Q. I have an HP 8700 series running Windows 98, with 256 megabytes of SDRAM, a CD-RW drive and a DVD drive. I'd like to upgrade to Windows XP Pro without losing data and causing problems. How do I do this?
A. It sounds as if you've got enough horsepower for Windows XP. Changing operating systems is always a roll of the dice. Although you can update directly from Windows 98 to XP without losing your data, always make sure you prepare for the worst and back up what you can't replace.
There are several things you need to check before you decide to update to XP, such as hardware and software compatibility. Many older scanners will not work under XP. Your antivirus program most likely will need to be replaced or upgraded.
One last thing: If possible, it is always better to install an operating system on a newly formatted, or clean, hard drive. This certainly involves more work, but most people will find that their installation will be more stable than with a system that was upgraded on top of a previous operating system.
Changing associations
Q. I tried your instruction for changing file associations (May 5). After selecting the program I wanted to open, it was impossible to click the "Always use this program to open these files" because the square and the legend are dimmed.
A. I'm not sure why that option is unavailable to you, but try this: In Windows Explorer (double-click My Computer), click Tools, Folder Options, then the File Types tab. Find the program that is used to open your .jpg files. Select it and click the Change button. Navigate to the program you want to open the .jpg files with and select it. Click OK.
By the way, the "Always use this program . . . " option is grayed out in this method because you're changing it permanently. If this is what you were doing, try it the other way, by right-clicking on the file and choosing "Open With . . . " to open the dialog. Some versions of Windows may require you to hold the shift key while right-clicking.
Auto Update or not?
Q. I have a new computer running Windows XP Home Edition that came with Microsoft's Windows Auto Update feature installed and enabled. It has downloaded and installed probably 15 updates over the past four months. But I have experienced some problems after some of the installations. Is this a good feature to leave enabled or should I disable it and search the Windows Update Web site manually every few weeks and select what I want?
A. Go to Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, then click the System icon. Click the Automatic Updates tab and uncheck the "Keep my computer up-to-date" option. But strongly consider this action. I agree that this is sometimes a nag, but it is important to keep up with the security patches. Be vigilant in checking which updates your PC needs if you decide to turn off the automatic updates.
Forcing drivers to work
Q. I forced the drivers for a 3Com Ethernet card into Windows XP. Every time I boot up, the computer says it has found new hardware. But 3Com has no software for XP and I am stuck.
A. It looks as if 3Com has discontinued that card, with the last supported drivers being for Windows 2000. If those are the drivers you've loaded, then you may be out of luck. If not, give the Windows 2000 drivers a try. But remember, new cards are very inexpensive.
Best e-mail settings
Q. What should my e-mail settings be for best results? I have set it for plain text. Sometimes e-mail from others comes as a regular message and there is an attachment that is the same message again.
A. I see this happen a lot with forwarded AOL e-mail. Plain text is a good idea. It's not as snazzy as HTML, but it is a little safer since no embedded links or scripts will be active.
