Computer newbies: Changing OS from ME to XP
Changing OS from ME to XP
by ciggieoxo - 7/28/06 4:56 AM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by e.yauDoes she *really* need XP? What does she need to do using XP that she cannot do with ME? Sell the XP purchase and do not tempt fate by installing XP unless it's a ''must have'' for her work/play on her PC.
Perhaps it would be more utile to add an inexpensive DVD/CD R-W Drive.
me to xp
by rgh05s - 7/28/06 5:16 AM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by ciggieoxoI agree. I continue to run ME with few problems. Only encountered a few software progs that wont work under ME.
I suggest waiting for stable Vista version to upgrade.
Waiting for Vista?
by comicfan - 7/28/06 11:27 AM In reply to: me to xp by rgh05sYou may be waiting a looong time for a stable version. The person in question may in fact be a grandma themselves by that time. If you have encountered little problems with ME, then you should also buy a lottery ticket with that kind of luck.
Vista may become many things from here on but waiting for it doesn't seem like a viable thing to do. It may be quite some time before it becomes or EVER becomes stable. I doubt the compaq will handle Vista very well anyway.
Paul
What??
by comicfan - 7/28/06 11:21 AM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by ciggieoxocan you do with XP that you can't with ME? For one, have a stable operating system among a hundred other things. SELL the XP?? Who is going to buy it? They would be losing money.
Do not tempt fate? No offense it's an OS install not a world leader conference. Unless it's a must have? Perhaps it's a "want to have" and if they want XP, what's wrong with that? ME isn't even an OS in my eyes. The adding DVD\CD was already mentioned. Don't get me wrong as I am not attacking you here but this is more of an opinion and they want to know HOW to do something.
Paul
"want to have" comicfan is absolutely right
by ciggieoxo - 7/30/06 2:15 AM In reply to: What?? by comicfan"Perhaps it's a 'want to have' and if they want XP, what's wrong with that?"
I agree with Paul (comicfan).
Nothing at all is wrong with that.The question about her Grandmother being able to live with ME sounded like somethings I have had to address with my 83 year old mother. I know grandmothers can be computer gurus and these days grandmothers can be comparitively young.
Still in my case with my mother, she only used her computer for: email and making greeting cards.
She would hear about latest computer something and then she would want it. It was silly for her to pay for most things since any Microsoft OS could handle email and greeting cards.
In my case with my mother, I would always ask her what she wanted to do that she couldn't do with her current set up. Usually the answer was nothing. Many times she'd ask me AFTER she already had another geriatric friend mess around with things that later I would have to undo.
You are absolutely correct in writing "Perhaps it's a 'want to have' and if they want XP, what's wrong with that?" **I agree with you**. In this case I was addressing the problem as more of a social issue than a technological issue.
By the way, the older you get, the less important are lifetime guarantees. ::grin::
ME to XP
by Frankdal25 - 8/9/06 9:20 AM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by ciggieoxoHi Gailforce, I recently changed from ME to XP Pro. ME crashed continually so I purchased XP Pro from Tiger Direct. First of all back up on CDs or DVDs all of your folders in My Documents,My Pictures and any other folders and files on your PC that you wish to keep. You do not have to save your programs onto a disk. You can install the programs after installing the XP OS. When installing the new XP OS make certain that you boot your PC from the CD disk. The easiest way to do this is to continually press the enter key when your PC is first turned on. You must boot up from the XP CD in order to properly format your hard drive when installing the new OS. Follow the instructions given by the XP CD and you will install the new OS easily. I have a scanner and a printer that are 5 years old and I downloaded the new drvers from HP and Visioneer with no problems. I am very happy with the XP OS and I am just an average Joe with computers. Hope this helps.
Frank
Hope this helps!
by e.yau - 8/9/06 10:33 PM In reply to: ME to XP by Frankdal25Yes Frank. Your answer made a lot of sense to me. I am getting ready to try this out this weekend.
A simple way do save your data from current disk
by satishkhode - 7/28/06 7:37 AM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by e.yauMove out the existing hard disk from your Compaq PC, buy a new one and connect it.
Then, install Xp as usual. After completed, insert back the old hard disk into the PC as slave. Then you can read back all the work your grandmother done.
I believe you don't need to download any drivers for Copmpaq as Xp default can handle it well. May be some....
brgds/ahoman
Slaving away
by daChief - 7/28/06 8:04 AM In reply to: A simple way do save your data from current disk by satishkhodeI agree with this method, specifically because it is the method I used. It has the advantage of creating a dual-boot system, in the event that there are non-XP-compatible devices: they can still be used in the ME environment of the old HDD.
When you're satisfied that the machine is working properly with the new OS, you can then format the old HDD and use it as expanded storage.
Maybe...
by comicfan - 7/28/06 11:13 AM In reply to: A simple way do save your data from current disk by satishkhodeas I did state this already in my reply by putting another hard drive in as a method but not with two OSs. Not sure if either could handle having two OSs on the pc, may in fact be confusing for them.
Second, XP doesn't handle all drivers and there will be driver downloads needed.
Paul
About drivers and two OS
by satishkhode - 7/28/06 10:43 PM In reply to: Maybe... by comicfanI don't know what kinds of drivers you are missing, most of the common drivers can be handled by Xp, update Xp SP2 may a little help.
For early Xp version, the major problems are the mainboard chip INF file, VGA driver and sound card.
Check your hardware device in control panel, if there is any "question" icon, record down and go search from internet to get the latest drivers or go directly to the manufacturer web site. But do alert that there is possibilities no Xp OS drivers if the hardwares are old enough.
Anyway, there is no way fpr you to skip the above procedures because Xp is not a superman, it can't do everything for you. Some kinds of headache for newbie...
For two OS, since your existing hardware already fully occupied by WinME, add a new hard disk into your PC, boot up Xp install CD , when it prompts you where to install, select the new hrad disk and go on rest of the steps. After Xp is installed and computer boot up, a config menu will prompt you select which OS you want to start, you can pick WinME or XP either.
Note: If you format the new Xp partition in NTFS format, start WinMe can not see it, therefore, during Xp installation, do not format as NTFS. If your new hard disk is not more than 20G, Xp only allows you format FAT32, and that's OK for both OS to see each other.
Missing driver...
by comicfan - 7/29/06 5:27 AM In reply to: About drivers and two OS by satishkhodeWindows may in fact fill the driver gap and I don't deny that, however, many times the device in question will not work as it should, and the correct drivers will need to be placed. So I understand what you mean, but as stated in many cases windows drivers are a temporary until you can update\download the correct one.
Paul
Missing drivers
by satishkhode - 7/30/06 5:00 AM In reply to: Missing driver... by comicfanDevice with question mark tells you Xp only install the last driver which is known to it. Sure this only proide the basic operation.
Since your PC is Compaq, go to HP web site for your model, you may try the URL below:
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=drivers
If you still can not find the suitable drivers, send email to HP support.
But if your Compaq is to old enough and no more new drivers are released. Consider my suggestions:
1. Let the WinME alive although Microsoft no longer support, but microsoft web site still has existing patches for WinMe.
2. Find out which devices in question mark and you can not find the lastest driver for Xp, if the device is on board, disable it, the device is stand alone, remove it. Then buy a new device (I means the interface crad, e.g. VGA card, Network card etc), new one will contains proper Xp drivers.
DIY needs to try-on-error in order to get technical knowledge and experience, it's a long way to run.
brgds/ting
Only takes a bit of time- you can do it....
by adkmom - 7/28/06 3:23 PM In reply to: Changing OS from ME to XP by e.yauHi "Gail"-
If you're semi-PC literate (you don't give your own experience) it isn't a huge ordeal- just some details you'll need to keep track of...
First of all- you do NOT want to install XP on top of ME- I don't care what anyone else has to say on that. ME uses an older file system (FAT32) that is not what XP was meant to run on- & it also causes more "slack" or unusable space on the hard drive (& is less secure) than the default XP file system (NTFS).
If you know how to view files in My Computer, you can drag the data off to a thumb drive or CD, assuming she has a burner.
Getting to the address book & mail accounts is trickier- & depends on what she uses for her email...
The process is much better if you can have a geek there with you- the 1st time around. If you need a hand-holding, get me at adkmom*at*gmail.com & I'll help.
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