All systems use drivers tailored to the hardware installed and will differ
from PC to PC regardless of whether running Win Me or XP. Some of the drivers
will be included with the operating system whilst others will need to be
downloaded from the manufacturers' web sites. XP will include drivers for
hardware that wasn't available when Win Me was released but may not include
drivers required for some older hardware. In the case of video cards, sound
cards and printers the drivers included are often quite basic and it is
usually advisable to upgrade them using the drivers from the hardware
manufacturer's web site once the O/S has been installed.
Win Me can be upgraded to XP, both Home & Pro although it is advisable to
first run the XP Upgrade Advisor to check what applications may first have to
be uninstalled and then either reinstalled or even replaced following the
upgrade. Some users will tell you that you should clean install XP but that
isn't really necessary, especially where you wish to retain your existing
installed applications since upgrading from Win Me to XP is in effect a clean
install of the operating system as, unlike an upgrade from say 98SE to Win Me,
you are upgrading the underlying system from one using the 9x kernel to one
using the NT kernel.
The XP Upgrade Advisor (UpgAdv.exe) can be downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp but
note that this is a large program being around 32MB is size. If you only have
a dial-up connection it might be worth looking for a magazine that has
included the Upgrade Advisor on their cover CD. The advisor will give you a
clue as to any XP drivers required that aren't on the XP CD and programs for
which you will have to obtain updates. Some applications will have to be
uninstalled prior to upgrading after which they can often be reinstalled
although in some cases the application will first have to be upgraded to an XP
compatible version. The Upgrade Advisor is also included on the XP CD.
For a more extensive discussion of upgrading see Gary Woodruff's article at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
Post by deanosbeanoHi
i am currently using windows me, but it is a version supplied with my
e-machine.uk. and it seems to me that it is tailored to the machine ,i e
the drivers and everything else match my hardware. i was wondering if it
is possible to upgrade using the retail home xp from me cd. or will i
encounter problems.
i have a thought that maybe my os is normal and the drivers are separate
on the disc but i have come her to see if anybody know anything more
before i shell out £86 on the upgrade . ty.