Windows98 Upgrade to XP?

[KhanAlf]

After reading that win98 will no longer be supported, I think it is time for me to upgrade to xp for my secondary box. I am wondering if I need to buy a XP oem version of the os or if there is an upgradeable version to another os like ME or 2000. Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[Derango]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/matrix.asp

 

[thorin]

Win98 support has been extended:
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/01/12/125232.shtml?tid=109&tid=126&tid=172&tid=187

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/34826.html

Thorin

 

[CrackRabbit]

There is an upgrade version available, but you would be much happier with a clean install from an OEM copy.

 

[zodder]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
There is an upgrade version available, but you would be much happier with a clean install from an OEM copy.

I agree 100%.

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: zodder

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
There is an upgrade version available, but you would be much happier with a clean install from an OEM copy.

I agree 100%.

The upgrade version can be used for full installs also. You only need to put in your Windows 98 CD when prompted. All MS OSes have been like this since pre Win95.

 

[sandorski]

Tried an Upgrade once, will never try again. My system was totally borked, wouldn't even boot into Safe Mode.

 

[Viper96720]

I used the upgrade disc on my ME computer. I formatted the drive first and just put in the XP disc. Then it gets to a screen where it asks for your ME or previous OS. Put that one in it does something to check the CD. Then put the XP disc in and the installation starts installing. XP will ask what drive to install to. You can format the drive NTFS then also before beginning the install. I think the upgrade version and normal version installs the files same. Just the upgrade version has that extra step that has to check whether you had a previous version of their OS.
If you got your CD then you can use the upgrade version. It's a clean install either way.

 

[zemel]

Using an "upgrade' CD to go to a full clean install, seems to bother me.

I may be wrong, but I thought all of the "upgrade" cd's to WIN XP Pro, for example, being sold don't have SP1 or SP2 on them, so you have to get them via download.

But if you buy an OEM full of WIN XP PRO, you can possibly get SP1 or even SP2 with it, at say, for example, NewEgg, etc.

Any comments ?

 

[Viper96720]

Yes the newer cd's have the service pack version files on the cd. It would say so somewhere when you buy it.

 

[yukichigai]

I just installed XP Pro as an upgrade from 98SE on this computer. It came with SP1 files installed, which is part of the problem I'm having now. (Bad outlook express update and I can't reinstall it since IE 6 is up to date, although I've done the registry hack stuff to fake the program's absence and the reinstall didn't fix it) Anyway, yes it comes with it.

Now I'm curious: I have a copy of 3.1 and a 98SE upgrade. Is there any way I can do a clean install using the 98SE upgrade, or do I have to install 3.1, then 98SE, then XP Pro?

P.S. 95 doesn't do upgrades unless you get the upgrade version. I found this out trying to upgrade an old 3.1 system I found. :|

 

[yukichigai]

EDIT: Dooooo-uuble post!

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I just installed XP Pro as an upgrade from 98SE on this computer. It came with SP1 files installed, which is part of the problem I'm having now. (Bad outlook express update and I can't reinstall it since IE 6 is up to date, although I've done the registry hack stuff to fake the program's absence and the reinstall didn't fix it) Anyway, yes it comes with it.

Now I'm curious: I have a copy of 3.1 and a 98SE upgrade. Is there any way I can do a clean install using the 98SE upgrade, or do I have to install 3.1, then 98SE, then XP Pro?

P.S. 95 doesn't do upgrades unless you get the upgrade version. I found this out trying to upgrade an old 3.1 system I found. :|

will the 98se upgrade cd not work when xp prompts for a cd to validate the upgrade? i can't remember if 3.1 is valid for a 98 upgrade or not, it's been awhile since i would have even attempted that.

you ~could~ do an upgrade with the full version of win95, but you had to do some trickery to get it to work, and it wasn't always guaranteed. but if you mucked about a bit you could get it to install.

the upgrade matrix doesn't say you can't use an upgrade, so i'd at least try it.

 

[yukichigai]

3.1 is a valid OS to upgrade with 98. Microsoft upgrades seem to include the previous 2 sets of Windows OSes. XP Pro/Home upgrade is valid for 2k, ME and 98/98SE. 2k/ME upgrade is valid for 98/98SE and 95. 98 upgrade is valid for 95 and 3.x. The 95 upgrade is the only one I haven't seen.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I just installed XP Pro as an upgrade from 98SE on this computer. It came with SP1 files installed, which is part of the problem I'm having now. (Bad outlook express update and I can't reinstall it since IE 6 is up to date, although I've done the registry hack stuff to fake the program's absence and the reinstall didn't fix it) Anyway, yes it comes with it.

Now I'm curious: I have a copy of 3.1 and a 98SE upgrade. Is there any way I can do a clean install using the 98SE upgrade, or do I have to install 3.1, then 98SE, then XP Pro?

P.S. 95 doesn't do upgrades unless you get the upgrade version. I found this out trying to upgrade an old 3.1 system I found. :|

Just boot from the XP Pro CD and perform a clean install. At some point you'll be prompted to insert your 98SE CD for upgrade verification, but there is no need to install 98SE before installing XP.