i have a computer running windows 2000 professional. how do i uninstall this operating system & install windows xp?
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You can upgrade with a full version. You CANNOT upgrade with an OEM version. Use the Windows 2000 backup tool and backup your system to an external hard drive or another computer.
If you want to install clean, erasing everything, just put your XP CD in the drive and boot (make sure you BIOS is set to boot from the CD). You'll be given the option to format C: - do so and you'll wipe out everything on C and when XP finishes installing you'll have a clean install.
Can you be a little more verbose in your descriptions of what you want to do and why upgrading isn't your preferred route?
"how do i copy all of my documents & pictures onto a disk before deleting everything?"
It is very important to identify all the documents that need to be saved. Don't overlook things like email, bookmarks etc.
How you backup depends to an extent on what you are backing up to. The most common thing is to attach another hard disk unless you already have a second disk attached. You can also map a drive on another computer over the network. Next, you can create a new folder on the destination drive with Windows explorer, and simply drag your files from one disk to another. (Note: don't use another partition on the oiriginal disk for backup purposes - the backup disk should be a physically separate disk).
Another possibility is backing up to a CD if you have a writeable CD drive.
It very important to verify that files did get backed up correctly. You should do both of the following (a) compare the number of files/folders/sizes on the two drives after the backup and (b) Open some of your important files at random from the destination disk to be sure they open correctly.
Finally, if the files are very important, and most times they are, you should have two backup copies, e.g. to disk and CD, or on two backup disks, etc.
Creating a backup is a good idea whether you do a clean install or an upgrade, or even if you decide not to do anything.
"how do i create a backup?"
That depends on what you are backing up to (e.g. writeable CD, another hard disk, external hard disk, etc.)
Please provide some details on what you hope to back up to.
"will it save useless information such as spyware or documents in in the "my documents" folder?"
If done properly, a backup will backup (i.e. copy) only those files that you ask it to.
In some cases it actually saves time and reduces risk to backup everything, including useless files. But is space is tight then you can be more selective.
"what exactly does it save?"
That depends on how you do the backup. It should save everything you tell it to save.
Note: I am using the terms "backup", "save" and "copy" to mean the same thing.
Please provide some more details about your setup, esp. what device (disk, CD etc.) you plan to backup your files to.
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by: leewPosted on 2005-12-19 at 22:17:05ID: 15516677
Why don't you just upgrade it?
Otherwise, you don't uninstall an operating system. You can install EITHER a parallel copy so you have TWO operating systems and a menu when you boot, OR you reformat, erasing everything on the disk and installing XP on a clean slate.