RE: XP Upgrade from 98SE

Wow!!

Hope you bought a full version and not upgrade!!

waste of time to upgrade over 95/98. probably can't do it anyway!!

"steve r." wrote:

> I plan to upgrade to XP Pro from 98 SE was installed as an upgrade fom W95.
> Should I expect any unusual problems? Thanks.

Dixonian69 wrote:


> Hope you bought a full version and not upgrade!!
>
> waste of time to upgrade over 95/98. probably can't do it anyway!!


There are three things wrong in this brief message, above:

1. Upgrading from Windows 98 is not at all a waste of time. Although many
people will tell you that formatting and installing cleanly is the best way
to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous versions of Windows, an upgrade to
XP replaces almost everything, and usually works very well.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much easier
than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and reinstall
cleanly if problems develop.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need to
backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to upgrade, it's
always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden power loss can occur
in the middle of it and cause the loss of everything. For that reason you
should make sure you have backups and anything else you need to reinstall if
the worst happens.

2. You *can* upgrade from Windows 98, but not from WIndows 95 (but you can
use Windows 95 as a previous qualifying version when doing a clean
installation with an Upgrade version--see below).

3. If he owns Windows 98, I hope he bought an *Upgrade* version, since it
contains exactly the same software, he qualifies to use it, and it's
considerably cheaper than the Full version. Buying a Full version when you
qualify for the Upgrade is simply a waste of money. And note that an Upgrade
version can do a clean installation, just as the Full version can.

The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying
version's installation CD, not to have it installed. When setup doesn't find
a previous qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD
as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the
prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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> "steve r." wrote:
>
>> I plan to upgrade to XP Pro from 98 SE was installed as an upgrade
>> fom W95. Should I expect any unusual problems? Thanks.