At one point in the history of Windows this was a straightforward question. If you had Windows on your box, you were eligible to use an upgrade version of Windows. Simple. No more. As the years since Windows 3.1 have slipped by, more versions of Windows are still in use and the upgrade paths have become more complicated. Consult the chart below to determine your options. Current Operating System Upgrade to XP Home Upgrade to XP Professional
Now you know whether or not you’re eligible but that isn’t the only consideration. Just because you can upgrade to XP Professional doesn’t necessarily mean you should upgrade. If you have an older machine it may be to your benefit to buy a new computer with XP already installed and the upgrade price incorporated into the sellers price structure. The suggested and minimum requirements for a computer to run Windows XP are listed below as taken directly from the Microsoft website.
Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Home Edition:
- PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended:
- 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
- 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.
- Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Professional:
- PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended:
- 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
- 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space
- Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Pay close attention to the minimum requirements as well as understanding that additional bits and pieces may be needed to enjoy the full extent of the features XP offers. If your current computer doesn’t meet or substantially exceed these requirements it would almost assuredly be a wiser choice to purchase a new machine with XP preinstalled rather than follow the upgrade path.
One final note about a common misunderstanding. Upgrade, as it refers to this article, simply means being able to install Windows XP based on the current operating system installed on your computer. If you are not eligible to upgrade you will have to purchase the full version of XP as opposed to the upgrade version. Once you have made this determination, the next step is deciding whether to to do an [Upgrade] or [New Install] from whatever version you purchased.
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR COPY OF WINDOWS XP SP2 GENUINE:
There are Several ways to make ur copy of windows xp sp2 Genuine.Here some of the Followings:
Its all about Genuine XP SP2:
http://rapidshare.com/users/ZGCRGJ
V2C47-MK7JD-3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J
download software from the above make ur Windows Genuine be happy.......
OR
MAKE YOUR WINDOWS XP SP2 GENUINE(ONLY FOR XPSERVICEPACK2 NOT FOR ALL EDITIONS):Download jellybean keyfinder from this website
http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.html(or)
Key finder http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/343737/kf151.rar (or)
http://rapidshare.com/files/14529966/kf151.rar
Now open keyfinder.exeClick on options and click "change windows key"
Now enter below given this key and you're done.
V2C47-MK7JD-3R89F-D2KXW-VPK3J
And restart the PC
OR
This will allow you to bypass the Microsoft Genuine Validation thingythis method works better than many others i've tried before. forget the cracks and injectors etc... this is the BEST WAY:
1) Start > run > "regedit" (without the quotes of course)
2) Go to the key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents\OOBETimer...and doubleclick on it. Then change some of the value data to ANYTHING ELSE...delete some, add some letters, I don't care...just change it!now close out regedit.
3) Go to start > run > "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" (again, dont type the quotes)
4) The activation screen will come up, click on register over telephone, then click on CHANGE PRODUCT KEY, enter in this key: JG28K-H9Q7X-BH6W4-3PDCQ-6XBFJ
Now you can dl all the updates without activating, and the Genuine Microsoft Validation thingy won't bug you no more!!
Works with most WinXP versions though there are some exceptions...
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How 2 Enable Taskmanager Disabled by Virus/Trojans:
some times it happens due to ur pc infected with virus/trojans so in this case follow the given procedure C the Magic.one thing antivirus software is must for your OS.
(some of antivirus softwares here:NOD32/KASPERSKY/AVG/TREND MICRO(BY SYMANTEC)/PANDA/NORTON/McAfee etc.,)
- Go to start->run.Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
- In the Window that opens, select User Configutration->Admin templates->System->Ctrl-Alt-Del options. Double click on Remove Task Manager. Select the disable option in the pop up window. Click Apply->OK.
- Your task manager should start.
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Re-Enabling System Restore:
One of the tips that was widely circulated on the net when XP Professional was first released involved disabling System Restore via Group Policy Editor. It certainly works, but a problem arises if you want to re-enable System Restore at a later date. There is no option to re-enable it again. To do so:
Start the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
Navigate to Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/System/System RestoreSet Turn off System Restore and Turn off Configuration to DisableRight click on My Computer and Select ManageNavigate to Services and Applications/Services
Navigate to System Restore Service and double clickOn the General tab set [Startup Type] to Automatic using the drop down listClick the Start button to start the serviceClose the Computer Management consoleReturn to System Restore in Group Policy Editor and configure both to Not ConfiguredClose Group Policy Editor and reboot the system.
After the reboot is complete, right click My Computer, select Properties and the tab for System Restore will have been restored. Configure it to your individual needs and satisfaction.
OR
System Restore:
1. Click Start, Run and type %Windir%\INF
2. Locate the SR.INF file. If you have configured Windows Explorer to hide known file extensions, the file may show up as SR.
3. Right-click the SR.INF file, and then click Install
4. Windows will now attempt to reinstall System Restore, and may prompt you for the Windows installation source path. Point to %Windir%\ServicePackFiles folder, or insert your slipstreamed Windows XP (matching the Service Pack level of your system.)
5. System Restore core files will be reinstalled. Restart Windows when prompted.
Microsoft Genuine Validation:
HEllo Friemdsthese are instructions on
how to crack the latest version of Windows XP with Service Pack 2 that uses the registration key: JD3T2-QH36R-X7W2W-7R3XT-DVRPQ.**** IT WILL WORK WITH OTHER VERSIONS OF WINDOWS XP but not all!
****This will allow you to bypass the Microsoft Genuine Validation thingy
This method works better than many others i've tried before. forget the cracks and injectors etc... this is the BEST WAY:
1) start > run > "regedit" (without the quotes of course)
2) go to the key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents\OOBETimer...and doubleclick on it. Then change some of the value data to ANYTHING ELSE...delete some, add some letters, I don't care...just change it!now close out regedit.
3) go to start > run > "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a" (again, dont type the quotes)4) the activation screen will come up, click on register over telephone, then click on CHANGE PRODUCT KEY, enter in this key: JG28K-H9Q7X-BH6W4-3PDCQ-6XBFJ.
Now you can dl all the updates without activating, and the Genuine Microsoft Validation thingy won't bug you no more!!
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Do you want to see what is going on behind the Windows XP and 2000 splash screens?
When Windows first starts up it displays a screen with the Windows logo known as the splash screen. To see what is going one behind it use notepad to edit the C:\boot.ini file (to see the file listed, you may need to set your Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View to see hidden files and folders, and to unhide protected system files).
You'll see a line that looks similar to this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
Add a space and /SOS to the end of the line so it looks like this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect /SOS
The boot.ini file can also be edited in Windows XP by right-clicking My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, Edit.
Here's a quicker shortcut to the Windows 9X/Me/2000/XP System Properties (submitted by Doug Gould)...
Press the Pause/Break key while holding down the Windows Logo key.
A quicker shortcut to the Windows Explorer (submitted by Nigel MacGeorge). Press the key with the Windows logo on it, together with the "e" key. This will immediately launch the Windows Explorer. Use the Windows key and "i" and you immediately launch the Internet Explorer (the second one didn't work on my computer with Windows Me and IE 6.0--Larry).
How to get at the Windows 9X System Properties in Two clicks (submitted by Martin Halvorson)?
Right click My Computer on your desktop and Select Properties from the menu. Actually, it may take more clicks to get at My Computer. In Windows 98 just click the Show Desk Top icon on the System Trey (next to the Start button).
How to Get at the Windows 9x Display Properties in one click?
Right-click any bare spot on your Desktop and Select Properties.
The Windows 9X Start button is bigger than it appears...
Click any bare spot on your Desktop with your mouse and the Start menu will pop-up.
How to avoid processing the config.sys and autoexec.bat files when booting Windows 9X?
(This is useful for trouble-shooting. For example, use it if Windows doesn't get past the Splash screen when booting-up.). Hold the Shift Key down while Windows boots.
How to shut-down a non-responding program without shutting-down Windows 9X. You don't need to turn-off your computer to clear a misbehaved program/frozen Window. Hold the Ctrl and Alt Keys down and press the Delete Key (once!), select the non-responding program and Click the End Task button. If the program does not shut-down after reasonable period of time, repeat the process. Clicking Ctrl-Alt Delete twice will shut-down Windows and reboot the computer.
How to make a shortcut on your desktop to for shutting down your PC (submitted by "deerslayer")?
Right click, choose new shortcut and type in thisC:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user.exe,exitwindows. Make sure you name it properly, if you click on it by mistake it will shut down. I do not recommended for PC's with small chidren's access)To put it in your start menu choose start, settings,task bar and start menu the put the above command in.
TweakUI.INF (submitted by Matt Thyng).
There's an incredibly handy utility on every Win98 disc called TweakUI (User Interface). Do a filesearch for TweakUI.INF on the CD, and then right click on it and choose "Install". The program will be installed in your Control Panel, and lets you customize Windows, including Icons, startup/shutdown screens, clearing various caches automatically, etc. Very handy for any type of user.
Windows 9X includes a very good backup program which many users do not know about because it isn’t included in the “typical” Windows installation. To install it, Click Start>Setting>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>Windows Setup>System Tools>Details>OK>OK. I use the program to back-up customer hard disks and to back-up my own data to my NT file server. If you are installing a new hard disk, keep that old hard disk, if it works, install it on the Secondary IDE port with your CD-ROM, and use MS Backup (which is really a program developed by Seagate Software) to do disk-to-disk backups of your critical user data. I include My Documents, my FrontPage web sites, graphics, C:\WINDOWS\FAVORITES, C:\WINDOWS\COOKIES, and a few others. Altogether, its about 240 Mbytes of data and it takes only a few minutes to run, and is a heck of lot faster than a tape drive or even a Zip drive. The program will also work with Zip and Tape drives. It is very easy to restore individual files from previous backups. I have found it to be very reliable. I would be happy to answer any questions about it.
How to Fix a Windows 98/98SE Frozen (Locked-up) Splash Screen?
You just upgraded Windows to Windows 98 and it freezes at the Windows 98 splash screen (the screen with the big flag on it)… Many things can cause this problem, but a frequent cause is an anti-virus program. If the hardware is in fact not locked-up by another problem, such an IRQ conflict, you can quickly determine what is causing it by pressing the Esc key to display DOS screen behind the splash screen. McAfee, in particular, causes this problem and it is a memory problem with DOS-based scan.exe, which is executed upon boot-up by a line in the autoexec.bat file. To fix it, press the F8 key just as windows starts to boot (or hold the Ctrl key), select boot to the command prompt from the resulting menu, edit the autoexec.bat file:
C:\>edit autoexec.batIn the following line:
C:\PROGRA~1\NETWOR~1\MCAFEE~1\SCAN.EXE C:\
Change SCAN.EXE to BOOTSCAN.EXEExit, save,
and reboot.
Other virus programs may be displaying a menu under the splash screen and waiting for you to make a selection. To fix the problem choose the option which allows the anti-virus program to update affected files.
How to Make Exploring Easy?
If you are like me, you use the Windows 98 Windows Explorer frequently. Are you tired of Clicking Start, Programs, scrolling up or down the menu, and clicking Windows Explore to fire-it-up? You could right-click (click the right mouse button) Start followed by Explore, but that still isn’t fast enough for me. So, put it on your Quick Launch toolbar on the Start Menu, which is immediately to the right of the Start button in most Windows 98 configurations. A simple way to do that is click Start, Programs, right-click the Windows Explorer shortcut, select copy, right-click your desktop, and select Paste to put the shortcut on your desktop. Next, click and hold the mouse button over the shortcut, drag it with the mouse, and drop it in the desired position on Quick Launch toolbar. Now, the Windows Explorer is one click away. You may want to remove the shortcut from your desktop… Just right click it and choose Delete. I also put shortcuts to my most used programs on the Quick Launch toolbar (and remove the View Channels shortcut by right-clicking it and Deleting).
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