operating system upgrade question

[spanky]

(i posted this in the OS forums too, but hoping faster replies)

i know that is a user has windows 98 (first edition)... they cannot upgrade to windows 98 se with a full version (a few minutes into setup, it prompts me that i am using the wrong version and i need to use the "upgrade" cd). so if a user is running windows95, in order to upgrade to windows 98 without formatting, will need to purchase a "windows98 upgrade"? will the same upgrade cd that i use to upgrade windows 98 first edition to second edition, be able to bring windows 95 to windows 98? on a somewhat related note, what about windows 2000? can i go from windows 95 to windows 2000 withough formatting? if so, which cd would i need to use? the full version or is there an upgrade cd as well? thanx in advanced

 

[WeeWolf]

For Win2k:
SUMMARY
This article lists the supported upgrade paths for Microsoft Windows 2000.
MORE INFORMATION
The following upgrade paths for Windows 2000 are supported:
Microsoft Windows 95/Microsoft Windows 98/Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows 2000 Professional Retail (Full) Version
Windows 2000 Professional Upgrade Version

Taken from this article

 

[redbeard1]

Dang that's a lot of questions

If you wish to use the oem cd you have now, and not track down a win98 retail upgrade cd, it can be done. This proceedure will work to upgrade win95 and win98 first edition. You also need to change your bios to boot from a cd. The win98se cd is bootable.

You need to be able to move around in dos to do this. Use the F8 as the computer is first booting up. If your too late with the F8 key it will go into windows and you'll have to try again. This will get you the boot menu. Choose safe mode boot prompt. At the c: prompt type cd windows. It should now say c:\windows. Now use the rename command, in this fashion, by typing: ren win.com win.old Then hit the enter key. When windows goes to install itself, it looks for a previous win.com, renaming it lets it pass this check. Renaming it also makes it so the computer won't boot into windows until you either rename it back, or you successfully install win98se. Now put the win98 cd in the cdrom and reboot, and follow the prompts to boot from the cd and install win98. If it comes up asking the question about what directory to install windows to, and it has windows.000 highlighted, choose other, and then get rid of the .000, so it can install itself into the old windows directory and it is then able to use the old windows settings. When upgrading win98 first edition, to second edition, it may ask you for a win98 key, sometimes it doesn't. So be prepared, if you can get the key he is using now, that may work, usually it does.

There was a disk that was made to only update the various files from win98fe to win98se. I've seen a bunch on auctions sites, and they are decieving because they will only update files and are not able to do a real install. This disk would not work to upgrade win95. There was a retail disk that was made to upgrade both win95 and win98fe to win98se.

I've not tried to go over the top of win98 with an oem 2000 disk. Oh, it dawns on me that I did try it, and it came up saying that I needed to use the upgrade product. There was a specific win2k product for upgrading 98 to 2000. Most people would tell you not to install over the top, and suggest a fresh install of win2k. It's generally more stable this way. Also win2k is not very game friendly. Oh, it will play most games, but not as well as 98. I've had a number of friends go back to win98 from win2k because of gaming issues.

...whew I think that covers it

 

[ScrapSilicon]

thanks redbeard1 ! ..just did that with full version WinMe and it appears to be going smoothly..

 

[WarCon]

Thats some really good info...............thanks