How to Upgrade From Windows 98 to Windows XP

Often you can upgrade your PC from Windows 98 to Windows XP.

While Windows XP is not the newest member of the Microsoft operating system family, it is still the most prevalent operating system in the world as of May, 2011. If your computer is still running Windows 98, it may be high time for an upgrade, but you will have to do research to be sure that your old computer can successfully run Windows XP. Specifications like processor speed and memory will be important as will the compatibility of device drivers. Do not start this project until you are sure you meet the minimum specs for an XP upgrade.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP Installation Disc with key
• Flashdrive
• Internet access

Instructions

1. Research the hardware specifications for your Windows 98 computer. To run correctly, Windows XP needs a minimum processor speed of 700 megahertz and 256 megabytes of RAM memory. Those are absolute minimums needed to run the simplest of Windows XP applications. If your processor is not that fast or you cannot increase the memory, Windows XP will run painfully slowly or perhaps not at all.

2. Check to see if all the major onboard or integrated-motherboard devices on the older computer, such as video, sound, Ethernet, keyboard and mouse, are compatible with Windows XP. You may have to contact the motherboard manufacturer (such as through their Web site) to find out if any of these devices will run under Windows XP. Otherwise, you will need to locate and download new XP drivers to make your old 98 devices work correctly.

3. Download any such upgraded Windows XP device drivers to a flash drive and set it aside. It helps to assume that once you have installed Windows XP, many devices, especially the Ethernet card, will not work until you install these new drivers. Therefore you'll need to resort to installing from a flash drive rather than directly from the Internet. After your Ethernet is working, you can download other, less important device drivers directly from the Internet.

4. Copy and save any personal documents you created on your Windows 98 machine. In the process of upgrading from 98 to XP, most if not all of your documents will be lost. While some versions of the "Upgrade to Windows XP" program attempt to "save" your old Win98 documents, this process does not always work.

5. Open the CD tray, insert Windows XP install disc and close the tray. Reboot your machine. When asked, confirm that you want to install Windows XP over "a previous version of Windows on the hard drive."

6. Follow the instructions for installing Windows XP on your hard drive. When prompted, enter the Windows XP key for validation and activation. You cannot proceed without entering this code. Codes can only be recycled or reinstalled a few times before it is necessary to re-register the key with Microsoft through its Genuine Advantage program. Codes must not be in use by another computer or they will fail this validation stage.

7. Install the updated device drivers stored on the flash drive after Windows XP is running correctly. In most cases, a generic video driver will get you by until you can install a better driver. However, you may be entirely without Ethernet, sound, or other devices until you reinstall these drivers.

8. Reinstall any software applications and documents that are Windows XP-compatible. Be prepared that some applications, built for Windows 98 exclusively, may not run in this new Windows XP environment unless they are backwards compatible.

References

• "Upgrading and Repairing PCs"; Scott Mueller; 2011
• "Computer Repair With Diagnostic Flowcharts: Troubleshooting PC Hardware Problems from Boot Failure to Poor Performance"; Morris Rosenthal; 2008
• "Troubleshooting and Maintaining Your PC All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies"; Dan Gookin; 2009