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Operating at a new level - Should you upgrade your operating system? Are you pondering whether to upgrade your operating system? Most people don't realize how big a job it really is. Grab a pen and paper and ask these questions before jumping in.1. Does the system do everything you want and need it to do presently? 2. Is the system new enough to warrant spending the money on it or should you wait and upgrade the entire computer?3. Do you have older software you run frequently that is written for your old operating system? It may not run properly on the new OS.4. One of the most common problems when upgrading the OS is that some older cards in the system may be incompatible with the new software (no drivers may exist for those cards). Are you prepared to spend additional money to replace this hardware if required? 5. Are you willing to put in the time or pay your computer professional to locate drivers for your current hardware if they are available?6. Do you have several hours to invest in the installation, or don't mind paying someone else to do it? 7. Can you do without the computer for a length of time if you have problems or need to order parts? Keep in mind the more complex your computer and the more hardware add-ons you have, the more complicated the installation will become. Software conflicts are also common and can cause many headaches. A complete reformat and clean install is always preferred over an upgrade version if possible. Why? Lets say you have ABC Office Software on your system. The package says it will run on both Windows 95 and Windows 98. If you first install it on Windows 95, then perform the upgrade, it may have installed subroutines optimized for 95. These may be slower or incompatible with 98 and you'll have to reload your program anyhow.You'll also need to be sure your computer can handle the requirements of the OS you are wanting to install. Some older computers may require an updated basic input/output system (BIOS) to support Windows 98. If you system is this old, it is better to upgrade the system or motherboard at this point. Current versions of Windows 98 include first edition, second edition (SE) and Millenium (ME). Although many people refer to Millenium as a different product due to all the changes, it is in fact the next evolution of Windows 98 (oddly enough, many 98 programs will not run on it.) Windows 2000 is NOT an upgrade to the 95/98 series. It is a different product based on the Windows NT product line. To upgrade to Windows 98SE will require: 486DX 66 megahertz (MHz) or faster processor 16 - 24 megabytes (MBs) of memory 120-355 MB free hard-disk space VGA minimum, 16-bit or 24-bit color SVGA recommended CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive To upgrade to Windows ME: Pentium 150MHz equivalent or faster processor 32MB of RAM or better 480MB free hard-disk space, 645MB recommended CD-ROM drive Mouse or other pointing device 28.8 Kbs or faster modem with current Internet connection (56k recommended) Sound card and speakers or headphones VGA or higher resolution monitorMeet the recommended specifications when possible if you want to do anything more than boot to the desktop and look at the wallpaper. For more information visit microsoft.com/windowsme/upgrade/default.asp. You can look up specific pieces of hardware in your system to see if they are compatible with Windows ME. If you've decided to go ahead with the upgrade, backup any pertinent data files before you begin. Whether you do the install yourself or have it done by a professional, make sure to add patience to the list of requirements for this project. |
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