Hi expert,
I got the e-machine with WIN98 OS on it, but I would like to upgrade it from WIN98 to WINXP. And also I like to save all documents & file like as it before.
Right now here is the question…after upgrade it from WIN98 to WINXP do I still have to load or download the winxp driver for all components? And what is the best step to upgrade the PC from WIN98 to WINXP ?
Thanks for any idea or solution!
Mohagian

Fresh install is recommended, mainly due to the fact that W98 is MS-DOS based and XP is NT based. I have never come across a successful upgrade mainly due to driver and software issues....

And whichever way you decide to go... FIRST backup all those very important folders/files etc. to removable (optical) media and/or annother physical hard-drive. Then verify those backups are truly accessible/readable etc. from any complaint OS. (Backup in this case meaning actual "true" copies - as opposed to a true backup...)

i've upgraded many win98 to xp.
xp just picks up the win98 drivers and uses those. go for it

I seem to recall that there is an option during (XP) setup to allow for a possible reversion to the previous OS if not happy with XP; as in assorted previous installation info etc. is saved and can be used for a roll-back?

If I'm correct... might be useful to allow for that regardless?

You're right, trvlr. It's all HERE.

The catch is to do it as soon as you decide you don't like it. If you install programs afterward, the ability to successfully uninstall XP may no longer be an option.

On another matter, you may not get the uninstall option if the amount of disk space for the partition on which you want to install XP is insufficient to accommodate the uninstallation backup image. For more info look HERE.

Regards

i_XpUser

If you have enough HDD space, I suggest you create a 2nd partition (FAT32) & create a dual boot system. Otherwise, back up your important files & documents, format the HDD & do a clean install of XP.

"xp just picks up the win98 drivers and uses those"

LOL...I don't think so. You will have to download & install the appropriate WinXP drivers for all your devices. Win98 drivers are NOT compatible.

If you want to upgrade, first run the Upgrade Advisor that is in the XP upgrade disk. It will tell you what is compatible and what is not.

Then uninstall all the incompatibles and continue.

Win XP has lots of drivers for older hardware.

For your info, I upgraded from Win ME to XP five years ago. It has still been running without a glitch. Maybe I was lucky because people said upgrade was catastrophic.

XP recognized all my hardware and installed the drivers, though I visited the hardware manufacturers sites for possible updated drivers.

Regards

suatcini

A little heads up......

Is your eMachine spec'd enough to run XP without hiccups? While your CPU is more than adequate the RAM may be an issue depending on how much you've got on the Windows 98 system. Even though M$' minimum supported memory requirement is 64MB for the OS, in reality such a meagre amount isn't going to cut it.

not sure about jam's comment.
I don't think you can have a hard drive
with 1/2 ntfs and 1/2 fat32. I've never had luck do so.Just to be safe I would backup everything! and Install
windows XP. Keep your windows 98 cd handy. if you have an upgrade XP disk you may need to insert it during install. just to check for an old vr installed.
About the drivers. you should be able to find xp drivers on from emachine. the main driver you will need is the Chipset.

Xfactor

Sure you can have NTFS on one partition and FAT32 on a different partition. Partition is like a wall a barrier with no boundaries that keeps the different file systems separated from each other on the same hard drive. Some people even have FAT & FAT16 partitions.

i_XpUser

hi folks,
thanks to all for reply!
Any way the E-machine got 600 mhz CPU,
RAM 128MB,
HD 25 gig.

Although XP recommended 128MB RAM as the minimum RAM you actually may never be happy with its lagging performance - believe me.

i_XpUser

I got another confusion…how do I backup all-important files (like word document, excel & access etc) from the e-machine what belongs to win98 ? In previous time, I always failed to backup all data from this kind of machine.
But this time,I want to back up 100% data.
Thanks again for any idea!

Using a cd/dvd burner... (and Nero or similar software) simply copy them to cdr (or cdrw)/dvdr (or dvdrw) disks. Verify each disk is truly readable etc. both on the PC you have now, and preferably/ideally another PC as well... - before you set about installing XP. If you have a spare hd you could copy all data etc. to that instead of optical media; or even do it both ways a spare hd and optical-media...?

If you had an Athlon 600, why list your CPU as Athlon 1800+? You'll only confuse people who are supposedly trying to help you. For one I assumed you had the 1533MHz Athlon XP 1800+ & not a 600MHz Athlon.

On that note - I would dissuade you from continuing with this. Just stick with Windows 98. You are much better off with that OS.

HI SABERTOOTH,
To tell to be honest,actually I got the e-machine from one of my friend who was asking help to upgrade it from WIN98 to WINXP; and it belongs to 600 mhz, ram 128mb, HD 25 gig .MY PC belongs to CPU AMD ATHLON 1800MHZ
RAM 512MB
HD 80 GIG
OS WINXP PRO 1ST EDITION.

Can't you just tell your friend the machine does not have what it takes to host XP and that he would be better off staying with Win 98?

i_XpUser

Hi Dear folks,
Successfully I upgraded the e-machine from WIN98 TO WINXP, but the C: drive still in FAT file system. Right now my question is that- how do I convert the C: drive into NTFS? If I try to format, it says I will lose all data.
Thanks for any idea or solution!

You use the convert.exe util (part of W2K/XP).

If you try a (re)format it will truly wipe the drive...; and it cannot be done from within the installed OS anyway.

How to use the convert.exe:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pr...

Personally I wouldn't bother/risk it... Unless you have some serious security issues, or some other desperate reason for using ntfs... I'd stay with fat32. The recovery options in event of a crash are much greater/easier if it's fat32.

"IF" you really insist... FIRST BACK UP all critical DATA - off the system entirely; to removable (optical) media and verify they are truly readable etc. before proceeding further.

Thanks trvlr for giving the convert.exe website!