Upgrading to Windows XP

 

So, you got Windows XP over the holidays and want to go right off and install it, right? Sounds like a good idea! But Windows XP is a little different than Windows 98/ME, so you might run into problems if you jump right in without first making sure that everything you have will be compatible with Windows XP. This article will go through the most critical steps in making sure your computer will work with Windows XP when the installation is all done.

Windows XP is based on the same basic code as Windows 2000 and Windows NT. As a result, there might be some programs that don't work or require patches or updates to work properly with Windows XP. The first step to upgrading to Windows XP is first making sure that everything is going to be compatible with it. Included on the XP CD is an upgrade check wizard that will do a basic system inventory of hardware and software, then will let you know what will work, what won't work, what needs to be updated, and what needs to be reinstalled after the upgrade is complete.

So, let's put in the Windows XP CD and get started! For this article, we used Windows XP Professional, but the process should be almost, if not exactly, the same, for the Home edition of XP.

Next: The System Compatibility Check