Buying Windows XP

Easy Mac · 04-17-2003, 03:06 PM

Well, its almost certain I am getting a new PC, as my mom said she'd think about buying it for me if I paid her back by August. Now for my next question:

At school, I can get Windows XP Pro Upgrade for $60, but I'm wondering If I can install that straight onto a new system w/o an OS? I ask b/c my school has to have Pro, and it costs an extra $140 to have it preinstalled with the comp I want. So can I straight install?

If not, should I just install Win 98 (already have it, but will XP install over the First Edition of 98), then immediately install Pro over it?

Thanks in advance. Perhaps with enough goading I'll post my specs, but I'm happy with the $500 system, after shipping.

cartman · 04-17-2003, 03:13 PM

I would try to avoid any scenario where you have to install an OS and then upgrade. Even if you install Win98 and then immediately upgrade to XP, that won't keep you from having "strange" issues pop up down the line.

The main reason is that the registry formats are different between the different versions of Windows. With an upgrade, there's a "best effort" done by Microsoft to have the previous registry entries matchup to the new format.

dacman · 04-17-2003, 03:13 PM

Do you have full-blown Win 98? Then the upgrade will do, I think.

If so, do one thing -- DO NOT install 98 first. Put the XP upgrade in and try to install. It will come back and tell you it can't find the required installation for the upgrade, at that time, put the Win 98 CD in and point it to it. It will whir for a while and then come back and tell you its ready to install (re-insert XP CD if necessary).

Although, I will say this -- I'm not 100% sure 98 is enough for XP upgrade, and I'm not 100% sure the above trick works with XP.

moriarty · 04-17-2003, 03:14 PM

Do a clean install which will remove any trace of the previous operating system anyways (so you can load 98 and install XP). 98 is upgradeable to XP pro according to Microsoft.

BTW - I'm not sure what you mean when you install XP first and then XP pro on top of it. XP comes in two versions home and pro. I'm assuming the XP pro upgrade you refer to means an upgrade from you existing 98 to XP pro directly (no middle step).

edited for clarity

dacman · 04-17-2003, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Easy Mac
...At school, I can get Windows XP Pro Upgrade for $60...

Is that a university? Many public institutions have an MSCA (Microsoft Campus Agreement) that will allow you to get Windows, Office, etc. for $5.

Easy Mac · 04-17-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dacman
Is that a university? Many public institutions have an MSCA (Microsoft Campus Agreement) that will allow you to get Windows, Office, etc. for $5.

really, I hadn't heard of this. hmmm, have to go scouring the internet.

Craptacular · 04-17-2003, 03:35 PM

UW's contract allowed me to buy Windows XP Pro for $25 and MS Office Pro (with Front Page) for $30. Definitely check to see if your school has one.

KWhit · 04-17-2003, 03:38 PM

You DO NOT have to install a previous version of windows first. You just need to have a CD of the previous version. Do a clean install of Win XP and follow the directions that Dacman gave you.

You might want to check the Microsoft website to make sure Win98 is recent enough for the upgrade.

sterlingice · 04-17-2003, 03:39 PM

Since you're getting a new computer and thus have some good power behind the machine, I'd consider Win2K. It's unbearably slow on older systems but a lot more stable than anything before it and without some of the real horror stories people have had with WinXP.

SI

KWhit · 04-17-2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sterlingice
Since you're getting a new computer and thus have some good power behind the machine, I'd consider Win2K. It's unbearably slow on older systems but a lot more stable than anything before it and without some of the real horror stories people have had with WinXP.

SI

I use both and I prefer WinXP.

Don't listen to sterlingice!

moriarty · 04-17-2003, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit
You might want to check the Microsoft website to make sure Win98 is recent enough for the upgrade.

According to this link .. it is.

KWhit · 04-17-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moriarty
According to this link .. it is.

Yeah, I could have done that, but I'm too lazy.

moriarty · 04-17-2003, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit
Yeah, I could have done that, but I'm too lazy.

Well I'm at work, so I have the time to spare.

dacman · 04-17-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit
I use both and I prefer WinXP.

Same here.

04-17-2003, 03:13 PM	#3
dacman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: speak to the trout	Do you have full-blown Win 98? Then the upgrade will do, I think. If so, do one thing -- DO NOT install 98 first. Put the XP upgrade in and try to install. It will come back and tell you it can't find the required installation for the upgrade, at that time, put the Win 98 CD in and point it to it. It will whir for a while and then come back and tell you its ready to install (re-insert XP CD if necessary). Although, I will say this -- I'm not 100% sure 98 is enough for XP upgrade, and I'm not 100% sure the above trick works with XP. __________________ No signatures allowed.

04-17-2003, 03:14 PM	#4
moriarty College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: A negative place	Do a clean install which will remove any trace of the previous operating system anyways (so you can load 98 and install XP). 98 is upgradeable to XP pro according to Microsoft. BTW - I'm not sure what you mean when you install XP first and then XP pro on top of it. XP comes in two versions home and pro. I'm assuming the XP pro upgrade you refer to means an upgrade from you existing 98 to XP pro directly (no middle step). edited for clarity Last edited by moriarty : 04-17-2003 at 03:16 PM.

04-17-2003, 03:39 PM	#9
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Since you're getting a new computer and thus have some good power behind the machine, I'd consider Win2K. It's unbearably slow on older systems but a lot more stable than anything before it and without some of the real horror stories people have had with WinXP. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

04-17-2003, 03:13 PM	#2
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	I would try to avoid any scenario where you have to install an OS and then upgrade. Even if you install Win98 and then immediately upgrade to XP, that won't keep you from having "strange" issues pop up down the line. The main reason is that the registry formats are different between the different versions of Windows. With an upgrade, there's a "best effort" done by Microsoft to have the previous registry entries matchup to the new format.

04-17-2003, 03:35 PM	#7
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	UW's contract allowed me to buy Windows XP Pro for $25 and MS Office Pro (with Front Page) for $30. Definitely check to see if your school has one.

04-17-2003, 03:38 PM	#8
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	You DO NOT have to install a previous version of windows first. You just need to have a CD of the previous version. Do a clean install of Win XP and follow the directions that Dacman gave you. You might want to check the Microsoft website to make sure Win98 is recent enough for the upgrade.

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