upgrading to xp

when i try to upgrade from ME to XP i get a error sayin i
need admin rights. wat is the default admin and pass if
there is any and another question when i boot the cd
before windows starts is there a settin for upgrading.

Win Me unlike XP has no administrator mode or account although it is necessary
to log on to perform various functions, by this I mean if presented with a
logon screen when booting up that you don't simply click Cancel or Escape.
Note though that when you upgrade using an XP CD Win Me is not running so
logging on to Win Me isn't a problem.

Before upgrading to XP make sure you run the Upgrade Advisor (see below) and
take note on its recommendations. When you insert the XP CD and start the
install you will be offered various options including upgrading your Win Me
system and clean installing XP.

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/h...ng/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



MONKEY44 wrote:

when i try to upgrade from ME to XP i get a error sayin i
need admin rights. wat is the default admin and pass if
there is any and another question when i boot the cd
before windows starts is there a settin for upgrading.

"Mike M" wrote:

Win Me unlike XP has no administrator mode or account although it is necessary
to log on to perform various functions, by this I mean if presented with a
logon screen when booting up that you don't simply click Cancel or Escape.
Note though that when you upgrade using an XP CD Win Me is not running so
logging on to Win Me isn't a problem.

Before upgrading to XP make sure you run the Upgrade Advisor (see below) and
take note on its recommendations. When you insert the XP CD and start the
install you will be offered various options including upgrading your Win Me
system and clean installing XP.

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/h...ng/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



MONKEY44 wrote:

when i try to upgrade from ME to XP i get a error sayin i
need admin rights. wat is the default admin and pass if
there is any and another question when i boot the cd
before windows starts is there a settin for upgrading.

The upgrade from Me to XP isn't all that it may seem. I did run the upgrade advisor, I did all that it told me Ishould do, I did everything that the software asked me to do, I did the upgrade and now I am installing a new hard drive and doing a clean install of XP (the new hard drive being a personal option versus a necessity from a bad upgrade ).

Not only did Microsoft invent an operating system(Windows Me) that limits
the amount of RAM on my system(512) they then invented an upgrade that is
supposed to take that limit away and let my computer use as much as the
motherboard will allow (2gb). But after doing all that is asked of me and I
"upgrade" my system to this newer,better,more reliable,more stable operating
system(Windows XP), I get crash after crash and error after error.
Fortunately I was able to enter setup and reboot from my cd drive and
re-install for a third time xp home edition and keep it stable enough to
remove some of my valuable information prior to it's last crash. This effort
took me not clicking on the ok button that explorer was closing long enough
for my cdrw drive to stop recieving information and gladly I copied all the
files that I had hoped to save. As soon as I clicked that button explorer
closed and I had to manually restart my computer.

If you are contemplating upgrading your system from Me to XP I highly
recommend that action. XP (which is on one of my other computers) does seem
to operate more smoothly, is more stable, acquires updates more easily, and
does seem to accept new programs easier than Me or 98. I also HIGHLY
recommend that you do a clean install. Just copy all the pictures and
documents that you need to keep to a disk, make sure you have all your
product keys and disks for programs that you would like to reload, and do a
clean install. You will thank me for this recommendation when you see how
much easier it is to do this. Otherwise, welcome to the nightmare of trying
to upgrade with your current operating system in place.

Sadly you appear to know little about what you are talking. For example
Microsoft did not limit your use of RAM to 512MB. Win Me like all Win 9x
systems can happily handle up to 2GB. Given this basic factual error in
the first sentence of your reply I consider it pointless reading further
for fear of finding more glaring errors and misconceptions. I would
suggest others do the same.

Ref: KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM
Installed" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912). The reason is that
allocating more than 512MB of RAM to vcache will exhaust all available
upper memory addresses and thus prevent them being used for other
purposes. This problem is easily fixed by limiting vcache to 512MB.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]



renigadeseabee wrote:

Not only did Microsoft invent an operating system(Windows Me) that
limits the amount of RAM on my system(512) they then invented an
upgrade that is supposed to take that limit away and let my computer
use as much as the motherboard will allow (2gb). But after doing all
that is asked of me and I "upgrade" my system to this
newer,better,more reliable,more stable operating system(Windows XP),
I get crash after crash and error after error. Fortunately I was able
to enter setup and reboot from my cd drive and re-install for a third
time xp home edition and keep it stable enough to remove some of my
valuable information prior to it's last crash. This effort took me
not clicking on the ok button that explorer was closing long enough
for my cdrw drive to stop recieving information and gladly I copied
all the files that I had hoped to save. As soon as I clicked that
button explorer closed and I had to manually restart my computer.

If you are contemplating upgrading your system from Me to XP I highly
recommend that action. XP (which is on one of my other computers)
does seem to operate more smoothly, is more stable, acquires updates
more easily, and does seem to accept new programs easier than Me or
98. I also HIGHLY recommend that you do a clean install. Just copy
all the pictures and documents that you need to keep to a disk, make
sure you have all your product keys and disks for programs that you
would like to reload, and do a clean install. You will thank me for
this recommendation when you see how much easier it is to do this.
Otherwise, welcome to the nightmare of trying to upgrade with your
current operating system in place.

"Mike M" wrote:

Sadly you appear to know little about what you are talking. For example
Microsoft did not limit your use of RAM to 512MB. Win Me like all Win 9x
systems can happily handle up to 2GB. Given this basic factual error in
the first sentence of your reply I consider it pointless reading further
for fear of finding more glaring errors and misconceptions. I would
suggest others do the same.

Ref: KB 253912 - ""Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM
Installed" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=253912). The reason is that
allocating more than 512MB of RAM to vcache will exhaust all available
upper memory addresses and thus prevent them being used for other
purposes. This problem is easily fixed by limiting vcache to 512MB.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]


Mike, correct me if I'm wrong but the vcache option only works for windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups. If that option works for Me, please let me know. I have read the link you provided over and over and the only thing that Microsoft says I can do is one of these 2 options:

# Use the System Configuration utility to limit the amount of memory that
Windows uses to 512 megabytes (MB) or less.For additional information about
how to use the System Configuration utility, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

181966 System Configuration Utility Advanced Troubleshooting Settings

# Reduce the amount of memory that is installed in your computer to 512 MB
or less.

The first option which is the link 181966 says to limit the amount of RAM
that Windows uses to 512 mb. If I do this does that mean that when I open a
program in Windows as in Office,a game, etc., that I am limited to the 512 mb
or will the other ram not being used by Windows be accessable to that
program?

You are correct that I am a novice in the software world, I just know what
problems I have ran into with the upgrade from Me to xp. I did extensive
research using forums such as this and linking to websites where upgrading
and clean installs were done on my particular system. Many of those forums
gave me the link you provided. But, as i said, according to Microsoft either
I limit the amount of RAM to 512 for Windows, or physically remove my RAM
until I only have 512 mb.

I would appreciate a reply to this post. If there is a way to use the
vcache option with Me (it's not on the list for that workaround) I would
love to revert back to Me and re-stabilize my computer because as of now it's
sitting in a corner unplugged until my company's computer guy shows up and
fixes it.

Thank you for any help.
renigadeseabee wrote:

Not only did Microsoft invent an operating system(Windows Me) that
limits the amount of RAM on my system(512) they then invented an
upgrade that is supposed to take that limit away and let my computer
use as much as the motherboard will allow (2gb). But after doing all
that is asked of me and I "upgrade" my system to this
newer,better,more reliable,more stable operating system(Windows XP),
I get crash after crash and error after error. Fortunately I was able
to enter setup and reboot from my cd drive and re-install for a third
time xp home edition and keep it stable enough to remove some of my
valuable information prior to it's last crash. This effort took me
not clicking on the ok button that explorer was closing long enough
for my cdrw drive to stop recieving information and gladly I copied
all the files that I had hoped to save. As soon as I clicked that
button explorer closed and I had to manually restart my computer.

If you are contemplating upgrading your system from Me to XP I highly
recommend that action. XP (which is on one of my other computers)
does seem to operate more smoothly, is more stable, acquires updates
more easily, and does seem to accept new programs easier than Me or
98. I also HIGHLY recommend that you do a clean install. Just copy
all the pictures and documents that you need to keep to a disk, make
sure you have all your product keys and disks for programs that you
would like to reload, and do a clean install. You will thank me for
this recommendation when you see how much easier it is to do this.
Otherwise, welcome to the nightmare of trying to upgrade with your
current operating system in place.

Mike, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sorry but you are wrong. :-)

The vcache fix is the same for all Win 9x operating systems. I previously
referred to KB253912 which covers this problem where you will see it
stated that the article applies to Win Me, Win 98SE, Win 98 and Win 95.
IOW all Win 9x operating systems. There is no need to limit the amount of
memory by using MaxPhysPage. May I suggest you read KB252912 again. So
use MaxFileCache yes, MaxPhysPage no.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP [2001-2004]



renigadeseabee wrote:

Mike, correct me if I'm wrong but the vcache option only works for
windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups. If that option works for Me,
please let me know. I have read the link you provided over and over
and the only thing that Microsoft says I can do is one of these 2
options:

# Use the System Configuration utility to limit the amount of memory
that Windows uses to 512 megabytes (MB) or less.For additional
information about how to use the System Configuration utility, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

181966 System Configuration Utility Advanced Troubleshooting Settings

# Reduce the amount of memory that is installed in your computer to
512 MB or less.

The first option which is the link 181966 says to limit the amount of
RAM that Windows uses to 512 mb. If I do this does that mean that
when I open a program in Windows as in Office,a game, etc., that I am
limited to the 512 mb or will the other ram not being used by Windows
be accessable to that program?

You are correct that I am a novice in the software world, I just know
what problems I have ran into with the upgrade from Me to xp. I did
extensive research using forums such as this and linking to websites
where upgrading and clean installs were done on my particular system.
Many of those forums gave me the link you provided. But, as i said,
according to Microsoft either I limit the amount of RAM to 512 for
Windows, or physically remove my RAM until I only have 512 mb.

I would appreciate a reply to this post. If there is a way to use the
vcache option with Me (it's not on the list for that workaround) I
would love to revert back to Me and re-stabilize my computer because
as of now it's sitting in a corner unplugged until my company's
computer guy shows up and fixes it.

Thank you for any help.

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Mike, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sorry but you are wrong. :-)

LOL!


Shane

"Shane" wrote:


"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Mike, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sorry but you are wrong. :-)

LOL!


Shane


LOL, I'm glad I gave someone a laugh, since I've been laughing at myself ever since I started this Me to XP upgrade fiasco 4 days ago. Unfortunately there are a lot of people out here that own computers and don't know as much as others. I know automotive repair, you know computers. The differance between cars and computers is that when you buy a part for a car and the numbers match the part will work, unless the part is faulty. With computers it seems to be a bit more complicated when you get into software and hardware compatability,etc.

I appreciate the help of the forums and haven't given up all hope. I found
out that my BIOS version, which is about 4 years old, is probably my problem.
I bought a new hard drive, saved all important information from my old one
to cd, and am doing a clean install on the new hard drive with xp after doing
a BIOS update from my system manufacturer's website. Hopefully I won't screw
that up also. With the clean install at least I won't be using the FAT32
anymore and the other, I think NTFS or something like that, is supposed to be
more stable and reliable.

Again, thanks for the help. Next time I'll take my computer to an expert
just like my customers bring their cars to me.

LOL, I'm glad I gave someone a laugh, since I've been laughing at myself
ever since I started this Me to XP upgrade fiasco 4 days ago.

Well, yes, it was funny.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people out here that own computers and
don't know as much as others.

Don't get too sensitive.

I know automotive repair, you know computers. The differance between cars
and computers is that when you buy a part for a car and the numbers match
the part will work, unless the part is faulty. With computers it seems to
be a bit more complicated when you get into software
and hardware compatability,etc.

Yeah, I've been building motorcycles and working on cars for far longer than
computers. If you know automotive repair (as opposed to just how to
purchase and fit components), then think of computers in the same way you do
when you're troubleshooting an automotive problem. It's all just
mathematics, physics, engineering. Approach it with the same frame of mind.

I used to specialise in electrical repairs because my peers (who could buy
parts and assemble them, but didn't understand what, in engineering terms,
they were doing) thought electronics was magic. Of course, it isn't, and
neither is computer hardware and software. And as with any discipline, the
first step to understanding it to demystify it.


I appreciate the help of the forums and haven't given up all hope. I
found
out that my BIOS version, which is about 4 years old, is probably my
problem.

When I installed XP I had to first update my Award BIOS.

I bought a new hard drive, saved all important information from my old
one
to cd, and am doing a clean install on the new hard drive with xp after
doing
a BIOS update from my system manufacturer's website. Hopefully I won't
screw
that up also. With the clean install at least I won't be using the FAT32
anymore and the other, I think NTFS or something like that, is supposed to
be
more stable and reliable.

NTFS is more reliable than FAT32 mostly in the sense that a £10,000 hifi
system is better than a £5,000 hifi system. Most people won't notice the
difference. Meanwhile if you get a virus or other problems (that make the
computer unbootable) your repair
options are considerably greater if using FAT32 and thus able to use a DOS
boot disk.


Again, thanks for the help. Next time I'll take my computer to an expert
just like my customers bring their cars to me.

Probably best as, assuming you're good, once you understand it and become
fascinated by it, you'll end up spending far too much time at the computer.

Shane