Question

Problems Upgrading Old Laptop from Windows 98 to XP

Asked by: photoman11

I have an old Compaq Prosignia150 laptop that I have not been using for years. It's operating system is Windows 98. I wanted to upgrade to Windows XP to take advantage of the few programs I have that run only on XP and not Vista (have new PC for that) so I went to this page and followed the directions:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941

I chose method too, since I had an XP disk. Much to my surprise after loading it , it not only recognized the disk but whet through the process of upgrading to XP, I thought. All the messages indicated everything went successfully and I decided before I do my ceremonial dance of joy, I better check to make sure that it actually happened. The doubts started when I noticed that the familiar "Microsoft Windows 98" logo was still on the desktop.

I rebooted, thinking this might be required, but it essentially did nothing. I right clicked on my computer, went to properties and sure enough the operating system is displaying as Windows 98. Do you have any idea on how I can successfully upgrade this machine to Windows XP?

Thank you very much for your help and opinion.

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Asked On
2009-10-21 at 10:14:00ID24831519
Topics

Windows 98 Operating System

,

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: KCTSPosted on 2009-10-21 at 10:18:06ID: 25626097

Which method did you use - to do an upgrade stimpy start Win98, stick the XP disk in the drive and select the UPGRADE option from the autorun spash screen.

 

by: houssam_balloutPosted on 2009-10-21 at 10:21:59ID: 25626139

Is the computer good enough to load Microsoft Windows XP?

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-21 at 10:53:06ID: 25626461

photoman11--MS' suggestions for requirements to run XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314865
If anything, these are too low and should be bumped to the next level.
and a test
http://www.pcpitstop.com/XPready/xptests.asp
Is this the first time the XP CD has been installed on a PC?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090916033718AAkE7aF
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=243405&messageID=2353948

 

by: photoman11Posted on 2009-10-21 at 12:13:18ID: 25627255

I'm pretty out of my element here, so I'll tell you what I know and you please let me know if you need more info.

The pc has an amd -k6  3D processor:  which is said: The original K6 was a 66MHz FSB cpu and goes up to 300MHz..

I have 128mb of RAM.

I have run through the install sequence twice now, each time being led by the wizzard, and indicating at the end, that the install WAS SUCCESSFUL. But... when I right click on My Computer, select Properties, it still shows Windows 98.

What am I missing?

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-21 at 13:01:17ID: 25627718

photoman11--Right click on My Computer|Properties.  What does it show as the MHz?  You need  a minimum of 233MHz and 300Mhz would be better.
The RAM is  OK.
How much available space is on the hard drive?  You will need at least 1.5 GB and that is probably low depending on what other files you have--like video, pictures, etc.
These guides may be helpful
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_9xupgrade.asp
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1659&page=6
http://www.articuloweb.com/tips-guides/254-upgrading-win98-windows-xp.html
Are you ever been asked for a product key?    Has that WinXP CD ever been used on another PC?  Is it still installed on that other PC?  
Good luck.

 

by: photoman11Posted on 2009-10-21 at 15:04:41ID: 25629002

jcimarron:

I agree that when I right-click on my computer and then choose properties it should show the megahertz; unfortunately it doesn't. It shows that its Windows 98, which edition, who it isregistered to, the make and model and family , and that it has an AMD-K6 (TM) 3-D PROCESSOR WITH 128 MB of RAM. That's it

So I went to Google and looked up the specs and am enclosing the document I found because I can't tell for sure which megahertz it is indicating. In addition, I went to the page from your first link, and I'm enclosing a screenshot of what it shows that I should experience when I  load the XP disk. I did not receive any of that.

All I received, as memory serves me, is an inquiry that basically said "do you want to proceed with the installation-click here?" And from that point until it finished loading everything, I think I had to click twice. But it did not show any images remotely similar to the ones on the URL you sent me the link for.

Where do you suggest I go from here?

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The Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processor complements AMD's existing low-power Mobile AMD-K6-2 processors introduced earlier this year. Both AMD mobile processors share a number of performance-boosting features, including 3DNow! technology and support for Super7 notebook platforms. The Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processors operate at a core voltage of 2.2 volts, have an extended case temperature rating of 80oC, and dissipate less than 12 watts of power running typical applications.
 
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3DNow! technology, the first innovation to the x86 architecture that significantly enhances floating-point-intensive 3D graphics and multimedia applications, uses SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) and other performance enhancements to enable a superior visual computing experience. Introduced as a key feature of the AMD-K6-2 processor in May 1998, 3DNow! technology has more than a nine-month time-to-market head start over competing CPU-based 3D enhancement technologies. The worldwide installed base of 3DNow! technology-enhanced PCs is 13 million systems to date. AMD processors with 3DNow! technology span the complete range of desktop and mobile computing, from sub-$1,000 PCs to high-performance laptops based on the Mobile AMD-K6-2 P processor, and high-end multimedia desktop systems powered by the new AMD-K6-III processor.
 
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by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-21 at 15:41:37ID: 25629251

photoman11--You could be on the borderline for speed.  (an AMD K6-2 would have been fine but you have K6)
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread23507.html
But I do not think that is the problem.
I am so many years away from running or overwriting Win98 that I do not think I am much of an expert, if I ever was.
One of the images you show suggests you are running Norton Antivirus during the installation.  That could be a problem.  (Or is this just your screen showing the winsupersite.com webpage?)
Are you choosing the option to "Upgrade" rather than "Clean Install"?  
Other than printing out those directions to assist you in carefully going through each step, it is hard to know what to say.  Especially since you say you do not see the same windows that are in the guide and I cannot see what you see .  Did you ever get the screen asking  "Select Install Windows XP to continue.?
At what point did you see the "do you want to proceed with the installation-click here" message?  Had the screens up to that point been pretty much as winsupersite.com indicated?  If not where did things start to go down a different path?
Note you have not answered some of my questions--like whether this WinXP CD is installed on another PC, were you asked for a Product Key, how much available space is available.
Did you read the other guides in the links provided?
I do hope others will feel free to chime in.

 

by: optomaPosted on 2009-10-21 at 16:44:17ID: 25629604

I've been down that road of upgrading and clean installing on machines that had win98 running initially.
It really isn't worth it.
Old hardware in the machines just aint up to scratch for running XP. All programs would run at a snail pace.
You would end up pulling all your hair out!!!!

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-21 at 20:59:07ID: 25630710

photoman11--I suspect I agree with optoma.  You want to use XP for only a "few programs" and if  the "normal" procedure had worked, great.  But it did not, and it is hard to know how much time should be spent on trying to figure out what went wrong.
You may know that Win7 ships with new PC's tomorrow (or can be bought commerciially tomorrow) and that the Professional and Ultimate versions include allowing you to run many WinXP programs.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare  ( I am not promoting the upgrade but rather just to show the features.)

 

by: photoman11Posted on 2009-10-22 at 22:46:06ID: 25641564

Thanks for everyone's help in opinion. It makes a lot of sense. Does anyone have any idea of what the up charge will be if you go from Windows 7 home premium to professional, so I could take advantage of the XP program offer?

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-23 at 11:31:45ID: 25647033

photoman11--"what the up charge will be if you go from Windows 7 home premium to professional"
This site has the info
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/windows-7-pricing-announced-cheaper-than-vista.ars
But why would you do that rather than installing professional in the first place.?
And if you plan to buy a new PC with Win7 installed, you should find the difference in price minimal and far lower than buying an "upgrade" to the version of Win7 that comes with the PC.

 

by: photoman11Posted on 2009-10-23 at 12:12:55ID: 25647401

jcimarron:

I purchased a new PC this year in July with Vista 64 home premium. I got a free upgrade when Windows7 is released, however it is for the home premium version only. Does that make sense or am I missing something?

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-10-23 at 15:19:23ID: 25649241

photoman11--The voucher you got should tell you what version of Win7 you can get.  (I do not have a voucher.)  I would assume it is for a similar edition of Win7.  This site https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/Validation.aspx?StoreID=127971aa-ac70-438f-9304-4bd05de66415&LocaleCode=en-us
says "corresponding" version.
Also perhaps you can contact MS using the URL here.
https://om.one.microsoft.com/OPA/htmlpages/TC/Win7upgrade/Win7UpgradeTandC.htm
Packaged editions of Win7 come with both 32 and 64 bit installation.  Only the product key is different and you get both.
This website may also help
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-option.aspx

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