Have you considered upgrading your computer to Windows XP now? If you are thinking about this now, this article will answer your upgrade questions and tell you the details of installing Microsoft's latest operating system upgrade. ---- In the promotion process of Windows XP, Microsoft carried out a large-scale publicity campaign and expressed to users that upgrading to Windows XP system is an inevitable choice. Of course, Windows XP does have a lot of refreshing features, and its performance is more stable than its predecessor. However, Windows XP also requires higher system resource configuration, and it is not compatible with some old hardware and software. In addition, Windows XP is not cheap. ---- In the process of deciding whether to upgrade to Windows XP, you need to consider many aspects, not only whether you have the need to upgrade, but also need to consider whether your current computer has the ability to upgrade. Even if you already have the possibility to upgrade, you have to consider whether the expected benefits are worthwhile, especially compared to your existing older operating system. ---- We have summarized some key issues that need to be considered in the process of upgrading to Windows XP system, which are listed here for readers' reference. A Can your computer be upgraded? ---- 1. How old is your computer? ---- If your computer was purchased in the last year, upgrading to Windows XP is a breeze. If your computer has been bought for 1-2 years, then upgrading is not a difficult task, but it is a bit more complicated to operate. However, if your computer has been bought for more than 2 years, then the best option is to keep your current operating system or buy a brand new computer with Windows XP pre-installed. ---- 2. Are you running on an older version of Windows? ---- If you are currently running on Windows 95 or lower, it's a pity that you can't upgrade directly to Windows XP, you can only buy a full version of Windows XP. ---- 3. Ask your computer supplier for advice. ---- Many computer vendors have opened special sections to provide tips and suggestions for special upgrades for Windows XP. You can also go directly to the technical support section of the website to search for the model and configuration of the computer you purchased. You may find that the computer you bought is not recommended to upgrade to Windows XP. If your computer is self-assembled, please read steps 4, 5 and 6. ---- 4. Check the hardware configuration of the computer. Although the minimum configuration recommended by Microsoft for installing Windows XP is a 300MHz chip, you should use a 500MHz CPU. In addition, the computer's memory must not be less than 128MB (of course 256MB is better), while the remaining 1.5GB of hard disk space must also be reserved. ---- 5. Run the Windows XP upgrade preparation test program. ---- Windows XP upgrade preparation test program on PCWorld.com (download address: http://www.pcworld.com/xpready), it will tell you whether you can upgrade to Windows XP system, it can give you Recommend the necessary remedies for special situations. ---- 6. Run the "Upgrade Advisor". ---- You can run the "Upgrade Advisor" provided by Microsoft Corporation, which is included in all versions of Windows XP. Before you buy Windows XP, you can use it to evaluate your computer. You can also download this program from a browser with a file size of approximately 50MB. B Do you really need to upgrade? ---- 1. Is your computer running stably? ---- If your current Windows operating system is working well, then your best bet is to keep the current operating system. If you've been plagued by inexplicable locks or frequent blue screen of death, it's time to seriously consider upgrading. ---- 2. What kind of applications and hardware are you currently using? Some older applications, including those based on DOS, and some hardware devices may not work properly on Windows XP. ---- 3. What kind of application are you going to use? If you want to use the latest applications (such as Microsoft's new Office XP), or plan to enter digital media applications (such as images, music or video, etc.), then Windows XP is a wise choice. It is also powerful, secure and stable, and offers some unique tools to support these cutting-edge applications. C Home Edition or Professional Edition ---- 1. What kind of Windows version are you currently running? ---- If your current operating system is Windows NT or Windows 2000, your only upgrade option is Windows XP Professional. Only users who originally used the Windows 98/Me system can upgrade to Windows XP Home Edition. ---- 2. What new features do you need to get? ---- It is only necessary to upgrade to Windows XP Professional if you are in the following situations. Use a Windows system in an office environment. The computer has multiple processors. I want to access Windows XP system remotely. Strictly control access to your computer by other computers on your network. D Start the upgrade ---- If you have already purchased Windows XP and are ready to start the installation. Please pay special attention to the following critical steps before installation. ---- 1. Upgrade the hardware (if needed). ---- If you need to increase the computer's memory or install a larger capacity hard drive, please do it quickly. ---- 2. Perform a complete system backup. ---- Windows XP will bring huge changes to your computer, so it is very important to make a complete backup in advance. ---- 3. Do a good job of upgrading drivers and applications. Although Windows XP includes drivers for most hardware, it is a good idea to have the latest drivers for your computer's graphics, sound card and other devices from your computer provider's website. ---- 4. Uninstall incompatible software. ---- If you choose to upgrade to Windows XP, you must uninstall the software that Windows XP's "Upgrade Advisor" program considers to be incompatible. Note: You cannot uninstall these software after upgrading to Windows XP. E Upgrade or completely reinstall? ---- 1. Do you have a second hard drive or a second partition? ---- If so, you can choose to completely reinstall Windows XP. It automatically generates a dual boot system that allows you to choose whether to run Windows XP or the original system at boot time. ---- Complete reinstallation allows you to use Windows XP while improving your current operating system and applications. However, it is not possible to port the original software to Windows XP, you must reinstall these applications on Windows XP. If you choose to upgrade, your original applications and data will be automatically ported to Windows XP, and you can uninstall Windows XP as needed in the future. However, it should be noted that when you uninstall Windows XP, you will lose all the applications and related data installed after the upgrade. ---- Microsoft recommends that users use the upgrade operation, but the full reinstallation operation keeps a lot of old data, especially if your hard disk still has a lot of free space. Does the F file system use NTFS or FAT32? ---- 1. Select the file system you want to use. ---- When installing Window XP, you can choose whether to upgrade the current FAT32 file system to NTFS format. The NTFS file system will make better use of hard disk space and is more reliable than the FAT32 file system. Upgrading to the NTFS format is a good choice, but if you are using a dual-boot Window XP system, you will not be able to access the partition portion of the NTFS format under the old Windows version. G Completed ---- If you follow the above steps and successfully pass all product activation procedures, you will successfully complete the installation of Windows XP. If your computer crashes during the installation process, you can shut down and wait for a while to restart. If there is a problem with the system after installation, you can go to the Help and Support Center of Window XP for help by selecting Start* Help.