Roger and others, 1) As far as the eval program from Microsoft, there are a number of problems with it, it turns out.
Seems the program is giving a number of false positives as well as false negatives to people who run it - meaning it is giving warnings about programs/hardware that will be a problem in XP, but in reality are not a problem at all, while at the same time, it is giving NO warning at all with other items that actually WILL be a problem in XP, from minor to MAJOR, meaning will not work and there is no answer. Many companies are already stating they will NOT provide new drivers for XP for older and/or existing hardware and software. Or it is going to take quite some time before they are available. 2) The requirements for XP, whether home or pro versions, is quite hefty. Generally, a new computer in the last year or 2 so not be a problem, BUT anything gotten earlier will probably have one or more issues involving the system itself, such as processor speed, RAM memory available, hard disk space, and so forth. And a LOT of older hardware and software, even meant to run with windows, but earlier versions, will have problems in the XP environment. 3) As far as dos software, IF the program did NOT need to access REAL mode operations, it probably will work ok with XP - BUT *** ANY *** software that requires real mode operations, even some older windows programs, will NOT run under XP. The main thing to remember and understand - XP, like NT and 2K before it, is built with the idea of the kernel being protected to pervent programs and related from crashing the system by corrupting the kernel. And generally, most dos programs as well as older windows programs were written to do just that - use drivers that could go and affect the kernel. So any of these will just not work, no matter what you do, under XP itself. 4) There is a work around that is possible if 3) is an issue, and that is if you have a previous version of windows on your system that can be upgraded by XP, meaning 98, 98SE, ME (95 will require a complete new install), and that is to install using dual boot operations. This mode allows you to have a choice of which operating system is the one you are going to boot into. So you could retain your previous OS while still putting XP on your system, if you needed or wanted to. 5) If you run system(s) with either 95 or NT, these will require a install from scratch, like it or not, since they are just TOO OLD, in the eyes of Microsoft. The 9x line of OSs (98, 98SE, ME) as well as 2K should be able to do an upgrade type of install. BUT, trying to do a upgrade install can lead to a TON of issues, if you install over your previous OS. So the best advice is still do a dual-boot type of install. Or save your data files, do a complete install "from scratch" even if an upgrade type, and then reinstall your app programs, and then reload your data files. 6) Unless you get a new computer with XP preinstalled, which avoids any problems with hardware and software that comes with the system (this does not address the whole headache of older hardware and software problems possible), the best advice is to wait at least 3 months before even thinking of doing an upgrade, to give the computer hardware and software industries a shake out period, to address the issues of older items still found on the market and being used by consumers. At least it will let you know if hardware ABC or software XYZ is going to have new drivers available for it, new ad-ons available, or other issues, that people will face, or if you are just out of luck with something you need or want to use. Ralph Roger wrote: > > Hi Jeff, > From what I can gather from the various reviews, etc. XP is a much more > stable, secure system than all previous Windows versions. As one reviewer > put it, "the news is not what is new in XP, but what is better." I don't > know myself, though. It is also my understanding that XP WILL run DOS based > (16 bit) programs in "most" instances, but not always. It has a > "compatibly" mode which allows it to emulate previous windows and DOS > editions, but I have not heard all the shake-out on that yet. I am speaking > in theory here. > > Personally, I have no problems with WIN98 SE (no stability problems, that > is) and am very happy with it, but I don't do any intranet or have any > worries about security (yet). But from what I hear, XP is slanted toward > networking and is much more stable there. I am gonna wait for a few months > and see what transpires. My motto is, :If it ain't broke, don't fix > it! <grin>. > > I have heard about a few install problems with XP, but probably no more > than with previous new Windows version. I do know, after running the > program furnished to analyze my system and tell me if I can upgrade > successfully, I have a few Windows programs (like Norton and Adaptec) that > are, I am told, not compatible with XP. It might be worth getting the > program to analyze your system and give you a break down of what you might > run into. the program is fat, but informative. You can find it here: > http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp > > Roger > [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? 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