Does your Older
Computer need a New Engine?
Make it Just Like a New Machine?
Or Run like a Snail?
With all the excitement about
Windows XP, we have received many calls from clients about upgrading
their older computers. Regretfully, we have had to advise most
of them to wait until they can purchase new hardware- which certainly
will come with a copy of Windows XP. Upgrading older machines
is filled with challenges.
Windows XP is available in several versions.
The two of interest are Windows XP Professional, and Windows
XP Home. "XP Pro" is the only recommendation for the
business user. It includes important features and functions that
make it the right choice for business. Windows 2000 Professional
users can only upgrade to XP Pro. XP Home is a limited version
of Windows XP Professional. It lacks the System Restore functionality,
Remote Desktop, Domain Login to Windows 2000 Server, and other
major features. SoftProse Technology, Inc. prefers to avoid "consumer"
grade software whenever possible, and suggests that any extra
expense for Windows XP Professional is money well spent.
Windows XP was
not designed for older computers. We believe that it is a very
poor "upgrade" for older hardware. Our position on
upgrades can be summed up as follows:
On
Upgrading Computers:
SoftProse Technology, Inc. believes that, more than ever before,
computers are shipping "married" to their operating
system. Using carefully priced components purchased at a particular
point in their life cycle, with drivers from a collection of
disparate vendors, computers today are sold more as a mosaic
than a single discrete device.
We do not believe in changing operating systems,
as it invites trouble on computers that cannot support the new
operating system properly with existing hardware. This is more
true for Windows XP than for any operating system before it.
In particular, Laptops should not have their
operating system upgraded. High-strung laptop computers often
make radical compromises for lightweight and/or "low bid" components.
Many users who bought computers with Windows
ME installed feel strongly that they want to upgrade. We suggest
that these users re-consider. There are many aspects of their
computer that may not work properly with an upgrade, and the
upgrade process may cause more problems than difficulties with
Windows ME are worth.
Insist on updating to Windows XP? You should
have at least 256mb of memory, and about 5 gigs (or more) of
available hard disk space. (This would be a great time to install
that new hard disk you wanted. The old hard disk can be a backup.)
Make
Backups before Upgrading:
Backup before upgrades: Before any change on your computer such
as a new operating system, major system update, or disk conversion
to NTFS (convert.exe), we insist (not suggest) that your
precious files be backed up. One way to back up is with a CD
Burner; this is increasingly popular for home machines. If you
are on a network, you can copy files to another computer's hard
disk, or to a server. (Security is an issue.) Making backups?
Don't forget your Email! Outlook and Outlook Express files may
be in unusual places on your computer; find and copy these files
also.
IF you insist
on upgrading your existing computer, our guide is:
Pentium
4 Processor?
If the computer's processor is a Pentium 4, then go straight
to Windows XP Professional. (Or XP Home, unless you have Windows
2000 Professional where XP Pro is the only upgrade option.) Convert
your drives to NTFS (back them up first), and be happy.
Windows
XP Home:
Windows XP Home is a disappointment for many businesses who did
not realize how limited this version of Windows XP was. The Windows
XP Professional Upgrade software will do a fine job of upgrading
Windows XP Home to Windows XP Professional.
Windows
2000 Professional:
We do not generally recommend
upgrading Windows 2000 Professional computers to Windows XP.
Most of the time, the processors in the Windows 2000 Professional
machines are not fast enough to be comfortable under Windows
XP. Windows 2000 Professional is also an excellent operating
system by itself; there is little benefit in an upgrade.
However, an unusual condition can make an upgrade
desirable. There are some problems with Windows 2000 Professional
running on older machines which have a non-Intel chipset supporting
the motherboard. (As with some Compaq Presario computers, and
most laptops.) After 2 years or more of operation, a strange
error (appearing as a memory error- "Unable to read memory
at location...") may begin to generate random application failures,
especially in Microsoft Office. This problem is actually related
to something in the cache, although recreating the cache file
does not resolve the problem (at least not permanently.) These errors may increase until the computer is nearly unusable. Upgrading to Windows XP
Professional (the only upgrade option for Windows 2000) resolves
the problem without needing to reformat the drive and reinstall
the operating system. (If the problem is on a laptop, we suggest
re-installing the operating system that shipped with the machine
after a full reformat of the drive.)
Windows
ME:
If you have a processor before the Pentium 4 and are running
Windows ME, we encourage you to consider keeping Windows ME for
the next few years. Yes, there are major complaints about Windows
ME as a "stopgap" operating system, but it is still
superior to Windows 98 and it should work just fine for most
functions. (A reboot once or twice a day is not an impossible
request?)
Windows ME can upgrade to either Windows 2000
Professional or either variant of Windows XP. Expect performance
problems with Windows XP, however.
Items that commonly fail on an upgrade to Windows
2000 or XP include the network card (either PCI card or built-in
networking), DVD reader or CD-Burner, or Sound Card.
Windows
98:
Windows 98 can be upgraded to Windows 2000 Professional. If you
upgrade, several things may happen. To start with, you should
have at least 128mb of memory. W2K can run with 64mb, but it
is not pleased. Next, your network card, DVD player, or CD-burner
may not work. Lastly, forget running some popular games. W2K
is a business operating system, and is not compatible with many
game systems and unusual programs. Now the good part- W2K should
run your computer about 25% faster. The computer will be more
reliable, and will suffer fewer system failures. The NTFS hard
disk option (see "Convert.exe") will improve hard disk
access. All good things for an older computer. Windows 2000 Professional
was the foundation for Windows XP Professional, and has a Windows
98 interface. You will not notice major differences in how you
work with files, and your computer will run better. (Unless you
play certain incompatible games...)
Windows
95 (and earlier):
If you have a Windows 95 computer, go out and get a modern machine.
Although you can try to increase the memory and install Windows
98 Second Edition (the "fix" for Windows 9x), the computer
is probably not worth further investment. Be prepared to copy
your files to a shiny new computer in the near future. (BTW,
be certain your important files on this computer are backed up.
Windows 95 machines are quite old, and the hard drive may be
at risk!) |
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