How to "upgrade" from ME to Win2k

[Muse]

I'll be visiting my brother for a few days and he tells me he bought Win2k and would like me to upgrade his fairly new Gateway from ME. He's not a power user but would like to get into his new machine. He has a few programs (I don't know what he's really doing) and uses Outlook Express for email.

How can I best do this? I'd like, of course, to keep his Outlook Express stuff (his old emails, in and out).

Can I install Win2k right over his ME and retain his programs, data, etc.? If so, how? Or will Win2k try to set up a multi-boot (bad!)?

If it's really a better idea to reformat (good idea?) and install Win2k fresh, how do I retain his data and specifically his Outlook Express messages? Thanks!

 

[Vadatajs]

I don't think you can upgrade ME to 2k. Me came out after 2k, so the cd won't recognize the operating system. I think your only option is a clean install.

 

[Muse]

<< I don't think you can upgrade ME to 2k. Me came out after 2k, so the cd won't recognize the operating system. I think your only option is a clean install. >>

OK, so if I do a "clean install" is there some way I can retain his Outlook Express stuff? His inbox and sent messages, IOW? Thanks.

 

[Murpheeee]

not sure about outlook express.....in outlook just save the outlook.pst file then copy it in to the new install. This file contains Email, address book, calendar....

I assume there is a similar file for Outlook Express.

 

[c0rv1d43]

All you wanted to know but were afraid to ask about backing up and transferring Outlook Express, the address book (Your brother won't be happy with you if you lose that.), and the e-mail accounts. Don't worry about the fact that it refers to OE5. The procedures apply to all recent Outlook Express versions. You are sure that it's Outlook Express and not Outlook, right? Just be careful about that. I've had any number of people tell me that they were using one when they were using the other! Nothing like getting through some long old explanation of how to do this or do that and have the other person come back over the phone and say, "Well, golly, I just don't see anything like what you describe!" Then I moan and ask them to read the title bar of the Window.

- Collin

 

[Muse]

He could have Outlook, but he said it was OE on the phone. I'd think it's just OE unless he ordered Outlook or Office with his new Gateway, but I don't think he'd do that unless they told him, "you should really have Outlook", or "you should really have Office."

I'll ask him again when I talk to him, but my biggest concern right now is how I'm going to back up his stuff. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a CDRW, and he might not have a 2nd HD or a zip drive to back up to. So, I'm thinking of bringing one or more of those things with me on the plane. Or, I could pick something up there in a shop. Thanks for the link. I printed it out and will bring it with. It actually looks pretty complex. Wouldn't it be easier to upgrade him to Outlook before installing Win2k? Then I could just backup the Outlook.pst file and I'd be done, or is that true? I assume also that there's a simple way to install Outlook 2000 on his ME machine so that it retains all the Outlook Express info, eh? I'm pretty sure he's not using multiple identities, BTW. Thanks again.

 

[Buz2b]

You could use a program such as Partition Magic to create a small Data Partition on his system and do all the backup to that. In that way you will only need to format/reinstall the C partition, leaving the D (data) partition as it is. Then you can safely move the data from Drive D. Partition Magic can create the partition without loss of current data or OS, unlike FDISK. Just a thought.

 

[c0rv1d43]

<< I'll ask him again when I talk to him, but my biggest concern right now is how I'm going to back up his stuff. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a CDRW, and he might not have a 2nd HD or a zip drive to back up to. So, I'm thinking of bringing one or more of those things with me on the plane. Or, I could pick something up there in a shop. Thanks for the link. I printed it out and will bring it with. It actually looks pretty complex. Wouldn't it be easier to upgrade him to Outlook before installing Win2k? Then I could just backup the Outlook.pst file and I'd be done, or is that true? I assume also that there's a simple way to install Outlook 2000 on his ME machine so that it retains all the Outlook Express info, eh? I'm pretty sure he's not using multiple identities, BTW. Thanks again. >>



Very good thinking to go into this prepared. I do like Outlook more that OE, but it's more complex, and it has some features that can be a little less satisfactory for use on a personal, standalone machine. Plus, people tend to form emotional ties to their e-mail clients. I switched from OE to Outlook just a month ago and found it to be harder (for my particular configuration) to keep two sometimes standalone / sometimes networked machines synchronized data-wise with Outlook than with OE. But I figured it out and adjusted my habits, and now it's easier. In fact, I don't know how I did without it. On the other hand, I had tried Outlook 98 once, and I wouldn't have used that if you held a gun to my head!

If my experience is any guide, Outlook will grab the OE message base pretty easily. I was even able to bring in Lotus Organizer calendar data with little trouble. But the Windows Address Book was another matter. That was pretty hit-and-miss, but I was also fiddling with Organizer address data, too, so that may have farkled the process. Anyway I'd be really careful to back that puppy up separately, if there's much data in it. Insofar as backing up everything in one fell swoop with Outlook, well that's kind of true and kind of untrue. It depends on the use habits of the user. If you use Contacts (I do.) instead of another type of address book, then backing up the .pst file will carry over your contacts to another machine. The .pst file does not include the e-mail account settings, or at least I wasn't able to figure out how to get them included. But you can pull in settings using the Microsoft Save My Setting Wizard in WinXP / OfficeXP. I'm not so sure this will work moving from WinME and any previous verions of Office, however. I'm new to Office in general as well as to Outlook.

On the other hand, if he only has one or two e-mail accounts, it's no biggie to recreate those manually, for that matter.

Hope this goes smoothly for you, and your brother!

- Collin

 

[Muse]

<< You could use a program such as Partition Magic to create a small Data Partition on his system and do all the backup to that. In that way you will only need to format/reinstall the C partition, leaving the D (data) partition as it is. Then you can safely move the data from Drive D. Partition Magic can create the partition without loss of current data or OS, unlike FDISK. Just a thought. >>

Good point, and maybe I should get PM. Never used it, but have read many many posts about it and have a pretty fair idea of what it is and what it's used for. What's the preferred way to get it? Store or download? Is it price fixed or are there ways to get good deals on it? I imagine I could use it on my own system on which I'm going to make wholesale changes very very soon. In fact, I'm planning on reformatting my hard drive completely. If I had PM, I may not reformat the whole drive, but retain a drive or two on it. It's not a biggie, either way, but some day in the near future I'd probably make use of PM's powers (some of them, anyway).

 

[skyking]

I have my address book backed up, along with a few word docs, and it fits on one floppy nicely. Unless he intends to save a great deal of old mail, one or two floppies will do. This might save you the install of Zip drivers or programs on a disk you are about to reformat.

 

[c0rv1d43]

Forgive the OT comment.

Is that you, skyking? Should I say, "A 'Penny' for your thoughts?"

Just testing. Can't believe anyone around here but me is old enough to remember this -- unless they've seen the series in reruns. I graduated from high school the first year the series was televised.

- Collin

 

[Buz2b]

Muse,
Don't know if you have a Fry's or not but they have PM on sale right now for CHEAP! Version 7.0. Download is a good way to save a few bucks otherwise, as long as you have a CDRW. It's pretty intuative so a manual is not that critical. I've beta tested PM for a couple of years now and it's a solid program that has saved many hours and tons of critical data in the past for me. I always create a separate Data partition and move My Documents to it, along with all my downloads, etc. That way if good ol' Windoze takes a dump my data is safe and sound. Probably not as critical with Win2K or XP now, but still helps keep things better organized. Good Luck.

 

[Palek]

<< I don't think you can upgrade ME to 2k. Me came out after 2k, so the cd won't recognize the operating system. I think your only option is a clean install. >>



I had 4 partitions on my HDD, one had WinME on it, two others were for data and temp files, and I kept the 4th empty for a Win2k upgrade. Win2k DOES recognize WinME as a valid upgrage source, or at least if you put the Win2k install CD into the drive while you are in WinME, the setup will start automatically and you will be prompted whether you want to upgrade your current OS or want a clean istall. Of course this MAY be as far as compatibility goes and then when you try to install on top of WinME you might find out that you just lost all your data. :frown:

But then, we all know that clean installs are much better. If your brother likes playing games, you may want to hold on to ME just for the sake of compatibility (some games just don't like Win2k...). In that case, it might be a good idea to do something like this:
- move all user data to another partition/HDD
- remove all applications from the ME partition since your brother will use Win2k most of the time
- resize the WinME partition so that there is 1 or 2 GBs of space left for the occassional game install
- create another partition for Win2k and install it there, then add user data

The only problem you should be aware of is that if you create a dual-boot system by installing Win2k alongside an existing WinME install, then your BOOT partition will be the one that WinME resides on. If you plan to keep ME indefinitely then this is no big deal, but if at some point you decide to wipe off all traces of WinME and keep Win2k only, you are going to have to be very careful not to totally and irreversibly disable your system by formatting your WinME partition or something similar. I know because I did this and of course I lost access to the Win2k partition as well and had to do another install... I forgot to create a recovery disk before I bravely/foolishly removed my WinME partition. Well, some people gotta learn the hard way...

Hold on, just forget ME, ditch it, do a clean Win2k install!!! Who needs all that trouble?

 

[rip22]

<< << I don't think you can upgrade ME to 2k. Me came out after 2k, so the cd won't recognize the operating system. I think your only option is a clean install. >>



I had 4 partitions on my HDD, one had WinME on it, two others were for data and temp files, and I kept the 4th empty for a Win2k upgrade. Win2k DOES recognize WinME as a valid upgrage source, or at least if you put the Win2k install CD into the drive while you are in WinME, the setup will start automatically and you will be prompted whether you want to upgrade your current OS or want a clean istall. Of course this MAY be as far as compatibility goes and then when you try to install on top of WinME you might find out that you just lost all your data. :frown: >>

Have you actually tryed to install 2k on top of WinMe?

Here it says "Upgrade Not Possible"

 

[seind]

I upgraded from winme to win2k but winme was a clean install. (I only did this to check win2k)

The best thing is to dualboot...best of both.

 

[Palek]

I have not installed Win2k on top of WinME yet, and I do not even want to try... What for? The added instability?

But if you think about it, ME is nothing more than Win98 SE with a few extra features such as built-in zip support, the My Pictures folder, Windows Movie Maker, and everyone's favourite, the memory leak. I can imagine that it would work just fine. Well, as good as you can get with an OS upgrade anyway. But at the same time, it could cause a lot of problems too, I guess.

Microsoft just does not support it. But hey, they don't support WinME at all!!! I mean, they made it clear that the aforementioned memory leak would not be fixed!!! How about that? "Please give us another 200 denaros and we will apply a fix to your ME called XP."

 

[Muse]

<< Muse,
Don't know if you have a Fry's or not but they have PM on sale right now for CHEAP! Version 7.0. Download is a good way to save a few bucks otherwise, as long as you have a CDRW. It's pretty intuative so a manual is not that critical. I've beta tested PM for a couple of years now and it's a solid program that has saved many hours and tons of critical data in the past for me. I always create a separate Data partition and move My Documents to it, along with all my downloads, etc. That way if good ol' Windoze takes a dump my data is safe and sound. Probably not as critical with Win2K or XP now, but still helps keep things better organized. Good Luck. >>

Fry's might be a possibility. Don't know how far my brother's place is from the nearest one. What's the price there? I see it for download at the Powerquest website for $50. I'd imagine they have a downloadable manual, too.

It seems to me that the great thing about PM is that it gives you the power to totally reinvent your partition thinking at any time without having to go through a zillion hoops including reformating, reinstalling your OS and/or restoring from Ghost image, restoring backed up data, etc. etc. It's not something I've ever felt I needed, but it's very apt to make life easier. A question I have, of course, is how often you need to upgrade, if ever. Can you upgrade free or cheaply? How important is it to upgrade? Is it the kind of thing where you have to upgrade every time you upgrade your OS?

At the moment I have all my applications in my OS partition and my data in a separate partition. On rethinking things, I've decided to have all my apps in a separate partition. I'll make occasional Ghost images of my OS, apps and data partitions and keep at least two separate copies of each in any of 3 places - 2nd HD, a separate partition on the boot HD, and onto CDRs. Actually, it will be more complicated than this because I plan on setting up a multiboot between Win2k, Win98SE and WinNT 4.0, and I suppose XP at some point. PM would probably make life easier for me, assuming I don't get everything set up optimally from the getgo, and what are the chances of that?

 

[rip22]

<< I have not installed Win2k on top of WinME yet, and I do not even want to try... What for? The added instability? >>

I don't recommend installing any OS on top of another, but the question was if its POSSIBLE (as an option)to upgrade to 2k from winMe and i still doubt that (my link sort of confirms that also) until someone has actually done it. However if its impossible or not thats another question

 

[Muse]

<< << I have not installed Win2k on top of WinME yet, and I do not even want to try... What for? The added instability? >>

I don't recommend installing any OS on top of another, but the question was if its POSSIBLE (as an option)to upgrade to 2k from winMe and i still doubt that (my link sort of confirms that also) until someone has actually done it. However if its impossible or not thats another question >>

OK, I will definitely not try to "upgrade" his ME. I know the reputation of MS OSs as far as the success of upgrades is concerned. I've heard of it working but I figure it's the exception rather than the rule when it works really well.

I'll install Win2k fresh. I see the biggest hurdle just being keeping his Outlook Express info. I'll make sure I have some way to retain data and probably Ghost his whole C: partition which is probably his whole HD. That way, if things don't go so well I can always start over, and do so until I get it right... hopefully.

 

[Buz2b]

Fry's had PM for something ridiculous like $19.99 after rebate. Might be $20 more but will likely be much cheaper than from the powerquest site. Upgrading is usually in the $20-30 range but I used version 5 for quite some time before upgrading to version 7 after beta testing for them. Version 5 still works just fine in all Win versions except XP/2K. I would really strongly recommend PM. Good Luck.

 

[Palek]

Sorry, rip22, I was just making fun of my favourite software company, I hope I did not offend you, it certainly was not my intention.

But you know what, now I am really interested to see if it works... Maybe one day I will get a used hard drive, install WinME on it with a lot of junk, then try to "upgrade" it to Win2k. Should be interesting...

 

[Muse]

<< Sorry, rip22, I was just making fun of my favourite software company, I hope I did not offend you, it certainly was not my intention.

But you know what, now I am really interested to see if it works... Maybe one day I will get a used hard drive, install WinME on it with a lot of junk, then try to "upgrade" it to Win2k. Should be interesting... >>

I will definitely not even try to upgrade his ME to Win2k.

I do have another question, though. He's using cable for Internet access. After I do a clean install of Win2k, does anyone know how I will get him connected? Thanks.