View Full Version : advice on operating system
I have the old work horse a 98se machine that just keeps going, and going, and going....My other computer is Win2k - most every componet has been replaced more than once (the mother board only once) under warranty by their traveling tech. Now out of warranty. The last tech person I talked to made reference to some of the problems being caused by a faulty/bad/broken software package. I have no idea, but I do know that it's very unstable with some programs and has never shut down properly. Anyway, the question I have is: I want to start over with this machine and NOT reinstall Win2k from my current disks. Should I go to XP? I read up a little on Linux and don't think I'm advanced enough to try it......sounded confusing to a non-schooled user.
Thanks for any comments.
Rancher
I know where you are coming from, Rancher. I have an ooooold Toshiba notebook that just kept, and keeps, on going. The Energizer bunny has nothing on this machine. But, it was getting to the point that I just couldn't run today's software on it. So I bit the bullet yesterday and bought a used/refurbished Dell notebook that came with Win XP. I originally wanted Win 2000 but the place I bought it from wanted over $100US to replace XP with 2000. Not that important in my mind.
So far, so good. Since XP was derived from the NT/2000 kernal it should be very stable. My only problem was loading a piece of software from an old floppy that must have gone bad and went into some sort of loop that made windows choke. But that's been the only hiccup so far. It's even loaded most of my legacy Win 95 software.
If you don't like the "cartoon look" of XP you can change it back to the "Classic" Windows look and feel (which I did right away). There's a few other things I have or will be changing to suit my tastes. But since I'm still exploring it, I'll let other, smarter people give you more tips.
Good luck,
Kevin
I have both 2000 and XP running. I have found 2000 to be more stable and less bloated. It takes MUCH more (by my estimation DOUBLE the horsepower for an XP machine to run as fast as a 2000 machine.
I would reload those 2000 cdrom. Your tech is giving you bad advice balming your problems on 2000 (XP is written on the same kernal). Plus you don't have to buy new software.
Builder: Let me know how it goes - I should go dust off my old laptop...haven't touched it in a couple years. Think I bought it in 1996.
B&T: The operating system has been 'fresh installed' from these disks at least 5 times.....that's why I'm looking to go elsewhere.
Still may stay with Win2k, just not these particular disks.
Thanks for the input!
Rancher
paulselhi
7-7-03, 01:20 AM
w2k is stable and relaible, it has been around long enough now to have most of it's early problems ironed out. XP is just an excuse to rake in more dollars, it is full of uneeded bloat ware and is not as tried and tested as 2k
no doubt as more service packs come out things will improve. if you use xp do a serach ( or ask satis) on the web for hints as to what you can safely remove and or disable to improve it's performance
RocketJeff
7-7-03, 01:43 AM
Originally posted by rancher
B&T: The operating system has been 'fresh installed' from these disks at least 5 times.....that's why I'm looking to go elsewhere.
Have you loaded the updates/service packs available from Microsoft? If you're running an old release of Win2K, that might be your problem (service pack 1 solved a lot of problems, and the rest have solved their share too).
Well, that is a rude awakening (thanks RJ)....no I hadn't downloaded the service packs this last time....so I let 'er rip this afternoon.
Remember, I'm on a dial-up so it took hours. Bummer, no change.
I think I'll find different disks for Win2k and fresh install just to see if it changes anything.
Thanks to everyone.
Rancher
You say "disks" for W2K. W2K does not come on disks. It was never released on disks (unless you have some bootleg operation). It comes on one cd. Are you sure you have W2K and not WinME?
B&T....you give me WAY TOO MUCH credit! No I don't have any
bootleg operation (at least not for computer software ;) )
Pardon the 'disks' reference for I have not dug out the software
from my desk drawer - and I'm sure you are right, it should have been DISK, er uh CD. Whew - now I'll sleep better.
Rancher
RocketJeff
7-8-03, 02:02 AM
If you look on Microsoft's web site, you can order service packs on CD. The order page for Win2K SP4 is here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/SP4/ordercd.asp) (cost is $9.95 including shipping and handling).
Save tons of time downloading and that way you'll have it whenever you need it.
...or you can just download it once and burn it yourself. :) You can get the "network install" version, which is the full deal so you can burn it and/or put it on a network server.
RocketJeff
7-8-03, 03:04 PM
Originally posted by satis
...or you can just download it once and burn it yourself. :)
True, that's what I do. But if you're on a dial-up connection, it's probably easier to just buy the CD.
Originally posted by rancher
I read up a little on Linux and don't think I'm advanced enough to try it......sounded confusing to a non-schooled user.The strides most commercial vendors have taken to improve the non-schooled users have been tremendous! Most come with graphical installers that make getting up and running a breeze.
Personally I like SuSE (http://www.suse.com) and I only paid $20 for a factory sealed 8.1 version. On an old laptop, it probed and found all the hardware with only minor sound issues. Plus it recognized my cable modem right away whereas my Win machine needed the floppy drivers.
I guess the point is, most Linux distributions are easy install, use and upgrade.. Lots easier than most people realize. :)
You could always buy the FreeBSD 4.x Starter Pack (http://www.bsdmall.org/fbsdstarterpak.html ) and be the envy of Powweb'ers everywhere. :p
lol. I like Linux, I really do, but WINE needs to come alot further before I'll use it exclusively. Too many win32 apps that I use. Some have Linux analogues, but learning a new program is always a pain.
At any rate, I think that once WINE gets refined a bit further, the masses will migrate. No more Microsoft tax for me.
That's why I use both Win and Linux.. Too many games and sound apps that I love to totally go MS-less. That's one thing I always despised about the snobbish elites.. There's nothing wrong with running both. ;)
This was a 'spur of the moment' thing, so didn't have time to order a CD, but have in the past for other updates/service packs.
I'll stick with Windows - I certainly don't need any compatibility problems....just want to be able to use what I have!
Thanks for all the comments - certainly a diverse group.
Rancher
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