Laptop going up to XP

[docusk]

I have an elderly Dell latitude which is running Windows 98.
I have my old copy of XP and would like to put that into the laptop which would be the only one using that application.
Is it safe to just run the XP at boot? If I do should I back up all the other applications? I have an external HD 260 Gb and I also have Norton Ghost.
What do you think. I would like to still be able to use the latitude downstairs. It has a wireless card already and is currently being used on the network.

docusk

[Train]

I have an elderly Dell latitude

Post the the model for that thing. Believe me, I do not think you want to live with a 5 - 7 minute boot up time.

[docusk]

Sorry to be so long Train. I'm well over the hill and take a while to catch up on my chores!
Now. The Latitude isn't that bad, I've added memory a couple of years back and it breezes up well. Not so fast as my Inspiron of course but... that's out on "Family loan" and I thought I'd fish the old Latitude out.
It's a Dell Latitude CPi A400 XT with, I think 1 Gb of memory and otherwise bog standard as we say over here. Plug in FDD and CD ROM.
It boots up in much less than 5 minutes, probably around 1 1/2 if that.
I just thought that it might be a bit more flexible with XP. Having bought three sets over the years, it's a case of waste not want not!
In any event, I doubt there's much in the way of apps. I can shift data files out on to an external HDD, USB but just wonder if there's a quicker way than just slaughtering W 98.
docusk

[bruceb]

I checked the Dell site for you .. They do not show drivers for XP for
that model. Only up until Windows 2000

[Rocketmech]

The drivers would be native likely, example (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-LATITUDE-CPI-A-400XT-128-RAM-40-GIG-HD-WIFI-WIN-XP_W0QQitemZ280421864081QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20091 111?IMSfp=TL091111187004r28621) . I've installed XP on some very pc's without much trouble, but as Train has pointed out it may crawl to the desktop when booting up. Your laptop is equipped with an Intel Pentium 2 400xt and 128mb ram, on a very slow chipset. The biggest problem will be the needed ram. XP runs slow on less than 512mb of ram. It will work but will be very slow on 128mb ram (less since your onboard vga card will share the system memory). If you have the time, you could ghost the drive, then install XP and give it a spin. I would suggest using a XP SP3 CD, slipstream SP3 if your copy is not updated, otherwise the updates will take awhile. If things are not to your liking ghost 98se back on the drive. To be honest, Windows 2000 or a linux distro would be a better choice.

[Train]

265 MB is maximum for ram. Yes 2 sticks at 128 mB each.
98 or w2k would work just fine.

[docusk]

Thanks Lads, I decided at firrst to drop the idea but then I thought, dam' thing's just sitting there doing nothing, probably going over to the tip when I feel like a clear out so maybe I'll give it a bash.
Whatever I do it won't be til after the season of goodwill 'cos I might use some non-Christmassy langauge if I have any foul-ups!
Would I?
Yus guv yer wood.

docusk
ps, my last should be 1 Mb of memory not 1 Gb. Oops.