Switching OS's from Windows ME to Windows XP Home Edition SP2

[Guest]

I have inherited a laptop that currently has Windows ME installed and I would
like to upgrade this laptop to use Win XP Home Edition SP2. Is this going to
be any kind of a big headache ?? The laptop is a hewlet packard and has the
appropriate requirements to use Windows XP Home. Can anyone kinda send me
the necessary information to make this transformation a success. It's been a
while since I've uninstalled and then upgraded anything at all and I am a bit
"rusty" !!
-and please inform me of any problems that I may run into, if any.

(i just wanna get back on the internet, someone who had used the laptop
before I inherited it, DELETED the installed modem from the laptop (a U.S.
Robotics Modem) and it will not install another one from the lists available
that will work for me to access the internet PLUS and OF COURSE, I did not
inherit the Recovery CD that goes with the computer or anything else for that
matter, just the laptop !!!! I really just want to get Windows ME OFF OF IT
and get Windows XP HOME ON TO IT !!!!

Lastly, if anyone can think of a way for me to get this laptop connected to
the internet like today until I can order the windows xp and upgrade, please
share it with me. The problems are as listed w/not being able to get
connected:

1. U.S. Robotics modem was accidentally deleted by my stepmom, (she's
elderly and didn't know what she was truly doing and I cannot get the modem
back, do not have a recovery cd nor a cd to reinstall this modem). I tried
using windows restore but there was only one restore point and it didn't get
the deleted modem back.

2. I've only been able to reinstall one modem from the lists of modems to
install if you don't have a recovery cd but it's installed on COM3 and it
needs to be installed on COM1 and for some reason I cannot figure out quite
how to move it to where it needs to be ??? Installed on COM3, and when
running a diagnostic on the modem, it says "the device is working properly".
When I installed the same modem on COM1 and ran the diagnostic, it was not
working properly ???? Any suggestions...

3. Lastly, I'm not even sure if this modem is one that will get me
connected to the internet using this computer. The error msg. is always the
same, "you have been disconnected from the computer you dialed". I'm LOST....

We thought just upgrading to Windows XP would solve these stupid problems
and I could just begin again..... Any suggestions again???

Hope this post made sense, in a nutshell, I'm trying to find a way to get my
laptop connected to the internet until I can order and receive an
upgrade...(I'm using my Brother's computer now).

Thanks bunches, Joy

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have inherited a laptop that currently has Windows ME installed and I
would
like to upgrade this laptop to use Win XP Home Edition SP2. Is this going
to
be any kind of a big headache ?? The laptop is a hewlet packard and has
the
appropriate requirements to use Windows XP Home. Can anyone kinda send me
the necessary information to make this transformation a success. It's
been a
while since I've uninstalled and then upgraded anything at all and I am a
bit
"rusty" !!
-and please inform me of any problems that I may run into, if any.

Purchase an XP Home Upgrade CD at retail, and you should be fine.

First boot to ME, and insert the XP Home CD, and run the Upgrade Advisor.
Pay attention to what it says is *not* compatible and what should be
uninstalled, and follow its suggestions.

Disconnect any hardware that is not necessary - no printers, scanners, etc.

Take the exact model number to the manufacturer's support site and collect
the drivers needed to get the system to work. It isn't safe to assume that
the XP install CD will have the correct drivers for things like the chipset,
the network card or the display adapter.

(i just wanna get back on the internet, someone who had used the laptop
before I inherited it, DELETED the installed modem from the laptop (a U.S.
Robotics Modem) and it will not install another one from the lists
available
that will work for me to access the internet PLUS and OF COURSE, I did not
inherit the Recovery CD that goes with the computer or anything else for
that
matter, just the laptop !!!! I really just want to get Windows ME OFF OF
IT
and get Windows XP HOME ON TO IT !!!!

Lastly, if anyone can think of a way for me to get this laptop connected
to
the internet like today until I can order the windows xp and upgrade,
please
share it with me. The problems are as listed w/not being able to get
connected:

1. U.S. Robotics modem was accidentally deleted by my stepmom, (she's
elderly and didn't know what she was truly doing and I cannot get the
modem
back, do not have a recovery cd nor a cd to reinstall this modem). I
tried
using windows restore but there was only one restore point and it didn't
get
the deleted modem back.

Do you have the physical modem? Identify the precise model number, and
look for drivers online.

If you're going to be connecting via dial-up, consider finding an external
USB modem.

2. I've only been able to reinstall one modem from the lists of modems to
install if you don't have a recovery cd but it's installed on COM3 and it
needs to be installed on COM1 and for some reason I cannot figure out
quite
how to move it to where it needs to be ??? Installed on COM3, and when
running a diagnostic on the modem, it says "the device is working
properly".
When I installed the same modem on COM1 and ran the diagnostic, it was not
working properly ???? Any suggestions...

3. Lastly, I'm not even sure if this modem is one that will get me
connected to the internet using this computer. The error msg. is always
the
same, "you have been disconnected from the computer you dialed". I'm
LOST....

That message can mean nothing related to you, unless you're dialing the
wrong number or providing the wrong username or password. It can mean
that the ISP is having problems with a login server. Using a
long-distance number that connects you to a different server can help
determine this.

We thought just upgrading to Windows XP would solve these stupid problems
and I could just begin again..... Any suggestions again???

The main suggestion is to be sure you are prepared with all the needed files
before you start the upgrade. If you don't have them, it's quite possible
you will run into problems that become problems, rather than just a need to
put in the CD you made beforehand.

Hope this post made sense, in a nutshell, I'm trying to find a way to get
my
laptop connected to the internet until I can order and receive an
upgrade...(I'm using my Brother's computer now).

Do you have a hispeed connection available? If so, these use network cards,
and you should use that at first. Hispeed connections often use routers
and you can just plug into any available port and you should be online in a
few seconds, perhaps with a reboot to force Windows to detect the
connection.

HTH
-pk