Q : Any problem upgrading Win98 (1st) to Win2000 Pro?

[austonia]

Techie gurus,

I want to install Win2K Pro over an existing insatllation of Win98.. would there be any problems? I know that NT can use a different type f file system but not sure if it's required. Maybe other isues? Thanks in advance!

 

[Tiger]

Before you do anything get to the MS site and check all of your hardware against the hardware compatability list (HCL).
You also need to check the software installed on the machine. If it's old it may not work. Most of the newer stuff probably will.
Win2K supports NTFS and FAT32 filesystems. Since your installing over 98 you will be running W2K on FAT32 partitions. You can convert to NTFS later but once converted you can't go back without a drive flush.
If your big time into gaming you might think about sticking with 98.
If you do install W2K you'll be amazed at how stable the system is compared to Win98. No re-boots after a day and a half, far fewer BSOD's.

Good luck.

 

[spyordie007]

I would NEVER recommend installing one OS over-top of another. I would recomend backing up your important files and than formating and installing Win 2K on a clean drive. Reason being that if you installing 2K over-top of 98 the old registry will get imported and some things may not work correctly. Also as a general rule of thumb it's not a bad idea to format and re-install from time to time, and this might be a good time for you.

With that said it would be a good idea to make sure your machine meets the HCL like Tiger suggested (although if your hardware is compatable with Win 98 it is very likely compatable with Win 2K). Again like Tiger said Win 2K will work with either the existing FAT 32 file system, or NTFS. I would recommend NTFS as it is generally better than 98 (less slack, supports more options such as compression and security, etc...).

Good Luck!

-Spy

 

[Derango]

Don't do an upgrade! Clean install!

An upgrade gives you all the quirks you had with your old OS, all the problems of the new OS, and a whole bunch of other little problems that are going to show up later. Friends don't let friends do an upgrade install.

And you definitly want to use NTFS...unless you're dual booting.