Adice Needed For Windows XP Upgrade

None ^ | March 2, 2014 | cva66snipe

[cva66snipe]

I have two computers running XP. The most important one to upgrade right now is my desktop. I've gone back and forth trying to decide whether to go with 7 or 8. Furthermore the terminology being used for OS packages adds to the confusion for me. For example Starter, Builder, etc. Here is what my computer has.

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600

Service Pack 3 Build 2600

System Manufacturer Dell Inc.

System Model Inspiron 530s

System Type X86-based PC

Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13

GenuineIntel ~1795 Mhz

BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.0.12, 3/1/2008

SMBIOS Version 2.5

Available Physical Memory 634.88 MB

Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB

Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
It's a 32 Bit system

I found a Windows 7 Upgrade disk for over $200. However I need to know if I can go a cheaper route and install a full system package over the XP without having to manually wipe my HD? I know I'll loose my data and I'll back up My Documents so that isn't an issue. Spending money for a Full System OS and it not want to install would be a huge issue.

I have to upgrade with a Disk. Downloading an upgrade or OS is out of the question. I'm on 52K dial up. Would Windows 8.1 full system work? That would get me around the 300MB download. W/7 as much as I would like to have it over W/8 would likely have me doing a couple of days of downloads to bring it up to date.

The last upgrade I did on a computer was W/ME and it was an upgrade disk. Oddly enough a W/8 upgrade disk for previous versions is not to be found in stores in my area just the full system. As I understand it an Upgrade disk is a full system disk.

To further confuse me a tech at a local store said yea W/8.1 would install no problem. But the darn box states not for use with computers with XP or VISTA. Now if that is simply because you would loose your documents etc fine I can work around that part. As I understand it using an Upgrade disk from XP to W8 that's going to happen anyway the Upgrade disk will do a full install wiping all files.

My system is basic a CD/DVD player and I have an external HD for back up and additional storage. A new machine is not afordable for me right now and besides I'd have to puy a dial up modem in it.

Any advice? Thanks.

[GeronL]

or run Linux from a USB drive and continue to enjoy XP offline

[GeronL]

true

[Royal Wulff]

My advice: Keep what you have or buy a new computer.

[cva66snipe]

??? You know a DSL connection ($14.95) is cheaper today than Dial-up ($29.95), as well as being much MUCH faster, don't you

Yep. I also know I'm a good 8 cable miles from the Ma Bell Central Office. COMCAST stops a quarter mile away. Cell signals are hit and miss. I'm in a rural area. Rural enough to have a well. The only reason I can even get 52K is because I live a half mile from Telco's SLICK System. Hughesnet? Not likely. I'm on the north slope of a high ridge behind me. I can't even get local TV signals. So I'm stuck paying for two land lines right now. My only option {at major cost} would be a four wire data circuit.

[champie]

Rather than help you spend money on an OS that will give you no appreciable benefit, I have to ask, Why do you think you need to upgrade your 1.8ghz Pentium Dual Core (E2160)/ < 1 GB ram? If you are connected to the internet with a 56k modem, what could you possibly be doing with your XP system that requires you to contemplate 200 USD to upgrade the OS? My point is that if you can’t describe a reason to upgrade then you don’t need to upgrade and spend money that you don’t have.

If you upgrade, you will be required to do a clean install. You will have to reinstall all your programs and files. Unless you need the OS upgrade in order to perform productive work, you are wasting your time and money upgrading.

If you are too broke to buy a new computer, but you are willing to drop 200 USD on an OS, then you haven’t considered buying a USED computer for under 200 USD. If you live in the US then you can find systems monumentally better than what you have for less than 200 USD. In addition, you can keep your current system active until you’ve adjusted to full time use on the newly purchased computer.

What you need is a knowledgeable friend.

I am not even going to suggest which OS version would be best for you. Talk to a neighbor, call a friend, hit up the kid down the street. Whatever you do, don’t start spending money on a computer that was built in 2007 unless you can provide a compelling argument.

The processor you have is a good processor, and the motherboard supports up to 4 GB of DDR2 RAM (4 x 1GB modules), a PCI-E x16 slot for a dedicated graphics card, but only a 250 W Power Supply. For about 60-80 USD you can find 2 x 1GB DDR2 ram and and something like an Nvidia GT 620 graphics card (any card that has low power requirements and low profile bracket to fit your case). If you NEED to upgrade, you will see a world of difference with these upgrades.

I actually have exactly what you need sitting right next to me. I’d give the ram and video card to anyone who needed them for FREE! You need to find someone like me in your neighborhood. Call your friends and family and get some computer enthusiast to set you up right.

[cva66snipe]

BTW I use ISP.COM. Monthly unlimited dial up is $10.99.

[TChad]

As I understand it using an Upgrade disk from XP to W8 that's going to happen anyway the Upgrade disk will do a full install wiping all files.

Yes. It's the same if you upgrade XP to Windows 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7#T1=tab01

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-from-windows-vista-xp-tutorial

W/7 as much as I would like to have it over W/8 would likely have me doing a couple of days of downloads to bring it up to date.

Just leave it on all night. The initial updates only have to be done once. You may have to install plenty of updates for your antivirus program, too, though this is not a problem with some AVs, e.g. Webroot SecureAnywhere.

[TChad]

or run Linux from a USB drive and continue to enjoy XP offline

Do you mean a dual-boot setup, or Wubi, or running Linux in a VM, or what?

[GeronL]

I’m old fashion, I literally mean shut down and reboot into Linux from a USB.

:p

[Yosemitest]

MaBell is still cheaper on DSL and that comes through a landline phone.
You've heard of Satellite Internet and TV service, haven't you?
Check out this review online, Best Satellite Internet Providers in 2014.

I live way out in the sticks also, and I'm at the end of the phone line for phone service from a small town 30 miles away.
My next door neighbor, about 700 feet south of me, is on a landline from a smaller town 25 miles west of us.
And cell phone service out here is, you go out in the yard and walk around until you get one or two bars of signal before you even try to connect to make a call.
I've got DSL Internet over AT&T and I've got satellite TV, and they're both well worth the monthly fee.

[Yosemitest]

You should still ask your service provider about DSL service.
You can probably get a faster modem that's wireless when you switch, for little or no money.
Then that's one less connection, the phone line, that you have to worry about lightening following in on, and frying your computer.

[cva66snipe]

The desktop has 2 GB Ram. I ordered a custom build when I bought it. The laptop has 4 GB. 8.1 Full System is $119 USD that includes the disk. If I went with Pro $169 was the price I saw tonight. But I see no reason for Pro for my use.

Security is my main concern & reason for doing the upgrade as in such things as bank account etc. That and browsing compatibility. My cell carriers website doesn't like IE8 nor Firefox. Other than that it doesn't matter to me.

[Yosemitest]

Have you tried Opera browser ?

[TChad]

I literally mean shut down and reboot into Linux from a USB.

I have been meaning to try that with my new USB3 drive. The read and write speeds are spectacular.

Good night.

[hondact200]

windows 8 upgrade from windows xp is not supported by Microsoft. My windows 8 upgrade from windows xp crashed early in February the computer place is trying to fix the issue. just letting you know. windows 7 is working fine

[champie]

As soon as I posted I saw a bunch of replies while I was typing. Regarding security, I would never question someone’s requirement for a secure OS. I have a clearer understanding now.

My apologies for being so emphatic about finding someone local to help you out. I was wrong to assume that you didn’t have the situation comfortably in your control.

I have a home built system from the same era (2007) but with some upgrades including Win 7. If it is running well and you’ve invested as much as you intend in hardware, then I think you will be meet all your needs and be satisfied with the OS upgrade for the near future.

Again, apologies for not giving appropriate advice in my previous comment.

[Gene Eric]

I have XP systems that will remain XP systems until the silicon smolders. It’s just not worth the time, annoyances, and risk of overlaying an OS upgrade.

Save your pennies for a new system and possibly Win9 rumored to be out next year.

The OS updates are important, but you can by time with A/V software like malwarebytes.

BTW, I’m trying to move over to Win8.1 from Win7, but just don’t have the time despite the time I log @ FR.

FWIW, I have pro h/w on XP, dev workstations on Win7, Macs, Win2008R2, Win2003, 3 variants of Linux (some enterprise), 8 OS instances virtualized, PXE based install capability, etc... And I’m still happy to say, my XP hardware will remain XP hardware for quite a while.

[Mount Athos]

I don’t know everything about your situation, but I can’t believe it would be worth the time and cost of upgrading your computer. There is a big chance it might not work as smoothly as you hope.

Keep your computer OS as it is.

If you decide to stay with windows on your next computer, I recommend a program called “classic shell” which will give the newest windows 8.1 an interface just like windows 7, with the start menu and boot to desktop.
It’s free and takes 2 minutes to install.

[cva66snipe]

I live way out in the sticks also, and I'm at the end of the phone line for phone service from a small town 30 miles away. My next door neighbor, about 700 feet south of me, is on a landline from a smaller town 25 miles west of us. And cell phone service out here is, you go out in the yard and walk around until you get one or two bars of signal before you even try to connect to make a call. I've got DSL Internet over AT&T and I've got satellite TV, and they're both well worth the monthly fee.

Somewhere close to you likely within 5 miles is a fiber optic line and a mini central office which may just look like a big cabinet on the side of the road. The phone cable in my area is 36 years old as is the SLICK Cabinet. The only way DSL would be in this area is IF AT&T ran a Fiber Optic cable to the SLICK. Thus line loss is eliminated.

AT&T for the most part is not doing upgrades. I talked to a lineman a couple weeks ago. AT&T is basically at this point keeping what they have operational until the cell grid is built up to take over or the over the power grid transmission gets the bugs worked out. Data is already being transmitted on the power grid but only for utility use right now.

My dad worked on Data circuits for Ma Bell up into the early 1990's. To run a data circuit takes balancing coils at specified intervals which must not exceed certain noise levels etc from the customer back to the Central Office.

AT&T's service is no better than the equipment in your neighborhood. Most upgrades in places like rural areas came before AT&T began buying up other the Bells like Bellsouth etc. Once AT&T bought it that was it.

Before AT&T bought Bellsouth you would see a Bellsouth van just about every time you went somewhere. Today under AT&T even in a large city you'll see maybe one a day. The Baby Bells or the older ones who split form AT&T at the mandated split carried far higher standards of upkeep. I've seen pedestals along the side of the road siting wide open wires hanging out.

[Moose Burger]

You can use Linux and create a non-networked VirtualBox XP install for your windows needs. That requires extra memory and a bit of tech skills, though.