Well, it's day 2 of our migration from 2K to XP for the client machines. Our
network admin isn't around today, as usual for a Tuesday, and my boss is out
today, due to unforseen family events, or something. So that leaves me. Now,
do you all want to listen to what the fukc I'm doing all day? I don't think
you do, because you'll pummel me into the ground for uttering such
blasphemous words, but I'm going to spit it out anyways...
So, we're "upgrading" from 2K Pro to XP Pro. But we're not upgrading. We're
doing "fresh", "clean" installs. Only not exactly. Let me explain. I've been
instructed to back up each computers' Documents and Settings folder, any
folders that "look like they may contain user's files", and (get this),
Program Files. So I back them up using Windows' backup utility. Easy enough.
Put them out on a file server, and get along with the installation. Boot
from our brandy-spankin' new XP disks, and install it ALONG SIDE Win2K. Yes,
you heard me right. We're not upgrading, but I've been forbidden to format
the drives. The closest thing I can do is convert any FAT32 drives over to
NTFS. Which will not change the stupidity of the situation. So, I dutifully
do as I'm told, installing XP next to 2K (yes, in the same folder). This,
against M$'s warnings during install to visit their multiboot page, and
warnings that what I'm about to do isn't the smartest thing in the world.
So, I asked the head honcho of this project why, exactly, we're doing things
this way (that is, installing XP along side 2K). And he says to me "oh, it
will overwrite 2000." And I said, no, we're not upgrading you said. You told
me we were doing fresh installs. "Yes, we are. And it will overwrite 2000
with XP." Not wanting to argue, and embracing the fact that I'm off the hook
for this (and thereby guaranteeing me a job fixing this mess in the future),
I went about my business. I installed on the first computer, happy as can
be. It installs great, and when I reboot, guess what happens? Yup, it asks
me whether I want to boot into 2000 or XP. Hmmmmm....didn't see that one
coming, did I? So, my instructions now are to not alter the way I'm doing
things, but to simply edit the boot.ini file once the install is complete.
This will "effectively" "delete" Windows 2000. I can smell disaster. This
setup is only slightly more stable than Windows ME on a 5 year old eMachines
box with a failing hard drive. Now, remember I said I was to backup Program
Files? Yeah, well now it's time to restore backups. So, I do as I'm told and
begin restoring, knowing full well the adventures that lay before me. Of
course, once backups are restored, most programs won't work. Acrobat Reader
works, and a couple custom apps work. But now I've got a mess of program
directories with executables, dlls, and other assorted garbage in them that
just won't work. And worst of all, they're not "removable" (by Add/Remove
Programs....because they're not installed. They're *there*, but they're not
installed.) So, I begin the awful task of reinstalling what I can, what they
need, and what I feel like giving them. So, the time comes to install our
accounting/inventory software. It's called Best. And it's not. It's nothing
but trouble. So, after freezing on the install on the first machine for over
an hour, it finally "finishes". Turns out all it installed was some Best
diagnostic something-or-other. So I have to scrap it and delete the
appropriate Program Files directory, and go at it again. This time it works.
So, after I finish installing the junk for the lusers, all is well. Of
course, it's only a matter of time before 2K and XP decide they want a
divorce and cant handle living together in the same directory, and sh!t hits
the fan. Then the real fun begins.
So, I was here until 9 last night doing this, I was in at 7 this morning
doing this, but I'm getting my a$$ out of here at 5:30, not a minute later,
today. I don't know how much I can take of doing this the wrong way.
Whether I like it or not, I'm just doing what I'm told. :(
--
KB - MCNGP "Underling thug" #26
first initial last name AT hotmail DOT com
