MAH645
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posted on December 14, 2001 01:13:54 PM new
I would like any info on information on Windows XP you would like to share. Is it hard to use? I have heard it cost a bundle in downloads. I bought it along with extra memory, I wondering if I made a boo boo.
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REAMOND
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posted on December 14, 2001 01:34:38 PM new
I use it on one of my machines. I can find no appreciable performance difference from Win 98.
It also is constantly trying to access the internet with different applications. My firewall prevents this.
Microsoft is attempting to make everything net dependent to try to stem piracy and create revenue streams from net interactive services and upgrades. Even the games attempt to acces the internet.
Personally, I find XP an annoyance and an invaison of privacy. There are probably many users out there unaware that their PC is making regular contact with Microsoft and other application vendors.
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hjw
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posted on December 14, 2001 03:32:44 PM new
I don't know enough about computers to evaluate my security, like REAMOND just suggested.
I installed this computer only a month ago and already I had a major crash.
I had to remove the virus protection program because every five minutes a pop up notice appeared in the middle of the screen. Sony and Microsoft failed to answer my emails concerning this problem.
There is too much junk installed on the computer including multiple games and multiple video stuff and multiple music programs that I don't need.
Generally when I uninstall a program some other kind of problem occurs.
My scanner will not operate with the computer and right now, I'm trying to get an answer from Sony to correct that problem.
This is a SONY computer, Model RX580, Pentium 4, 512MB, 80GB, DVD RW. It cost over 1700 just for the modem and in my opinion it is a piece of #*!@.
In other words, I would rather have Windows 98 with a good internet connection.
Getting a good internet connection is another story. I've been waiting since March 2001 to get a DSL connection.
Helen
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gk4495
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posted on December 15, 2001 04:24:01 AM new
I've installed XP on my system and if I thought I could reliably return to Windows 98SE I would do it in a heartbeat. My system now reboots itself without warning, half of my software doesn't work correctly, I've had to buy a new scanner because the manufacturer of my old one has decided not to produce an XP compatible driver, the list goes on and on.
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hjw
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posted on December 15, 2001 05:35:55 AM new
gk4495
Buying a new scanner could be the answer to my problem. The one that I have is listed on XP's combatable list but if you push the button and nothing happens, it's not combatable.
Some printers are not combatable. I had to install my printer twice in order to get it to work. Now, according to my computer, I have two printers when I only have one but at least it works.
Since I bought the system factory installed, I don't have an option to return to a previous system.
Maybe I should call Bill Gates.
Helen
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krs
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posted on December 15, 2001 07:11:39 AM new
"XP's combatable list". I like that.
ubb
[ edited by krs on Dec 15, 2001 07:13 AM ]
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hjw
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posted on December 15, 2001 07:24:08 AM new
Bill Gates may call me today.
Helen
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hjw
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posted on December 15, 2001 01:34:32 PM new
LoL
XP's Combatible list
I just noticed that.
Actually it's a better description than compatable. There is sometimes a subliminal message in my spelling errors that is very effective.
Helen 
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DeSquirrel
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posted on December 15, 2001 03:37:21 PM new
XP is a very modest improvement over W2K which is a light-year beyond 98.
XP has a very limited software, hardware, and driver compatibility list.
When you install XP you have to call Microsoft to get an activation key (very long).
If you change the machine it is installed on (add more memory, upgrade the bios, etc) it will announce that this machine is different from the one it is installed on and you have to get a 50 digit key from Microsoft. You can do this 3 times w/o trouble, then maybe the interrogations start.
All in all: stick with W2K
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snowyegret
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posted on December 15, 2001 05:19:03 PM new
combatable
That's it!!!!!!!!
ROTFLMAO, Helen.
I was up at 0230 combatting my MSconfig and system restore and getting new drivers and so on!
No wonder I'm tired.
Next system I'm putting in Red Hat!
You have the right to an informed opinion
-Harlan Ellison
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MAH645
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posted on December 15, 2001 06:28:26 PM new
You guys will never know how much your opinion meet to me. I think I will sell this thing and get on with life. I will keep the memory though. I am grateful for this message board and the great friends I have here. I don't know what I would do without you guys.
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REAMOND
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posted on December 15, 2001 10:56:25 PM new
I forgot to mention the internet access with XP. When I talked to the people at RoadRunner about hooking it up, they said that they currently do not support XP, try back in 6 weeks.
One thing I have learned is to keep my old machines up and running. I have an oversize HP color scanner almost 10 years old ( can you believe it cost on sale $900, it came on the market at $2000). I can scan legal size and larger. I kept an old PC just to run it, because you can not get new drivers for it. The same would apply to printers.
These old machines and operating systems may be very valuable as the new systems come along and privacy becomes more dear.
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stockticker
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posted on December 15, 2001 11:15:42 PM new
Reamond:
Do you know if drivers are an issue (or would become an issue if I purchased a new computer with software more recent than Windows98) if a scanner is connected through a USB port?
I ask because a year ago I was fortunate enough to come across and buy (for about $100) a European model scanner that scans sizes up to about 12" x 17". The scanner appears to be a discontinued model, which was probably why it was so inexpensive.
The computer screen freezes up whenever the scanner is in use. That's a minor annoyance though compared to the size advantage and I just do some non-computer work while it's running.
Irene
[ edited by stockticker on Dec 15, 2001 11:17 PM ]
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ageless
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posted on December 15, 2001 11:16:03 PM new
My husband borrowed a friends to try it out..He soon found out what a messed up operating system it really is. It ended up causing him to reformat his hard drive..and by the way..my husband is a computer tech and he wouldn't give Bill Gates a penny for this version! Warning...you'll be sorry if you spend cash on this program and even sorrier when you install it on your computer. I personally wish anyone who uses it..much luck.
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REAMOND
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posted on December 16, 2001 02:46:17 AM new
stockticker- drivers are always an issue when OS's are changed. Not so much the time and effort to find and add drivers, but the problem if they are even available.
Older peripherals are basically "orphaned" for lack of interest due the cost of making new drivers and a company gets no revenue stream for updating drivers for discontinued equipment.
Do a search for drivers on the net for the particular scanner you have. Most manufacturers have a site for driver updates and a tech contact for info on the drivers you might need and compatable OS systems.
An HP tech tipped me about my oversize scanner. He said Win 95 was it for this scanner.
I guess I should add to save you old OS disks too. I have Win back to 3.1.
That reminds me of another "trend" in OEM operating systems. There were no OS CDs that came with my pre-installed XP system. Supposedly the XP OS has a "self healing" recovery system. Internet connectivity is also a must at some point when using XP. I did a recovery on XP and lost some game drivers. The only way to get the drivers was through an internet connection. But get this, the only way to get the drivers to d'laod was for the actual XP machine to d'load them. I could not d'load the drivers to my other machine and then transfer them to the XP machine. They would not d'load to my other machine.
This internet dependency is how MS et al will be developing continuous revenue streams. We will probably have to pay a monthly fee to MS for our system to work.
The old ET quote of "phone home" has a brand new meaning. Seems that all new software will have some level of dependency for connectivity to "check in" with the producer.
I get no less that 8 Zone Alarm requests for internet connections every time I boot up the XP system. Seems nearly every application on the system is trying to send info back "home".
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vogeldanl
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posted on December 17, 2001 06:59:03 AM new
Have Windows 98 and it works fine. No plans to change anything.
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captainkirk
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posted on December 17, 2001 11:21:29 AM new
I have two similar systems, one w/ win98 and one with XP. In the month I've used the XP machine, its crashed zero times. The win98 crashes a few times a week (even with the latest drivers, frequent scandisks, etc). Its not a really scientific comparison without loading xp on the win98 machine and vice versa, but so far I'm pleased with the stability that results from XP being built on the win2K kernal.
I also have a win2K machine that has never crashed in 6 months, but it has compatability problems with some of my hardware and software, so I can't use that as my main PC.
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bunnicula
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posted on December 17, 2001 07:02:20 PM new
Last week I had my computer upgraded (maxed out my RAM, bigger hard drive, optical mouse)and decided to have them put on XP for me as well. My computer is a 2 year-old Pentium 3 from Gateway.
So far I am absolutely loving Windows XP! I use my computer almost constantly through the day, hours at a time and in the past 1 1/2 week I haven't had a single problem. Boot up time is *way* faster than on my Windows 98. It is easier to operate, to send files, to burn CDs, etc. etc. etc. So far I have found no negatives to it.
Perhaps I am having no problems because I was essentially starting with a "new" computer? The shop saved the files I wanted saved, then wiped my old HD (20g) and installed in addition a new 40g HD, then reinstalled the files and reinstalled all by programs from scratch.
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REAMOND
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posted on December 19, 2001 04:29:38 AM new
I think the crashes on my Win 98 are more due to all the extra software I have on it causing conflicts than due directly to Windows.
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krs
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posted on December 19, 2001 05:45:35 AM new
I'm not so sure. XP is working good for me although at first there were several 'calls from home' with upgrades. I have the choice whether to accept the upgrade and each one is sent with a fairly detailed explanation of what it's for and what it will do. None of them has been mandatory. I became so trusting that nothing harmful was coming in that I made a rule in my firewall to allow them in.
I was kinda' put off by the fact of not being able to even open windows without first having registered it, eithr online or by telephone, but the registration was instanteneous and caused me no grief.
The OS has not crashed, even using netscape 4.78 which I prefer to all other browsers. I had many problems directly related to windows 98 when using it and I know that because the Norton repair function listed them before repairs. So far Norton has given only green checks when I run their trouble checker, and I don't remember more than two times that that could be said about 98. One thing: Norton 2000 was a no-go but 2002 is a go. I had already bought 2002 because 2000 didn't know the laptop.
This seems good. I have 2000 nt Pro in my laptop and have considered making it my all system operating system but it requires administrative functions and I'm a little leery of what I might encounter if I attempt to run the OEM supplied 2000 on this machine.
I don't know how well 98 would cope with this 2ghz P4 chipset, but I suspect that there would be problems since the version was written before there were chips on the market of such speed and complexity. I haven't been able yet (knock wood) to bog down the system and that was a routine thing for me with 98. It may only be due to having 512 megs onboard where I used 256 before, or it may be because with 64 megs of video memory windows no longer has to use board memory to pick up the slack. Whatever it is, I like it much.
As to drivers; XP has more installed drivers for older equipment than I've ever seen. For my old HP printer, for example I had to use a generic laserjet driver with 98 but XP nailed the model.
I didn't install a lot of stuff, but it knew my zipdrive (my preferred storehouse for transfers to the laptop) without a problem and it picked up the older 3com ethernet card as well. Also I installed my old 30meg harddrive as a slave even before having plugged this in, and it recognized and configured for it as drive E:\ without a stutter.
So XP is probably a necessary thing, needed to access the full extent of what's available online. One yea vote. I'm running so fast that I think I could give Godiva a run for her money in finding political links even though I don't know how to type! LoL!
it's about typing, and breaks
[ edited by krs on Dec 19, 2001 05:52 AM ]
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krs
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posted on December 19, 2001 05:54:55 AM new
Oh yeah....the animated doggie is great!
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vogeldanl
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posted on December 19, 2001 05:55:38 AM new
Found a Commodore Plus 4 in mint condition at estate sale. Still in original box. Has 64K RAM. Think I should use as backup?
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krs
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posted on December 19, 2001 05:56:01 AM new
double
[ edited by krs on Dec 19, 2001 05:57 AM ]
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hjw
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posted on December 19, 2001 08:24:05 AM new
I finally got DSL service the day after I pointed out that I had been waiting since March. Wow! What a difference speed makes.
Helen
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stockticker
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posted on December 21, 2001 10:26:22 AM new
Windows XP security flaw:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7050-2001Dec20.html
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krs
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posted on December 21, 2001 10:43:32 AM new
already fixed.
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denisv
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posted on December 22, 2001 08:33:38 PM new
I've had Windows XP for a couple of weeks. There are lots of things I don't need (mostly related to music files) but much that I like. I do a lot of photo stuff, and I really like the folders with thumbnails and the slide shows. No need for other viewing programs (altho I still have Irfan loaded and ready). No crashes, no slowdowns, no major incompatibilities. I have a fairly new Dell with 1 gigahertz and 512 RAM, so maybe that makes a difference. Next week I'm adding Office XP (Office 2002).
denisv
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railfanbob
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posted on December 27, 2001 07:44:42 AM new
I am a network administrator and personally have not used XP. We have mainly Win95 and Win 98 on our PCs in the plant where I work. At home, I use Windows 2000 Professional. I have found this to the best version I have ever used. Our corporate headquarters is slowly moving to that same opion, I hope.
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ewora
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posted on December 29, 2001 02:14:41 AM new
My 5 month old computer came loaded with Windows ME. Horrible....the computer kept freezing and crashing. I installed XP about 3 weeks ago and haven't had any problems with it whatsoever.
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