade version of Windows XP Home install on a new empty drive or does Windows 98se need to be installed on the drive?  I have the original Windows 98se CD provided by Dell if that helps.   2.  If I get Windows XP Home installed on the new drive will security issues on one drive affect the other drive.  In other words, if I boot up the system with Windows XP on the new drive and access the internet will the old drive be exposed to internet security risks or is it the case that each drive is exposed only when it is used to boot up the system?   3.  If I boot up the system with one drive will I be able to save files to the other drive?   4.  Will ATA-100 drives work even though I seem to have an ATA-33 drive?  The packing slip that came with my computer indicates that a '13GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)' is installed and the Dell reference guide states that the system board includes 'Two enhanced integrated electronics (EIDE) interfaces on the PCI bus that support up to two EIDE devices.  Supported devices include Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA)-33 Ultra direct memory access (DMA) hard-disk drives, CD-ROM drives, Iomega Zip drives, and tape drives.'   5.  Any suggestions on drives.  I don't need space for pictures, music, and games. In fact, my 13GB drive currently has 9.7GB unused.  I would just like to install Windows XP Home for the reasons stated above.   I will also post this under 'Drives.'   Thanks.

mombodog · Answer

'Now I am thinking of leaving the old drive undisturbed, installing a second hard drive, and installing Windows XP Home on the second drive'   This will work, I suggest removing the 98 drive, put the New drive in its place and Install XP. After you get XP installed and updated successfully, then connect the old 98 drive as a secondary drive.   1.Just boot off of the XP CD, and let setup start, it will ask for qualifying media, just pop out the xp CD and insert the 98 CD (hope you have it), it will get happy and then put the XP CD back in and continue with the installation.   2. no   3. XP can save files to 98,  98 cannot save files to XP, 98 will not even see the drive because XP uses NTFS file system, 98 has no clue what it is.   4. Yes it will work, but at ATA-33 speeds   5. Stay with a drive under 120 gig on that older system.   XP is going to run really slow on that system, I advise a PC upgrade instead of putting $$$ in that old one. XP really needs 1gb memory to run well, especially with ATA-33 controllers. Yours supports a max of 768mb, and only uses PC100 memory, expensive these days if you can find it in 256mb modules.   Xp will also have problems with the bios since it is not ACPI compliant.   Time for a new PC me thinks..

barkupatree2002 · Answer

mombodog:   Your comment 'Time for a new PC me thinks' is well taken.  Others have suggested the same.  I have not made a decision yet.   Thanks for addressing each of my questions.

Windows General

Was this post helpful?