Upgrading to xp from 2000???

M

Monkeydub

Geek Trainee
Firstly, is it a wise move to upgrade to xp pro from 2000 pro? I think i need to reinstall my windows due to cd-rewriter problems and i don't have the 2000 installation disk, but i do have a windows xp disk. What do i have to do to prevent losing my data, software etc...is it something to do with partitioning the drive???
Could somebody explain what are the dis/advantages of xp and how i could do it without losing data.

Thanks, Rory
 
Best bet to make sure you don't lose anything is to backup all your stuff. You could put them onto a separate partition. XP is ok but theres lots of security holes so you'll need to install SP2 when you install to keep it going smoothly. You won't be able to use your programs once you've installed so you'll need to reinstall them. XP itself is pretty stable as a general OS. Before completely changing OS I would think about anything you may need to backup and keep. Note down any settings for net connections aswell.
 
Yes. Backup, in the event of error---which is mostly likely going to be human error at that (this is a fact, nothing personal). To be perfectly honest, XP (Pro or Home) is simply Win2k Home edition. It's the same core with a prettier interface and a few other bits. It's not a huge change.

There is software that can do partitioning for you, as you can only manipulate partitions/free space/other hard drives on the system other than the partition your OS is installed on. In otherwords, if your current HDD is simply formatted as one big drive, you can't use the tools under Windows to change the partition size if Windows is installed on that partition. You can use something like Partition Magic, but I personally wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. I don't know what the problem is, but there seems to be some problems in the way PM sets up the partitions that Windows doesn't seem to be able to read it.

It's not the most fun, but the best way to upgrade is to backup, then pop in the XP disk and reformat (and you can make a partition here too) and install. If you don't format, you're likely to run into problems due to the differences in files between the OSes, making it far less of a hassle to just do a clean install of Windows in the long run. Your choice, obviously, but speaking from experience, you're better off with a clean install.

So what if your burners broke. You've still got a couple of options.
1.)If you've got a network setup, copy the stuff you want to save over to another PC on the network. Copy it back over once you've installed Windows and done all the updates and driver installs.
2.)Physically remove the hard drive from your PC, hook it up to another system, copy out the files. Take the hard drive and hook it back up to the system, install Windows, do all the updating and driver installs. From here, take it back to the same PC you copied stuff over to and then hook it back up. (Note: make sure you do this with a comp that has Win2k or XP on it, especially if you format with NTFS--Win 9x--95,98,ME can't read NTFS formatting).
Alternative to 2.) if there's a burner on it, burn the files from there instead of having to hook up a hard drive once again.
 
Big B said:
Yes. Backup, in the event of error---which is mostly likely going to be human error at that (this is a fact, nothing personal). To be perfectly honest, XP (Pro or Home) is simply Win2k Home edition. It's the same core with a prettier interface and a few other bits. It's not a huge change.

There is software that can do partitioning for you, as you can only manipulate partitions/free space/other hard drives on the system other than the partition your OS is installed on. In otherwords, if your current HDD is simply formatted as one big drive, you can't use the tools under Windows to change the partition size if Windows is installed on that partition. You can use something like Partition Magic, but I personally wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole. I don't know what the problem is, but there seems to be some problems in the way PM sets up the partitions that Windows doesn't seem to be able to read it.

It's not the most fun, but the best way to upgrade is to backup, then pop in the XP disk and reformat (and you can make a partition here too) and install. If you don't format, you're likely to run into problems due to the differences in files between the OSes, making it far less of a hassle to just do a clean install of Windows in the long run. Your choice, obviously, but speaking from experience, you're better off with a clean install.

So what if your burners broke. You've still got a couple of options.
1.)If you've got a network setup, copy the stuff you want to save over to another PC on the network. Copy it back over once you've installed Windows and done all the updates and driver installs.
2.)Physically remove the hard drive from your PC, hook it up to another system, copy out the files. Take the hard drive and hook it back up to the system, install Windows, do all the updating and driver installs. From here, take it back to the same PC you copied stuff over to and then hook it back up. (Note: make sure you do this with a comp that has Win2k or XP on it, especially if you format with NTFS--Win 9x--95,98,ME can't read NTFS formatting).
Alternative to 2.) if there's a burner on it, burn the files from there instead of having to hook up a hard drive once again.
Click to expand...


Shhhheessshhhh!!!!! Remind me never to upgrade my system, BigB!!! :eek: If that's what you got to do to get from Windows 2000 Pro ( which I have ) to XP I'd rather string my nuts to a tree and pretend I'm a squirrel!!!Ouch!!!

:D
 
Better safe than sorry. I do have it setup so that my files are sync'd between my main rig at my file server, not to mention my LAN box as well. Even then, I make use of partitions, so when I reinstall (which really only happens with a new mobo these days), I'm up and running much sooner.
 
I've used drive imaging for backups in the past. Acronis was quite good but then one day the backup file (which was 10gb) became corrupt and i couldn't restore.
 
Like Monkeydub ...I don't have the installation disk either...bought my system used...so I burn everything I put on it to disk with Nero...and burned all applications,etc....except WINNT files which I need a larger CD ( more than 700MB ) for and, system volume infomation ( whatever that is ) which won't let me do a burn...question....as dumb as this may be...now that I have all these burned disks...can I upload from these disks if I get a new system...they are just regular disks...not bootable disks? :confused:
 
Well, that's the problem. There is a structure for the 2000 setup. Unfortunately, I believe that there are some files that reside only on the install CD and aren't copied over. There's also compression involved and some .cab files. There's an order, but I don't know what that is. I suppose it could be done, but not very easily. It's like a puzzle...a very complex puzzle. Unless you're really confident in your own software manipulating skills or go about some otherwise illegal means, the best thing I can say is find that disk or buy a copy and keep it safe. I'm not sure you'd be able to get a replacement disk from Microsoft, especially if you've got a pre-built system that only has a restore disc.
 
Big B said:
Well, that's the problem. There is a structure for the 2000 setup. Unfortunately, I believe that there are some files that reside only on the install CD and aren't copied over. There's also compression involved and some .cab files. There's an order, but I don't know what that is. I suppose it could be done, but not very easily. It's like a puzzle...a very complex puzzle. Unless you're really confident in your own software manipulating skills or go about some otherwise illegal means, the best thing I can say is find that disk or buy a copy and keep it safe. I'm not sure you'd be able to get a replacement disk from Microsoft, especially if you've got a pre-built system that only has a restore disc.
Click to expand...

I'm not toooooo worried about my system...I just bought this cheapo to learn on...only cost me $250 and came with a laser printer ( with cartridge )...but I'd like to keep as much of it as possible to transfer over to another computer when I decide I need to upgrade....which won't be for awhile...I'm hoping this puppy will last me for a year...with no major problems...it's only been 3 or 4 mths since I bought it...and I've already learned quite a bit from where I started...and I've only been on the net since about two weeks before I ran into you guys...and I'm glad I did...cause even though most of the time I haven't got a clue...you guys have been a great help in feeding me bits and pieces...and in about another 6 or 7 mths I might be ready to upgrade!!!!
:good:

I plan to hand this comp down to my daughters ( age 5 & 6 ) when I upgrade...if it still works by then! :D
 
Personally i would try to find your windows 2000 cd, its a much better Operating System than XP..

Windows 2000 has to be one of the most secure and stable releases of windows their is, its great. Try to find your Windows 2000 cd, or.. if u have a legit cdkey / serial then downloading or getting hold of a copy of windows 2000 is fine (in my opinion) as long as you do have a legit copy somewhere..
 
ProcalX said:
Personally i would try to find your windows 2000 cd, its a much better Operating System than XP..

Windows 2000 has to be one of the most secure and stable releases of windows their is, its great. Try to find your Windows 2000 cd, or.. if u have a legit cdkey / serial then downloading or getting hold of a copy of windows 2000 is fine (in my opinion) as long as you do have a legit copy somewhere..
Click to expand...

no cd came with the system when I bought it used...how can I find out if I have a cdkey/serial and if I do ...where can I get a copy of the cd?
:confused: :good:
 
You might be able to find a .iso file of the 200 cd on p2p. Best bet is probably Sharaza, kazaa or direct connect. But you have to have a legit key.
 
addis said:
You might be able to find a .iso file of the 200 cd on p2p. Best bet is probably Sharaza, kazaa or direct connect. But you have to have a legit key.
Click to expand...

what's a p2p and a legit key addis?
:confused:
 
OK i've upgraded to XP this afternoon :good: ...but on start up i'm asked which operating system i want to use 2000 or XP. How can i get rid of 2000 or how can i stop this screen/option coming up? I did a clean install (not upgrade), and presumed it would just wipe 2000 off automatically.

Rory
 
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