Upgrade or full install?

[ATW]

I've got Xp Professional, currently running 98se. I can either upgrade and make it simple or do the full install (which involves more than I can figure out). Is there any difference between the 2 different methods? Will both run the same?

[ssahl]

I would do a full (clean) install. If you have another hard drive or partition you can put XP on there and leave the win98 the way it is, no extra software is needed. When you turn your computer on it will just ask you weather you want to boot to 98 or XP.

[lil Jimmie]

The 98 to XP upgrade may not be as simple as one might think, it has been a very rough road for many users who usually end up doing a clean install in the end. If you have a burner or can backup your data over the network, then I would suggest doing a clean install. XP has very good driver support built in and is not that hard to install. If your cdrom is bootable you can put the XP cd in and exit the XP auto run setup, reboot the PC, set your bios to boot to the cdrom first and wait for the prompt to hit any key to boot to the cd. Partitioning and formatting of your hard drive can all be done during the setup process.

[TimPoet]

I have read that upgrading versus a clean new install of WIN XP for some reason jacks up a lot of software programs. The change is just so different in the operating systems that many of the programs just don't survive.

[sierrawolf]

A clean install is the way to go. Like what was said above, to many conflicts with programs and even though XP does have a way to make almost anything compatible it is better to install it after the system is up and running.

[ATW]

You have to keep in mind what I said...I don't know how to do everything that goes along with a clean install. I'd have to pay someone to come do it for me. I'd just end up getting into trouble and having a dead box.

[TEEB]

A clean install is very easy to do with XP. Just go into your BIOS and make your CDROM your first boot option. Then put the new XP disk in it and reboot. Then follow the directions when you come to them. All you have to do is format the drive and install XP. It's much less complicated than with Win98. If you have the upgrade version of XP make sure you have the Win98 disk ready because you will have to verify that you have it. It will ask you to place the win98 disk in your CDROM and then XP will check it. You then replace your XP disk and continue on. HTH

[ZANEY123]

Well you can read through this to see if you can understand this you should be okay..

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/step/26/

Zaney123

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by ATW You have to keep in mind what I said...I don't know how to do everything that goes along with a clean install. I'd have to pay someone to come do it for me. I'd just end up getting into trouble and having a dead box.

I definitely know where you are coming from, ATW. Sometimes I don't understand the advice they've given me here....
So, if we advise you on something, and you need clarification, then do not hesitate to ask, actually we appreciate it, we've all been there....

Such as the advice on going into BIOS, etc. Sometimes I forget what part of the BIOS I need to modify according to the advice given and on a bad day even how to go into BIOS at all. So, just understand that we are patient here, I found that out firsthand.

[TEEB]

TimPoet is right. Sometimes we assume to much and sometimes not enough. It's hard to read the level of expertise of the member.
So if you don't follow everything we say just stop us and ask. It can be real confusing if you try to go ahead and don't understand what the person is trying to tell you.

Just ask, someone will give you the right directions

[lil Jimmie]

Any time you upgrade an OS or install an OS there are risks involved, upgrading from 98 to XP in my opinion is very risky and troubleshooting the problems that arise from a bad upgrade may be even more difficult than performing a clean install.

Have you checked your hardware to see if it is compatible with XP?

Is all of your software compatible with XP if not have you checked for patches for the software?

Have you run the XP compatibility wizard that is on the install disk?

Here is a guide to installing XP.

[TEEB]

Lil Jimmie is talking sense here. I assumed that you ran the compatibility test. There may be some conflict with hardware and/or software. In my opinion your better off replacing the hardware/software in order to get the newer and better Operating System. With in reason of course!!