Upgrade from wind98SE to winXP 2

[GUJUm0deL]

Hiya folks, i'm thinking of upgrading from my windows98SE to windowsXP, but I have some basic (and maybe dumb) questions...
First off, these are my computer specs:
DELL P3 667MHz
128 RAM
20 gig HD
CD/CDR

Ok, now my questions:
1) I'm gonna completly reformat my HD, but how will XP detect my sound card, graphics card, modem, CDR and all the other devices?? I don't have the orignal drivers at all...

2) How do I reformat my HD -- in verry basic, easy to follow steps ??

3) I also want all 3 drives (C, D, E) after reformat, to maybe, if possible, redefine the HD capacity per each drive...

4) How do I then set up my cable modem?? Its attached via the USB connection...

Thanks for all/any help... I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[mikecx]

1) I'm gonna completly reformat my HD, but how will XP detect my sound card, graphics card, modem, CDR and all the other devices?? I don't have the orignal drivers at all...

Depends. Some stuff yes. Some stuff no. The drivers for everything that came with the pc should be at www.dell.com.

2) How do I reformat my HD -- in verry basic, easy to follow steps ??

After inserting the windows xp cd, let it setup untill it asks you to select/format a partition. Read through all the text and proceed to delete all the partitions. Be carefull as sometimes the screens/letters will be slightly different. Then to cover step three, define the first new partition. Dont let windows make it for you. You will need to deicde the size of this. The size is in mb and 1024mb = 1 gig. i would do a 6000mb, another, 6000mb, and let the last on take it all. The setup procedure screens go through creating it pretty clearly. Then Select the partition you want windows xp to be on and continue as normal.

3) I also want all 3 drives (C, D, E) after reformat, to maybe, if possible, redefine the HD capacity per each drive...

look above

4) How do I then set up my cable modem?? Its attached via the USB connection...

[/b]Contact your Cable Internet Provider. Or use the cd they *should* have given you with it. It should have the drivers needed. Remove it before setting up the computer. Plug in the modem, and when asked for drivers pop in the cd. Some devices require the cd/drivers to be used first so you may just wanna go ahead and call your provider before doing this step[/b]

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Hey, thanks for the input...
But what happens if I cannot find the drivers at the DELL website??
...Then Select the partition you want windows xp to be on and continue as normal. -- does that mean if I choose c: then XP will be installed on the C drive?? Will drive D: and E: also access XP, or do I need to load the XP in those drives again??
For the cable modem, I unplug the modem first then I plug it back in, have XP detect it (as a new device) then, when prompted, insert the CD for the cable modem...is that right?? I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[mikecx]

I have not had one thing i couldn't get the drivers for on Dell's website. While I am against pre-built computers their site's usually have all the drivers and all the support you could want. If you cant find it on dell.com post here with the device and one of us uber-geeks will get it for ya. As long as the xp install partition is NTFS and the other partitions are either NTFS or FAT windows XP can use them. The cable modem, I wouild call the cable company for first. Some USB sevices love to be attached first, some love to be attached after the cd has been loaded.

 

[Snickle]

It can't be stressed enough, when the WinXP CD is inserted, on the splash screen that comes up, be sure to run #4 Compability check. Find out ahead of time what will work and what won't.

 

[Montroze]

I just bought a laptop, and am hating XP after only a week, my desktops have Win98se and possibly soon my laptop.

 

[mikecx]

Just wondering why some people seem to hate xp. After removing the candy-coated outside it runs smooth and fixes a lot of problems. Also, you've gotta love the built-in driver library. I realize the other versions of windows had it but almost any card made before the realease of windows xp i've used hasn't needed drivers.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

OK I ran the compatibility check and this is what XP said (I made a print out of the list):

Hardware Compatibility isues -- MDP3880-w Modem
Software Compatibility issues -- MS-DTC (in comtrol panel), System Information (on Start Menu) I have no idea what these are...anyone know what they are, and do I need them??

It's also telling me to uninstal all these programs, because after the upgrade the uninstaller might not work:

Mouseware anyone know what this is??
Norton 2000/2001 software, and all the Norton products
PCAnywhere 7.5/8.0
Phone Tools anyone know what they are?? Do I even need this??

Settings that will not be upgraded because they are not applicable for winXP:

Dial-up connections might not work
Network Connections Protocol NetBEIU...support for NetBEUI protocol is not available for winXP. For networks using NetBEUI, instal TCP-IP on all machinesto maintain connectivity what do I do with this??
Ok, if I am gonna totaly reformat my drive does any of this matter?? Because from what I understand, reformatting means that everything is deleted and my HD is completely empty correct??
So do I just reformat the HD and then instal XP, instal the drivers and go from there??
Thanks for all the help... I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[Nyaj2k1]

I've got two questions that can open up a few more options:

1) Do you have a second hard drive, or are D and E partitions?

2) Do you have a CD-RW drive and some blank media?

 

[mikecx]

GUJU,
The only problem i can see from that list is your modem. Also the software listed may need service packs or mail fail to work on windows xp. Not a big deal, just dont load them. Formatting clears all information on the select partition. Most computers (except old NT 4 machines with larger hd's) only have one drive and one partition. Make sure to write down any settings that you will need later. Your # to your ISP, any other things like your ie favorite's (which can be stored to disk from the Internet Explorer file menu) and any other thing currently on your computer that you may end up forgetting that can be written down.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Thanks for the advice...
I plan on saving all my IE bookmarks, projects, reports, etc on a CD (I have a CDRW so that makes life easier)...
Another thing, will XP detect my CDRW?? The list didn't mention anything about the CDRW...
Where on DELL do they have all the drivers to dl?? I couldn't find them...do I still need to be under warranty in order to dl them?? I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[mikecx]

http://support.dell.com/us/en/register.asp?redirect=yes

enter your service tag (every dell has one, usually located on the bottom of laptops and the back of desktops) and it should take you to the page of your computer. I couldn't get into the system because either my browser isn't working right or the page is down. XP will detect it and XP does have built in burning, but I hihgly recomend using a 3rd party software (aka nero or ez-cd creator). Your system does not need to be under warranty. Also, I just remembered that there should be a system restore cd that came with the computer. It also contains all the drivers.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Yeah, I rememeber the system restore CD...I neva used it. But if I pop that in my CDrom won't it try to restore my PC the way DELL had it?? Or can I just get the drivers off the CD??
Thanks for the link... I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[SPYDERIX]

GUJUm0deL,

Your Dell Computer should have come with a Resource CD. Put that in and get the neccessary drivers from that CD. You do not want to use your system restore disk, b/c that will RESTORE everything to the way it was set at the warehouse before you got it. I don't much much hope for tech support helping you seeing as how you are not using your original configuration (the O.S.) that is what they have told me.

Hope this helps!

P.S. - You can get drivers from Dell's FTP site too you know. NATE
design@spyderix-designz.com

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[GUJUm0deL]

RESOURCE CD...now that makes sense...
Thanks for the clear-up SPYDERIX I have not failed; I merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[mikecx]

Aren't they one in the same? Just dont let it run the setup. I was pretty sure all the drivers can be pulled off the restore cd.

 

[Nyaj2k1]

You should be able to pull them off unless they do it the way Compaq does restore disks. I'm pretty sure that all the driver files are packaged in ".cab" files with all the other standard Windows drivers.

 

[SPYDERIX]

mikecx & Nyaj2k1,

Only basic drivers would be found in the .cab files and his CD burner wouldn't be found on that.

This is what Dell does. You receive an Installation Disk(or Restore CD), and Dell Resource CD which contains all drivers for all Dell Machines before 2001 or something like that, a Backup: Dell-Installed Programs (you won't get this if you have a restore cd), and if you didn't get a restore cd then you will also get separate driver cd's.

Use the resource cd (if you got one) to re-install your drivers. Not sure if your drivers will be found on the restore cd or not. But as I said earlier you can get any drivers you need for your Dell machine from Dell's FTP site.

Hope this helps! NATE
design@spyderix-designz.com

http://www.spyderix-designz.com