Windows XP upgrade

[zeradul]

Here's the deal. I can get a really good deal on a brand new copy of XP upgrade. About one eigth of what I can get XP for. I know previous MS 'upgrades' have been less than usable for the average geek. In part because the OS isn't completely in one place like it is on a normal OS install disk.

Is the jury still out on wether or not the XP upgrade is garbage? Please refrain from using other upgrade version experience as suggestions, because I know they have been poor, but I need specific info on wether or not anything has changed.

And the other part to this question is, what OS's can you upgrade from with a XP upgrade. For example can you upgrade from Win95?

Thanks

[Wiggo]

I've only seen one's from 98 onwards but they mabe around. :?:
I think 2K was the last support for 95. :?:

[zeradul]

Yea, the only legal spare copies not in use I have are a few 95b copies. I don't trust the upgrade enough to use on my main machine right away... I know XP is good, I just am weary about the upgrade...

[Darthtanion]

Something to consider...

Win9x uses a different kernel than Win2k or XP. This would indicate that you'll be getting a fresh install regardless since the two aren't compatible. :)

[fragman]

There is no upgrade path from 95 to XP, the minimum requirement is Win98.

For the first time, even though it is a upgrade CD you can boot off it and do a clean install, you just need your old media to qualify the upgrade.

[fragman]

Oh yeah and you can't go from Win2k to XP home, only to XP Pro

[Beefy]

Here's what MS have to say about upgrading:

<table class="tblMatrix" border="1" frame="below" bordercolorlight="#FFFFFF" bordercolordark="#999999" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tr><td valign="top" class="tblHeader" >Previous Version</td><td align="center" class="tblHeader" valign="top" width="125" >Windows XP<br />Home Edition</td><td align="center" class="tblHeader" valign="top" width="125" >Windows XP<br />Professional</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows 3.1</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Any Evaluation Version</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Any Server Version</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows 95</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows 98/Windows 98 SE</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows Me</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows NT® Workstation 3.51</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows NT Workstation 4.0</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td></tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows 2000 Professional</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td></tr> <tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows XP Home Edition</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata"> </td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">YES</td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" class="tblcolone">Windows XP Professional</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata">NO</td><td align="center" valign="top" class="tbldata"> </td></tr></table>

[zeradul]

For the first time, even though it is a upgrade CD you can boot off it and do a clean install, you just need your old media to qualify the upgrade.

Really? Are you absolutley sure? Can anyone else verify this?

[zeradul]

http://duxcw.com/digest/Fromshop/sof...up/startup.htm and http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/softwa...tup/page1.htmlhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/r...leaseid=33290.