Problems with installing XP Home Edition

[Monique]

I have a 6G HD that was running that was running '98. Tried to upgrade =
to XP Home and got error message saying upgrade not possible. FDisked, =
reformatted and installed XP Home new and had no problem, but started to =
run out of disk space as I added programs. Bought 46GB drive and tried =
to install XP, wouldn't work -- continued to get "unmountable boot =
drive" error message. By this time, I read at microsoft.com that I =
should be able to upgrade from 98 to XP. Reinstalled 98 and tried to =
upgrade to XPHome, would try it, but then I either got the same =
"unmountable" error message, or it would continue to try to install XP =
for hours but it would never work. I've looked up in the Microsoft =
knowledge base what the solutions are with the "unmountable boot drive" =
message, and have tried all solutions. However, none work. I've even =
FDisked the 6GB drive, reformatted it and tried a clean install with the =
XP Home disk, but it still won't install. Does anyone have any idea =
what the problem is?

(I've got 128M RAM, and 650mz AMD processor. But had no problems =
running the XP on the 6GB drive until I started to run out of disk =
space (though it never would upgrade from 98 to XP Home).

Another question, will Office '97 run with XP?

Thanks!

[Dr Robin Bignall]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 19:02:18 -0700, "Monique" >
wrote:

Monique:

>I have a 6G HD that was running that was running '98. Tried to upgrade to XP Home and got error message saying upgrade not possible. FDisked, reformatted and installed XP Home new and had no problem, but started to run out of disk space as I added progr
ams. Bought 46GB drive and tried to install XP, wouldn't work -- continued to get "unmountable boot drive" error message. By this time, I read at microsoft.com that I should be able to upgrade from 98 to XP. Reinstalled 98 and tried to upgrade to XPHom
e, would try it, but then I either got the same "unmountable" error message, or it would continue to try to install XP for hours but it would never work. I've looked up in the Microsoft knowledge base what the solutions are with the "unmountable boot driv
e" message, and have tried all solutions. However, none work. I've even FDisked the 6GB drive, reformatted it and tried a clean install with the XP Home disk, but it still won't install. Does anyone have any idea what the
>problem is?
>
>(I've got 128M RAM, and 650mz AMD processor. But had no problems running the XP on the 6GB drive until I started to run out of disk space (though it never would upgrade from 98 to XP Home).
>
With that configuration you are on the bottom end of XP installabilty, IMO.
With a system like that I would aim to have the 46 gig drive as c: for the
system, and the 6 gig as d: for backup, what-have-you. I would double your
RAM. It's not too expensive these days. I would plan a totally clean
install onto formatted disks. IMO, there is little worth taking over to XP
from 98 except:
- application data
- keys for bought software, such as your Office 97, which will run.

So I'd shift the disks on the IDE cable, getting the jumpers right (46 gig
master, 6 gig slave). Copy your application data/ keys beforehand to the 6
gig (or just leave it there -- XP won't touch it).

Fix BIOS to boot from CD. Boot from the XP upgrade CD. It will not detect
any previous windows on your disks, so at some stage it'll ask you to put
your original windows 98 CD in the reader to prove that you have an M$
product. It is only interested in verifying.

When it's installed (it ain't quick!) and you've downloaded critical
updates etc. go to the sites of the manufacturers of your bought software,
download the latest XP versions, and activate them with your saved keys. If
the XP versions are new such that you'd have to pay more, reinstall your 98
versions (Office97 for example) and, if necessary, run them in windows 98
compatibility mode.

--

wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall

Remote Hertfordshire
England

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/homepage.htm