Reformat hard drive and update OS

[richj55]

I have a computer that is currently running windows me. I would like to reformat the drive and install windows 2000 or xp. How should I go about accomplishing this task? Should I get all of the drivers, create a boot disk and then reformat? Or, will the windows 2000 or xp cd have all of the drivers on it?

Thanks,

Rich

 

[craigey]

depends on the hardware as to whether or not XP/2000 will install apropriate drivers.

Your best bet is to download all available updated drivers for XP/2000 for all your cards. You could also backup all your IE favourites & Cookies using import/export (under file in IE). Also if you use Outlook you can save all your messages by going to the folder that they are stored in and just copying all the files in the directorey. Then burn them all on to a CD.
When you've created the CD. Make sure it's written correctly so that you can restore your favourites and messages etc.

Then format your HD using a boot disk 95/98. If your computer can boot from the cdrom drive just do
FORMAT C: dont bother with the /s or /q qualifiers as XP/2000 will sort all that out.

If you can't boot from cdrom use the /s qualifier. Then boot with a win98 boot disk. choose the option to start with cdrom drivers. change to the cdrom and find the setup.exe

This method should give you the least amount of trouble.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[paparazi]

I was in this position several months when I upgraded to XP.
I spent ages downloading XP drivers for all my hardware only to find that XP found everthing in it's own GENERIC driver data base.
SO IT WAS JUST A WASTE OF TIME ! for me.
But my advice is this: As long as you can get the modem working "IF" you need drivers you can download them afterwards (obviously make sure XP drivers are available for your hardware before you purchase XP or 2000) So download the XP driver just for your MODEM, then the others IF NEEDED! after XP installation. Martin Just trying to help, sometimes falling short, I am only human after all.

 

[Kjonnnn]

Do the backups as suggested. I've had enough instances when 2000 and XP will NOT have the drivers you need.

Heres a quirk I found with the 98 boot disk

You can boot up with the 98 disk. FDISK your drive and format.

Now... boot up with the W2000 CD, in W2000 delete the partition and format the drive AGAIN.

Its seems like double work. But W2000 didnt like any of the formating the 98 disk did, and would crash constantly after the install.

 

[FatesWebb]

winxp comes with a util on teh cd that checks to see if your stuff is supported... run that checkupgrade or something like that js error; 67 on line; 36 of signature.class

 

[craigey]

It's always handy to have the updated drivers rather then rely upon windows generic drivers. Often you loose functionality.