Should You Upgrade or Install?

This decision can be simple or complicated. When you upgrade to Windows XP, your currently installed applications should still be available for use after the upgrade is complete, assuming that the applications will run under Windows XP. During an upgrade, Windows XP will replace Windows files from previous operating system installations but should preserve your current settings for operating system components and your applications. For many users on a typical network, an upgrade is the most logical way to go. You won't have to first install the operating system and then undergo the tedious process of reinstalling every application from scratch once the installation is done.

However, if you have been using your computer ...

Get Microsoft® Windows® XP Unleashed now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.