Can You Make the Upgrade?

As good as Windows XP might sound, the choice to upgrade isn't clear cut. This is primarily because Windows XP has fairly stiff system requirements, which is a result of using the Windows 2000 engine that has always required more powerful hardware to run.

To install Windows XP, you need a working CD-ROM drive hooked up to your PC, because the entire installation is done from CD. It also helps if you're connected to the Internet, as the software needs to activate itself to operate.

"Mike Sez"

If you have a relatively new, relatively powerful computer with a lot of memory and hard disk space, you're probably okay to upgrade. If you have a computer more than three years old, you should stick with your current operating system.

The installation itself takes about an hour. Fortunately, you don't have to stand by your PC for the entire process; after you get past the initial decision-making, you can walk away and let the installation program do its thing.

System Requirements

Like Windows NT and Windows 2000 before it, Windows XP requires some powerful hardware just to get up and running. If you have an older PC, you probably don't have the muscle to run XP. Even if you have a newer PC, you might need to add more memory to handle the overhead of the new OS.

Table 17.1 details Microsoft's recommended system requirements for Windows XP along with my personal, more stringent recommendations.

Table 17.1. Windows XP System Requirements

	Microsoft Sez	Mike Sez
Processor type	Intel Pentium/Celeron family or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family	Intel Pentium III or Pentium 4, or AMD Athlon/Duron family
Processor speed	233Hz or higher	500MHz or higher
Memory	128MB	256MB
Available hard disk space	1.5GB	5GB
Video resolution	800x600	1024x768
Monitor size	No recommendation	17-inch CRT or 15-inch LCD

Fortunately, memory and hard disk storage are relatively cheap as you know from reading this far in the book. If you have to do a little hardware upgrading to make XP run well, it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Upgrade or Clean Install?

Installing Windows XP is much easier than installing any previous version of Windows. You have the choice of an upgrade installation or a clean installation; the latter actually reformats your hard drive before installing the new operating system. The upgrade installation is the only option available when you purchase the upgrade version of Windows XP. Both upgrade and clean installations are available when you purchase the full version of the software which costs about twice as much.

"Mike Sez"

For most users, the upgrade installation is the easiest and definitely the lowest-priced way to go.

Not every previous version of Windows has the same upgrade path, however. Check Table 17.2 to see if and how you can upgrade from your current operating system.

Table 17.2. Upgrade Options for Windows XP

If you have this version of Windows	You can upgrade to this version of Windows XP
Windows 3.1	No upgrade possible; clean install required
Windows 95	No upgrade possible; clean install required
Windows 98 (first edition)	Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)	Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
Windows Millennium Edition (Me)	Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
Windows NT 3.51 Workstation	No upgrade possible; clean install required
Windows NT 4 Workstation	Windows XP Professional
Windows 2000 Professional	Windows XP Professional

In addition, you can easily upgrade from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP Professional.