Moving files from old 98se HD to new XP HD...HOW?

[murph]

Hi, after having a million problems with WinME I went back to 98se. I am going to just buy a whole new computer with XP on it as I figure the upgrade costs $95 and you seem to be able to get a decent system on sale for $350 with XP already loaded. Questions:

1) Am I right that it's better to have the full version of XP instead of just upgrading my current system? Start fresh and have the full disks?

2) Any brands to stay away from, i.e. Dell or HP? (they seem to have the best sales right now)

3) If I get the new system with it's own HD with XP already on it, how do I move all my files from my old HD, ESPECIALLY my email in Outlook Express (thousands of messages and really important for my business). I just want to move the stuff I really use plus all those emails, to minimize any contamination issues from my old HD to a new one (not aware of any specific problems but I'm sure there's a ton of spy stuff and viruses that my programs have not caught).

I know how to slave one HD to another. So would that be the best way? Slave my old HD to the new one and copy files over? How would that work with email messages from my old outlook express?

My current system specs:
P4 1.7gig processor
PC chips mobo (sucks I've heard)
onboard AGP
40 gig WD hard drive
Win 98se
512mb ddr ram

I mostly use this system for business (web design). Not big into gaming etc. Would it benefit me much to get a new system that runs at around 2.8 ghz or is it not that much improvement that I should bother? Would I see a big difference in speed?

Or would I be better off to just add another stick of ram and put in a larger HD (I have a new Maxtor 160gig sitting here that I haven't used yet) and then just get the XP Home upgrade??

Thanks for any and all advice

[pam123]

If you have the windows cd of ME or 98se, you can do a complete install of XP from an upgrade disk. No need to buy a whole new computer.
Since you'll have XP you can get a performance boost by putting in another 512mb of ram and a larger hard drive would certainly be a good idea.
XP has a files and settings transfer wizard that will actually make your life easier.
Read all about it here : http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ovember12.mspx

[murph]

I have the Windows ME upgrade disk and that's the only windows disk I have. Is that enough to do the full install of XP with?

[rjfvillarosa]

I bought XP pro full version and did an over the top install over ME, it was average to say the least. There were always a little problem here and a little problem there, in the end I formatted my slave and did a fresh install and immediate upgrade to SP2 and I couldn't be happier with it. If you have a read around this forum you will see quite a few people complaining about over the top installs not working that well with ME/98/SE. You say that installing a slave hard drive is no problem and you are obviously prepared to part with a few green backs, so why not buy yourself a new hard drive and a new copy of XP and do a fresh install. Load SP2 install antivirus and spyware scanners, get it all nice and running well then connect your old hard drive as a slave, do a good scan of the old hard drive (bearing in mind the OS on the slave will not be running so no viruses or spyware can hide in the system folders or restore folders) and then use the file transfer wizard in XP to quietly transfer all your files over one by one as you need them.

[pam123]

You can get the OEM disk of XP here : http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...102-153&DEPA=6
along with the new hdd and the stick of ram.
I was thinking you'd already bought the XP upgrade edition ( if you had you could have used the ME disk when doing a clean install with the upgrade version ) but since you didn't the OEM ( it means you buy it with hardware ) disk will be cheaper.
Once you've got it installed on your new drive use the wizard to transfer the info you need from old drive.

[Dodge7]

I am not so sure about installing XP over 98SE. You could do a new partition for it.

Or, if you want a new computer [it is nice to have two] it is a good choice in my view. As far as tranffering files, that is the drawback. However, there is a number of articles on the web they take you step by step. Think it over.