Help with upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter OrmesbyJohn
  • Start date Start date
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OrmesbyJohn

Just received nice new Abit board. Going to install this, together
with new PSU, Athlon XP cpu, graphics card, memory units and new Western
Digital
120gb hard drive into existing box.
This being my first upgrade I'd be glad of advice....

The OS I have is Win98.
1.Does the team think it will be sensible to persist with the 1998/1999
vintage Win98 on this pc upgrade or are there many advantages in biting the
bullet and purchasing and installing a new XP Home OS at this time?
2.I noticed a local outlet has XP Home software for sale at low price. Its
classed as OEM though ...would that be ok?...And will I be able to do the
initial boot from the CD or would I still need a boot floppy even with XP?

Thanks.
 
2.I noticed a local outlet has XP Home software for sale at low price. Its
classed as OEM though ...would that be ok?...And will I be able to do the
initial boot from the CD or would I still need a boot floppy even with XP?
Click to expand...

Try this thread but read all before rushing to decide as there are
differences.
http://xtremods.com/vbulletin/showthread/t-2044.html

I believe OEM versions can only be installed on virgin PC (eg no upgrade
from Win95/8) but I recommend a clean install anyway.

The main difference is support. Support costs money to provide and in theory
it accounts for most of the difference between Retail and OEM versions. If
you buy a cheap OEM version then expect to support it yourself or using free
forums like this (eg no MS telephone support).

Check you can get WinXP drivers for any peripherals that you might have (eg
printer, scanner, storage cards) before you decide which way to go. The main
cause of problems seems to be use of Win95/8 or earlier device drivers in an
XP system..

I built my own PC and opted for clean install of OEM version and it's been
very very stable for 18 months.

No need for a floppy drive. The OEM version will boot and offer to format
your HD drive if necessary.

Colin (not an MVP)
 
I forgot... I think the OEM version can only be activated on one PC (which
is the same as the Retail version) but what I mean is you can't move the OEM
version to a new PC in say 2 years time.... but then it is a lot cheaper.
 
CWatters said:
I forgot... I think the OEM version can only be activated on one PC (which
is the same as the Retail version) but what I mean is you can't move the OEM
version to a new PC in say 2 years time.... but then it is a lot cheaper.

-------------------
Click to expand...
Excellent. TVM - My mind is now made up :-)
 
In
OrmesbyJohn said:
Just received nice new Abit board. Going to install this, together
with new PSU, Athlon XP cpu, graphics card, memory units and new
Western Digital
120gb hard drive into existing box.
This being my first upgrade I'd be glad of advice....

The OS I have is Win98.
1.Does the team think it will be sensible to persist with the
1998/1999 vintage Win98 on this pc upgrade or are there many
advantages in biting the bullet and purchasing and installing a new
XP Home OS at this time?
Click to expand...


My view is that you're going about this backward. A change of
operating system should be driven by need, not just because there
is a new version available. Are you having a problem with Windows
98 that you expect XP to solve? Do you have or expect to get new
hardware or software that is supported in XP, but not in 98? Is
there some new feature in XP that you need or yearn for? Does
your job require you have skills in XP? Are you a computer
hobbyist who enjoys playing with whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes, then you
should get XP. Otherwise most people should stick with what they
have.


2.I noticed a local outlet has XP Home software for sale at low
price. Its classed as OEM though ...would that be ok?...
Click to expand...


It's *OK" but be aware of the following: The OEM version can only
legally be sold with hardware, although these days, any piece of
hardware, even a power cord, qualifies. Although if you get a
complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software, it
has the following disadvantages as compared with the retail
version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer,
sold, or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You have to
get any needed support from your OEM, and that may range anywhere
between good and non-existent.


And will I
be able to do the initial boot from the CD or would I still need a
boot floppy even with XP?
Click to expand...


All versions of XP, including OEM, come on bootable CDs.
 
Ken Blake said:
In


My view is that you're going about this backward. A change of
operating system should be driven by need, not just because there
is a new version available. Are you having a problem with Windows
98 that you expect XP to solve? Do you have or expect to get new
hardware or software that is supported in XP, but not in 98? Is
there some new feature in XP that you need or yearn for? Does
your job require you have skills in XP? Are you a computer
hobbyist who enjoys playing with whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes, then you
should get XP. Otherwise most people should stick with what they
have.





It's *OK" but be aware of the following: The OEM version can only
legally be sold with hardware, although these days, any piece of
hardware, even a power cord, qualifies. Although if you get a
complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software, it
has the following disadvantages as compared with the retail
version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer,
sold, or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You have to
get any needed support from your OEM, and that may range anywhere
between good and non-existent.





All versions of XP, including OEM, come on bootable CDs.
Click to expand...
----------------------
Thanks for all the advice. Currently half way through the upgrade - big turn
on tomorrow/Saturday...fingers crossed....decided to invest in XP after all
:-)

BTW when you say > 3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions.
does that include the Microsoft on-line automatic upgrades?
Thanks.
 
BTW when you say > 3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions.
does that include the Microsoft on-line automatic upgrades?
Click to expand...

No, or is it yes? What I mean is.... Yes you can still run Windows Update if
you have the OEM version.
 
OrmesbyJohn said:
Update
Click to expand...
----------------
Thanks for advice.
Job now done.
Decided to be cautious...added the minimum to start with then unit by unit
thereafter.
Also got XP and that helped...no boot up floppies required...and held hand
through the hard drive partitioning and formatting procedure.
 
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