First question is does the old system have enough 'oomph' to run XP 7Gb disk and 256Mb memory, with a 300Mhz CPU may do, but it would be like trying to move all your furniture using a 2 seater sports car instead of a large van. A very slow process because the system will only be capable of handling one thing at a time, so it will be continually paging memory to the pagefile, and back
Ideally you need a 1Ghz CPU, 512Mb memory, and 20GB disk Next - does the old system have a USB2 interface - if not a board will cost about a tenner And - do you have XP driver sets, and XP compatible software for all your devices. You can take a backup to the USB device - but it may not be bootable because of the old motherboard not including native USB control Re the install - He should be able to install XP as another OS on the same partition that will be an upgrade to the existing system, while retaining the 98 OS. But.... I would suggest reducing the size of the current boot partition to make enough space to copy that partition into the space That will give you a backup Then - having proved the backup Upgrade the original partition to XP, Then, when you have proved that new OS, If you are not going to use hibernate - turn the option off, and delete the Hiber.sys file Defrag the partition - ensuring that the 'Permanent' pagefile of at least 700Mb goes at the front of the partition Delete the copy you took of the old OS partition For more reading use Google with keywords something like upgrade 98 to XP JimB ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Blakely" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 8:23 PM Subject: Old computer to use as alternative/beach house computer > I have a friend who would like to use an old Win 98 computer as one he can > use at his house on the beach. He would like to convert it to Win XP and > put the programs he has at home on the beach house computer and then update > each with a USB flash drive. Essentially he will have two computers with > similar configurations (not exactly the same). > > What is the easiest way to put Win XP on the old computer that presently > has Win 98? Does he have to format the drive and reinstall or can he > install XP on top of Win 98? (assume he has the proper installation disks). > > If he has to format what is the easiest way? > > I thank you for your help! > Bob Blakely > > -- > ---------------------------------------- > To Change your email Address for this list, send the following message: > CHANGE WIN-HOME your_old_address your_new_address > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Note carefully that both old and new addresses are required. > > -- ---------------------------------------- To Change your email Address for this list, send the following message: CHANGE WIN-HOME your_old_address your_new_address to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Note carefully that both old and new addresses are required.
