ME to XP Op sys, Have you tried?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone upgraded from Windows ME to XP? I understand you have to download new drivers for your printers, but what about Toolbox, WinSketch, Apex, and Wordperfect, etc. Someone told me occasionally some programs don't work.

Ter

 

[KD247]

Moving to XP (Home Edition is adequate for most users) is one of the most significant milestones in my 21 years of using personal computers. Do it!

If you really want a safe way to make the conversion, get an extra hard drive and a hard drive caddy (Learn about them at http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/Buyers_Guide.../MobileRack.jsp then buy for $14.99 at http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetai...ductCode=140420 )

Install XP on the new drive. If anything goes wrong, it takes 20 seconds to swap back your original ME drive and you're back to work. You can spend an evening or two getting your programs installed and making sure that everything works before totally committing to the new system.

Or, if you're the gutsy type, install XP on your existing drive, cross your fingers and think positive thoughts. It'll probably work fine.

Good Luck,
Koert

 

[Nancy in Friday Harbor]

Ter,

I had some terrible issues when the new 'puter running XP arrived! Now that I've worked my way through them, things are going swimmingly.

First: Check the XP website AND the website for all of your peripherals. XP doesn't support a lot of the functions of various combined machines -- my HP LaserJet 1100 will print but scanning is no longer possible. No Driver. Oh, my Microtek flatbed scanner is out, too. (Microtek says it works, but that try resulted in having to completely reload XP!!! GRRR!!) I now scan, when necessary, using the old 'puter (W98SE) then transfer the file -- pain in the A#$%!!
Be prepared to buy some new software -- for example, Norton System Works has a new program to run with XP, the old one doesn't (and it was only a year old).

For the most part, I like XP. But it has been an expensive switch.

Nancy

 

[Atlanta CG]

I was one of those touting the switch, as XP really is much better. I had it on my 3 year old computer for 3 months and it was great. Then I bought a new "all-in-one" machine from HP to replace the color inkjet printer that went south & an old copy machine. Put in the driver and then all really went south. Long story short - 8 hours on MS tech support (Canada) & they could not correct it. HP could not correct it. Finally went to a "research team" at MS and they got back to me, saying my machine simply will not accommodate XP for all the new products and had to wipe the disk clean and put back an old OS. My suggestion, if upgrading to XP, make certain the computer is recent and despite checking all web sites for XP upgradability, you may find that separately they are fine, but combining all your hardware drivers on one computer may lead to conflicts which ultimately may not be resolvable. I was in the mood for a new computer and this gave me the resolve to convince my wife of the same. This may be the simplest and ultimately the cheapest solution. But you may also have to upgrade your peripherals as well.