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| Get ready for Windows XP |
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Windows XP is now shipping with new PCs and should be available by the time you read this. So, you might be anticipating a move to Windows XP. There are a handful of things you should consider to prepare for an upgrade.
First, understand that Windows XP is based on the Windows 2000 code base, so there are no major core technology changes, and the upgrade from Windows 2000 to Windows XP is relatively painless and problem-free in most cases. You should be able to pop in the CD and let Windows XP handle the upgrade with little or no intervention from you. However, you should make a trip to http://www.microsoft.com/hcl to review the Hardware Compatibility List for Windows XP just to make sure all of your hardware is supported.
Next, download the Upgrade Advisor from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp. After you download Upgadv.exe, double-click the file to install and run the Upgrade Advisor. This tool checks your system for potential application and driver compatibility issues to allow you to plan accordingly, updating applications or obtaining new drivers as needed.
If you decide to perform a clean install, you’ll probably want to back up all of your existing data so you can restore it to the new system. In addition to backing up the contents of My Documents and any other folders where you’ve stored your data, also back up your Outlook Express message store (if you use Outlook Express) and your Windows Address Book. To locate the Outlook Express store, open Outlook Express and choose Tools, Options, and click the Maintenance tab. Then, click Store Folder to view the path to your message store.
The Windows Address Book is located in the Application Data\ Microsoft\ Address Book folder of your current profile. If you have trouble locating it, perform a search on (user).wab, where (user) is your logon name.
Finally, make sure you’ve backed up any other data. If you use Outlook, for example, make sure you back up any local PST and OST files so you can restore them to the new system after installing Windows XP. |
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