Q: I've been using Windows 98 and most recently Windows ME (bah) on my computers over the last few years, and my experience with the latter has shown me that it's time to move to Windows XP Home. I have two drives on my main system (a 20GB drive with Windows and an 80GB drive with assorted programs, music and other data); if I install Windows XP over ME on the C: drive, will my data on the D: drive remain accessible? I can't afford to lose it.

A: Windows ME...? I share your pain. I would definitely support your decision to move to XP Home, provided your system can handle it. The good news is that you will be able to access all your data on your second drive after the installation. You need to note though, that any programs installed on this drive will most likely no longer work once you get rid of ME. This is because of the registry entries these programs create when they are installed. Deleting the operating system deletes the Windows registry and thus disables the programs. All your music and data will be intact though, and XP Home will have no problem accessing it.