Using XP on a network

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I run a copy of XP Pro, on my home PC. I have recently purchased another PC secondhand. It runs Windows 98
Can I use my existing XP Pro disc to install XP Pro onto my other PC, or do I have to buy another copy to get another Product Key
Or..
Can I network XP to 98
I'm new to all this networking stuff, please help.
 
I run a copy of XP Pro, on my home PC. I have recently purchased
another PC secondhand. It runs Windows 98.
Can I use my existing XP Pro disc to install XP Pro onto my other PC,
or do I have to buy another copy to get another Product Key.
Or...
Can I network XP to 98?
I'm new to all this networking stuff, please help.
Click to expand...

Those are really good questions, "wobbly". I'll try to give some
equally good answers. ;-)

The copy of XP Pro that's on your home PC is for that computer only.
You need to buy another copy, with its own product key, to install XP
Pro on the secondhand PC.

You can buy an XP upgrade, which is much less expensive than an XP
full version. Unless you specifically need the features that only XP
Pro has, I recommend buying XP Home for the secondhand computer, which
will save even more money. These sites show the differences between
Home and Pro:

Which Edition Is Right for You?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

I recommend using the XP disc from the main PC to run the Windows XP
upgrade advisor on the secondhand PC. That way, you'll know whether
it can run XP and what you might have to change. To run it, insert
the XP disc and click "Check system compatibility".

Yes, you can network XP to 98. XP has a built-in networking wizard
that makes it easy to set up both computers:

XP ICS - Starting the Network Setup Wizard
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networksetupwiz.htm

You've come to the right place for help. ;-)
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
I run a copy of XP Pro, on my home PC. I have recently purchased another PC secondhand. It runs Windows 98.
Can I use my existing XP Pro disc to install XP Pro onto my other PC, or do I have to buy another copy to get another Product Key.
Or...
Can I network XP to 98?
I'm new to all this networking stuff, please help.
Click to expand...

Wobbly,

You will need another copy of Windows XP if you wish to upgrade the
Win98 computer. Depending upon the resources of the Win98 computer
(cpu speed, memory, hard drive capacity), you may or may not be happy
with an upgraded operating system. Windows XP runs best on a computer
with a faster cpu and more memory than Windows 98 does, and
Microsoft's stated minimum requirements are a bit optimistic.

The Windows 98 operating system is reaching the end of its supported
life with Microsoft. Please be sure to update your Windows 98 with
all the latest patches from Microsoft, as many patches fix security
defects, and unpatched computers connected to the internet are causing
trouble for everybody.

If your new (used) computer is capable of running Windows XP, you may
wish to upgrade. If and only if you have a copy of the original
Windows 98 install media (floppy or CD), you may be able to purchase
an upgrade install of Windows XP. Otherwise, you should purchase a
full install.

How are you networking your current computer and your new (used)
computer? What do you want to do with your new computer? Both of
these questions are relevant to any advice regarding what network
setup to use.

Windows 98, by default, uses the Netbeui protocol. If you just want
to connect the two computers and share files, then you can enable
Netbeui on the Windows XP computer.

Do you intend to share files and access the internet from both
computers? If that's your plan, then you need to enable TCP/IP, and
Netbios over TCP/IP, on Windows 98. For convenience and security, I
recommend that you not do this without connecting both computers to a
NAT router.

Please post back with some more details about your network, the
capacities of the new (used) computer (cpu speed, memory, hard drive
capacity), and what you wish to do with the new computer. We'll give
you all the help you need.

These websites have tutorials which may help:
http://www.cablesense.com/
http://www.homenethelp.com/

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
Chuck said:
Wobbly,

You will need another copy of Windows XP if you wish to upgrade the
Win98 computer. Depending upon the resources of the Win98 computer
(cpu speed, memory, hard drive capacity), you may or may not be happy
with an upgraded operating system. Windows XP runs best on a computer
with a faster cpu and more memory than Windows 98 does, and
Microsoft's stated minimum requirements are a bit optimistic.

The Windows 98 operating system is reaching the end of its supported
life with Microsoft. Please be sure to update your Windows 98 with
all the latest patches from Microsoft, as many patches fix security
defects, and unpatched computers connected to the internet are causing
trouble for everybody.

If your new (used) computer is capable of running Windows XP, you may
wish to upgrade. If and only if you have a copy of the original
Windows 98 install media (floppy or CD), you may be able to purchase
an upgrade install of Windows XP. Otherwise, you should purchase a
full install.

How are you networking your current computer and your new (used)
computer? What do you want to do with your new computer? Both of
these questions are relevant to any advice regarding what network
setup to use.

Windows 98, by default, uses the Netbeui protocol. If you just want
to connect the two computers and share files, then you can enable
Netbeui on the Windows XP computer.

Do you intend to share files and access the internet from both
computers? If that's your plan, then you need to enable TCP/IP, and
Netbios over TCP/IP, on Windows 98. For convenience and security, I
recommend that you not do this without connecting both computers to a
NAT router.

Please post back with some more details about your network, the
capacities of the new (used) computer (cpu speed, memory, hard drive
capacity), and what you wish to do with the new computer. We'll give
you all the help you need.

These websites have tutorials which may help:
http://www.cablesense.com/
http://www.homenethelp.com/

Cheers,

Chuck
Click to expand...

That's a good post, Chuck, with lots of helpful information. I have
comments on a couple of things:

1. By default, Windows 98 uses TCP/IP, just like Windows XP does.
Perhaps you're thinking of Windows 95, which installs NetBEUI and
IPX/SPX, but not TCP/IP, by default. I strongly recommend using only
TCP/IP on a 98-XP network. NetBEUI is available, but un-supported, in
XP.

2. Yes, enabling NetBIOS over TCP/IP is a key to networking with XP.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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