Give Your PC An OS Lift

摘要

Giving that old workhorse PC a new operating system won't infuse it with the dust-raising speed of a new PC, but by upgrading to Windows XP, you can reap big benefits in reliability. XP also provides easier networking, better security, and better multimedia support. This month, we'll show you the best way to refresh an older PC with XP. Upgrading an operating system isn't brain surgery, but it often requires plenty of time and patience. Expect to spend several hours on the project, including a couple of hours for preparation and a few for reinstalling applications after the upgrade. The payoff should be a stable, multimedia-savvy PC ready for another couple of years of serious work and fun. You can upgrade to XP without reformatting your hard drive, but starting fresh should bring a boost in speed. It also represents your best chance of having a stable system. Here we step through the process of preparing your system for Windows XP, performing a fresh install, restoring your data files and settings, and, finally, reinstalling applications.