What operating system do I get tomorrow??

me

[Sungirl]

I would appreciate any advice.....

Tomorow at noon is a big day.....
Do I get Windows 98....Windows 2000.....Windows ME?? Windows XP is OUT!

I just want it for home use...no networks....no administrators. Simple, efficient and stable.

PLEASE ADVISE.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

you can just put win98 in the c: and partition it with as many drive letters as you want when you format it and not have to have an OS in each partition. If you like.

[Hajman]

Let's say a guy was to figure out how to install Windows (from the same CD) to a single hard drive several times, and each system [in this context system is probably each OS. It would make no sense otherwise with the single hard drive statement] is independent from the others, is it legal?

-The Hajman-

[general_re]

But there may be a way around that, and I may be wrong about that. However, I don't think sungirl has anything to worry about either way.

There is a way. With the release of SP2, Win2k has the same compatibility layer built into it that XP does. You might check it out - I suspect it will clear up many of the problems you had.

And you can run many DOS games under Win2k, but probably not most, and certainly not all. The ones that do run, will run without sound, though, since DOS gaes typically expected direct access to the hardware way back when. And there's a way around that too - on the NTcompatible page I gave earlier, there's a link to the VDMSound project, which creates a virtual sound driver for DOS games under Win2k and XP. Also worth checking out ;)

[jwh_Denver]

Stay away from 98, it's too unstable and needs to be re-installed every now and then because it gets cluttered up. I now have Win2k and it is a very stable OS and will use memory far better than 98. There's no comparison in my book between Win2k and 98. I don't know that much about XP but starting out with a new OS that is what I would go with unless there are too many negatives I haven't heard about. Normally it is a good idea to stay away from any new OS for about a year from Microsoft cause of the bugs they haven't fixed.

[RiVer19]

I hate to be like the chief Windows ME cheerleader here but....I've installed Windows XP on a few machines and had various troubles with getting software to install and actually run (EZ CD Creator, Office 2000 [of all things...]). There are fixes for these things now I am aware. The failed Office 2000 install was strange in that it so trashed the XP OS I had to reload it. But the subsequent install worked. ..weird. We've got some old games that we like and I just decided that I would stick with what I knew worked and ditched the XP OS and went back to the Windows ME that I know and love. So, I can't say I have vast experience with XP, but I didn't have a good one. At the office XP's had it's share of troubles too. Numerous software compatability problems. Things that worked fine on Windows 2000 wouldn't work right on XP. But, we have found work arounds for those.

[Gun142]

the originator asked if you could legally install one Windows CDs on multiple workstations

No, just one Windows 98 CD used to install the Windows 98 OS to separate partitions on one hard drive to be used as separate operating systems. (just on a single home computer)

[Hajman]

There is a way. With the release of SP2, Win2k has the same compatibility layer built into it that XP does. You might check it out - I suspect it will clear up many of the problems you had.

That may be true. However, I'm afraid I can't test that theory. I have Win2000 SP2...but modern games don't run well. On this system it isn't because of Windows..it's because I have a lousy (lt. version) video card.

And you can run many DOS games under Win2k, but probably not most, and certainly not all. The ones that do run, will run without sound, though, since DOS gaes typically expected direct access to the hardware way back when. And there's a way around that too - on the NTcompatible page I gave earlier, there's a link to the VDMSound project, which creates a virtual sound driver for DOS games under Win2k and XP. Also worth checking out ;)

I will definitely have to check that out. :)

-The Hajman-

[cidrasm]

My apologies. You would be correct in that instance I think (multiple copies on the same workstation).

[cidrasm]

My apologies. In that case (one workstation, many copies in different partitions) I think you would be OK. Sorry about that.

[disclaimer]

Bull. I've installed several systems with 256MB and Windows ME uses it as it should. You can run the Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Monitor and see it. This is yet another bunk claim from the screaming anti-Windows ME group.

Are you feeling okay?! Pretty emotional over an operating system aren't you?! Take a chill pill!

I retract my claim that ME is limited to 128MB RAM. I did a Google search and found that it runs into problems at 512MB, but mostly optimization issues.

My experience was upgrading two ME systems from 128MB to 256MB, and the Control Panel->System dialog -> memory management showed that only 128MB was available to the system. This was with a single 256MB SIMM. I installed Windows 2000 replacing ME and the full 256MB became usable (the motherboard was not the cause).

I replaced ME with Win2000 since ME kept having power-down problems - where screen turns black with a flashing cursor and the ATX soft power switch froze on forcing me to unplug the system to reset it. I had the same problem with both ME installations and installed a Microsoft patch that improved the situation but didn't resolve it completely.

I have been using Windows before protected mode windows became available and was thrilled when 3.1 was released. My experiences with ME made me swear it off, and I have systems here running 3.1, 95, 98, ME, Win2000 and multiple flavors of UNIX. I don't give a %&$@ about any operating system to endorse or shoot it down - unless it has caused me headaches , and I’ll will share my experience with those trying to avoid the headaches. Windows ME, to me, is a migraine.

[Gun142]

Going back to my first post, I should have stated; Windows was installed to seperate partitions on a single hard drive, giving me several operating systems (from the same CD\copy of Windows).

To clarify "each system is independent from the others", I had Windows98 on drive C and installed a second OS (from the same CD) to drive D. After that, drive C's OS wouldn't work.
After correcting this, I was able to install Windows to all partitions I created.

Man, I hope this post makes sense.
Can we talk about muzzleloaders?

[RiVer19]

LOL!

I guess I deserved that. I just read the trash Windows ME stuff all the time and usually without any facts or information to back it up. That contrasted with my experience on a bunch of machines I guess gets me going. I've run everything from CPM to Windows XP (and Xenix to System V Unix) and and the ease of use and easy support for WinME is what makes me favor it.

...swallowing chill pill :-)

[general_re]

I have Win2000 SP2...but modern games don't run well. On this system it isn't because of Windows..it's because I have a lousy (lt. version) video card.

Ah, there's no excuse for that ;)

With the release of the Geforce 4, the lower Nvidia cards especially are getting dirt cheap. I've seen the original GF3 cards for well under $200, and GF2 cards for under $100. And Nvidia makes rock-solid drivers for Win2k, unlike certain other video card makers (cough...ATI...cough) that have a reputation for poor Win2k drivers...

[cidrasm]

Man, I hope this post makes sense.
Can we talk about muzzleloaders?

Sure, but I think I'd be lost in the discussion of Pyrodex, caps, balls and nipples. Now, if we talked about centerfire cartridges, I might be able to hold my own :^)

[Bush2000]

I was told that if you change or install more than 4 components...you have to get clearance from Microsoft to use XP..it will clam up. And if you change computers....you have to call them and get clearance....???

MS will not refuse to reauthorize you, according to their documentation.

[Hajman]

With the release of the Geforce 4, the lower Nvidia cards especially are getting dirt cheap. I've seen the original GF3 cards for well under $200, and GF2 cards for under $100. And Nvidia makes rock-solid drivers for Win2k, unlike certain other video card makers (cough...ATI...cough) that have a reputation for poor Win2k drivers...

One word: Laptop ;)

-The Hajman-

[VOA]

I have Windows 2000 Professional on my computer, but then I'm running
some large database material.

Generally, if you are running lots of heavy programs, but no gaming, Win2000 Pro is
very good and stable.

But my guess is that for your home use...WinXP is good,
Even if there are glitches to be cleared out.
Plan B: Get Win ME, then upgrade to XP in a while when the glitches are worked out.

[Woodman]

The truth is that if you change enough of the hardware on your system to fool the OS into thinking it is on another machine, you will have to get it reactivated by MS. There is no good reason to believe that MS will not reactivate the product for you. As for reporting Software, it does not exist as a built in feature of XP. If a program crashs, you have the OPTION of reporting the crash to MS so that they may be able to fix it for everyone. If you do not want to report it, you do not have to. All non-MS programs are the manufacture's problem, not MS's and they only really want the report to see where the incompatablities are. They are only interested in making sure you are not stealing their products. I wish everyone would quit being so paranoid (or dishonest) 98 support will go away soon, so your only real choices for a new system with MS OS are win2k and xp. XP smokes win2k for home use and ease of use if you can get over your fears. Anything that wont run on XP and is newer than about 5 years old probably wont run on Win2K either FWIW.

[general_re]

One word: Laptop ;)

Decision time - "Road warrior" or "Quake warrior"?

Choices, choices... ;)