ME to XP upgrade

Question

Anyone have any experience or tips on upgrading an XPS T... system with 512mb ram from ME to XP? Will the BIOS support XP?

Mary G · Answer

You need the latest bios for your computer and it must be applied before you do a clean installation of XP. Visit your Dell download page and make sure you have the latest bios. It will not run fast, but it will run. Run the Upgrade Advisor that is on the XP cd first to spot potential hardware/software problems. Make sure you have a large hard drive. Don't try to install it on those older 6-8 Gig drives. You must do a clean install using the upgrade cd. This is vital with Win ME. I tried an upgrade over ME and had to do a clean install anyway. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html or http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

PS It might make more sense to save your $100 for the upgrade cd (as well as any other costs to upgrade hardware) and put it towards a new computer.

simpswr · Answer

With 512Mg of memory, XP will run as good, if not better than ME on that machine. Unless you need the networking or incription features of Pro, you can save $100 and use a upgrade version of Home. You can go here for a good installation guide.

I have performed a clean install of XP on several T models (600 to 1000Mhz) and it loaded drivers for every device on all of them. In every case, the machines ran better than with 98 or ME . . I did upgrade BIOS in each one.

Good Luck . . wrs

Message Edited by simpswr on 12-23-2003 02:41 PM

gryjhnhpe · Answer

A Clean Install of XP would be better as is more stable.

You this link & select XP Home or PRO then method , ie: Used Hard Drive has text & large pictures of Clean Install.
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

Use this link for Clean Install of XP , if you click on Pictures they Expand for easy view
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html (Delete existing partition at step 10b for Clean Install)

or use this link ( *** Delete existing partition at step 5 for Clean Install ***)
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Clean Install deletes existing partition (like FDISK) & Formats HD during Install of Windows XP from XP CD.
Set BIOS to use CD-ROM as 1st boot device usually by pressing F2 during boot (startup).

edn3005 · Answer

In your humble opinion, would I be better off putting Win98SE  or ME back on the new drive, or do a clean install of XP Pro?

edn3005 · Answer

Almost forgot, thanks to all for their opinions & insight. I'll consider all the options when I get home & make a decision. Thanks again.

edn3005 · Answer

The machine is 700Mhz, 512 MB SDRAM and 120GB hard drive (new) with ME currently installed and programs in the process of being reinstalled. I might just make sure the BIOS is the most current & go for a clean install from the CD. I'm not that far into reinstalling the programs that I can't do it again for the sake of having a smoother running machine, besides, I already have the XP upgrade version purchased. If it doesn't go on this unit it'll go on another.

Mary G · Answer

Since ME was awful, I'd suggest the clean install of XP with your 256 ram. That would be the most economical. There's not much difference in 256/512 ram on the older computer. You'll get a more stable OS.

edn3005 · Answer

Installed XP Pro as a clean install and it went without a hitch!! All programs, so far, have also installed wothout a problem. XP recognized & set-up all hardware installed in the unit, even USB ports that had been a problem for ME. Best thing I ever did for that unit was to put in a new hard drive & load XP Pro.

Thanks to all for their comments and insight.

Windows General

ME to XP upgrade

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