Re: Upgrading from Win98 to XP Home Edition

[Guest Tommieg]

Re: Upgrading from Win98 to XP Home Edition

 

There is also a great web site,crucial.com that can tell you exactly how much

memory you can put in each slot...

 

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

>

>

> In news:CAA87FD2-4C64-46C9-887C-628761F02469@microsoft.com,

> xiowan <xiowan@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:

> > Hi Lanwench:

> > Thanks for the quick reply. The computer I'm upgrading only has

> > three memory slots; 2 have 128 MB already. Can I put in a different

> > capicity such as 256 MB in the remaining slot or does it have to

> > match the 2 128 MB cards?

>

> Depends on your motherboard, really. Check with Gateway support.

>

> > And......how do I tell how much memory the

> > old computer can handle without suffering a premature demise?

>

> Check with Gateway or the documentation.

>

> > I'm

> > sure XP can handle anything I put in but does the motherboard have a

> > maximum capacity?

>

> Yes, likely.

>

> > I plan on just wiping the new hard drive before

> > installing the O.S. so should be no virus probs. I have already

> > bought a new AGP graphics card and PCI sound card compatible with XP

> > or Win98 so just need to decide when the best time to install

> > them.....prior to, or after XP O.S. install?

>

> Well, if you're not planning to do an upgrade in place, but wipe/reinstall,

> install the new hardware first.

>

> > I still am confused on

> > how to get the "device manager" to find the new software on the card

> > cds or from downloaded files.

> I suppose there must be a command you

> > type in the window under "search for" ?

>

> Choose the option to load drivers from "location x" (that being a folder

> where you've got the drivers) when prompted - if you even need to do this.

> Windows will likely recognize most of what you install. But do have drivers

> handy for the video & network card at the very least, so you can do the rest

> of the driver/Windows updates on that PC. (don't download device drivers

> from Windows Update!)

>

> >

> > xiowan....retired in tucson

> >

> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> >

> >>

> >>

> >> In news:AA2714AA-C0AD-4412-9504-E1B3AB7EF536@microsoft.com,

> >> xiowan <xiowan@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:

> >>> Hi All:

> >>> I recently bought a new dual core XP computer to replace my old

> >>> computer with a bad hard disk. Feeling brave, I installed a new

> >>> 120 GB hard drive and doubled the memory on the old computer,

> >>> installed Win98 and realized that it was about to become obsolete

> >>> next year. I am planning to give this old computer to my niece as

> >>> a first computer and would like to update it to XP Home O.S. It is

> >>> a Gateway Pentium II desktop with 256 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard drive

> >>> and runs at 350 MHz. This seems to meet the requirements for XP

> >>> Home O.S. My question is....I think the old AGP graphics card and

> >>> PCI sound card may not be compatible and am wondering if I should

> >>> replace them with new ones prior to or after installing XP Home

> >>> O.S.? I am not too familiar with installing drivers and software

> >>> for new hardware and thought maybe it might be easier to do with XP

> >>> than Win98? I usually run into trouble when the box comes up

> >>> saying new hardware has been detected and it wants me to point out

> >>> where the driver and software are! I know it's on the cd that

> >>> comes with the hardware but don't know how to tell the O.S. how to

> >>> download the drivers and software. Any help you can provide me

> >>> would be appreciated!

> >>>

> >>> xiowan....retired in Tucson

> >>

> >> Try running the compatibility check (insert the upgrade CD and

> >> autorun should take you from there). You can also check the hardware

> >> compatibility list (see Microsoft's website for this; I don't have a

> >> link handy.

> >>

> >> Re driver updates - get them from the hw manufacturer as needed, and

> >> install them in device manager.

> >>

> >> Remember to uninstall your antivirus software before you do this

> >> upgrade, and I also suggest you run some antispyware scans to make

> >> sure the machine is as clean as you can get it.

> >>

> >> Note that 256MB RAM will run, but it'll be pokey. If you can upgrade

> >> it to 512 she'll have a much better experience.

>

>

>