Windows OS Question Re: Windows Me Upgrade problem

[Up2Late]

Anyone know what files the Windows Me Upgrade looks for, before it will load onto your computer?:shrug:

It there a way to fool it into thinking you still have a working copy of Windows 98?

Before you all ask, I have a nice, $400.00 (before HP discontinued it) film scanner, that HP decided NOT to make compatible with WindowsXP, so I need to have a computer with Windows 98SE or Me, and also, before you ask, during the upgrade process (that has NOT been trouble free) my DVD drive DESTROYED :nuke:(BANG! Cracked it all the way through)
my copy of Windows 98SE, which now, no longer works.

[winston61]

1. Win 98

The simplest thing to do is get another copy of Win98. Check a local computer store, they may have a copy they'll give you. If not, go to ebay, you can buy 98 all day long. I've heard of software that's not compatible with XP, but never HP hardware. Have you checked the HP website for an XP driver? I would not use ME. Even Microsoft admits it was crap. If you want to stick with windows, XP Pro is the way to go. Don't waste time with XP Home Edition. Linux OS does not obsolete hardware like Windows, but Linux is no walk through the park. Some times you just have to bite the bullet and move up hardware and software.

[The Revolution]

2. It won't work at all with XP?

So the scanner doesn't work with XP at all, huh? I assume its a driver issue? Sometimes "generic" drivers will work, even if the original manufacturer doesn't have one.

I have no idea what ME looks for, but I would stay far far away from ME...I'm pretty sure its the worst Windows OS ever. Though my experience with it is limited (First time I used it was about a year ago, and it crashed within 5 minutes :))

Have you tried to contact Microsoft or your computer manufacturer about getting a replacement Win98 CD? And of course there's always "other" ways of obtaining a copy of Windows.

[Warpy]

4. Good advice.

Just enter the number of your scanner, HPXXXX or the model name and number and you'll turn up the generic drivers.

XP hated my ACER scanner. A generic driver works fine.

[Up2Late]

8. Yes, Those "other" ways are what I'm looking for

and No, I haven't checked the HP web site lately.

Windows Me is actually Windows 95 ver.5 or Windows 4.9.xxx

It did fix a few hardware issues I had (USB 2.0 PCI card, for example) and it was free (a copy my Dad tried, just before going to Windows XP).

And Since you brought it up, What exactly is the difference between XPHome Ed. and XP Pro? I have XP Home, I have a Video Editing program that says to use XP Pro, but it works just fine on Home Edition:wtf:

[BlueJazz]

3. Check your Mail

:)

[TwilightZone]

5. It looks for either Windows 98 on your hard drive or

in your CD drive. Since the latter isn't possible, if you're upgrading an existing 98 install, you should be fine.

If you're doing a clean install on a blank hard drive, you're going to need a Win98 CD. If nothing else, borrow one from someone temporarily.

By the way, which scanner do you have? Someone may have created a patched driver for it that'll work with XP.

[Up2Late]

10. It's the HP S20 Film/Slide/Print Scanner

I uninsulated the Windows Me(restored windows 98), because it was only booting about half of the time, but now it says, it didn't find Windows 98SE. It won't take my Windows 95 CD?

I HATE MICROSOFT!:grr:

[high density]

12. The HP S20 driver page shows Win XP compatibility...

http://tinyurl.com/3mc4q

They also show some sort of software update for Win98/Me/2000 users that are upgrading to Windows XP:

http://tinyurl.com/6ez4p

[Up2Late]

14. Thanks

I'll check it out.:party:

Any idea on how much slower a Pentium 3, 500Mhz, 256Mb computer would run on XP as opposed to 98SE?:shrug:

I do have the disk space (40GB), that was one of the reasons for the upgrades.

[high density]

15. I'd run 98SE on that machine...

I had an AMD Athlon 800mhz running Windows XP and I think Windows 98SE was a better match for the older hardware.

[TwilightZone]

16. Here's a direct link to the driver page at HP

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?dlc=en&lc=en&product=59968&lang=en&cc=us&os=228#

Looks like the full driver is there, as well as an update.

Hmm, the Me upgrade process should recognize the Win 95 CD, unless it's specifically looking for 98, for some reason. I've used Win 95 CDs to do several Me and XP upgrades.

[Up2Late]

17. Microsoft, go figure

I think you had to pay $99.00 for the Full Windows Me upgrade (Win 3.1, Win95, and Windows 98), but the Windows 98 only, cost only $49, I think. :crazy:

[WillowTree]

6. Windows ME...

....was by far the least stable OS Microsoft has sold to date. I wouldn't suggest using it for any reason. And you may be out of luck if it's an upgrade disk, anyway, if you can't get '98 to install because you have to have a prior version of Windows installed on your machine in order to install an upgrade.

I, like others, would suggest going back to '98 or '98SE and sticking with that if the scanner in question will work with that but not with XP (though the first choice would be to scour the 'net to see if you can find a driver that will make it compatible). I've had good success finding sealed versions of an outdated OS at some computer shows. Needed a copy of Windows '95 once upon a time so that we would have something installed over which we could add '98. Found a sealed OEM copy, complete with documentation and certificate, at a local computer show for about $20. Something like that might be a good bet.

[Oreo]

7. Compatibility mode

You can run programs in whats called compatibility mode. I don't know the specifics but you should be able to Google it. It lets you run older apps and fools them into thinking you're using an older OS.

I used this for an older game that didn't like XP and it worked like a charm.

[jmowreader]

9. The OP has a driver-level problem

IIRC the "compatibility mode" doesn't work at driver-level, which is way closer to OS kernel level than a game is.

Someone up above noted that HP hardware not working with newer OS is very strange.

Is there a "universal driver" for scanners? Check on that.

[Moderator]

11. Hi Up2Late. You might want to check out our Computer Help and Support

forum here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

DU Mod

[secular_warrior]

13. Did you try booting from the cd ?

OS uprade discs usually give you the chance to do a clean install, as long as you have a product key from a previous version of the OS (it asks for it, then lets you install the upgrade once you type it the key).

I would not install WinMe - it's bug ridden - one Microsoft's biggest failures, as far as Windows goes.

Try to make the scanner work with XP - look on HP's website, or possibly contact them - maybe there is a similar driver that will work.