Upgrade to XP

[quartet-man]

Hi, I am considering options of either building my own computer, buying a new one or at least upgrading my home computer to WinXP from Win98SE.

If I choose the least expensive route for now and get XP, I need to know a few things.

I don't like the idea of buying just the upgrade version of XP and would prefer to just install XP from scratch. I think that is better. So, I wondered about buying the OEM version. I am not gypping Microsoft because I already own the 98, but I would get the full version for about the same price as the upgrade, with better results IMHO.

That leads to some questions. If I get the OEM, does that mean that if I choose to build one later, and retire the old one (or use 98SE in it again if I use it as a backup), would I be able to do that, or as OEM is it only good for the machine it is installed on now and forevermore?

I realize that they say that as an OEM, the system builder does the support. What exactly support would that entail and what does Microsoft actually do as far as support if you buy the retail version?

Do I have to buy a system component to get the OEM copy?

If I have to buy the upgrade version, but wanted to do a fresh install of XP without adding it to the 98SE, could I use the XP that came with my Dell, but use the license from my upgrade? It seems I read here that Dell's XP install discs are tied to Dell Bios.

As far as building, I would like to have more control over what system parts were used and not have proprietary pieces, but feel like besides the time it would take (and I am sure some aggravation) I might be in over my head. I have gotten help from here on things and would ask for help with the component selection / compatibility but don't know about how detailed setting one up is and whether I would end up with a bunch of parts and a non working system.

So, I am not sure which way to go just yet. With the economy as it is, the OS would be the least expensive, but I hate the idea too of investing at least for the full version, when I could put that towards a new system.

[glc]

The OEM XP Home can be bought all by itself for about 90 bucks. It can be installed on just about anything that meets minimums, although it can be a bit of a headache on old machines that are not ACPI-aware. In the real world, if you wait 120 days after activation, you can install it on another computer and it will activate online fine. Legally, you will need to "retire" the old computer if you do that. I would simply buy the OEM, upgrade the old computer as necessary (ram, hard drive) to run XP well, wipe it, and install fresh. Run it till it dies or is no longer viable, then build a new one. What's the specs on the old one? Is it name brand or custom?

With OEM, the only support you will get from Microsoft is paid support. Retail gets you a few free phone calls. I wouldn't worry about the support aspect.

If you buy the upgrade version (about the same price as OEM) you can still use it to do a totally clean install. When it fails the upgrade compliance check, all you have to do is put your 98SE CD in the drive and let it see it, it will proceed and you swap CD's.

You could, of course, upgrade over your 98SE, but that generally doesn't work all that well.

[quartet-man]

It is a Gateway Performance 800. It has 800mghz P3 and
384 RAM. I will probably do the OEM However, if I wanted to do the upgrade version, you talked about doing the compliance check. My question is, the Gateway doesn't have a separate Windows disc. It has a group of restoration CD's in which I think one has the OS, but sometimes it is hard to find the files needed in such instances. Also, at work we have one OS disk and several legitimate licenses bought before Microsoft changed the requirements. Is there a way to type in a license number on those machines if upgrading?

[glc]

No, it's not the license number that counts. It simply needs to SEE the existence of a qualifying OS to upgrade from. I do NOT think a restore CD will work for this.

Exactly what OS disk and licenses do you have at work? If it's a full XP and you have a unused license, just use that. You may copy the OS disk legally.

You need more ram for a decent XP experience. You also didn't tell me the hard drive size.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by glc You need more ram for a decent XP experience.

Don't think that mobo will take any more ram, G. 128 x 3 was the max on those as I remember.

[glc]

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...formance%20800

Guaranteed-compatible memory upgrades for your Gateway Performance 800 Desktop/PC.

# Maximum Memory: 512MB
# Slots: 2 (2 banks of 1)

Each memory slot can hold SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 256MB per slot.*

[quartet-man]

The 98 CD is a full version and there are plenty of licenses we bought for a project that never got fulfilled. There are a few XP discs (one is with the Dell, one with Gateway). They don't look like a regular XP disc, but am not sure what their contents are. We have no extra XP licenses unfortunately.

I have two hard drives. One is 320 gig. I can't recall if I can get any more ram or not. I was thinking I was maxed out, but I would have to check it has been a long time and I haven't used the computer for over a year except to get some files from it recently. I am using a borrowed one right now, but it too has 800 mghz and Win98ZE.

[quartet-man]

I found an archived post from here where I pasted the system specs for that computer from almost 6 years ago.


Here are detailed techs on my system as it was originally

Product ID Product Description

1003813 Gateway GA PERFORMANCE 800 PC

4000586 Jabil Manufactured Tabor3 Motherboard

2509354 800MHZ PIII PROCESSOR

5000239 GW MEM DIM 128M 8X8 4C 100/66 R0

5501425 30GB IDE 7M Hard Drive

7002053 EV910 19 Monitor (18 Viewable)

6001521 32MB Nvidia Geforce256 Graphics Card

5501496 CDRW IDE Drive

5501475 Toshiba 12x DVD Drive

6001128 CRD SND PCI LIVE AUDIO R1

7002160 GW Boston Acoustics BA7500 Dolby Digital SST Speakers & Sub

6001126 MOD CRD PCI 3COM 56K R1

7508479 Windows 98 Second Edition System Recovery CD

7002192 Multi Function Keyboard

7002409 PS2 Mouse

5500962 FDD 1.44 PAN DRV R3

7507396 Quicken Basic 2000 Software

7507289 Works Suite 2000

7000981 Microphone Mod R3

6500400 200 Watt 3.3V Power Supply

8506111 Desktop Setup Poster

8506041 Documentation Update

8505601 Internet Service Plan Promotional Envelope

8501692 MAN US FCC CONFORMITY TN R0

8506049 Musicware Software Solution

8003533 Airduct

8002030 BRKT ASSY MOUNT POST /CE R0

8003821 BRKT MT SUPPORT R3

8001940 BZL CASE TA G-MT R0

8004456 Gasket Wire Mesh /USB

8001988 PNL LT SIDE TA/PG MT R0

8001987 PNL RT SIDE TA/PG MT R0

8001142 POWER SUPPLY MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MINI TOWER CASE

8002356 SCREW 6-32X11/16 PPHZ RO

6001581 Ultra ATA 100 IDE Controller Card

8002545 CBL CDR 18.00 R0

8001854 CBL FDD R1

8001184 CBL HDD IDE RIB R1

8003295 CBL MODEM / PHONE R1

8003278 CBL U66 80 CONDUCTOR R0

8002537 Cable

8001092 SND WW PNP AUDIO CBL

8001173 Sound Cable

3500581 Mid Tower Case

9900476 Binder

9900475 CD Stomper Pro Labeling System

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Some things like DVD drive, CDRW dive and hard drive are different and the memory I gave above is what it has. It has a different promise hard drive controller card now and a USB 2 card as well as a NIC.

[irvine25]

I really like windows XP, sometimes how I wish that instead of a built in Windows Vista, it should have been XP. Thinking of changing my Operating System soon.

[glc]

You MIGHT be able to use a Gateway XP disk, if it works like Dell's CD's. It's worth a try, if it won't install or activate, then it's $90 for OEM XP Home. I'd max out the ram at 512, if you have 384, it sounds like you only have to buy one dimm, pull the 128 and replace with a 256, it should cost you about 35 bucks unless you can find a used dimm that works. You have *plenty* of HD space, install XP on the 30gb drive.

XP should have native drivers for all those components.