Update Windows?

Hi Guys, maybe some of you could help me out here.

A friend of mine just called me and said he bought a Laptop, I don't know what make or version it is even.

He just said to me that he needs to update windows.

It's current windows version is windows 95.

He's getting broadband installed and wants to use it to surf and prob p2p aswell.

As I said, I havn't seen it yet so I don't know what ram or anything about it yet but how would I go about updating windows?

I don't know if it even has a burner.

If I was to get a cd of windows 2000 or xp even, would that do the job? Even though the Laptop must be some years old, judging by windows 95 lol.

Thanks

Sandisk

 

Your best option would be to put Windows 2000/SP4 on the system. There are no updates available from Microsoft for Windows 95/98 or ME. XP SP1 is also no longer supported as of today, 10/10/2006.

If you do install XP, you're going to have to have at least 128MB of system ram (though it will still install with 64MB)..and trim the OS down. Such as turning off a bucket load of services including Themes.

 

if the laptop came with win95, then it is going to be dreadful to use. i wouldn't even attempt to install XP. even if there was enough ram, it will run VERY slow. win2K requires 64 MB of ram, so make sure it has enough. if he's only using it for web and downloading, a better option might be win98, because it will run much better and smoother on older machines. try to find out the CPU and speed and memory and let us know.

 

Thanks for replys.

Yeah, I should see him after work today so I'll find out about the pc then.

I have an old windows 98 myself in my mams and its really crappy, speed wise I mean but it's ok for the kids.

I don't know what possesed my friend to get windows 95, but saying that, he's totally new to computers so I'd say he just saw a cheap pc and fell for it..

If I just burned windows 98 or 2000 to cd, and put it in his laptop, should that be ok and it will load up from there?

Thanks

sandisk

 

Ok, at the minute I'm getting windows2k sp4 on cd.

When I burn this iso to cd, can I just load it in his laptop and follow instructions or do I have to start deleting things on his laptop first?

Sorry but I'm totally new to this.

Thanks

sandisk

 

2000 has the same setup instructions as XP. Delete any existing partitions, create a new one and format using FULL NTFS. That will make sure there's no problems with the hard drive before installation.

 

Great lads, thanks.

I downloaded windows 2000 and installed it for him.

His laptop is nothing special believe me but he's only starting out and not only that, but the broadband he had ordered wouldn't accept windows 95 so that was the real reason he HAD to upgrade. The broadband was already paid.

It's sorted now so thanks for the help ;-)

Sandisk