Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Tulipa
Tulipa

asked on

UPGRADE from ME to 2000

Can I upgrade from windows ME to windows 2000 without loosing my windows ME instalations, files, etc?
Do I have to keep FAT 32 to do this? alternatively, can I use my second partition on the c: drive, now empty, to format it to NTFS and install win2000? would I be able to boot to both then? Can I transfer my files from my D FAT 32 drive to my second partition ( E?) NTFS drive?
Avatar of CrazyOne
CrazyOne
Flag of United States of America image

>>>Can I upgrade from windows ME to windows 2000 without loosing my windows ME instalations, files, etc?

Yes as long as you do an uprade and not reformating the portion of the disk that ME is on.

Do I have to keep FAT 32 to do this?

Yes put you can convert it to NTFS after the upgrade using the convert tool in Win2000

Converts FAT volumes to NTFS.

CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V]

  volume      Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
              mount point, or volume name.
  /FS:NTFS    Specifies that the volume to be converted to NTFS.
  /V          Specifies that Convert should be run in verbose mode.

>>>alternatively, can I use my second partition on the c: drive, now empty, to format it to NTFS and install win2000?

Yes you got to install Win2000 it should ask you where you want to install and if you choose the empty partition it should give you the option to foramt it with NTFS.

>>>would I be able to boot to both then?

Yes

>>>Can I transfer my files from my D FAT 32 drive to my second partition ( E?) NTFS drive

Mostly yes. But only your data files. Tranfering programs will require you reinstall those programs


The Crazy One
This
Yes you got to install

Should read
Yes when you go to install
Check Hardware and Software Compatibility
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/upgrading/compat/default.asp

The following article may be useful. Keep in mind that ME was released after Win2000 so the upgrade path usually will only refer to Win9x. Personally I would recommend installing Win2000 on a seperate partition so you have a clean install of this OS. Yes this would mean reinstalling your programs from scratch but you will have a much cleaner OS enviroment and probably a much more stable one as well. When moving from a Win9x/ME type OS to a NT type OS such as Win2000 and XP it is far better to start fresh.

How to Upgrade from Windows 95 or Windows 98
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/howtobuy/upgrading/path/win9x.asp
Avatar of LeeTutor
This web page, from Microsoft, says that an upgrade from WinME is not possible.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/howtobuy/upgrading/path/default.asp


However, you dual boot with them.  Here is a Microsoft Knowledge Base article on how to do it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q217210
How to Multiple Boot Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, and MS-DOS
Hey, Crazy, I figured you'd probably jump in there while I was researching the question and finding the web pages to quote.  Say, do you know how come the EE site was down earlier?
Curious have you considered XP. I prefer Win2000 myself but XP is compatible with more hardware and software then is Win2000. Win2000 has tested out to be a bit more stable and in some instances more robust then XP however XP does have some added features that you might want. If XP interest you opt for Pro becasue it is much more versatile.

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition: What's the difference
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
>>>Say, do you know how come the EE site was down earlier?

No I don't but since it has come back on line it seems to be quicker in loading pages then it was earlier in the day.

One Note even though MS says ME can't be upgraded to Win2000 this isn't entirely correct. It is just MS doesn't support doing this and this one time that I agree with them. :>) It isn't a good idea to upgrade ME to Win2000.
New Installations of Windows 2000
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/howtobuy/upgrading/path/newinstall.asp

"New Installation vs. Upgrade
During a new installation, Setup installs Windows 2000 in a new folder. By installing the operating system from scratch, you place the operating system in a known state and avoid migrating any problems that may have existed in the previous configuration. However, a new installation requires reformatting your hard disk, so you must back up your data, install Windows 2000, reinstall your applications, and then reload your data from backup. You should perform a new installation if any of the following are true:

Your hard drive is blank (that is, no operating system is installed on it).
Your current operating system does not support an upgrade to Windows 2000.
You already have an operating system installed, but prefer to do a new installation of Windows 2000.
You have two partitions and want to create a dual-boot configuration with Windows 2000 and your current operating system. (Be sure to install Windows 2000 on a different partition than your current operating system.) "
BTW I believe I was mistaken about keeping the FAT32. Win2000 seems to offer to do the conversion during the upgrade but the problem with conversions is that you are stuck with what ever cluster size the conversion decides for you. I would really like to impress upon you not to upgrade but install on the open partition so you would have a dual boot scenario. Yes I know it is a real pain to have to reinstall all your programs but believe me you would be much better off doing it this way.

Also keep in mind if you do a dual boot and use NTFS for Win2000, ME won't be able to see that partition when you are running ME. Win2000 will be able to see the ME partition.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of CrazyOne
CrazyOne
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of trekie1
trekie1

if useing a win2000 upgrade version CD you cant upgrade winme with 2k  and also upgrade version wont reconize winme as far as clean install ( you have to fool it with a win98  cd )  install from dos or boot with 2k cd  and when it does the  compliance check  insert win98 cd   then it will tell you to reinsert the 2k cd  (again it wont reconize the winme installion however it will add it to the boot.ini  and give you dual boot)   dureing the install it will prompt where to install   simply tell it E and if you want ntfs file system select that  (personaly I would  let it stay fat32 but thats your call )
the reason you cant upgrade winme or use upgrade version 2k to clean install is that winme is a newer version OS than 2k and 2k cant reconize it  but if cleaned installed useing win98 as a fooler it will work and again this pretains to upgrade version CD only
Actually James I just helped a freind upgrade a ME machine without any problems. Didn't need a Win98 CD. It saw ME and installed just fine.
must have used a full version CD :>)   upgrade version wont do the trick
Nope it was an upgrade CD. I know sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Don't why it happens this way but I have had success on a few occassions using an upgrade CD. But that is MS for you. :>)
Avatar of Tulipa

ASKER

thanks CrazyOne - is there any advantage in using partition magic to format to NTFS before installing? and is BoootMagic better at dual booting?
Umm since I never have used PQ it is hard for me to say. When it comes to formatting my theory is to use the formatter that is built into the OS that you are formatting for. I have seen a lot of posts here on EE about some folks having problems after using PQ especially in conjunction with XP and Win2000. For me I think keeping it simple is the best approach. Why mix in an extra layer of things that can and do cause problems down the road. I would say the same about BootMagic. These utilities are good if you intend on installing 3 or more OS's especially OS's that are similar to each other. Example Win95 - Win98 - ME have a hard time coexisting without some outside help like PQ or BootMagic. Keep in mind this is only my opinion.