Going to XP... Help!

[Gambitt]

After years of putting it off, I think I'm finally going to have to let Windows ME go, and move up to a new operating system.   I just got the new Nikon photo editing program that won't run on ME, and I have to take my Blackberry upstairs to program it.


Since Windows 7 isn't out yet, and Vista is a pile of crap, I guess It's gonna be XP (Xtra Pathetic).

I'm laid-off from work next week, so now is a good time to do it.

My plan is to pull the C: drive out of my computer and install a new main hard drive, but leave my D: drive with all my data files in, so I can save most of my data.

If anyone has any suggesions for a smooth transition, please pass them on!

[JohnnyCastaway]

that's about the best way to do it and preserve your existing data.  Just make sure you run windows  update and do ALL of the updates that are available, including recommended and hardware. 

XP will do you much better than ME (Murdered Edition -->  there's a reason why Microsoft Dropped it like a hot potato 6 months after releasing it!) 

I've been running vista on my old laptop for over a year now, I'm quite happy with it other than a few quirks, but then again I haven't seen an operating system out there yet that doesn't have a few quirks.  XP is definitely faster than Vista, at least on this system.  Can't wait for windows 7 to be final released.  I've been playing with the Beta and it's nice and quick.  Basically Vista with a turbo charger. 

Good Luck on the upgrade.

[Gambitt]

Today is the day!

As soon as the computer store opens, I'm going to get the new hard drive.

As another "safety net" to the install, I've decided to unhook my DVD drive, and connect my current C drive as a third hard drive.   It won't be bootable, but the data will be there to import it to the new drive.

So, If I'm off line for a week, it's not that I've disowned everyone; it just means the install did not go well!! 

EDIT

OR... I just had another idea.

I could take the C drive out of this computer, and install it as the C: drive in Logan's computer..

That way, I could boot the other computer and be able to see the settings that are currently stored on this one.

John?

[JohnnyCastaway]

Not really sure what settngs you can pull off the old system as it's a completely new a different operating system.  The only way to pull any settings across would be to do an upgrade as opposed to a fresh installation, problem with that being that you pull any garbage that you in the old system across with you.   Best thing to do is to disconnect the old drive, put it away safely on a shelf somewhere until you finish the windows installation, just in case of an accident that would wipe out your existing data.  Once the install is finished, then you plug the old drive in and pull your data off it.

[Gambitt]

Upgrade is underway.  New 250 Mb drive is installed&recognised and xp is formatting the drive. Will post more updates from blackberry. :)

[Gambitt]

Ya know, it's amazing how much dust a 'puter sucks up.  Once I get this thing running, the very next step will be a good cleaning. Inside and out!

[Gambitt]

Haven't even finished the install and I already Hate XP. 20 crashes and am hour later an it is still instaling files!

[Gambitt]

Well, so much for Xtra Pathetic... It totally lives up to that name. 

20 tries to install, finally get it to load the files and then it pops up a bad checksum error.

I guess I'll just wait til Windows 7 comes out.
 

[Gambitt]

This message coming to you thru the courtesy of XP!

I finally got it to work!  And it only took 10 more crashes, and a complete re-install!

Now, I just have to see if it will fail after a reboot, like it did last time.

[JohnnyCastaway]

Well, so much for Xtra Pathetic... It totally lives up to that name. 

20 tries to install, finally get it to load the files and then it pops up a bad checksum error.

I guess I'll just wait til Windows 7 comes out.
 

If you're getting checksum errors I'd have a look at your hardware. That's not a windows problem.   Bad memory or problems on your hard disk for staters, maybe motherboard?  Make sure you get all the latest drivers for all your hardware, as well as firmware updates.

[kharmar77]

This new processor I just got, runs on Windows Vista, which is new to me. My old one had the Windows XP, nothing impressive...
Just getting used to this new one, so far so good..
Just have to find some free ALONE time to play around...
off to work now!
Have a great weekend!
Karen

[Gambitt]

You were right John (of course  ).  It was a conflict between the two hard drives.

I eventually had to unhook my CDROMs and put one HD on each IDE cable to get it to boot with both drives hooked up. Then, I just copied all the data from the other old drive to the new one, and then pulled it out.

With 250 GB, I don't really need the 2nd one anyway, and now I have 2 seperate HD's with backups of all my pictures etc, if something goes wrong.

[Gambitt]

So far so good with XP.

I'm starting to get it to look like my old system, re-installing files & programs etc.

I haven't installed Firefox yet, because I'm still trying out IE7 (that I couldn't run before) so we'll see how it goes.

Best things for me, are not having to take my Blackberry upstairs to load the media card, and the fact that XP reboots much faster than ME

[Gambitt]

Next advantage to XP...  I now have a Printer Again!

When my old Lexmark died, I found out the hard way that nobody makes printers with drivers for Me anymore, so I have been printer-less for about a year now.  Had to send everything upstairs, and then print it on Lauren's 'puter.

Went out tonight and got an HP C4345.  Now I have a Printer/Scanner/Card-Reader/Copier/ & Fax machine All-in one.