keppygirl wrote:
> Can I Update my windows from Windows 98 to XP? Do I need to clean
> out my computer to do so? HELP!
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> You can update the operating system to Windows XP given your PC
> meets the minimum requirements and have a retail or upgrade copy of
> Windows XP and the associated license for it.
>
> I believe that you should have at least 256MB memory and a 1GHz or
> greater processor and a 64MB or greater video card (not shared with
> the 256MB memory - 64MB of its own... So you would need 320MB of
> total memory if you had a shared memory video card) in order to run
> Windows XP at any decent pace. Truthfully - at this point - you
> would likely not see any benefit to upgrading that computer's OS to
> Windows XP unless it happens to be a 1.8GHz PC with 512MB of memory
> and a 128MB or greater stand-alone video card. Anything less and
> you will feel the pinch of the newer OSes resource requirements.
>
> So here's the deal. First - you need a legitimate retail license
> of Windows XP in order to *upgrade* your current install to Windows
> XP. You cannot purchase Windows Xp very easily anymore - so that
> could be difficult unless you already have said copy. If you
> wanted to format your system (wipe everything off and start over)
> you would need to ensure you could get hardware drivers for each
> hardware component for the new OS (motherboard, video card, network
> card, sound card, modem, external devices, etc) - which could be
> difficult in itself. If said machine is not a well-equipped PC -
> you can expect it to run slower than the current Windows 98 does.
>
> So... Answering your two questions directly:
> - Yes.
> - It would help and you should backup your stuff no matter what,
> but it is not 100% necessary.
>
> See information above the answers before you step into something
> that makes your situation worse instead of better.
keppygirl wrote:
> Thank you for getting back to me. So, from what I am reading, I
> should basically just get another pc, right? I don't mind windows
> 98, however, I can't do anything. I can't download music, adobe,
> etc because everything requires windows newer than 98 (or 2000 for
> that matter).
If your needs are beyond what your current PC can do - then you've answered
your own question.
It doesn't have to be *new* as in the latest/greatest. New to you would
likely be more than enough. Many companies out there sell refurbished
systems (off-lease, etc.) If you can get one of those and tack on a decent
warranty (2 year maybe) for $150 or less in addition ot the cost of the
system - that would work.
You can get brand new - but you will pay a bit more for that. It's not a
bad thing - seeing as you are still using a Windows 98 machine - you
probably trade up once per decade... ;-) Starting out strong will better
ensure you can last that entir decade (which - if you were to ask me - that
is over twice the useful life of a PC for me.)
Just as an example:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...EM1721_-PCdeal
$610+shipping for that computer with a 2 year replacement warranty. Not a
bad deal, likely 3-5 times more processor power than you have now, likely
9-10 times the amount of memory, who knows how much larger the hard disk
drive is... It will run Windows XP or Vista pretty easily and you would
have enough resources left over on it to run a virtual machine with Linux of
some flavor as well (at the same time.) Of course - you have to keep
whatever monitor you have or get a new one.
Want something new? Look at these starting at $350...
http://www.dell.com/content/products...=19&l=en&s=dhs
Those are just two examples - you could go HP, Lenovo, etc. You could check
out refurbished systems from NewEgg, Amazon, etc. You could go to a local
computer store and get one built for you. You could even (although I cannot
say I recommend it without topping it off with research of your own) go to a
Circuit City/Best Buy like store and get a decent system.
If I was tight on budget and wanted to make my money last the longest - I
would likely get a refurbished system. If I had a little extra - I would
get a nice new system with a 5 year warranty. In either case - Dual-Core or
greater, 1GB or more memory (likely 2-4GB), 160GB or greater hard disk
drive, 128MB or greater video card (non-shared memory if I could help it).
That would give me some breathing room.
I just think upgrading the OS on a system designed for Windows 98 to
something like Vista will just be frustrating and painful in many ways.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
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