Overwriting Windows ME with Windows XP

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Guest

My Windows ME is corrupted and I was advised to erase it from my computer and
reinstall the original ME software. Also was advised that I could lose some
of my loaded programs.
Another party suggested that I could solve the problem by purchasing Windows
XP and use it to overwrite the ME without risking the loss of some programs
and the need to reload them. Is this last recommendation credible?
 
If your ME setup is corrupted, the suggested route of installing XP over ME,
called an upgrade install is no guarantee of anything. First, because of
whatever is causing the problem, setup may not complete installation, it may
stall. Second, even if setup completes, you may well have the same issues,
this is an upgrade, not a fix and trying to move to a new OS to fix problems
in the previous setup is both dangerous and ill-advised.

You might try reinstalling ME over itself to see if you can at least get to
a bootable setup. Then, your best bet would be to backup your data files
and then, assuming problems still exist, either wipe out the current setup
and reinstall ME clean and reinstall your applications or move to XP if wish
but understand, you need to do a lot of work to prep your system for XP.
Many applications compatible with ME are not compatible with XP, firewalls,
antivirus, CD burning software all needs to be upgraded to XP compatible
versions, the same is true of hardware drivers and sometimes even some
hardware.
 
Hi,

Somewhat, depending on the degree of corruption and the actual cause. A
WinXP installation (or upgrade) will totally remove the WinME install and
replace it. If the problems are with the core operating system, this will
resolve the issues and the existing data and software should remain intact.
If the problems though were in the software (not the operating system), then
this is not going to help. There is also the chance that the problem is with
the hardware - again this won't help. You will want to make sure the system
can support WinXP and that drivers are available for hardware not natively
supported before you begin.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
It is virtually impossible for us to say whether or not an upgrade on your
Me system is even possible. When you say your version of Me is corrupted do
you mean it won't even boot? Or is something else happening? Anyway the
bottom line is that if you choose to upgrade it might work out fine for you.
If it doesn't then you have lost nothing but the time it took to run the
upgrade. You can always do a clean install if the upgrade doesn't pan out.
But you should look here first
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/upgrade_tips.htm
 
In
oilalot said:
My Windows ME is corrupted and I was advised to erase it from
my
computer and reinstall the original ME software. Also was
advised
that I could lose some of my loaded programs.
Click to expand...


If you do the above, you won't lose *some* of your loaded
programs, you will lose them *all*.

Another party suggested that I could solve the problem by
purchasing
Windows XP and use it to overwrite the ME without risking the
loss of
some programs and the need to reload them. Is this last
recommendation credible?
Click to expand...


Although upgrades to XP usually go very well, the time when it's
least likely to be successful is when what you're upgrading from
is corrupted.
 
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