[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I thought XP was fine, apart from some bug issues with IE 6. It was VISTA I wanted to avoid installing; I heard it was really buggy. I guess, judging from the comments so far, that I’ll buy a regular XP package, some CD-r’s (the computer has a CD writer, thank G*d), and another 512-mb RAM card to replace the 2 64s. Then I’ll reformat the hard (C:) drive and hope that the computer will restart so that I can install XP from scratch.

I’m still willing to accept other comments that would lead me to some way I could do things WITHOUT starting all over, so to speak.

[Incorrigible]

Windows Vista is just fine. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers on FR who are disgruntled about just about everything.

But quite frankly, if you have a computer that’s over 4 years old, you’ve got a dinosaur on your hands. You’ll miss the advantages that a modern system and operating system would bring like digital photography and music and such. (Don’t say you don’t need it ‘til you’ve tried it!)

You can get 1GB systems with 250GB HD and a flat screen monitor for less that $700 and Vista pre-installed.

There are cheaper systems but I’d rather you spent more time on other FR threads than griping about your computer!

[vlad335]

I don’t think you will need to buy the full version of XP.

Save your stuff on CD-R’s then get your computer to boot from the CD drive with the windows CD in it. You can do this by going into the setup program. (BIOs) Usually you have to hit a key when the computer is just starting up. ( Mine is the delete key) Set your CD drive to boot first in the Bios. Booting from the CD will offer you a chance to format the drive and start with a clean install of Windows.

I don’t know how you are with computers but I can walk you through this on the phone. Freepmail me.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

By the way, I forgot to mention...I am typing this message on a Micron Millennium PIII 866 Mhz machine that is 7 years old. I call her SAL9000. It came with ME and is now running WinXP Home SP2 and has been doing so just fine for 3 years now. Before installing XP, I did upgrade memory from 256 to the max of 768Mb allowable by the MB.

If your Micron is a PIII you should have no problems running XP.

[Tarpon]

Windows XP is fine, it just goes batty at times ... upgrades being one of the risk times. With the cost of disk drives these days, I usually buy 80 GB drives for $29 on sale, the best way is to have a few spares.

I run XP in 384 MB and on a 500 mhz PIII just for the pain, it’s quite slow. But 512 MB should be sufficient for minimum use. Nowadays I recommend a GB or more.

If you get XP make sure you get the OEM version without the craplettes — It makes it a bit more bearable on slow systems, and quite snappy on a better machine.

Good luck.