upgrading to xp from win 98

[Barb]

I am trying to upgrade my computer from Win98 to XP. The
setup ruminates for a while and presents an error box to
the effect that it can't copy c:\...WIN_NT..\updates.cab
since the file does not exist. Neither does updates.sif.
It strongly suggests that if I don't know what I'm doing
to go fix this problem before continuing. Any ideas what
is wrong and how to fix it?

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Problems copying files or corrupted files during installation are
most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware; in order of
likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the motherboard. On much
less frequent occasions, a bad CD or defective CD drive can also cause
this.

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

HOW TO Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation When You
Upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q310064


Bruce Chambers
--
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having both at once. -- RAH

"Barb" > wrote in message
...
>I am trying to upgrade my computer from Win98 to XP. The
> setup ruminates for a while and presents an error box to
> the effect that it can't copy c:\...WIN_NT..\updates.cab
> since the file does not exist. Neither does updates.sif.
> It strongly suggests that if I don't know what I'm doing
> to go fix this problem before continuing. Any ideas what
> is wrong and how to fix it?

[Steve C. Ray]

Are you trying to upgrade with a retail XP Upgrade CD, or a OEM CD? You
can't upgrade with a OEM CD, it will do a clean install only.

--
Steve C. Ray

"Barb" > wrote in message
...
> I am trying to upgrade my computer from Win98 to XP. The
> setup ruminates for a while and presents an error box to
> the effect that it can't copy c:\...WIN_NT..\updates.cab
> since the file does not exist. Neither does updates.sif.
> It strongly suggests that if I don't know what I'm doing
> to go fix this problem before continuing. Any ideas what
> is wrong and how to fix it?

[coue]

Upgrading from Win 98 to XP is not a good idea.
Win98 is a 500 MB operating system, while XP is a 1600 MB OS.
Your system (ie-hardware) is not designed for it.
Your computer will slow down to a crawl and you will curse it every minute.


----------------------------------------

Barb wrote:
> I am trying to upgrade my computer from Win98 to XP. The
> setup ruminates for a while and presents an error box to
> the effect that it can't copy c:\...WIN_NT..\updates.cab
> since the file does not exist. Neither does updates.sif.
> It strongly suggests that if I don't know what I'm doing
> to go fix this problem before continuing. Any ideas what
> is wrong and how to fix it?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In ,
coue > typed:

> Upgrading from Win 98 to XP is not a good idea.
> Win98 is a 500 MB operating system, while XP is a 1600 MB OS.
> Your system (ie-hardware) is not designed for it.
> Your computer will slow down to a crawl and you will curse it
every
> minute.


That depends entirely on what hardware she has. I've seen several
Windows 98 computers that were upgraded to XP and run acceptably.
They aren't speed demons by any means, but it's certainly not
true that they "slow down to a crawl."

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup



> ----------------------------------------
>
> Barb wrote:
>> I am trying to upgrade my computer from Win98 to XP. The
>> setup ruminates for a while and presents an error box to
>> the effect that it can't copy c:\...WIN_NT..\updates.cab
>> since the file does not exist. Neither does updates.sif.
>> It strongly suggests that if I don't know what I'm doing
>> to go fix this problem before continuing. Any ideas what
>> is wrong and how to fix it?

[coue]

Perhaps, but I am guessing that her win98 is on a 333 Mz or 450 Mz
microprocessor, plus or minus.
Now I am running XP on a 2.4Ghz microprocessor, 512 MB ram, and believe
me it's not that fast
(probably due to all the background apps that are running constantly).
For example the volume button
takes 2 to 3 seconds to pop up, deleting a shortcut can take as long as
7 to 9 seconds,
shutting down can take as long as a whole minute, and "Search for files
and folders" takes forever.
And there's more.

I just can't see XP on a small microprocessor.
But then she can always reinstall Win98 can she ?

-------------------------------

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

> In ,
> coue > typed:
>
>
>>Upgrading from Win 98 to XP is not a good idea.
>>Win98 is a 500 MB operating system, while XP is a 1600 MB OS.
>>Your system (ie-hardware) is not designed for it.
>>Your computer will slow down to a crawl and you will curse it
>
> every
>
>>minute.
>
>
>
> That depends entirely on what hardware she has. I've seen several
> Windows 98 computers that were upgraded to XP and run acceptably.
> They aren't speed demons by any means, but it's certainly not
> true that they "slow down to a crawl."
>

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In ,
coue > typed:

> Perhaps, but I am guessing that her win98 is on a 333 Mz or
450 Mz
> microprocessor, plus or minus.


Perhaps more important than the processor is the amount of RAM.
My wife, for example, runs XP on a PII-400 with 256MB. It's not
speedy, but again, it didn't "slow down to a crawl."




> Now I am running XP on a 2.4Ghz microprocessor, 512 MB ram, and
> believe me it's not that fast


I run it on an Athlon 1.4, with 512MB. I have no complaints abut
performance.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> (probably due to all the background apps that are running
constantly).
> For example the volume button
> takes 2 to 3 seconds to pop up, deleting a shortcut can take as
long
> as 7 to 9 seconds,
> shutting down can take as long as a whole minute, and "Search
for
> files and folders" takes forever.
> And there's more.
>
> I just can't see XP on a small microprocessor.
> But then she can always reinstall Win98 can she ?
>
> -------------------------------
>
> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>
>> In ,
>> coue > typed:
>>
>>
>>>Upgrading from Win 98 to XP is not a good idea.
>>>Win98 is a 500 MB operating system, while XP is a 1600 MB OS.
>>>Your system (ie-hardware) is not designed for it.
>>>Your computer will slow down to a crawl and you will curse it
>>
>> every
>>
>>>minute.
>>
>>
>>
>> That depends entirely on what hardware she has. I've seen
several
>> Windows 98 computers that were upgraded to XP and run
acceptably.
>> They aren't speed demons by any means, but it's certainly not
>> true that they "slow down to a crawl."