OS change?

[Jeradln82]

Hello. I might be doing an OS change. Right now I have Win2k pro and I might replace it with XP pro full version. I just have a few questions.
1. Do I have to reformat or can I just install XP over 2000? Or will the XP cd walk me through getting rid of 2000 and replacing it w/xp?

2. Will I have to reinstall my drivers such as video drivers, sound drivers, mobo drivers, etc.. As well as Directx?

These are pretty much my only questions right now. My system is really stable right now but I wanna try out XP b/c my bro-inlaw keeps telling me how nice it is. I'm just afraid of messing up my stability. Is this something I should worry about? (yeah I know question #3)

[lil Jimmie]

You would have to use XP Pro in order to do the “upgrade” from 2000 and of the upgrades it one of the few in which I have not heard too many problems. Your hardware should be fine, however some software might have to be uninstalled or upgraded.
PC Pitstop has an XP readiness test that will inform you of any problems with hardware or software.

The best way to go is to do a clean install.

IMHO XP is just as stable as 2000 and has greater hardware support.

[Force Flow]

If you are content with win 2k and have a lot of extra HDD space, you may want to look into having a dual boot between 2k and XP. (PartitionMagic would do the trick).

Course, it is kind of redundant to have both of these similar O/S's, but it's just another option.

[Jeradln82]

Well Its I could just get the full oem version unused for $100. My uncle bought it and decided he was content with useing Win98SE still. Well I was also going to throw in an old mobo I have laying around.

So I wasn't going to use the upgrade, I was going to replace my full version of win2k w/the full version of XPpro. I really don't want to do a fresh install of everything. My computer is running flawlessly (knock on wood) so I don't wanna risk loosing my awesome stability. I could go w/Force's idea, but like Force said "Course, it is kind of redundant to have both of these similar O/S's." I guess I'll think about it some more.

Thanks for the help.

[Confused]

You cain't do a upgrade with a full OEM or retail version. Only clean install.

You can do a clean install with a upgrade version though if you have a CD containing a qualifying OS.
CHas

[reboot]

What? Sorry Confused, you seem to be confused again.
Any full version (OEM or Retail) of XP PRO will upgrade any version of Win98/2k/ME.
The only exception is Win95.

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by Jeradln82 So I wasn't going to use the upgrade, I was going to replace my full version of win2k w/the full version of XPpro. I really don't want to do a fresh install of everything.

You can perform an upgrade with an OEM or Retail CD. I believe you can do it with a XP Home CD as well. It shouldn't touch your data, but will probably change your O/S tweaks and settings.

[Tuf]

A full version will do an upgrade, I don't know about an oem version. But unless there is code that would prohibit you from doing so it should.

A clean install would preferable. Unless you upgrade you will reinstalling everything which is probably the best route to take in the short and long run.

[Confused]

Sorry about the misinformation. I was under impression (apparently wrong) that only those that were upgrade versions would do a upgrade.
Chas