BLUEANGEL30474 said:
I am going to upgrade from windows second edtion to windows xp home .
But I want to do it myself. Would someone please write me back with
step by step details on how to do it, this is my first time. I need
to know how to format my hard drive and to set up the partitions
which will enable me to ave the best possible performance out of my
system write me at (e-mail address removed)
thanks so much.
Admirable that you wish to try it yourself - but let's try to make it a GOOD
memory, and not one that makes you hate everything to do with computers or
blame some inanimate object for the loss of anything..
So, here we go. You are using Windows 98SE. '
First - If you have a CD burner or access to another machine on a network or
even a bunch of floppy diskettes, BACKUP YOUR PERSONAL FILES! This cannot
be reiterated enough. If you skip this and lose something, it is your fault
(not trying to be rude - but if it is working now and you go into something
like an OS upgrade without backing up your files.. Well, it's like taking
your car to a repair shop "They have no responsibility for theft from your
vehicle while it is in their possession.")
Secondly - I suggest is going into ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS (in control panel)
and UNINSTALLING any applications you do not use. This will help free up
space and will clean up some things you have probably been meaning to do for
some time.
Third - update your antivirus software and do a FULL system scan. This will
take some time, but it is time you can do other things (like leave) during.
It will also save you from possible issues later. (See Bottom of this
message for a suggestion of a Free AntiVirus Software if you do not have
one!)
Fourth - clean up any adware/spyware that may have infected your system.
You may not have even known you had any - but it can manifest itself by
slowing down your computer, strange popups while on the Internet (or even
when not on the internet) and possibly extended boot-up times. (See Bottom
of this message for a list of the programs that will help you cleanup your
system!)
Fifth - Defragment your hard drive and check it for errors. This could save
you time during the upgrade - or possibly save you from scrambled files.
Open "My Computer" and right-click on the C: drive. Choose properties and
look under the TOOLS tab for the tools to do this.
Sixth - Check your system to make sure it is READY for Windows XP.. That
there isn't any software Windows XP doesn't recognize or any hardware that
is just not going to work any longer (Scanners are FAMOUS for not going to
another OS.) Microsoft provides a tool for this - The Windows XP Upgrade
Advisor:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Seventh (Optional) - Download/Install BELARC ADVISOR and print out the
resulting web page. It will tell you more information than you ever wanted
to know about your system, but information that may be uuseful later if you
need to download new drivers for your hardware or need to ask for further
help..
*** UNHOOK YOUR COMPUTER FROM THE INTERNET! ***
Do not hook it back to the Internet until after you have turned on the
firewall AFTER the upgrade!
Microsoft does provide (sort of) a nice step-by-step guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/gettingstarted/guide/default.asp
(The page advancement is at the bottom right of the screen - you may have to
scroll - Print the pages.. 7 of them..)
Now - Put in your Windows XP CD and choose to upgrade. It's pretty easy to
follow through - step by step.
Once you have upgraded and booting into Windows XP for the first time and
BEFORE you hook back into the Internet to UPDATE and PATCH - you most
DEFINITELY should enable the free built in firewall to protect you from the
bad stuff out on the internet that attacks XP frm the moment you hook it up.
To do this:
(Print this Web Page too, before the upgrade)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/securing/enableicf.asp
Now, once you have enabled the firewall, it is "safer" to connect to the
internet and get the rest of the patches you will need. Do so, connect up
and go to the web page:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for
updates and at least download/install all CRITICAL updates. This could take
quite a bit of time, but believe me - you will be better off for it.
----------------------
Some Notes...
If you do not have an antivirus software, get, install and update/scan with
Grisoft AVG Free Edition:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
To clean up spyware, run at least the first two of these products:
- Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de/
- Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/
- Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/