hp desktop pcs, Windows NT workstation 4.0 - the easiest upgrade to Windows 2000 Professional (Microsoft document)

Page 4
As previously discussed, the registry structure, file locations, and system function
calls differ between Windows 9x and Windows 2000 Professional based systems.
As a result:
•
Businesses with customized line-of-business applications and third party
system utilities may require significant preparation to ensure a smooth
upgrade
•
Straightforward or standardized corporate desktops should upgrade
relatively smoothly. Businesses or departments primarily using Microsoft
Office or other major commercial off-the-shelf applications will upgrade
smoothly without additional work
The upgrade process itself involves preparation of files that help ensure software
compatibility, appropriate drivers, and additional Windows NT user information.
Software Compatibility
Because of the differences between operating systems, many applications install
themselves differently depending on which operating system is on the installation
machine. Applications that were originally installed on a Windows 9x-based
machine may not run properly on machines running Windows 2000 Professional
without modification to ensure compatibility.
There are three ways to overcome this:
•
Uninstall applications on Windows 9x and re-install after operating system
upgrade, which is often costly and complicated. As previously noted, this
may not work for applications that do not run on Windows NT Workstation.
•
Create a new Windows NT Workstation-based standard configuration with
compatible versions of the applications and apply this ‘image’ onto multiple
machines using ‘cloning’ tools previously described on page 2. This
approach is only suitable where identical hardware configurations are
already in place.
•
Write or obtain a migration DLL file from original software vendors for each
application
THE WINDOWS 9X UPGRADE
PROCES
S
Windows 9x is installed in:
From Windows 95/98
Windows 2000
Professional
Upgrade
C:\Windows
C:\Windows
NTW5 will install in:
1. Migrate the necessary information
from Windows 9x registry to
Windows NT registry
2. Use migration .DLL for those
applications that have problems
Windows
2000
Professional
Windows 9x
3. Verify devices have appropriate
drivers for Windows 2000
Professional