Dropdowns? Drop Dead.

  • Thread starter Thread starter conniec
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C

conniec

I recently upgraded from Windows 98 to Windows XP Home
Edition, and have painfully been working my way through
innumerable problems. This one is simple: whenever I
point my mouse to a drop-down arrow and click, my system
locks up. Any thoughts, advice, comments, similar
experiences? Respectfully, conniec
 
Dig out the receipts and manuals and paperwork for your computer, and figure
out exactly which video card you have. Go to the web site for the card's
manufacturer and download & install the latest video drivers for XP.

Upgrading one OS to another is analogous to sticking your hand into the sink
disposal while it's running, and then dipping the wounded hand into salt.
The right way is to get all your data off the disk and onto a safe storage
medium, erase the hard disk completely, and install the new OS (XP, in your
case) to a nice clean disk. If you continue having all sorts of problems
which suggest haunting, you may eventually have to go this route.
 
In
Doug Kanter said:
Upgrading one OS to another is analogous to sticking your hand into
the sink disposal while it's running, and then dipping the wounded
hand into salt. The right way is to get all your data off the disk
and onto a safe storage medium, erase the hard disk completely, and
install the new OS (XP, in your case) to a nice clean disk.
Click to expand...


This is tired old advice, which was much more true with older
operating systems than it is with Windows XP. An upgrade to
Windows XP replaces so much of what's on the drive that it's very
close to a clean installation anyway.

My recommendation to most people is 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.
 
Your analogy is quite vivid, and describes my situation
quite well. (ouch!) I have downloaded the latest drivers
for my video card. I am so frustrated that I am perfectly
willing to start from scratch. Can I do that if I
purchased an upgrade CD as opposed to the "full package"?
I am very appreciative of the time you have taken to help
me.
 
In


This is tired old advice, which was much more true with older
operating systems than it is with Windows XP. An upgrade to
Windows XP replaces so much of what's on the drive that it's very
close to a clean installation anyway.
Click to expand...

1) It may *seem* like tired old advice, but this and other XP newsgroups are
chock full messages from users with oddball problems which don't fit neatly
into any of the "usual categories". If these problems are solved at all,
it's pure luck, not a systematic approach that does the trick.

2) When upgrading, the target computer is a complete unknown. There is no
way of knowing what the user has installed in the past, out of a huge
universe of commercial software, shareware and freeware. The potential for
DLL conflicts is horrendous (and obvious).

3) The only DISadvantage of reformatting and doing a clean install is that
most users don't have a backup procedure in place. The reformat method may
force some users to adopt good procedures, which is obviously a good thing.

My recommendation to most people is 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.
Click to expand...

Good recommendation. I agree. But, don't some users purchase a version of XP
which won't install to a clean disk? I'm fuzzy on this issue.
 
Connie:
Ken (who posted a message related to your question) should be able to tell
you if your CD is usable on a totally blank hard disk. Or, the instructions
which came with the disk may help. Finally, it may require a visit to the MS
web site to get this information.

These two links will be very helpful. The PC Magazine site will want to set
a cookie, and you may have to register in order to read the article. Accept
the cookies and register. The site does NOT send junk mail unless you
subscribe to their various newsletters, most of which are very helpful. The
second link is more detailed. It describes two ways of wiping the disk. One
method allows the WinXP install program to do the job, and the second
describes more or a manual way, which is more dependable.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1202609,00.asp
http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/aug02/010802.html

If you read both and do NOT have questions, something's wrong. :-) Feel free
to email me directly. Do not use the hotmail address connected with this
newsgroup message.I never check that account. Use: dougkanter
at
frontiernet
period
net

Understand?

-Doug
 
In
Doug Kanter said:
1) It may *seem* like tired old advice, but this and other XP
newsgroups are chock full messages from users with oddball problems
which don't fit neatly into any of the "usual categories". If these
problems are solved at all, it's pure luck, not a systematic approach
that does the trick.
Click to expand...


Newsgroups are always full of problems. That's what newsgroups
are for. SOme problems occur after upgrades, some come after
clean installations. Most are caused by the user.


2) When upgrading, the target computer is a complete unknown. There
is no way of knowing what the user has installed in the past, out of
a huge universe of commercial software, shareware and freeware. The
potential for DLL conflicts is horrendous (and obvious).
Click to expand...
3) The only DISadvantage of reformatting and doing a clean install is
that most users don't have a backup procedure in place.
Click to expand...


I don't agree that it's the only disadvantage. Many people have
sizable investments in configuring their system and apps the way
the like them. Just backing up, installing cleanly, and restoring
the data doesn't preserve this investment. You still have to
reinstall all your programs, you have to reinstall all the
Windows and application updates,you have to locate and install
all the needed drivers for your system, you have to recustomize
Windows and all your apps to work the way you're comfortable
with. Besides all those things being time-consuming and
troublesome, you may have trouble with some of them: can you find
all your application CDs? Can you find all the needed
installation codes? Do you have data backups to restore? Do you
even remember all the customizations and tweaks you may have
installed to make everything work the way you like?

The reformat
method may force some users to adopt good procedures, which is
obviously a good thing.
Click to expand...


Yes, I agree with that. But even doing an upgrade, I always
advise that a backup be done first. You never know when something
may go wrong and everything get lost.

Good recommendation. I agree.
Click to expand...


In that case, our opinions are not as far apart as they initially
seemed.

But, don't some users purchase a
version of XP which won't install to a clean disk? I'm fuzzy on this
issue.
Click to expand...


No, all versions can do a clean installation, even an upgrade
version. The upgrade version just requires that you insert the CD
of a previous qualifying version as proof of ownership when
prompted to do so.
 
In
Doug Kanter said:
Connie:
Ken (who posted a message related to your question) should be able to
tell you if your CD is usable on a totally blank hard disk.
Click to expand...


Yes, as i just said in the message to you. As long as she has a
Windows 98 installation CD (not a restore CD) the XP upgrade CD
will work fine.
 
Newsgroups are always full of problems. That's what newsgroups
are for. SOme problems occur after upgrades, some come after
clean installations. Most are caused by the user.
Click to expand...

User-caused problems are one category. Surely, you're aware of the other
patterns:

1) Security updates which come with default settings that befuddle users.
How many questions have you seen about the sudden inability to see or open
attachments in OE? 7.3 million messages? :-) Obviously, this is a case of
"RTFI" (read the f&&king instructions), but still.....

2) Known conflicts with software from manufacturers who are at least honest
enough to post solutions.

3) RTFI problems, in general. (The kids ate the instruction book. Sure.)

4) Complete mysteries. These aren't that hard to deal with, really, if you
control as many factors as possible when choosing and installing software.

I don't agree that it's the only disadvantage. Many people have
sizable investments in configuring their system and apps the way
the like them. Just backing up, installing cleanly, and restoring
the data doesn't preserve this investment. You still have to
reinstall all your programs, you have to reinstall all the
Windows and application updates,you have to locate and install
all the needed drivers for your system, you have to recustomize
Windows and all your apps to work the way you're comfortable
with. Besides all those things being time-consuming and
troublesome, you may have trouble with some of them: can you find
all your application CDs? Can you find all the needed
installation codes? Do you have data backups to restore? Do you
even remember all the customizations and tweaks you may have
installed to make everything work the way you like?
Click to expand...

Oh well. Who said moving to a new house was fun or easy? But once it'd done,
it's good for a long time.
 
[snip]
Good recommendation. I agree. But, don't some users purchase a version of XP
which won't install to a clean disk? I'm fuzzy on this issue.
Click to expand...

All versions of Windows XP will install to a clean drive. OEM versions are
not designed, and can not be forced, to upgrade. Full Retail versions can
upgrade and Upgrade versions can do a clean install provided the request for
a qualifying product is satisfied at the beginning of installation.
 
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