Need Tech Guru help for your typical dummy please

[Ahmik]

Here's the deal...

I'm using a Comtrash 5868 600MHz Classic Athlon, 384 MB Ram, SB512 sound card, GeForce2 Ti/450 64MB Video (on a 1X AGP slot), CS/DVD, CDRW, ZIP100, and I have W98SE OS. This computer is 100% PnP so I can upgrade any component.

My exwife bought it for school and I ended up buying it from her. She had at one time tried to upgrade from W98SE to W2K and even though she installed all of the correct drivers, she was unable to get past countless blue screens of death. Compaq basically told her "You can't do that due to some kind of proprietary BIOS incompatibilities".

I have WinXP Pro sitting here on the shelf and I would like to install it, but I don't want to fuck up an otherwise flawless machine... Believe it or not, this machine had been rock-solid and has never crashed with the expection of the attempted Win2K installation.

Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge about this kinda stuff? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ask me some questions and I'll try to answer them.

Thanks

[Rosethorn]

If its not broke, dont fix it , is always my motto.
If it runs everything you want and is rock solid under win98 then why change?

Win2k and winxp are based on the same kernal so you most likely will run into the same problem (right everyone?)

Bios flash might fix your problem, but doubtfull comtrash offers a updated version.

[Skunki]

I'm pretty sure you can upgrade to win2k or XP. Sounds to me like your ex wife just tried to install the upgrade on top of the old 98. Rule of thumb is you should always do a clean install of windows even if your upgrading so heres how to get it working. Format the system(and keep that compaq restore disc around we are going to need it later) boot off the upgrade or if its full version of win2k/xp even better. IF its the upgrade it will start installing then it will ask for a previous version of windows(95/98/me). WHen it asks for that just put the compaq restore disk in and it will verify then take the compaq disk out and put the upgrade 2k/xp back in and it should install.


Compaqs use those restore disks like most major brands of computers do and its just crappy when you want to upgrade or do anything or even format. I am 99% sure that is the problem and its not the incompatible bios that a compaq tech told you. (i have OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS of experience with compaqs and compaq techs).

Anyways hope you get it workin, and if you dont feel comfortable formating or dont know how, then i highly suggest not trying it without someone helping you who knows how to do it but that should solve your problem.



edit- reread even better you have win xp pro(hoping its full) just boot off the xp disc and format it through that its very easy to install xp! you should be fine. and if worst come to worst then you just need to use the compaq restore disk

[Ahmik]

Wow thanks! You sure made that sound easy... I'll give it a shot. XP Pro is indeed the full version.

I guess I can spend tomorrow morning screwing around with it - don't want to fuck up my evening EQ time LOL

Thanks again!

[Ebumar]

Rose is right

[Aarinu]

This computer is 100% PnP so I can upgrade any component.

You don't actually believe PnP works do you? Never expect PnP to work, it never does, but hey

Win2k and winxp are based on the same kernal so you most likely will run into the same problem (right everyone?)

Pretty much. Only difference is the Win XP Kernel is a bit more intensive.

As for upgrading, Honk put it how it is You never want to "upgrade" a Microsoft OS. At least, from my experiences, it's not a good idea. You should always install fresh, even if it means formating the drive. You'll be much more content in the long run....

[Voronwë]

i agree with Rose, but i found EQ to run much faster under Windows XP than Win98.

your mileage may vary