Partitioning...Keep ME, add XP Pro

Hello,

I want to partition/format my disc so I can load WinXP Pro (OEM disc). My
computer came with Win ME, and I'd like to keep it for a few DOS based
programs (small) that I use, since XP/XP Pro does not have DOS. I've asked
this before but never made the upgrade, now I think I need to. I
re-installed ME (from my restore snafu) and again have the dial up adapter
problems-missing or damaged. I might do a clean reinstall for ME from the
restore disc.

My hard drive is right at 40 GB, but 5.5 is being used by C disc and about
2.4 on the D part (restore). I have an E & F drive for my cd/dvd player &
cdr/rw. I have an Athlon 900 with 640mb RAM (Photoshop necessity...).

If I can format/partition the drives from XP Pro's CD, can I do this without
removing everything? What about FDisk?
Will ME have to go on C/D drive again? Can I put XP Pro on say "G" drive,
keeping A for DOS or vice versa?? I'm thinking 5gb for WinME & the rest for
XP Pro. Will probably format for FAT 32 at first, if eventually I don't use
ME later down the road I can make changes.

If anyone can give me some steps for this or point me to a site(s) that does
not explain in general terms (goes into a little detail) I would appreciate
it.

Thanks and best regards,
Kerry

Mike
Thu Feb 19 14:16:43 CST 2004

Kerry,

Just FYI, neither Win Me nor XP have real mode DOS but instead both run DOS in
a window. I would be very sorry that a DOS program that you can run in a DOS
window in Win Me won't run in a DOS window in XP.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


K Owen <kowen@removethismobiletel.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I want to partition/format my disc so I can load WinXP Pro (OEM disc). My
> computer came with Win ME, and I'd like to keep it for a few DOS based
> programs (small) that I use, since XP/XP Pro does not have DOS. I've
> asked this before but never made the upgrade, now I think I need to. I
> re-installed ME (from my restore snafu) and again have the dial up adapter
> problems-missing or damaged. I might do a clean reinstall for ME from the
> restore disc.
>
> My hard drive is right at 40 GB, but 5.5 is being used by C disc and about
> 2.4 on the D part (restore). I have an E & F drive for my cd/dvd player &
> cdr/rw. I have an Athlon 900 with 640mb RAM (Photoshop necessity...).
>
> If I can format/partition the drives from XP Pro's CD, can I do this
> without removing everything? What about FDisk?
> Will ME have to go on C/D drive again? Can I put XP Pro on say "G" drive,
> keeping A for DOS or vice versa?? I'm thinking 5gb for WinME & the rest
> for XP Pro. Will probably format for FAT 32 at first, if eventually I
> don't use ME later down the road I can make changes.
>
> If anyone can give me some steps for this or point me to a site(s) that
> does not explain in general terms (goes into a little detail) I would
> appreciate it.

Mike
Thu Feb 19 14:20:48 CST 2004

I would be very "sorry"? I meant, of course, to type "I would be very
surprised...." :-)

I'd like to blame my spellchecker but think that would hardly be fair!
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


Mike M <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> Kerry,
>
> Just FYI, neither Win Me nor XP have real mode DOS but instead both run
> DOS in a window. I would be very sorry that a DOS program that you can
> run in a DOS window in Win Me won't run in a DOS window in XP.

K
Thu Feb 19 18:55:11 CST 2004

Mike,
I think that sounds great. Does XP Pro have the DOS Prompt like WinME, from
the start/programs/accessories menu? So I can use floppy discs-either read
or store? I'm sure that sounds like the dinosaur ages but they are okay. I
am relying on what someone at work said ..."XP/Pro doesn't use DOS"...that's
fine, as long as it can run it.

**One more question**, I'm leaning toward the FAT system, if I would use the
NTFS file system, there would really be no point in trying to transfer or
use any files that came from WinME, lets say photos stored on CD's for
printing, etc., would there? It seems the encryption feature is fine for
extra security, but I like Norton on my computer, my ISP has McAfee & spam
control for Outlook Express, and have used Kerio PFW. I subscribe to
Norton's updates.

The only thing I have to do really is copy any emails that I want to keep,
maybe other than that I am ready to give XP try. As far as BIOS updates, I
did the compatability checker and it did not bring up any BIOS issues-last
year. I may run it again. Trying to find BIOS updates at COMPAQ-HA HA HA-I
could email them about that, they've been helpful in the past.

Thank you, Mike...
Kerry

Mike
Thu Feb 19 19:24:05 CST 2004

K Owen <kowen@removethismobiletel.com> wrote:

Kerry,

Answered in line (where I can)

> Mike,
> I think that sounds great. Does XP Pro have the DOS Prompt like WinME,
> from the start/programs/accessories menu?

Yes and no. Yes you have the shortcut but in XP is called "Command Prompt"
since, as in Win Me, it is a window that runs under XP rather than actually
being DOS.

> So I can use floppy discs-either read or store?

Yes

> I'm sure that sounds like the dinosaur ages
> but they are okay. I am relying on what someone at work said ..."XP/Pro
> doesn't use DOS"...that's fine, as long as it can run it.

That person is quite correct. XP like Win Me does not use DOS. That does not
mean however that you cannot run DOS commands or programs from the Command
Prompt.

> **One more question**, I'm leaning toward the FAT system, if I would use
> the NTFS file system, there would really be no point in trying to
> transfer or use any files that came from WinME, lets say photos stored on
> CD's for printing, etc., would there?

Why not? The file system used on a floppy or CD-ROM/R/RW remains the same and
the file system used to store a file has no bearing on whether that file can
be used on another PC running a different operating system. So yes, you can
transfer all the files you want from any system you want and store them on XP
using NTFS. The applications you use, for the most part, don't know what
filing system you are using. That's something the operating system handles.
Just think of all those files you access using Internet Explorer on systems
running Linux, Windows Server or Unix which all use different filing systems
than Win Me.

> It seems the encryption feature is
> fine for extra security, but I like Norton on my computer, my ISP has
> McAfee & spam control for Outlook Express, and have used Kerio PFW. I
> subscribe to Norton's updates.

Encryption is something different. Whether you choose to encrypt your files
is a matter of personal preference. I for one don't. The main reason for
using NTFS is that it is a far more robust filing system than FAT and prone to
far less errors and problems.

> The only thing I have to do really is copy any emails that I want to keep,
> maybe other than that I am ready to give XP try.

As I've said, copying your mail store over shouldn't be a problem.

> As far as BIOS updates,
> I did the compatibility checker and it did not bring up any BIOS
> issues-last year.

That's good but bios issues aren't the real problem which is more that certain
programs won't run on XP and have to be upgraded and that if upgrading from
Win Me others need to be uninstalled and then reinstalled after the upgrade
(programs such as CD burning applications, AV applications and I seem to
recall I had to uninstall PowerDVD and upgrade and reinstall after the upgrade
but that was some versions ago so probably wouldn't apply today.

>I may run it again. Trying to find BIOS updates at
> COMPAQ-HA HA HA-I could email them about that, they've been helpful in
> the past.


I hope all goes well if you choose to go for it.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com