sylvain said:
I want to migrate my PC from W2K to XP. Will I keep all my data and
programs or will XP installation will re-format my disk
Answered Elsewhere - please CROSSPOST as opposed to MULTI-POSTING.
Windows XP will do what you tell it to or what it is capable of depending on
what you purchase. Nothing more or less.
If you get a retail version of XP (not an OEM copy) then you can either get
an Upgrade or Full version. If you get the upgrade, no problem - upgrade
away. However, with the upgrade, you will always at least have the install
media for a former product lying around. If you get the Full version, also
no problem, upgrade away. The advantage being you have the option in the
future to uninstall and move it around with no worries.
If you buy an OEM Windows XP, you will format and you will lose data. That
is the nature of the beast and what you get for saving the cash.
However, even if you go the upgrade/full retail route, you should do a few
things to be sure you are ready and to stay clean afterwards:
1) Which version of Windows XP do you want/need?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
2) Will your computer handle Windows XP?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
3) Purchase your Retail copy (NOT OEM) of Windows XP (Professional or
Home -- Upgrade or Full).
4) Upgrade your current OS. Stay disconnected from the Internet until you
turn on your firewall and have an updated/working AntiVirus software
installed. Once connected to the Internet - go to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download/install all critical
updates - it may take several reboots/revisists.
5) Follow this advice from now on to stay a happier computer user:
Please Notice that if you use AOL, you should at least upgrade to 9.0 or
greater before doing any of the fixes. I know you can get AOL 9.0 at almost
any convenience store, gas station, super market or other retail outlet in
the world, so this should not be a problem.
Turn on that firewall...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
(It has been reported that it now works with AOL 9.0+)
Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)
Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)
Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/
Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de
CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
-
http://www.moosoft.com/
-
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents browser
hijacking quite well. SpywareBlaster is a FANTASTIC free product, I suggest
getting this after you cleanup and keeping it updated as well....
And Assortment of Others:
http://spywareinfo.com/
After you cleanup your PC somewhat of spy/ad/mal-ware, verify your antivirus
software is updated and run a full scan of your computer. If you have no
antivirus software - get one NOW! Grisoft AntiVirus:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)
- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.
Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is to
your advantage to remove it.
Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/
Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.
Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://sourceforge.net/projects/spambayes/
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com