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Tune-up: How to upgrade your system to Windows XP
Tune-up: How to upgrade your system to Windows XP
By Mitt Jones
(January 23, 2004)
(January 23, 2004)
 Illustration by Terry Colon. |
Upgrading an operating system isn't brain surgery, but it often requires plenty of time and patience. Expect to spend several hours on the project, including a couple of hours for preparation and a few for reinstalling applications after the upgrade. The payoff should be a stable, multimedia-savvy PC that's ready for another couple of years of serious work and fun.
You can upgrade to XP without reformatting your hard drive, but starting fresh should bring a boost in speed, and it also represents your best chance of having a stable system. Here we step through the process of preparing your system for Windows XP, performing a fresh install, restoring your data files and settings, and--finally--reinstalling applications.
Mitt Jones is a contributor to Computer Shopper magazine.
Tune-up is featured monthly in Computer Shopper magazine; this feature originally appeared in the February 2004 issue.
Tune-up is featured monthly in Computer Shopper magazine; this feature originally appeared in the February 2004 issue.
