Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

[Guest Bill]

I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows ME

(under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account upgraded

from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

internet.

 

I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses and

spyware.

 

Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP system?

 

Thanks!!!

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 20:23:59 -0400, "Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com>

wrote:

> I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows ME

> (under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account upgraded

> from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

> internet.

>

> I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses and

> spyware.

>

> Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP system?

 

 

 

If I bought a used computer, the very first thing I would do with it

would be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea

how the computer has been maintained, what has been installed

incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be,

etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and

problems, possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend

that anyone else do either.

 

 

Don't even consider worrying about the stability of the used system.

Start over.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Claymore]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

On Jul 6, 8:23 pm, "Bill" <Bill124...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows ME

> (under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account upgraded

> from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

> internet.

>

> I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses and

> spyware.

>

> Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP system?

>

> Thanks!!!

 

Hello Bill,

 

I've done the upgrade from Millennium thing, leaving Millennium intact

and simply upgrading the existing Millennium installation to XP. My

advice is that this is a bad idea as it carries all the Millennium

junk with it. If there's nothing on the current XP installation that

you need (you can always save data etc. to removable media or a

separate partition), and if you have the XP Upgrade CD and you also

have a Millennium CD (or a Windows 98 CD), then my advice is to wipe

the drive (format it) and use the upgrade XP CD to install XP from

scratch. During the install, when you are asked for a qualifying

installation to upgrade from, simply insert the Millennium (or Windows

98) CD, let it be recognized, remove it, re-insert the XP CD, and

carry on with the install.

[Guest John Waller]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

You've had some sound advice.

 

Wipe the drive and re-install XP from scratch.

 

--

Regards

 

John Waller

[Guest Harry Ohrn]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

 

"Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:uQOvP0CwHHA.4132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade

> from Windows ME

> (under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states

> "Account upgraded

> from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up

> to the

> internet.

>

> I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for

> viruses and

> spyware.

>

> Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used

> Windows XP system?

>

> Thanks!!!

>

Yes. Remove the Norton products. As a whole they are notorious for causing

problems. Hook up to the internet and visit the Windows update site to check

to see if the system passes the authenticity check. If it doesn't you likely

have an illegal version of XP. If it passes the test do an update of all

critical patches.

 

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

[Guest RalfG]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

But don't forget to download and install the chipset drivers for the

motherboard as well as any drivers you might need for the installed

hardware.

 

"John Waller" <johnw@REMOVETHISpinnacleweb.com.au> wrote in message

news:uFPupbDwHHA.3560@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> You've had some sound advice.

>

> Wipe the drive and re-install XP from scratch.

>

> --

> Regards

>

> John Waller

>

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

Bill wrote:

> I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows ME

> (under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account upgraded

> from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

> internet.

>

> I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses and

> spyware.

>

> Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP system?

>

> Thanks!!!

>

>

 

 

 

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers

but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest

course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start

fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may

have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because

the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

Bill wrote:

>

>

> I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor.

 

 

Also, if you're concerned about stability, remove these two pieces of

crapware; they'll do more harm than good.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

[Guest Bill]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote...

> On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 20:23:59 -0400, "Bill" wrote:

>

> > I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows

ME

> > (under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account

upgraded

> > from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

> > internet.

> >

> > I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses

and

> > spyware.

> >

> > Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP

system?

>

>

>

> If I bought a used computer, the very first thing I would do with it

> would be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea

> how the computer has been maintained, what has been installed

> incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be,

> etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and

> problems, possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend

> that anyone else do either.

 

Thanks to everyone that responded.

 

As I had already written, from my original post, please understand that I have already

scanned the system for viruses and spyware.

 

Also, as a result of your posts I've since wiped the free space and searched for, ah,

"inappropriate" images.

 

I understand that Best Practices demand that I wipe the HD and re-install Windows XP.

 

But I must tell you now that the sole reason why I bought this used desktop is because

it has installed on it a licensed copy of a program that is no longer available, and

uses a DRM license (enabled over the internet) from a company that no longer exists.

 

So, wiping the HD is definitely not an option. I NEED this program.

 

Again, I'm wondering if there is a way to check/test the stability of the OS.

 

(BTW, Windows Update hasn't been run on this computer in 1½ years - I know that in these

cases this can often fix minor OS issues.)

 

Thanks!

[Guest Ron Martell]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

"Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I've bought a used 2GHz Windows XP computer that I think is an upgrade from Windows ME

>(under user accounts there is a description for 'newuser' that states "Account upgraded

>from Windows Millennium Edition"). I have not yet hooked the computer up to the

>internet.

>

>I've run Norton DiskDoctor and Norton Windoctor. I've already scanned for viruses and

>spyware.

>

>Is there anything I can do to check/test the stability of this used Windows XP system?

>

>Thanks!!!

>

 

As for an upgrade from Windows Me that, in itself, should not be any

problem. The upgrade procedure for Windows XP starts by renaming the

existing Windows directory, creating a new one and doing a clean

install of Windows XP into the new directory. Then it imports

whatever is needed, and only what is needed, from the old Windows

directory for the upgrade.

 

My own system is an upgrade from Windows Me, which in turn was

upgraded from Windows 98SE, and that was upgraded from Windows 98

original, and so back to Windows for Workgroups 3.11 which was the

last time I did a clean install for my own personal system.

 

But I do agree with the others with respect to both the purchase of a

used computer, where a reformat and reinstall is the only prudent

option, and also with regard to getting rid of Norton Disk Destroyer

and Norton Witch Doctor and any other Norton/Symantec crapware.

 

Good luck

 

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

--

Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)

On-Line Help Computer Service

http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

 

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference

has never been in bed with a mosquito."

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

How many generations of hardware does that encompass, Ron?

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"Ron Martell" <ron.martell@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:eiuv83pjfhmvun2jvk3b8arbd0vrvnhb7j@4ax.com...

> My own system is an upgrade from Windows Me, which in turn was

> upgraded from Windows 98SE, and that was upgraded from Windows 98

> original, and so back to Windows for Workgroups 3.11 which was the

> last time I did a clean install for my own personal system.

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 15:29:53 -0400, "Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com>

wrote:

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote...

> >

> > If I bought a used computer, the very first thing I would do with it

> > would be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea

> > how the computer has been maintained, what has been installed

> > incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be,

> > etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and

> > problems, possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend

> > that anyone else do either.

>

> Thanks to everyone that responded.

>

> As I had already written, from my original post, please understand that I have already

> scanned the system for viruses and spyware.

>

> Also, as a result of your posts I've since wiped the free space and searched for, ah,

> "inappropriate" images.

>

> I understand that Best Practices demand that I wipe the HD and re-install Windows XP.

>

> But I must tell you now that the sole reason why I bought this used desktop is because

> it has installed on it a licensed copy of a program that is no longer available, and

> uses a DRM license (enabled over the internet) from a company that no longer exists.

>

> So, wiping the HD is definitely not an option. I NEED this program.

 

 

If you NEED (your emphasis) a program that is installed on an existing

computer, and you have no way of reinstalling it if necessary, you are

in a very precarious position indeed. It is always possible that a

hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike, virus attack,

even theft of the computer, can cause the loss of everything on your

drive. As has often been said, it's not a matter of whether you will

have such a problem, but when.

 

You don't say what the program is, or why you NEED it, but if I were

in your shoes, I would work very hard, and as quickly as possible, to

get myself out of that NEED situation.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Bill]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote...

> If you NEED (your emphasis) a program that is installed on an existing

> computer, and you have no way of reinstalling it if necessary, you are

> in a very precarious position indeed. It is always possible that a

> hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike, virus attack,

> even theft of the computer, can cause the loss of everything on your

> drive. As has often been said, it's not a matter of whether you will

> have such a problem, but when.

 

Well, since I am being drawn out more and more here away from my original question, at

present the program is installed on another computer I've owned for year,.a Windows 98SE

laptop.

>

> You don't say what the program is, or why you NEED it, but if I were

> in your shoes, I would work very hard, and as quickly as possible, to

> get myself out of that NEED situation.

 

Until that time, I NEED this program.

 

The final issue here is that no one here seems interested in even coming close to

answering my original question on how to test/check/whatever the stability of a Windows

XP operating system.

 

Everyone seems more interested in shying me away from that issue, as if I don't have

enough technical common sense to know what I'm doing. Instead of turning this into an

issue of who has more experience, I'm going to attempt to ask one last time:

 

Is there a way to test/check/whatever the stability of a Windows XP operating system and

what is it?

 

(I'm beginning to get the feeling that there is no way to do this, is there?)

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

There is no magic bullet. If the system runs decently, it's fine. I suppose

you could use this or that bench-marking tool, but the results are going to

be pretty meaningless.

 

Make sure the system is up to date, run several formal malware scans

(http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm is one place to refer to), then run several

more (online AV scans, for instance), clean up TEMP and TIF files and

defrag, etc., wait and see if any errors or apparent performance problems

surface, then deal with them as they arise.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23RPdTSPwHHA.4516@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote...

>> If you NEED (your emphasis) a program that is installed on an existing

>> computer, and you have no way of reinstalling it if necessary, you are

>> in a very precarious position indeed. It is always possible that a

>> hard drive crash, user error, nearby lightning strike, virus attack,

>> even theft of the computer, can cause the loss of everything on your

>> drive. As has often been said, it's not a matter of whether you will

>> have such a problem, but when.

>

> Well, since I am being drawn out more and more here away from my original

> question, at

> present the program is installed on another computer I've owned for

> year,.a Windows 98SE

> laptop.

>

>>

>> You don't say what the program is, or why you NEED it, but if I were

>> in your shoes, I would work very hard, and as quickly as possible, to

>> get myself out of that NEED situation.

>

> Until that time, I NEED this program.

>

> The final issue here is that no one here seems interested in even coming

> close to

> answering my original question on how to test/check/whatever the stability

> of a Windows

> XP operating system.

>

> Everyone seems more interested in shying me away from that issue, as if I

> don't have

> enough technical common sense to know what I'm doing. Instead of turning

> this into an

> issue of who has more experience, I'm going to attempt to ask one last

> time:

>

> Is there a way to test/check/whatever the stability of a Windows XP

> operating system and

> what is it?

>

> (I'm beginning to get the feeling that there is no way to do this, is

> there?)

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest Bill]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote..

> There is no magic bullet. If the system runs decently, it's fine. I suppose

> you could use this or that bench-marking tool, but the results are going to

> be pretty meaningless.

>

> Make sure the system is up to date, run several formal malware scans

> (http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm is one place to refer to), then run several

> more (online AV scans, for instance), clean up TEMP and TIF files and

> defrag, etc., wait and see if any errors or apparent performance problems

> surface, then deal with them as they arise.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

 

Gary, THANKS so much, you're clearly the only person who has enough experience to answer

my question properly!

 

(everybody else who [did not] answer my question really needs to stop pretending and get

a clue...!)

 

BTW, nice website you have: http://www.grystmill.com

 

Thanks again,

 

Bill.

[Guest John Waller]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

> (everybody else who [did not] answer my question really needs to stop

> pretending and get

> a clue...!)

 

That's a disappointing comment to leave this thread with, Bill.

 

Was it really necessary?

 

Everybody else has done their best to be professional, helpful and give you

long term advice on best practice for the future. Sorry it didn't interest

you.

 

 

--

Regards

 

John Waller

[Guest Gary S. Terhune]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

I was thinking the same thing as the others. Until you clarified the

situation.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"Bill" <Bill124523@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23LT48%23PwHHA.3508@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote..

>> There is no magic bullet. If the system runs decently, it's fine. I

>> suppose

>> you could use this or that bench-marking tool, but the results are going

>> to

>> be pretty meaningless.

>>

>> Make sure the system is up to date, run several formal malware scans

>> (http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm is one place to refer to), then run several

>> more (online AV scans, for instance), clean up TEMP and TIF files and

>> defrag, etc., wait and see if any errors or apparent performance problems

>> surface, then deal with them as they arise.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> Gary, THANKS so much, you're clearly the only person who has enough

> experience to answer

> my question properly!

>

> (everybody else who [did not] answer my question really needs to stop

> pretending and get

> a clue...!)

>

> BTW, nice website you have: http://www.grystmill.com

>

> Thanks again,

>

> Bill.

>

>

>

>

[Guest Ron Martell]

Re: Stability of an Upgrade to Windows XP?

 

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>How many generations of hardware does that encompass, Ron?

 

More than a few, except possibly for the power cord. But I couldn't

say exactly how many.

 

I am an inveterate tinkerer when it comes to computer hardware and

whenever the budget will allow I will upgrade various components of

the system. Next on the list is a move from an IDE to a SATA hard

drive, as my current motherboard (replaced it last fall) has SATA

support whereas the old one (now running a beta product in my

workshop) did not.

 

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

--

Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)

On-Line Help Computer Service

http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

 

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference

has never been in bed with a mosquito."