- When changing your Windows XP Operating System, first consider which operating system you wish to use in its place. If you like Windows XP but need to get rid of unnecessary clutter and fix a few errors, then a fresh install of XP may be recommended. On the other hand, if you are looking to upgrade to a Windows Vista system, consider which version you'll be installing: the Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate.
The components of your computer also must be checked for compatibility of a different or newer Operating System if upgrading from Windows XP. For example, the minimum requirements for a system to install Vista include a 1-GHz 32- or 64-bit processor, 512 MB of system memory, 15 GB of free hard disk space, support for DirectX 9 graphics, and a DVD-ROM drive. Different operating systems, such as Linux, will require less or more depending on the specifications of the system. These installation specifications must be followed, so errors that could potentially harm your system are avoided. - The first step before actually changing a Windows XP operating system is to back up any files and important information that you want to carry over from XP to another operating system. Even if you are simply doing a fresh install of XP on your computer, an information backup must be done. In most cases, a complete file backup of the directories, files, and folders on your PC is recommended, as installing any operating system will automatically remove all the current data stored on your computer.
To perform a complete file backup of your PC, all files and folders (which includes music, documents, pictures, and multimedia files) should be transferred to a removable medium (i.e. flash drive) or large external hard drive so they are not lost. They can be transferred back once a new operating system has been installed. - Whether you are completing a fresh install of the XP system you already have, or are upgrading to a newer Windows Vista OS, you probably received a CD for the software as well as a product key so that it can be verified. To begin the process of changing your current Windows XP with another Microsoft product system, the CD needs to be inserted and your computer restarted. Following the on-screen prompts and questions are crucial to making sure that the installation process is completed successfully and correctly. Fortunately, however, Microsoft has provided an in-depth, step-by-step illustrated guide to assist anyone completing this task. After the installation process is complete, you can begin to work on your operating system as normal, and transfer all the files and folders you backed up before the operating system change.