Cleaning C/Drive

[bphillip]

We've got an older computer that the kids use for schoolwork that runs Windows Millennium. It seems like it always crashes or keeps popping up error messages and shutting programs down. I wanted to replace the OS with XP. Can I get rid of Millennium manually by deleting all the folders and manually delete everything else off of the harddrive? I'm not that good with this stuff, I thought it would be easier to do a clean install.Can I do it this way?
Thanks...bp

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

you cant upgrade from winME to XP, a clean install is definately in order, and it will be worthwhile too, winME is a bunch of crap winXP has rock solid stability, just what you need for a family p.c

just make sure you have the resources to run XP comfortably, you need at least 128MB of ram , and preferably 256MB.

[r_xq]

Originally posted by cheapprick
That's an impractical way to do it. You would want to either upgrade to XP(bad option), or fdisk away your partion, format the drive and then start fresh.

You really should start fresh. Create a bootup disk with a copy of fdisk on it first. Use fdisk to delete your primary partition. Then format the c drive using the disk. At that point restart your computer with the disk and start your install.

Warning* - obviously this will remove EVERY file on your hard drive. You might want to try boosting the ram first and see if millenium boosts it's performance first. If not, format away.

no, he just needs to get a copy of XP on CD, insert it in his CD drive, then install over ME.

You really think what you said makes much sense to him?

[cheapprick]

Yeah maybe not, sorry bphillip. It looked good to me.


btw - r_xq, new person or new name? roxq?

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

r_x is right, you dont need to do all that fdisk stuff if your installing XP, it really is a shitload more user friendly.

By the way, r_x are you that rude, miserable scottish bastard?

[r_xq]

Originally posted by grab_grab_the_haddock
r_x is right, you dont need to do all that fdisk stuff if your installing XP, it really is a shitload more user friendly.

By the way, r_x are you that rude, miserable scottish bastard?

yes, its me. my other account mysteriously stopped working

[bphillip]

Thanks for the replies, and yes I'm about as dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to anything techie on a puter.(I thought the puter was just for finding porn:santa )
I put the cd of XP in and started setup.Then it tells me that putting xp on the same partition with another OS isn't recommended. I have no idea how to format(whatever that is)so I thought if I deleted everything on the drive I'd be safe???????

[Etnies]

bphillip said he was not good with computers so why tell him to fdisk his drive?

just put the xp disk in your drive and it will ask if you want to overwrite the previous windows or upgrade either option will be ok, choose upgrade if you know that you might want to roll back to windows me else choose fresh install.

Also as far as I was aware you CAN upgrade from windows ME.

win ME wasn't a pile of crap, it just isnt as good as XP

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

no you certainly cant put two operating systems on the same partition or you will end up with a horrible mess, and deleting the files by hand is NOT the answer, you need to perform a clean install.
I would of thought the windows cd would give you the option of formatting the partition. It should be in there someplace! screw around with it!
If not you may have to go into the bios and change your boot device to CDrom, then boot from your XP cd. I dunno if u know how to do this but its really not that hard (shit i even managed it once!)

and winME IS a pile of steaming shit

[r_xq]

Originally posted by bphillip
Thanks for the replies, and yes I'm about as dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to anything techie on a puter.(I thought the puter was just for finding porn:santa )
I put the cd of XP in and started setup.Then it tells me that putting xp on the same partition with another OS isn't recommended. I have no idea how to format(whatever that is)so I thought if I deleted everything on the drive I'd be safe???????

Im pretty sure that you can install over ME without any problems. i know XP Pro lets you format the drive during installation. not sure about XP home edition

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

yeh XP home does allow you to do this cos ive done it.

[Etnies]

@grab_grab_the_haddock

please give reasons why windows ME is crap, dont just say it is.

I had ME before I got XP pro and it served its purpose, it was better than 98, and 95 just as the next version of windows will be better than XP.

I expect when that does come out you'll no doubt be saying XP was crap.

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

well ive been benchmarking longhorn these past few days, and XP is a pile of shit.

[bphillip]

Just got xp installed. It installed over Me and deleted all the stuff that was there.

Now there's another problem(I think)
It says I have 30 days to register either via the internet or by phone.
Well this computer won't have the internet and I got this copy of
XP from a family member, so .......

Do I have to register it?
Will it self destruct after the 1 month is over?
Is there a reg hack to do away with the registration process?

Thanks again....bp

[cheapprick]

Yes unfortunately it will stop working after 30 days, unless you have a pirated copy called the "Devil's own". If your using it and it comes up saying XP home edition, then yes it is going to stop working after a month. MS did that so people couldn't lend their cd around to friends. LOL which is actually the case here. If it pops up as professional edition, it probably is the "Devil's own" copy.