If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Is it worth shifting from W98 to XP?
My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months,
despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months,
despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? I reckon that your computer would take XP pretty well. I don't have it - but my brother has XP in a computer that only has 394MB ram and 1.2GHz. XP is a lot better than 98 - more reliable, etc. You could just reinstall 98 - but if it was my choice I'd go with XP. I think that you will have to first get all the data you want to keep onto another hard drive, CD, etc. My HO, jkb |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Eric V wrote: My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. If this is the reason for OS change then don't bother. It is dependant on amount of "junk" collected and kept. As a trial, try to reinstall 98 from zero and add _only_ those programms that you use daily. Refreshing!. Have fun Stanislaw Slack user from Ulladulla. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Eric V wrote:
My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? I consider the switch periodically. Some applications port right over. Some don't. You have to check each one. Anything that deals directly with the OS or the hardware is gonna break. Utilities like Norton are gonna break. Parallel-port connected hardware is gonna break. Check for XP drivers for all your hardware. If you write programs that deal with the hardware, your life will get MUCH more difficult. For me, XP is just the tip of a VERY BIG iceberg of money. If you don't have some program or piece of hardware that absolutely requires XP, I'd wait. Microsoft will come up with another way to get your money soon enough. Don't discount the possibility of hardware stability problems. Get into the bios and crank memory timing back a notch. Some people get very hyper about cranking out the last bit of hardware performance, then bitch about the OS crashing. Reload 98. Leave off all the crap that you never use. You don't say how big your disk is. I've found that partitions under 40gigabytes seem to be slightly more stable than those over. Can't think of any reason for this, just anecdotal...or placebo effect. Dump Windows Explorer. Never click on MyComputer. There's a shareware program called windows commander that's much more versatile and doesn't crash. Even a windows 95 system using windows commander is rather stable. mike -- Return address is VALID but some sites block emails with links. Delete this sig when replying. .. Wanted, PCMCIA SCSI Card for HP m820 CDRW. FS 500MHz Tek DSOscilloscope TDS540 Make Offer Wanted 12" LCD for Compaq Armada 7770MT. Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below. MAKE THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO THE LINK htremovethistp://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/ |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Value? Difficult to say. If Windows 98 does what you want, then there's no
value in switching. If it's something you're doing to the PC that makes Windows 98 slow and unstable then XP will definitely not solve that problem either. -- Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups * for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to. * My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/ * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "Eric V" Eric wrote in message ... My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I agree with ya! Viva la Win98SE!!
Richard G. Harper wrote: Value? Difficult to say. If Windows 98 does what you want, then there's no value in switching. If it's something you're doing to the PC that makes Windows 98 slow and unstable then XP will definitely not solve that problem either. -- Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups * for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to. * My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/ * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "Eric V" Eric wrote in message ... My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I agree with ya! Viva la Win98SE!! Seconded, even though I have xp in dual boot, I always find myself in 98 85% of the time. ...Rex.. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Other than the hidden hardware and software problems, the whole XP install
thing can bleep. You lose it all. Throwing in a new OS to fix what appears to be a use problem is just a temporary fix. XP is more new user helpful in fixing some problems. "Eric V" Eric wrote in message ... My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Hello,
"Eric V" Eric wrote in message ... My desktop, using W98, has become slow/unstable over the last 6 months, despite virus/adware/spyware protection. Specs indicate it can handle XP (512Mb RAM, 1.8 Ghz). Can anyone comment about the value of the change, and the risks, if any, that it entails? Did you check what programs run at startup? There may be one which slows your system ... On the page http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html there is a tool called Hijackthis which checks critical parts of the registry and reports that settings to you. Maybe you will find things you do not expect. Two great utilities are also Sysinternals Autoruns v8.0 http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html and Iarsn TaskInfo 6,1 http://www.iarsn.com/whatsnew.html Best regards, Roman |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Adaware SE paid version -- Worth the Cost? | Dan | General | 11 | January 12th 05 04:20 PM |
For What It Is Worth | Job | General | 36 | December 24th 04 09:52 AM |
Is direct x 9c worth the upgrade? | Greg R | General | 10 | November 30th 04 10:35 PM |
is xp worth it | brian | General | 14 | June 30th 04 01:34 PM |