upgrading from Windows 98

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Guest

I have an old Compaq Deskpro that was especially built for Windows 98 and I
would now like to upgrade to Windows XP - the memory is 128 MB of RAM and
available disk space is 3711.3 - assuming I uninstall Win 98 - do I have
enough space for XP? or will I have to purchase more memory? Or is it best to
just buy a new computer?
 
It's best to buy a new computer. Your old computer - which I'm sure you love
dearly and has served you faithfully - requires a significant investment in
hardware to give you acceptable performance. It's just not cost effective.
 
Phillies said:
I have an old Compaq Deskpro that was especially built for Windows 98
and I would now like to upgrade to Windows XP - the memory is 128 MB
of RAM and available disk space is 3711.3 - assuming I uninstall Win
98 - do I have enough space for XP?
Click to expand...


3711.3 what? Megabytes? If so, it's very tight.Windows XP will use more disk
space than 98 and you will have little free after upgrading. Almost
certainly you'll need more disk space very soon.

or will I have to purchase more
memory?
Click to expand...


128MB of RAM is definitely insufficient for Windows XP. You get good
performance if the amount of RAM you have keeps you from using the page
file, and that depends on what apps you run. Most people running a typical
range of business applications find that somewhere around 256-384MB works
well, others need 512MB. With only 128MB you are very unlikely to find
performance to be acceptable.

Or is it best to just buy a new computer?
Click to expand...


Given that you need more RAM now, and will need a new drive very soon, you
might want to consider just buying a new computer. It will be faster and
better in other respects and won't cost very much more than just more RAM
and disk space.
 
In
Phillies said:
I have an old Compaq Deskpro that was especially built for Windows 98
and I would now like to upgrade to Windows XP - the memory is 128 MB
of RAM and available disk space is 3711.3 - assuming I uninstall Win
98 - do I have enough space for XP? or will I have to purchase more
memory? Or is it best to just buy a new computer?
Click to expand...

Get a new computer, by the time you purchase XP, larger hard drive, memory,
upgrade software that is incompatible with XP for not much more you could
have a new much faster computer and with many more features than the old
Compaq.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
If your goal is to successfully run XP, then purchase a new PC with XP
preinstalled. The hardware you described below is woefully inadequate to run
XP.


--
 
Phillies said:
I have an old Compaq Deskpro that was especially built for Windows 98 and I
would now like to upgrade to Windows XP - the memory is 128 MB of RAM and
available disk space is 3711.3 - assuming I uninstall Win 98 - do I have
enough space for XP?
Click to expand...


Just barely. You won't have room for any large applications or data,
though.

.... or will I have to purchase more memory? Or is it best to
just buy a new computer?
Click to expand...


You need more RAM and a larger hard drive, to start. If your CPU isn't
of at least 800 MHz, you really should think about getting a new computer.

Have you verified that all of your PC's hardware components are
capable of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx)

You should also take a few minutes to ensure that there are
WinXP-specific device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many models
in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's consumer-class
Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K before it, is quite
sensitive to borderline defective or substandard hardware (particularly
motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm




--

Bruce Chambers

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