Change OS system?

windym_2

I have a PC running Windows XP home. My son's PC is running Windows 98SE. I wondered if I can reformat (clean?) the hard drive on his PC and then add my XP to his. My PC only came with the MESH recovery disc - which I believe is the XP bit and all the BIOS and drivers etc.

Is there a way of doing this or do I have to buy him a new OS/new PC?

Thanks for your help.

marsha.

Browntoa

xp you have is only for your Mesh Pc and would only re-install from a hidden partition on your hard disk

what is the spec of the Win 98 PC...ram , processor etc

and what is the logic of upgrading it ??

I have my XP machine networked to my old Win 98 PC as we speak

windym_2

From memory (as I have just broken the monitor carrying it from the car :eek: ) It is Athlon 1.4, 512 Ram and about 20gh hard drive. It is just used for his sats stuff and a couple of kids websites.

He did have a Gateway (which was also the subject of help on this forum!) but this has since gone to that PC dumping ground in the sky. The PC here, is an old one that we havent used for a while but still seems to be working fine (but will have a ropey old monitor from a friend)

The reason for doing the 'change' is that I would like to clean the pc but have no idea where the old discs are, so cannot see me being able to load 98 without buying new system discs.

As you will have gathered I have lots of PC bits and pieces but not necessary any knowledge on how or why the whole thing works - or not works in my case!

smcicr

yup - two options:

buy new OS (look for deals on OEM versions - the shops will send you a cable or something daft to get round the restrictions as these deals are really only meant for system builders - but they are much cheaper)

get a selection of free bits and bobs and give the old pc a spring clean - CCleaner, adaware and such and go through add / remove programs to get rid of all the installed apps that you don't want on ther any more. with that and a good defrag afterwards you should find that it runs better and you've reclaimed a chunk of space too

the machine sounds perfectly fine specs wise (maybe a bigger disk somewhere down the line) so it would seem a waste to go and buy a new one just for an OS upgrade that might not be required?

Browntoa

I don't think there is a real gain to be got from installing XP on an old machine like that

just delete any old programs from control panel that you do not want, download ccleaner from www.ccleaner.com and let it clear all the old crap , then download ace utilities ffrom www.acelogix.com and let it tidy up the registry and bad links....then defrag the hard disk from system tools

windym_2

Fine. Then a good spring clean will have to do.

When you say you have your pc networked - what does that mean?

Browntoa

My new pc connected to the old machine so we can share the Broadband, seems to have backfired as I get stuck on the old one !!! lol

cost me about £9 for the cables and Network card, drop me a message if you want the details