The first that that should run on the Upgrade is the "Windows XP Upgrade Advisor". It will scan your hardware and software and give you a list of anything that is XP incompatible, anything that will have to be uninstalled (and reinstalled after the XP upgrade). It is very critical, when doing an "upgrade" to follow everything on the Upgrade Advisor exactly or the upgrade will fail.
I've done several upgrades, for one of my PC's and for several customers. The "clean' install is obviously better but you can do the upgrade but you must do a lot of preparation work. Along with the Upgrade Advisor, you need to "clean up" the PC and uninstall any incompatible software. You will need to check to see if your peripherals are XP compatible - many printers and scanners are not XP compatible. Memory (RAM) is an important issue with XP, you need MINIMUM of 256 Mb of RAM for XP and more is better. You will need Windows XP drivers for your compatible hardware such as Modem, Video, Audio. If you have a CD burner and have older "Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4" or earlier, that is not XP compatible and you will have to get a newer version. In reference to the older software, Windows XP is Not a DOS based Operating System and many DOS based programs and games will not work in XP.
Although there are a lot of cautions and preparation that needs to be done, XP is a better OS, if your PC can handle it.
Upgrade keeps all of your documents intact unless something goes wrong of course. I'd say run a backup no matter what you want to do. I've never upgraded any machine. I prefer clean install (format the disk).
Although I think XP is superior to 98, you will not gain any speed from this upgrade, so why do it? If the answer is that you have frequent lock-ups, then by all means go for it. On the other hand, if things are working reasonably well with 98, why chance it? You will have some issues most likely if you have older peripherals. I have done several upgrades some years ago with no computer problems but several printer or peripheral problems did occur, all of which eventually worked out. But like I said, if things are OK, leave well enough alone and consider buying a new Dimension with all the bells and whistles.
I ran the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor and many things I use often would not work and several had to be re installed so its more trouble than its worth.I had a dell computer with XP that I recently returned so I was just curious to find out, plus I think XP would just be to much for my current computer. Thanks for all of your help and input. I appreciate it..thanks again..
@pat333 wrote:
I ran the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor and many things I use often would not work and several had to be re installed so its more trouble than its worth.I had a dell computer with XP that I recently returned so I was just curious to find out, plus I think XP would just be to much for my current computer. Thanks for all of your help and input. I appreciate it..thanks again..
You have a 933mhz computer, XP requires 300mhz. I run it on a 600mhz computer quite nicely. It is NOT too much for your computer.
EVERYTHING has to be reinstalled as you have to do a CLEAN install. Therefore, many "incompatibilities" go away. You would need new CD burner software.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
August 19th, 2005 15:00
The first that that should run on the Upgrade is the "Windows XP Upgrade Advisor". It will scan your hardware and software and give you a list of anything that is XP incompatible, anything that will have to be uninstalled (and reinstalled after the XP upgrade). It is very critical, when doing an "upgrade" to follow everything on the Upgrade Advisor exactly or the upgrade will fail.
I've done several upgrades, for one of my PC's and for several customers. The "clean' install is obviously better but you can do the upgrade but you must do a lot of preparation work. Along with the Upgrade Advisor, you need to "clean up" the PC and uninstall any incompatible software. You will need to check to see if your peripherals are XP compatible - many printers and scanners are not XP compatible. Memory (RAM) is an important issue with XP, you need MINIMUM of 256 Mb of RAM for XP and more is better. You will need Windows XP drivers for your compatible hardware such as Modem, Video, Audio. If you have a CD burner and have older "Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4" or earlier, that is not XP compatible and you will have to get a newer version. In reference to the older software, Windows XP is Not a DOS based Operating System and many DOS based programs and games will not work in XP.
Although there are a lot of cautions and preparation that needs to be done, XP is a better OS, if your PC can handle it.
rj1127
141 Posts
0
August 19th, 2005 15:00
europa303
4.4K Posts
0
August 19th, 2005 20:00
pat333
128 Posts
0
August 20th, 2005 04:00
rickmktg
2 Intern
•
11.9K Posts
0
August 20th, 2005 11:00
You have a 933mhz computer, XP requires 300mhz. I run it on a 600mhz computer quite nicely. It is NOT too much for your computer.
EVERYTHING has to be reinstalled as you have to do a CLEAN install. Therefore, many "incompatibilities" go away. You would need new CD burner software.