moving to XP

[RoseZalutations]

Hey there.
I've bought a new computer and due to will be moving soon from my old Win98se to WinXPpro.. I could read some reviews and pro's opinions but I wants to ask now-users a question - What is the differance? did it take time for you to adjust to the change? do you think it is a good change? any crucial things you have done one way on 98 and are doing it diffrently on XP? (edit: I don't mean changes like memory calculation system or etc, I mean changes on the platform, visually).
thanks alot for replies!

ps. do you tweak? thanks.

 

[Jwyatt]

I've bought a new computer and due to will be moving soon from my old Win98se to WinXPpro..

Its about time! IMHO XP is the best OS MS has put out in years. Win2k Comes a very close 2nd. Probably because XP was built around 2k

What is the differance?

No crashes!! Once tweaked Win98 was fairly stable, but it had/has alot of bugs that were never worked out. XPs biggest bugs are security IMO.

The start menu is laid out a little different. It keeps the most used programs just above the start button when you press it. The control panel is different, but theres a button to view it the ole fashion way. Looking at the system properties for the first time is a little awkward. It doesnt show the hardware in the same window. Youll have to go to the tab "Hardware" then press a button called "device manager"

Theres tons of other differences, but these are a few of the notcable ones.

did it take time for you to adjust to the change?

About a day or so of fiddling with it off and on.

do you think it is a good change?

Change is good, dont you know that!

any crucial things you have done one way on 98 and are doing it diffrently on XP?

Kinda hit on this in the first questions, but you'll notice the desktop icons. If you want the standard icons on the desktop you'll have to find how to get them to show.

ps. do you tweak? thanks.

Theres some tweaks out there, but for the most part its not needed. Most gamers do the standard tweaks with the video settings. TweakXP is a decent tool. Lets you tweak some. Just get the OS installed and you'll see what i mean.



PS. dont install XP on anything less than a 1ghz with 512MB ram. My duaghters comp is a 1ghz Tbird. With 256, and i can see a world of differecne compared to my 1.6p4 with 512M ram.

 

[Jwyatt]

PS make sure you use NTFS instead of Fat32.

 

[Tromos]

And absolutely positively do not attempt to do a hard drive upgrade from 98SE to WinXP. The only good way to install WinXP is clean. Better than 90% of the people who complain to me about WinXP have problems because they had Win98SE and ran the upgrade program.

Just say "No".

Save your stuff somewhere, re-format the drive (or let the WinXP install do it for you), and start over. Better yet, buy a new drive, load it with XP, and slave out your old drive.

 

[leinadM]

Originally posted by: Tromos
And absolutely positively do not attempt to do a hard drive upgrade from 98SE to WinXP. The only good way to install WinXP is clean. Better than 90% of the people who complain to me about WinXP have problems because they had Win98SE and ran the upgrade program.

Just say "No".

Save your stuff somewhere, re-format the drive (or let the WinXP install do it for you), and start over. Better yet, buy a new drive, load it with XP, and slave out your old drive.

I upgraded it without a problem. But I can see how upgrading instead of reformating could be more risky.

 

[NumbaJuan]

i've upgraded quite a few systems with 98 installed with no probs at all. i do however prefer a clean install

I also have used Partition Magic to convert the Fat file sys to NTFS after the upgrade....just a thought

 

[nebula]

I thought 98SE was pretty stable and liked it alot. I use Win2K at work so then I migrated to that at home, but it boots so slowwww. Then moved to XP, like it alot! Boots fast, I like the visual changes...after many years of looking at the same layout, XP spices things up a little. Like previously mentioned, a couple "advanced" options are located in slightly different spots, but quickly got used to. The only major thing I did was customize the start menu. You can have the Control Panel be a link or a pop out directory, as well as all other things there. I myself turned off System Restore because it ate up too much HD space, this can be configured, but I didn't think I needed it, I've used these things for years and usually know what I'm doing!

The other really cool thing, it will find almost all of your hardware!! It found all of mine, I just updated the mobo drivers and the video card drivers. Everything else was ready to go, saves alot of time. And no upgrading IE necessary, comes with IE6.

I kinda disagree that you need 1GHz and 512MB of ram. I started using it with a Duron 900 and 256MB and it was fine. But this will depend on what you're going to use it for.

 

[RoseZalutations]

first, thanks for the replies!!

I have many lists of tweaks I assembled so I don't really wants any program, but thanks for the offer -I might change my mind l8r..
I'm not upgrading a thing, I'm buying a total NEW computer.. so don't worry even a bit and it is 3.06Ghz with 1GB Ram, I guess it overwhelm the minimums you outlines.. thanks.

one last thing, before I go diggin for an answer: can you explain me a bit about 'make sure you use NTFS instead of Fat32'? what does it mean? what does it reffers to? how do I *use* one instead of the other? thanks alot m8... (edit: oh I see there are many FAQs about it on anandtech faqs, so there is probably no need for any explanations, thanks anyways!!)