Upgrade or full install and or format

[kathylc]

I am still playing with the computers I have and they are all up and running on the network at home. However only one (my newest one) as Windows vista. All the others run Windows 98SE. Thats my problem. They are 5xx and 7xx and one 233hz machine. I added additional USB ports to some and added new USB to the one that did not have any, and they all work fine. But the Operating Systems software will not allow me to load certain programs such as for my digital camera and my SO's cameras etc. It calls for a minimum of Windows XP.

Am I ahead upgradeing over the existing WIN98SE. I do prefer not to have to load and configure each and every computer again. I can find a full install locally of XP but no upgrade. Can a full install of XP be installed over 98SE?

[jadeite]

Those are ancient machines--Pentiums from the 90's I presume. While overwriting them with XP is technically possible, the problem you are going to have is memory. I suspect they have 128MB installed give or take. You want 1GB if you plan to do much more than boot up these days. Since a whopping 4GB can be had for 1000 baht, price is probably not a problem, but such newer memory modules won't work in those old systems.

[rxpharm]

Jaidete is right - your old 233 MHz machine will be unable to run Windows XP very well. The likely max ram that system can take is probably 512 MB, and finding that RAM will be difficult.

Your other machines, the 5xx and 7xx could run Windows XP but only well with the additional RAM upgrade to 1 GB. Besides this, you need to check the hard drive and make sure it is big enough to hold Win XP and the other programs you would like to install.

If you check around used computer shops or a place like E-bay, you could probably still find WinXP upgrades - however, it is best to do a fresh install after backing up your data and reformatting the drive.

I have a question - you have said all your computers are on a network - can you share files between them? If so, why not use one computer (Vista) for the things like photo-editing, etc. and just share the files to the other 3 workstations?

[Torurot]

kathylc, give it up!!!!! I was until a month ago in the same predicament after 10 years with Win 98SE I just upgraded to XP Pro which I'm very familiar with. Brought a cheap second or third hand machine. People are almost giving them away so they can upgrade to the latest and greatest. I had all my data on the old drive & just swapped it in. Stop being a dinosaur and just buy a "new" one. You will be glad you did. Make sure you have at least 1Gig memory. It's not that expensive. Virtually no one is making or supporting old software that will only run on Win98 as there is no money in it for them.

[kathylc]

I have one good machine a dual core 3.x something or other with all the bells and whistles, and LCD flat screen monitor. I "got ahold" of a copy opf UPGRADE as well as full install of XP, so other than time I have nothing to loose with the {Pentium III machines. I just wish I could get my Dual Pentium Pro machine upgraded to work with XP. Thats is my last machine and I am not going to fool with the 233.

The office depot here is just about giving thjings away at unreal low prices. I paid $99 for a new in the box Cannon PIXMA MX700, two wireless mice with keyboards by Microsoft lists reg for 129.00 for 34.95 each. A Free Agent 500GB (2 of them ) for $69 each and a bunch more stuff mainly eveready rechargeable batteries in AAA,AA,C,D and 9 volts plus charges etc. PIcked up some USB printer cables for $5 each as well as a bunch of stereo/audio/componenet stuff for the HDTV's. Did get one (the last one too) suround system for home theater and a heavy duty shredder which I certainlyn can use quite a bit just to shred up paper for my fur babies and their babies, one of whom I named "STOGIE" no less........

[rxpharm]

ok Kathylc, you've made it more clear what your want to try and more specs about the computers you have. You should also upgrade the RAM to 1 GB in those computers to get the best performance from Win XP. The PIII computers with 1 GB will work fine. The Pentium Pro should also be able to run WinXP fine if it has 1 GB of RAM as well.

My advice remains the same - much better to back up your data first, then do a clean install of WinXP. An upgrade installation can lead to problems with older programs that may be incompatible with Win XP, or sometimes you may run into a driver problem.

Good luck and you will learn a lot in the process. Remember to check your hard drive space to make sure it is enough. I know you bought some external drives, that is good for data storage, but the main drive must be big enough for the Win XP installation.

[kathylc]

I gave the majority of other computers away..............really, how many do I need anyhow. I have two new machines (Gateway and Dell) both running Vista 64bit and 8GB mem., and tons of hard drive space, UYSB ports and lots of neat goodies to l;lug into them.and all is working perfect as can be ECXEPT...............my Photoshop. I have copies of PS 4, 5 and 6. and I originally had the PS6 installed and running perfectly on a Vista machine (32 bit) yet the techs at Adobe says it can not be done..............But where I screwed up is when I bought a new Dell it was 64 BIT, and my Gateway had crashed and I had no restore or install disks (costs extra and they tell you its already on the hard drive..big deal when the hard drivce crashes a copy on the HD is gonna do for you. I almost passed out when I seen what they wanted for a copy of VISTA. I decided to see if the software that came with my Dell would install and load and it did. The gGateway now looks identical to how the Dell looked when I took it out of the box, but the Dell shipped with 64 bit system and the gateway had 32. So now I am not able to install Photoshop on any of my machines. I can not even up grade as PS 4, 5 and 6 do not qualify only CS1, 2 and 3 qualify for upgrade to CS4. NOw I got to same my pennies to buy a full install of 64 bit PHotoshop CSE4. Its hard going back to driving a Ford Escort after driving a Masserati (Corel Paint Shop vrs CSE4 Photoshop)

The Office Depot here is closing its doors (have 4 in this one town alone)and I picke dup a Cannon PIXMA 850 NIB for $129. A HP 58xx for $69 NIB. Prices are almost giveaways. Two USB extension cables anbd 4 USP printer cables for $5.00 each. A 10 pack of SONY CD -RW for $4.95 is hard to beat......and a copy of NERO 9 for $50. Too bad they do not have a cheap enough price on CSE 4. I'd even give the store manager free blow jobs for a month if he knocked off some $$$ on Photoshop CSE4

[paultain]

Get a new PC

[jadeite]

There is a way to run old software like photoshop on your new machines. Get virtual PC from Microsoft, a free download. Then you can install XP, Windows 98, or whatever you like and run these operating systems and older apps inside your new system.

Caveat: Virtual PC currently doesn't allow access to USB hardware, a feature that would be really nice for old cameras and such.

[bunnytv]

put linux on thim if you or leveing thim on 24 7 put a web sserver on it a few forums add some google ads and bam free money

[SamplerDoc]

If you have an OEM Windows XP I will be happy to buy that from you to replace my bootleg copy