Upgrading PC To XP

[Fayttt]

Well, quick question. I have 2 computers, one windows millenium (lol) and one windows XP. Would it be possible to simply take my windows XP system restore disc (The one to restore it back to factory-state) and use it on the windows ME computer to upgrade my ME computer to XP? If not, is there any way I could use anything gotten with my windows XP computer on my ME computer to upgrade it? I'm a stingy bastard and really don't want to go out and buy the XP upgrade, but I guess if I have to I will.

Ninjaedit: My ME computer is a different brand than my XP also. (XP Is Emachines, ME is Compaq.)

[Cephius]

You can try, it might ask for a registration key though. Back up all your shit, boot using the CD, and see if it works.

[Sonomaa]

no it wont work correctly

[Fayttt]

Orz, just tried it and its asking me to load in safe mode or normally and whenever I hit either it just locks up on the countdown. Guess Ill have to get the XP upgrade :/

[Sigi]

Best thing to do is to use the upgrade to do a full format and reinstall. Upgrading to XP from ME can result in some HUGE nastyness if you do not get rid of ME first.
Soooooo many issues with that upgrade.

[Shuemue]

Upgrades are garbage. The only one that was ever 'ok' was from 98 to SE, same file system, FAT32. Theoretically you can use FAT32 on XP, but it's garbage. NTFS onry on XP.

Basically it's best to do a full format and fresh install of XP.

[Fayttt]

Guess I have no choice but to just get a XP CD then...I don't think I got one with my computer =/

[Isiolia]

Whether or not it will install might depend. Some manufacturers modify the install discs so that they check to make sure you're installing on a computer of that brand. Technically, this is actually in-line with Windows OEM licensing, which does not permit the license to be transferred between machines.

Of course, with a "restore" CD, you may not have a proper Windows CD at all, but rather a disk image that is plopped back onto your hard drive to restore it to the factory state. That would tend to be specific to the machine.

If it did install, what you'd run into is XP's product activation, which would not take kindly to having the same serial number on two computers at the same time.

How old is the ME machine anyway? You can buy a (reasonably) modern machine that includes XP (or Vista) for $400 or so. Given that, I wouldn't think $100 or so for an XP Home upgrade for a PIII or something would be worth it.

[Fayttt]

It's like ~5 years old at least. I probably will just get another system but I'm gonna have to save up for awhile so Ill just get the XP upgrade to hold me over until I get another system.

[Isiolia]

Is there a particular reason to go with XP? Like, would Linux work for your needs? Or are you wanting to run XP-only software?

[Fayttt]

No particular reason to go with XP, to be honest I just want to get this damn computer out of ME. Never really used Linux but I'd be fine changing to that.

[Isiolia]

Just depends on what you want to do with it really. I mean, Linux is free anyway, so it doesn't hurt to try it (unless of course you'd have trouble gettting ME back on it or something). The main issue with getting rid of Linux tends to be getting rid of the bootloader.

[Siniroth]

Upgrades are garbage. The only one that was ever 'ok' was from 98 to SE, same file system, FAT32. Theoretically you can use FAT32 on XP, but it's garbage. NTFS onry on XP.

Basically it's best to do a full format and fresh install of XP.

You could just convert it to NTFS

[Guyverarmor]

FUCK WINDOWS ME!!!! dear god, makes baby Jesus cry

[Shuemue]

Upgrades are garbage. The only one that was ever 'ok' was from 98 to SE, same file system, FAT32. Theoretically you can use FAT32 on XP, but it's garbage. NTFS onry on XP.

Basically it's best to do a full format and fresh install of XP.

You could just convert it to NTFS

Tried that several times on several different systems back in the day, within weeks they were all bitching about BSOD.

[Killgannon]

dont really ever convert one file system to another in any OS, its a bad idea.

back on topic; it maybe in your better judgement to instead of winxp to use windows 98se, just because it should run with your older hardware better, however if you do choose to use xp, it maybe a little on the slower side unless you turn nearly everything off.

[Siniroth]

I changed mine to NTFS cause sister was stupid and can't follow one little instruction ("choose NTFS, not FAT32", quite literally) and I haven't had a problem yet, been using comp for a year-ish

[Fayttt]

Well I got a torrent and an XP upgrade CD and used it..Works fine..only issue is its a little on the slow side but meh that was expected. Still on FAT32 harddrive but to be honest I don't know the difference between NTFS and FAT32 orz.

[Killgannon]

well

FAT32 doesnt support files over 2GB in size, nor does it support any type of security for your data, nor does it support larger hard drives\


ntfs on the other hand supports all those things and more

[Kayu]

to anwser your question i need specs of your pc and if its enough decent to run xp just run xp pro. and any os nowdays is free just need to look enough harder.
and no dont combine file system or even drivers back up from older/newer os systems it will fuck your windowns up and you dont want that.
(format and install everything from scratch)