up grade from Windows 98 to Me

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 28 Jun 2004 1:39 pm

I have a desktop PC that has ME and a lap top that has 98. My question is, can I use the CDs that came with desktop PC to upgrade my laptop?

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 29 Jun 2004 7:44 am

Can anyone give me some advice about the upgrade? PLease. Thanks.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Jay Kardong · Post by **Jay Kardong** » 29 Jun 2004 8:04 am

Hey Kenny,

Yes, you can upgrade your laptop with the desktop CD's. Just be aware that it isn't legal with the software agreement that comes with the software. You are supposed to have one operating system CD per machine (that's not Microsoft, it's most software so don't get mad at Microsoft). If you do decide to upgrade, there really isn't any way for MS to see that you've done it, it's just not legal.

That said, I would skip ME completely and go to XP if your system can handle it. ME is not the most stable of products, and is old enough now that Microsoft will shortly discontinue support, meaning that bugs and security threats won't be fixed on a long term basis.

Good luck

Jay

William Peters · Post by **William Peters** » 29 Jun 2004 8:05 am

Kenny,

My concern would be the fact that laptop computers often contain a lot of non-standard hardware that the standard desktop software might not support. The displays aren't as standardized, the keyboards are different, most have the touch pads things to replace a mouse, and the power management systems.

Be prepared for something important not to work.

And Jay is right.... better to skip ME and get XP or better still Win 2000

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Bill

Cougar SD-10, PV-260, Tubefex, PV TNT-115, Gibson SG, Squier P-Bass, Berhinger V-amp Pro[This message was edited by William Peters on 29 June 2004 at 09:06 AM.]

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 29 Jun 2004 8:19 am

Jay and William, Thank you both for you input and advice. I think I will trash can the whole idea of the upgrade.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 29 Jun 2004 8:20 am

Skip Windows ME. It was a "dog" of an OS from Microsoft. Just go to Windows XP and don't look back. Some people will bad mouth Windows XP, but I have not had ANY problems with Windows XP and I run a network of 300 laptops/desktops with it on every PC. You must install the patches from Microsoft.

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 29 Jun 2004 11:33 am

"Upgrade to Windows ME" is a type of oxymoron... Kinda like upgrading to broken glass.

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 29 Jun 2004 12:45 pm

Thanks again Guys. I appreciate all the replies and advice. I will get the XP Windows and perhaps a better laptop tomorrow. I am considering an IBM with 256 Ram and CD & DVD burning capabilities. Cost will most likely exceed $1000. Any recommendations? What brnd would you consider?

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kd...and the beat goes on...

[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 29 June 2004 at 01:47 PM.]

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 30 Jun 2004 2:00 am

Kenny;
Check out the e-machines. I have a laptop from them and I'm happy with it. The only thing I should have done differently was got one with a DVD burner. I think it has 54g hard drive and 512 of ram. Plus, it's wireless.

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 30 Jun 2004 6:24 am

Hi Ernie, Thanks for the suggestion. I will check them out. IBM is at the top of my list presently. My best to the wife and kids...

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Doug Ferguson · Post by **Doug Ferguson** » 1 Jul 2004 10:22 am

Before you spend the money on a new laptop, you might borrow a copy of XP from someone and try it on your laptop, if you were going to scrap the old laptop anyway. I wouldn't call this permanent, by any means as you will have to wipe and reload XP with your own purchased version, but it doesn't take long to install and I almost promise you XP will find every driver for even those wacky laptop specific devices like the touch screen etc. It's worth a test. I've seen XP make an older computer perform better than when it was new with Win 98 on it. XP is the technician's dream. ME is the nightmare!

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Fergy, MSA Classic D12

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 1 Jul 2004 8:19 pm

Thanks for the input Doug.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Bill Bosler · Post by **Bill Bosler** » 2 Jul 2004 6:44 pm

You didn't say what kind of laptop you have, but some of the older laptops had customized versions of windows installed on them to match the specific chipsets and hardware configurations they were using.
Don't have any software on the laptop that you can't afford to lose if you try XP on it.

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 3 Jul 2004 9:44 am

Bob, I purchased this laptop from a friend. It is a Dell. It was supposedly wiped clean and windows 98 was supposed to be on it. I hesitated to buy it because I knew it would be a bag of worms. However, my friend seemed to need money in a bad way so I decided to buy it just to help him out. It has 128 Ram. 90% of hard drive is clean. That is about all the input I can give you. I bought it with the intention of loading it up with the BIAB and using it with my musical performances and/or a learning tool. I am sorta disappointed at this stage and had made up my mind to buy a new IBM laptop that has CD DVD players and Burning capabilities with 256 memory. I have a friend that is a conputer guru with a local manufactoring concer that told me he would check it out and re-download the windws 98 for me. At this time, I am going to get the lap top to him for that purpose.

Thanks for your comments and concern...Happy Trails.

Kenny[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 03 July 2004 at 10:48 AM.]