Is it possible, install newer OS to an older HP?

[Fordtruckmaniac]

A friend of mine has a older HP Pavilion with ME on it.

He is worried to death about Microsoft stopping support for it.

What kind of trouble is it to install a newer OS (Y2K probably) on a brand name computer?

I told him I would check here, because I figured someone here has tried it or accomplished it.

[patio]

Win2K will probably run just dandy on a PC built for ME...

I would suggest however he do a full format after backing up his data needed and do a clean install of Win2K...no sense in inheriting any crappola.

patio.   8-)

[Fordtruckmaniac]

So it would work to just stick the disk in re-boot and start from scratch?

As if you were installing on a home built computer?

Have to fight it out with some of the drivers I would assume?

[GX1_Man]

I would go to the HP site and check the drivers for that model. Wn2000 will have some things built in, but probably not all. It's best to have the needed drivers handy on a CD to install right after the installation.

What model is it and we can help further?

[fat_basterd21]

This is where I got mine straight from HP. I found the model # (a705w) right inside the flap you take off.A sticker on the outside housing that holds the hardrives...

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

it gave me only the drivers I needed for the original hardware....

[street1 (RIP)]

What ram and CPU does this older HP beast have?

BIOS Rompaq or such could be involved in your adventure.
Posting exact name and model helps us.

You can use Everest to ID your hardware..


http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html







I really don't follow fat_basterd21.

I chase him.LOL

But,SSSon!

[unlovedwarrior]

lol

[ale52]

W2k Pro should be fine.

To get the drivers I use a dandy little program called WindriverGhost.  Check it out:

http://www.soft14.com/Utilities_and_Hardware/System_Utilities/WinDriver_Ghost_1015_Review.html

Creates a folder, copies all the drivers for everything (you can be selective on what you backup) and like patio suggest, do a clean install, copy the folder that you burned to cd or flash drive with the copied drivers, and put them back in.

Very cool 8-)

Alan <><  

[unlovedwarrior]

thats kool im going to use it lol

thanks for sharing

[Fordtruckmaniac]

I actually do have the model number, because I helped him upgrade the memory in it.

HP Pavilion XT953.

[GX1_Man]

W2k Pro should be fine.

To get the drivers I use a dandy little program called WindriverGhost.  Check it out:

http://www.soft14.com/Utilities_and_Hardware/System_Utilities/WinDriver_Ghost_1015_Review.html

Creates a folder, copies all the drivers for everything (you can be selective on what you backup) and like patio suggest, do a clean install, copy the folder that you burned to cd or flash drive with the copied drivers, and put them back in.

That would be fine IF the same operating system is being used. Different versions of Windows can use different drivers and one just may not work at all on the other, and may hose the system. Keep that in mind.  

[GX1_Man]

I actually do have the model number, because I helped him upgrade the memory in it.

HP Pavilion XT953.

Unfortunately NO drivers for Win2000 are available for that model:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=59820&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&submit.y=4&submit.x=7&lang=en&cc=us

Others MAY work, but I would not count on it.

[Fordtruckmaniac]

GX1_Man, I looked at the link you gave.

That's the determining factor, look on the home site to what OS's the particular model supports?

Is it a battle with the drivers or the branded motherboard just may not let something else load?


Well he has been talking of buying a new Toshiba laptop.

thanks,

[patio]

There's always the option of checking on WinNT drivers which will run fine on Win2K...

patio.   8-)