Anyone successful upgrading Compaq 7470 to XP?

[Davidoo1]

My parents have a Compaq 7470 Pentium IV (I think...possibly a PIII) 550Mhz with 256MB RAM, and everything else MS says you have to have to upgrade to XP. They are currently running 98SE but the computer is all screwed up due to a relative constantly installing games, videos and other inadvisable things from the internet.

I want to format the HD and install a clean copy of XP for them. So here are my questions...

Compaq's website says XP should work but have a warning about "the computer was not designed for XP and it is possible it may not perform as intended." Has anyone successfully installed XP home on a 7470? This computer is about 3.5 to 4 years old.

Also, they have 98SE running now, but Compaq doesn't give you the "real" win 98SE install disk, but they do give you a recovery disk that has Win98SE on it. I remember I upgraded my older Gateway several years ago, and when the install of XP asked for verification of the upgradeable OS I put in the Gateway recovery CD and it accepted that. I wonder if it will for Compaq?

Thirdly, Compaq shipped this computer with the 40MB hard drive partitioned with 2 partitions. I also seem to remember when I booted to the XP install CD it gave me the option to format the current hard drive, and allowed me to adjust partitions. With this size hard drive, I think one partition would make things simpler.

Lastly, I seem to have read here before about people having difficulty formatting Compaq factory hard drives without some special software.....something about "zero fill" or something like that?

Sorry for so much at once, but I've been around this forum a long time and seen much tougher questions answered!!!

Thanks,

[Miz]

First..and I'm not implying anything, just asking...is the XP product key you're planning to use ever been used on another installation of XP on another computer? If it's been used before, activation is going to be a problem.

That second partition on Compaqs contains data needed for the Compaq Recovery CDs to work. The Quick Restore CDs are supposed to contain everything needed to restore to factory condition but I don't know for certain that they don't need the stuff on that second partition, too.

Since installing XP on a Compaq originally equipped with another OS isn't always successful because of the BOMID (unique ID number) Compaq puts on the harddrive which Compaqs generally have to have in order to run, I'd suggest leaving that second partition alone until you've got XP installed and running. As long as that second partition and its data is there, you can always go back to the Compaq Recovery/Quick Restore CDs if the XP installation doesn't work.

If the XP install is successful, you might conisder then formatting that second partition and using it as a place to store some utilities for future tech support work on that machine. Stuff like Ad-Aware and Spybot and LSPFix and a full install of IE6 and....well, you get the idea. Stuff that you might need but be unable to download if the machine can't get online.

[Davidoo1]

No dastardly intent here....if anyone has successfully installed XP on this model, I'm going to BUY XP home upgrade to install!

[viperpa33s]

You shouldn't have a problem updating to Windows XP. My old Compaq was running Windows 98 and I upgraded it to Windows Xp home and professional. I also was able to revert back using the Compaq restore cd with no problems.

The Compaq which I still own and which my daughter uses is still going strong. The Compaq is a 500mhz PIII with 512 mb of ram and running Windows XP home.



Cheers

[Kubie]

I zero wiped a Compaq 7845 and loaded W2k on it cause the restore disks were lost in a move.
Only thing to be sure of is to see that drivers are all available for your hardware.
Carl

[glc]

For the same price or even cheaper than a retail upgrade, you can buy an OEM copy of XP, then it won't matter whether the restore disk is readable.

[Davidoo1]

I've heard of OEM copies discussed here, but I'm not really sure what you are referring to. Is the OEM essentially a full install version, so the install disk won't ask for the prior version to make sure you qualify for the upgrade? If so, do you have to buy it via internet or mail, or can you just walk into Best Buy and ask for one?

[Kubie]

OEM copies are full install not an upgrade.

Most cases it may be hard to find a OEM copy at your local store at a reasonable price, if they even sell them.

Carl