Trouble installing XP Home update...May go with new installation....help?

[donkey33]

Hi,

I am updating a friends PC to Windows XP Home Edition. They are currently running Windows 98 SE which as far as I can tell, is so bugged it's not funny.

I was thinking of just upgrading to XP Home to see if that irons out all the bugs but from the XP setup, I keep getting errors.

For example, "The file D:\I386\mfc42.dll cannot be copied to C:\WINDOWS\Setup\mfc42.dll". This also happens with the file migisol.exe from the same directory.

I tried this a few times but kept getting the same errors so I decided against the upgrade as even though the installation continued, it stopped at a fatal error point and said to contact Microsoft. (Unless, someone can tell me how to fix this so I can go ahead with the installation)

So, I'm considering the new installation of XP Home on this PC in hope that it will wipe it clean and all the bugs with it.

Thing is, I know how to do but am not sure with getting the PC back to normal with drivers, etc, to get it and all the hardware back up and running.

The help I am asking for is if there is a guide or if someone can tell me what I should do before I do this new install. I read somewhere to get all drivers and burn them to CD, etc, and to also backup all the files I want to keep. I'm just not sure what I have to back up and which drivers I have to get. Like sound, gfx cards, etc, I know but I'm sure there are some hidden ones along there. Do I have to reinstall the motherboard, etc.

If anyone can help or give me some advice it would be greatly appreaciated.

Thanks

[Ant]

Presumably, the computer meets the minimum requirements for Windows xp?

Formatting the drive (usually C before installation will result in loss of all information currently on the drive.

You need to back-up any data you want to keep (my documents, pictures, music, etc.). Assuming you have a lot of data, you'll need to back-up to a CDRom or a whole lot of floppies. Alternatively, you can back-up to another drive or partition, however you refer to D: as the CD Drive, so I assume you don't have another drive available?

Does your friend have the original driver disks for the hardware (GFX Card, sound Card, etc.)?

You should really have these handy during the installation. If you don't have them, you may find that a particular device cannot be installed, though this may not stop the installation from finishing and you can install the drivers installation, if you get them later.

[donkey33]

Originally Posted by Ant

Presumably, the computer meets the minimum requirements for Windows xp?

Formatting the drive (usually C before installation will result in loss of all information currently on the drive.

You need to back-up any data you want to keep (my documents, pictures, music, etc.). Assuming you have a lot of data, you'll need to back-up to a CDRom or a whole lot of floppies. Alternatively, you can back-up to another drive or partition, however you refer to D: as the CD Drive, so I assume you don't have another drive available?

Does your friend have the original driver disks for the hardware (GFX Card, sound Card, etc.)?

You should really have these handy during the installation. If you don't have them, you may find that a particular device cannot be installed, though this may not stop the installation from finishing and you can install the drivers installation, if you get them later.

Thanks Ant.

Yes, all requirements are met. It's an Athlon 1800. Most other parts are from around that era too.

I'll get him to back up everything via CD that he wants.

Only thing worrying me is that I'm not sure what drivers I might need to get or have. I think this PC uses on board sound so no sound card. He still has the graphics card CD as well.

What other stuff would I need? Do I need the motherboard info as well?

Thanks for your help.

[artyboy]

Originally Posted by donkey33

Thanks Ant.

Yes, all requirements are met. It's an Athlon 1800. Most other parts are from around that era too.

I'll get him to back up everything via CD that he wants.

Only thing worrying me is that I'm not sure what drivers I might need to get or have. I think this PC uses on board sound so no sound card. He still has the graphics card CD as well.

What other stuff would I need? Do I need the motherboard info as well?

Thanks for your help.

I was running win98 and went over to winxp pro. Did a clean install and the basic drivers were installed. I later had to get other drivers from the net, but that was not hard. Did not have to do a thing with the motherboard at all.
Hope this helps your worries a little.

[bookworm]

Get Belarc Advisor ( free programe ) download and run, will give you everything that is on comp inc all hardware, plus the makers.

[donkey33]

Originally Posted by artyboy

I was running win98 and went over to winxp pro. Did a clean install and the basic drivers were installed. I later had to get other drivers from the net, but that was not hard. Did not have to do a thing with the motherboard at all.
Hope this helps your worries a little.

Yeah, thanks for that. Seems I might not have that much work cut out for me.

I'll try it all soon.

Thanks guys.