# will xp load over the top of me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645 "2002-08-13T05:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![biker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@biker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/1 "2002-08-13T05:44:48Z")
i have the god awful windows ME (migraine edition) on my compaq 5000, can i load xp over the top of ME and do away with ME forever? ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/2 "2002-08-13T07:02:28Z")
I’m not even going to mention the obvious jokes here so I’ll get right to your OP. XP should be ME aware so the technical answer is yes. Since a lot of your programs installed under ME may not work correctly under XP I would recommend backing up your files and wiping the HD clean before the XP install. If you’re having technical problems with ME now they could possibly migrate right into XP. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/3 "2002-08-13T10:29:57Z")
Yes to your OP. Horseflesh is right about incompatibility, however, a point to consider is whether your version of XP is an upgrade or a full install that will install to a blank formatted disk (or not). If it is an upgrade you will have to have ME or 98 installed before it will install. As a final note make sure your system has the horsepower to run XP. XP’s hardware requirements for smooth operation are considerably heftier than 98’s or ME’s. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/4 "2002-08-13T14:36:14Z")
The upgrade should be a non-issue if Microsoft’s past upgrade products are any indication. During the install if it doesn’t detect ME it usually will ask for the ME install CD. After you insert it and iXP install verifies it you can continue. This is conjecture really as I haven’t specifically upgraded with and upgrade only version of XP. Unfortunately the only way to find this out is to wipe your HD first. ☹ Or find a find a test computer. Your XP install instructions may detail this point, I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![EmbarrassingDad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/embarrassingdad/32/5441_2.png) [@EmbarrassingDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmbarrassingDad)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/5 "2002-08-13T14:37:19Z")
Yes, if you have the _upgrade_ edition. To get the OEM on there you would have to repartition the HDD. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/6 "2002-08-13T16:47:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*The upgrade should be a non-issue if Microsoft’s past upgrade products are any indication. During the install if it doesn’t detect ME it usually will ask for the ME install CD. After you insert it and iXP install verifies it you can continue. This is conjecture really as I haven’t specifically upgraded with and upgrade only version of XP. \*\* I have upgraded with an upgrade only version of XP and the setup.exe on the XP upgrade CD will **not** execute out of a Win 98 or Win ME startup floppy boot up. If there is workaround please let me know as it will save me the hour or so necessary for an ME install prior to installing XP. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/7 "2002-08-13T21:31:07Z")
Astro you should be able to just boot off the upgrade cd and put in your ME cd when it asks for your old OS ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-xp-load-over-the-top-of-me/123645/8 "2002-08-13T22:21:35Z")
Yes & run the compatibility checker, its on the XP cd…expect it to find numerous software/hardware that is not compatible with XP & expect your computer to be slower than before–typically.