Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

[Guest PlasmaRelay]

I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

"clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

 

--

PlasmaRelay

San Antonio, TX

[Guest Alias]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

PlasmaRelay wrote:

> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

 

Yes, back up your data and do a clean install. No use dragging Me

baggage with you and you should format the drive to NTFS first, which XP

will do as a matter of course during the install.

 

Here's a good guide for clean installing XP:

 

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

You can use an Upgrade XP CD if you still have your Me CD. I trust you

have your motherboard CD, sound, video, etc, yes? If not, get the

drivers and put them on some external media to have them on hand to

insall when you finish installing XP.

 

Alias

[Guest JS]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

Since you are in the position to try both:

Start with the 'Upgrade' path (no need to activate XP immediately after

upgrade), try your applications after the upgrade and if you find no

problems after a few days then Activate. Also check your disk space before

your start.

 

My personal preference is to do a 'Clean Install'.

However before you start:

Make sure you have the XP version of drivers you need for your motherboard,

video card, sound card, Etc. you will need from Dell's web site.

Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Belarc does a good job of providing a wealth of information including

software Key codes

and identifies the Devices you will need Drivers for (works on ME and XP).

Next: Back up any important data files, documents, email, etc to a CD/DVD

Do this before you start the clean install.

Next check to make sure you have all your application CDs and key code for

each app that requires it.

Then do the clean install, see below.

 

How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP:

From Michael Steven's: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm

also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

JS

 

"PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

>I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

>Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

> really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

> --

> PlasmaRelay

> San Antonio, TX

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:43:02 -0800, PlasmaRelay

<PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

 

 

Four comments:

 

1. As much as I think Windows XP is a much better operating system

than Windows Me, I never agree with a point of view like "it is about

time to upgrade to ...," regardless of what or how good whatever you

are considering upgrading to is. You should upgrade, not because

something new and *perhaps* better is available, but only if you have

identified clear advantages to the new operating system--for example,

it supports newer hardware or software that you want to acquire, and

your present operating system does not. Whenever you upgrade, there is

*always* a risk of problems, and there is always a learning curve. You

should go through that learning process and accept that risk, only if

there is a clearly-defined advantage to doing so.

 

2. 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.

 

3. There have been a couple of generations of new Windows versions

since Me. If you do decide to upgrade, to me it makes no sense to take

the intermediate step of going to an operating system on its way out.

Despite the naysayers, Vista works just fine, if your hardware is

adequate for it, and I recommend that you upgrade to that, if

anything.

 

4. Whether you upgrade to XP or to Vista, if your computer dates from

the Windows Me era, it is *highly* unlikely that your hardware is

anywhere near adequate. Besides upgrading the operating system, you

would also need to make substantial hardware improvements, and if you

have to upgrade a lot, it's often less expensive to just buy a whole

new computer.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

But if he does this, he's going to end up with a somewhat dirty system, AND

he will be stuck with FAT32 (at least for awhile). Doesn't it make more

prudent sense for him to start afresh?

 

JS wrote:

> Since you are in the position to try both:

> Start with the 'Upgrade' path (no need to activate XP immediately after

> upgrade), try your applications after the upgrade and if you find no

> problems after a few days then Activate. Also check your disk space before

> your start.

>

> My personal preference is to do a 'Clean Install'.

> However before you start:

> Make sure you have the XP version of drivers you need for your

> motherboard,

> video card, sound card, Etc. you will need from Dell's web site.

> Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

> Belarc does a good job of providing a wealth of information including

> software Key codes

> and identifies the Devices you will need Drivers for (works on ME and XP).

> Next: Back up any important data files, documents, email, etc to a CD/DVD

> Do this before you start the clean install.

> Next check to make sure you have all your application CDs and key code for

> each app that requires it.

> Then do the clean install, see below.

>

> How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP:

> From Michael Steven's:

> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

> more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

> and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm

> also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

>

> JS

>

> "PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

>> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

>> Me. No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to

>> Windows

>> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

>> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

>> really

>> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>>

>> --

>> PlasmaRelay

>> San Antonio, TX

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

Windows ME was the only edition of Windows that I felt was a mistake to

migrate from using an in-place upgrade. I used the Dell provided upgrade cd

to upgrade to XP Home (XP had just released and Dell had offered a free

upgrade to XP with new machines). The system was stable for no more than

six hours. I made several reinstallations and upgrades with the same result

and wound up buying a retail edition of XP and doing a clean install.

 

Dell knows what they are talking about here. Do a clean install.

 

"PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

>I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

>Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

> really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

> --

> PlasmaRelay

> San Antonio, TX

[Guest Soundlady]

RE: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

we recently upgraded a family members computer from me to xp and did not do a

clean install we kept partitions from old one and now that we have xp on it

and it wont let us reinstall to go back and delte all old stuff because it

says we have a newer version than is on the disk. I suppose this was due to

upgrading after we installed. So i suggest to any wipe it all out and install

all new otherwise u will have problems with the old stuff sitting in ur

computer. I am no expert but I am disappointed that xp will not let me

reinstall because of this.

--

Soundlady

 

 

"PlasmaRelay" wrote:

> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

> --

> PlasmaRelay

> San Antonio, TX

[Guest JS]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

I did indicate my preference, but if he has time to play/try the upgrade

path it can't hurt and even if the upgrade is mucked up he can always start

clean.

 

JS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:en0t05mcIHA.1376@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> But if he does this, he's going to end up with a somewhat dirty system,

> AND he will be stuck with FAT32 (at least for awhile). Doesn't it make

> more prudent sense for him to start afresh?

>

> JS wrote:

>> Since you are in the position to try both:

>> Start with the 'Upgrade' path (no need to activate XP immediately after

>> upgrade), try your applications after the upgrade and if you find no

>> problems after a few days then Activate. Also check your disk space

>> before

>> your start.

>>

>> My personal preference is to do a 'Clean Install'.

>> However before you start:

>> Make sure you have the XP version of drivers you need for your

>> motherboard,

>> video card, sound card, Etc. you will need from Dell's web site.

>> Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

>> Belarc does a good job of providing a wealth of information including

>> software Key codes

>> and identifies the Devices you will need Drivers for (works on ME and

>> XP).

>> Next: Back up any important data files, documents, email, etc to a CD/DVD

>> Do this before you start the clean install.

>> Next check to make sure you have all your application CDs and key code

>> for

>> each app that requires it.

>> Then do the clean install, see below.

>>

>> How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP:

>> From Michael Steven's:

>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

>> more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

>> and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm

>> also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

>>

>> JS

>>

>> "PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

>>> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using

>>> Windows

>>> Me. No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to

>>> Windows

>>> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

>>> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

>>> really

>>> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>>>

>>> --

>>> PlasmaRelay

>>> San Antonio, TX

>

>

[Guest philo]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

 

"PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

>

 

 

I work on literally hundreds of machines a year

and am an authorized Microsoft refurbisher and I assure you a clean install

is the way to go.

 

I can elaborate in full if you wish..

but want to keep this post short

 

However, if your present system is working OK...

I'd just keep it. No need to upgrade merely for the sake of having something

new.

[Guest Karl Snooks]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

PlasmaRelay,

Follow the advice of the people in the Dell forum and do a clean install.

 

I assume they also are familiar with your particular model and whether all

components are compatible and advising you on using the /checkupgradeonly

option of the XP CD winnt32.

 

__________

Karl Snooks

 

"PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

>I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

>Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

> really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

> --

> PlasmaRelay

> San Antonio, TX

[Guest Script]

RE: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

You will likely find that only W2K drivers are available for that machine,

not true XP drivers.

 

"PlasmaRelay" wrote:

> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

> --

> PlasmaRelay

> San Antonio, TX

[Guest Soundlady]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

Thank you all for the info I may try a clean instal and redo it this week end

i want all the old files gone all they are doing is taking up memory for

what i see. Thank you again

God Bless'

Soundlady

--

Soundlady

 

 

"philo" wrote:

>

> "PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

> > I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows

> Me.

> > No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

> > XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

> > "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

> really

> > the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

> >

> >

>

>

> I work on literally hundreds of machines a year

> and am an authorized Microsoft refurbisher and I assure you a clean install

> is the way to go.

>

> I can elaborate in full if you wish..

> but want to keep this post short

>

> However, if your present system is working OK...

> I'd just keep it. No need to upgrade merely for the sake of having something

> new.

>

>

>

[Guest philo]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

 

"Soundlady" <yougotit@example.com(donotspam)> wrote in message

news:BF91C529-CAED-48BF-A062-EC51BE508BB8@microsoft.com...

> Thank you all for the info I may try a clean instal and redo it this week

end

> i want all the old files gone all they are doing is taking up memory for

> what i see. Thank you again

> God Bless'

> Soundlady

 

 

Ok please post back and let us know how it went.

 

BTW: If there is anything on the machine such as pictures or letters etc

that you do not want to loose...

be sure to burn the data to a CD's or DVD's first.

If you format the drive and perform a clean install. everything on there

will be gone...

but it sounds like that's what you want to do

 

> --

> Soundlady

>

>

> "philo" wrote:

>

> >

> > "PlasmaRelay" <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> > news:29A4C6FE-85BB-4004-9EF4-A21F4E017160@microsoft.com...

> > > I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using

Windows

> > Me.

> > > No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to

Windows

> > > XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do

a

> > > "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that

> > really

> > > the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > I work on literally hundreds of machines a year

> > and am an authorized Microsoft refurbisher and I assure you a clean

install

> > is the way to go.

> >

> > I can elaborate in full if you wish..

> > but want to keep this post short

> >

> > However, if your present system is working OK...

> > I'd just keep it. No need to upgrade merely for the sake of having

something

> > new.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest Mazie]

Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from Windows Me

 

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

> On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:43:02 -0800, PlasmaRelay

> <PlasmaRelay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

>> I have a Dell Dimension 8100 purchased in 2001 and am still using Windows Me.

>> No real problems with it, but think it is about time to upgrade to Windows

>> XP. On the Dell Forum, I asked about this and it was recommended to do a

>> "clean install" of Windows XP, rather than doing an upgrade. Is that really

>> the best way to do this? Appreciate any comments on this. Thank you.

>

>

> Four comments:

>

> 1. As much as I think Windows XP is a much better operating system

> than Windows Me, I never agree with a point of view like "it is about

> time to upgrade to ...," regardless of what or how good whatever you

> are considering upgrading to is. You should upgrade, not because

> something new and *perhaps* better is available, but only if you have

> identified clear advantages to the new operating system--for example,

> it supports newer hardware or software that you want to acquire, and

> your present operating system does not. Whenever you upgrade, there is

> *always* a risk of problems, and there is always a learning curve. You

> should go through that learning process and accept that risk, only if

> there is a clearly-defined advantage to doing so.

>

> 2. 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.

>

> 3. There have been a couple of generations of new Windows versions

> since Me. If you do decide to upgrade, to me it makes no sense to take

> the intermediate step of going to an operating system on its way out.

> Despite the naysayers, Vista works just fine, if your hardware is

> adequate for it, and I recommend that you upgrade to that, if

> anything.

>

> 4. Whether you upgrade to XP or to Vista, if your computer dates from

> the Windows Me era, it is *highly* unlikely that your hardware is

> anywhere near adequate. Besides upgrading the operating system, you

> would also need to make substantial hardware improvements, and if you

> have to upgrade a lot, it's often less expensive to just buy a whole

> new computer.

>

 

As someone with the same model of Dell laptop computer from the

same year, I'll say - This computer worked reasonably well with

WinMe but better with XP (plus the service packs) even if not

overly blessed with ram. Never had a problem with running older

software, peripherals, external devices, drivers once upgraded.

If you can do it cost effectively, I'd recommend upgrading it to

XP. However, there is no way it will ever run Vista.

 

Ann

 

--

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