Get the facts before you upgrade to Windows XP.

Page 1  2
Microsoft is poised to finally offer the world an operating system for the average computer user -- one that actually works as intended. Hopefully, that means no more "blue screens of death" and the random system crashes familiar to users who have been using Windows 98 and its replacement, Me.

Before you run out and upgrade or perform a clean install of XP, wait a minute. Early adopters may already know all the base system requirements for installing XP, but do you?

Base requirements to run XP

  • The specs
    The suggested requirements for running Windows XP are a PC with a 300-MHz or higher Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor. I recently installed XP on an old Compaq with a 233-MHz PII. It operates fine, but it's slower than a snail in molasses.

  • RAM
    While 64MB is the minimum amount of RAM required, you're probably going to want well over 128MB to take advantage of some of XP's new features. Don't stop there, though. One of the best advances of XP is its ability handle as much RAM as your pocketbook can afford. I'd suggest getting a minimum of 256MB.

  • Disk space
    You need 1.5GB of available hard disk space. This number seems a little high, compared with older versions of Windows. But, it may vary slightly depending on the system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. I chose to install XP Pro's entire list of available system components except for one or two, and I now have a mere 600MB free on an already meager 2GB drive.

  • Resolution
    You need an SVGA or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor capable of at least 800x600 resolution. Sorry, but no more 640x480 anymore. If your eyesight isn't what it used to be and you rely heavily on lower resolutions, there's always the magnifier.

Page 1  2