Oh Weird Harold?.. Draco?..Someone? Anyone? 'Puter Help please

[freakygirl]

Ok.. I have a few questions. (You don't have to help if you think this is going to be way more than what you want to try to explain, I understand.. really I do)

I was given Windows XP Pro.. I'm currently using Windows 98SE on a HP Pavilion 9680c with a 650 MHz Intel Pentium 3 256 RAM. (hmmm is that all you might need to know? probably not.. hehehe)

Anyway, my question(s) is/are. Can I install Windows XP? Do I want to install XP? Do I partition first? or does it do it for me? If I do install it.. do I need to back up all my stuff? Is Microsoft Money 2000 Version 8.0 compatable? Or does it have something comparable with it? What about Excel, Power Point, Word and all those programs? I also use Microsoft Outlook as my main email.. will it mess that up? Do I need to back up my saved emails? My email addy book? etc etc etc?

I guess what I'm asking is

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!! OR BETTER YET.. I'll pay you to come to my house and do it for me!

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[freakygirl]

You should be able to run anything on XP that you run on 98. I personallly don't recommend XP or 98. I think Win2000 (NOT ME) is more stable. Personal experience, though there's plenty of tech people around to say what's up, wait till Guru gets off work (about 4 hrs. ) he's a God with computers.

Ok.. I was also given Windows 2k Pro.. which is better? easier to use? easier to install?

Why do computers have to change so damn much? Damn Bill Gates anyway!

 

[freakygirl]

Oh.. another question

I have about a gazillion games.. mine, SO's and the kids games

Will they work on XP or do I need to shit can them and buy new ones? (SO is asking, because he wants an excuse to buy new games Like I'd let him on the computer anyway )

 

[SweetCherry]

Um, I can't answer too much, tho I'm willing to go to bat here and give some answers, as I know what Draco would say here.

First, partitioning might be a good plan. What size hdd do you have? I know I have 2-8gigs and I have one partitioned into 2, pretty much in half. I know he'd also agree with CB that Win2k is much better than XP. He's had both and went back to 2k cuz he didn't like XP.

Anyhow, you should be able to install it, tho I think you'd have to change your file system from FAT to NTFS.

As far as those other programs, I'm sorry I can't help you more. I am but a mere novice and know only what Draco will pound into my head with his hammer.

 

[freakygirl]

Um, I can't answer too much, tho I'm willing to go to bat here and give some answers, as I know what Draco would say here.

First, partitioning might be a good plan. What size hdd do you have? I know I have 2-8gigs and I have one partitioned into 2, pretty much in half. I know he'd also agree with CB that Win2k is much better than XP. He's had both and went back to 2k cuz he didn't like XP.

Anyhow, you should be able to install it, tho I think you'd have to change your file system from FAT to NTFS.

As far as those other programs, I'm sorry I can't help you more. I am but a mere novice and know only what Draco will pound into my head with his hammer.

1st off.. SweetCherry how are you, beautiful? Long time no see. I wonder why our paths don't cross much anymore?

2nd.... I knew I forgot something.. it's a 38.1 Gig HD. Not partitioned at all.. LOL. I just can't bring myself to understand how to partition it.

 

[SweetCherry]

1st off.. SweetCherry how are you, beautiful? Long time no see. I wonder why our paths don't cross much anymore?

2nd.... I knew I forgot something.. it's a 38.1 Gig HD. Not partitioned at all.. LOL. I just can't bring myself to understand how to partition it.

To your first point, I'm quite well, actually. I've been doing more lurking than posting as of late. Just haven't had much to say. How's your sexy self then?

And to the second one, I can tell you this much. Draco's gonna shit when he sees the size of your hd and knows you've not partitioned it.

I can't tell you about XP, but with Win2k, it was pretty easily done, just a matter of reading what was on the screen and selecting options. Granted, when I did it, it was with Draco over the phone, so the hardest part was concentrating on working instead of letting that sexy accent take me away.

 

[Nicodemus]

Partitioning might be a wise move. The upgrade should be pretty painless allthings considered. I do no think you should lose anything but check on the game compatibility with XP or 2000. As check out wether it is recommended to update your video card drivers.

If all else fails and you hate it send me XP Pro.......I can use it. Oh, one other thing, XP home is not as bad as all that. You do have to make sure to go and get the patches and fixes (friggin Microsoft), and the trick is to install the right combination of patches with the right combination of drivers.

Nic,

That exhuasts alot of my tech know......
Draco.....woman in need of a bit more tech help here....

 

[SweetCherry]

Nic, if you want Windows XP, go to Kazaa and you can find it there for downloading for free. Loads of stuff there, not that I would ever use software that I've not paid for.

 

[Weird Harold]

Anyway, my question(s) is/are. Can I install Windows XP?

Probably, YES, although HP machines have a reputation of being finicky about anything other than the operating system that came with them. This isn't theproblem that it used to be with DOS because newer versions of Windows are pretty good about detecting the hardware configuration and adapting.

Do I want to install XP?

NO! At least not unless there is somespecific functionthat WinXP provides that you absolutely have to have.

Win XP has some reported security concerns and is NOT downwardly compatible -- many of the programs you use will need to be upgraded.

Never, Ever, upgrade just because there is a newer version. If it works, don't fix it!

You should only upgrade IF you need something the new version provides, or there is an unresolvable problem with your current setup.

If there is a problem with your current system, Win2K is a better choice for an upgrade. It's compatible with anything that runs on Win98, doesn't have the reputation of being a security sieve, and does have the reputation of being stable and functional.

Do I partition first? or does it do it for me?

All versions of Windows since Win 95 do whatever partitioning and formatting needs to be done. They also preserve the settings and data when upgrading from older versions.

(They also "correct" horrible mistakes like removing channels and IE from the desktops of preschooler's user IDs.)

If I do install it.. do I need to back up all my stuff?

Making a backup of critical data -- address books, favorites, documents, spreadsheets, financial data, etc -- is always a good idea before making any major changes to your system. If you have made regular backups a habit, it's no big deal -- otherwise plan at least one full day to back everything up and have lots of CD-RW disks or other high-capacity removable media handy.

Is Microsoft Money 2000 Version 8.0 compatable? Or does it have something comparable with it?

I don't know specifically which programs have compatibility problems with WinXP. I haven't seen any complaints about programs written for Win2K (anything with a 2000 in the version name.) If there is a (known) compatibility problem, there should be a MS Money XP version available, or a patch available online from MS' website.

What about Excel, Power Point, Word and all those programs?

The "2000" versions should work. the "95" and "97" versions will probably require upgrades to at least the "2000" versions.

I also use Microsoft Outlook as my main email.. will it mess that up?

A new version of Outlook Express should be included in the upgrade. If you're using Outlook 2000 then it should continue to work -- just as any of the other "2000" series MS products do.

Do I need to back up my saved emails? My email addy book? etc etc etc?

See my comments about backups above. Any new version of Outlook should at least have a converter to upgrade old format files if the format has changed. MS has historically been good about providing converters for old format files when they upgrade programs.

I use Win 98SE by choice. It does what I need my computer to do, and I've seen too many problems in newer versions of windows to be enthusiastic about trading up from "the devil I know."

 

[freakygirl]

To your first point, I'm quite well, actually. I've been doing more lurking than posting as of late. Just haven't had much to say. How's your sexy self then?

And to the second one, I can tell you this much. Draco's gonna shit when he sees the size of your hd and knows you've not partitioned it.

I can't tell you about XP, but with Win2k, it was pretty easily done, just a matter of reading what was on the screen and selecting options. Granted, when I did it, it was with Draco over the phone, so the hardest part was concentrating on working instead of letting that sexy accent take me away.

I know.. he told me to partition it months ago. Like I said, I don't understand how to do it. So I've ignored it..

Oh.. I'm doing fine. Lot's of lurking also. And it's baseball season for my kids.. so I'm away alot on the weekends.

 

[freakygirl]

Nic, if you want Windows XP, go to Kazaa and you can find it there for downloading for free. Loads of stuff there, not that I would ever use software that I've not paid for.

Yes.. Kazaa does have Windows XP Pro.. *hiding the burned copies from a friend of a friend of a friend* Not that I would ever use software I've not paid for .


P.S. don't forget the crack code generator thingy... I've heard you need it.. Ummm not that I know anything about that either.

 

[freakygirl]

Probably, YES, although HP machines have a reputation of being finicky about anything other than the operating system that came with them. This isn't theproblem that it used to be with DOS because newer versions of Windows are pretty good about detecting the hardware configuration and adapting.



NO! At least not unless there is somespecific functionthat WinXP provides that you absolutely have to have.

Win XP has some reported security concerns and is NOT downwardly compatible -- many of the programs you use will need to be upgraded.

Never, Ever, upgrade just because there is a newer version. If it works, don't fix it!

You should only upgrade IF you need something the new version provides, or there is an unresolvable problem with your current setup.

If there is a problem with your current system, Win2K is a better choice for an upgrade. It's compatible with anything that runs on Win98, doesn't have the reputation of being a security sieve, and does have the reputation of being stable and functional.





All versions of Windows since Win 95 do whatever partitioning and formatting needs to be done. They also preserve the settings and data when upgrading from older versions.

(They also "correct" horrible mistakes like removing channels and IE from the desktops of preschooler's user IDs.)



Making a backup of critical data -- address books, favorites, documents, spreadsheets, financial data, etc -- is always a good idea before making any major changes to your system. If you have made regular backups a habit, it's no big deal -- otherwise plan at least one full day to back everything up and have lots of CD-RW disks or other high-capacity removable media handy.



I don't know specifically which programs have compatibility problems with WinXP. I haven't seen any complaints about programs written for Win2K (anything with a 2000 in the version name.) If there is a (known) compatibility problem, there should be a MS Money XP version available, or a patch available online from MS' website.




The "2000" versions should work. the "95" and "97" versions will probably require upgrades to at least the "2000" versions.



See my comments about backups above. Any new version of Outlook should at least have a converter to upgrade old format files if the format has changed. MS has historically been good about providing converters for old format files when they upgrade programs.

I use Win 98SE by choice. It does what I need my computer to do, and I've seen too many problems in newer versions of windows to be enthusiastic about trading up from "the devil I know."

So.. I guess you won't be coming over to install this for me, right?


Just kidding.. actually I don't want to upgrade. I'm comfortable with 98SE (I can fix most major problems now)... My silly SO has a friend who has XP Pro and loves it. He thinks I should love it also. I don't want to love it. I love my 98SE. *doesn't adapt well to change*

Ok.. so upgrading.. doesn't need to be done.. but can be if we want to.

sheesh.. Now i'm even more confused..

 

[Weird Harold]

My silly SO has a friend who has XP Pro and loves it. He thinks I should love it also.

The friend suffers from Technophilia, a very expensive disease with no cure. Luckily, it's not terribly contagious in spite of BG and MS' best efforts to create an epidemic.

Don't be confused. If what you have works, then DO NOT upgrade until you have a specific need your system can't meet.

I've found that upgrading just because something is newer often creates more problems than it solves -- Especially with Windows.

 

[freakygirl]

The friend suffers from Technophilia, a very expensive disease with no cure. Luckily, it's not terribly contagious in spite of BG and MS' best efforts to create an epidemic.

Don't be confused. If what you have works, then DO NOT upgrade until you have a specific need your system can't meet.

I've found that upgrading just because something is newer often creates more problems than it solves -- Especially with Windows.

Yes.. this friend is suffering from something. He is single.. lives at home with mom and dad. Has nothing to do with the money he makes except for spend it on his computer. My god I think his computer could blow up the world if he just pushes the off button. It's ungodly. More computer than any "novice" would need. His time off from work is spent making it bigger and better.

Yet all he does is download movies and porn. What's up with that?


on a side note to people planning on downloading stuff from Kazaa.. i have a DVD of Lord of the Rings.. it's crappy.. NEVER download bootlegged copies of movies not yet released off the net.

I haven't watched it. The above mentioned friend gave it to my SO for his birthday (how cheap is that?). I guess you can see the people in the front rows of the theater getting up for popcorn and bathroom breaks. Black Hawk Down is the same way..



We need new friends..

 

[Unclebill]

FG, the HDD must be partitioned to use it with DOS/Windows etc. If the drive is in your system and in use, it's already partitioned. The OS doesn't know how to deal with the drive without the partition information.

For the DOS/Windows line of MS OS's, partitioning is done with FDISK. Windows NT and 2000 don't use FDISK but have the partitioning software built into the OS and the Setup software.

For games, NT is NOT a good OS because many games use direct hardware access to get better performance, esp. the older DOS based games. NT will not permit any application to directly access the hardware. Any program that attempts to do so is shut down by the OS.

So look carefully into your games and if necessary, check with the people who created it to see if it will run on NT.

Win NT/2000 is more stable than Win 95/98/98SE/Me because of the OS design. But that design stability comes with a price and that is some problems with games.

And I'm seriously inclined to agree with WH's advice; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I've been running Win NT on my home system for 5 years. I'll change it when there's no alternative.

 

[freakygirl]

FG, the HDD must be partitioned to use it with DOS/Windows etc. If the drive is in your system and in use, it's already partitioned. The OS doesn't know how to deal with the drive without the partition information.

For the DOS/Windows line of MS OS's, partitioning is done with FDISK. Windows NT and 2000 don't use FDISK but have the partitioning software built into the OS and the Setup software.

For games, NT is NOT a good OS because many games use direct hardware access to get better performance, esp. the older DOS based games. NT will not permit any application to directly access the hardware. Any program that attempts to do so is shut down by the OS.

So look carefully into your games and if necessary, check with the people who created it to see if it will run on NT.

Win NT/2000 is more stable than Win 95/98/98SE/Me because of the OS design. But that design stability comes with a price and that is some problems with games.

And I'm seriously inclined to agree with WH's advice; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I've been running Win NT on my home system for 5 years. I'll change it when there's no alternative.

Well it's one big partition.. Sorry if I led you to believe it wasn't partitioned at all. I thought everyone would know it was one partition. Much larger than needed. I know this.. Draco told me months ago to fix it. I didn't do it.. I can't pull myself away from Lit long enough to do it

 

[cutie pie]

One more comment re: XP v. 2k

I recently upgraded my computer hardware and was “encouraged” to upgrade to Windows XP. (Thank goodness I didn’t pay for it.) The installation went smoothly, but it’s been downhill ever since. I had a devil of a time installing my printer and I still can’t hook up the scanner because I can’t find updated drivers. I will say that I haven’t had any trouble installing any of my older programs - oodles of games, WordPerfect, and other miscellaneous utilities. Using them, however, is another story. It seems like there is always another glitch cropping up - sometimes I figure them out, sometimes they just go away and some I’m still dealing with. At least with 98SE, I could usually figure out the problem and fix it. IMHO, if you absolutely have to upgrade, stick with Win2k.

Good luck!

 

[Draco]

Hey Freaky

Hi, just a few notes and corrections here and there.

Win 2000 Pro vs Win XP (home or pro)

Firstly..I wont recommend XP, its ok, but not my personal choice of OS. I run Win 2K Pro , and 98 (for technical support purposes)
and Linux (RedHat 7.2) coz I'm learning that one again. I'd say go with Win2000 Pro if you have it there.
Windows XP is a good stable platform but I dont like how it is "dumbed down" (too many goddam wizards showing you how to do things the "MS" way) I like 2000 because it lets you do things your own way, not the way that the wizard tells you to do it. A case in point: Under XP I couldn't access my CD-burner (AOPen 12/10/32 Pro) to read cds, everytime I went to open a cd on it, XP tried to tell me to burn data to it. Then when I went to use Nero to actually burn a cd, XP would jump all over it by saying the new cd was full and couldn't be burned. (In otherwords, it sucked monkeynuts.)

GAMING ON Win2000:

To all those that say that 2000 Pro isn't any good at gaming are welcome to meet me on my game server where I will Quake 1, 2, 0r 3 their heads off. (Just kidding...its just a gibe to let you know that with the Application Compatibilty Layer installed, even old Dos games (Quake 1 with the GL patch) run extremely well.)

PARTITIONING:

This is critical on large HDD's. It safe guards your data. If your OS crashes and takes out the FAT table (File Allocation Table) your are sunk. ALL your data is consigned to the magnetic trash can with no hope of getting it back. If the MBR ( master boot record) gets corrupted, its the same thing..altho sometimes you can restore it.

Get into Kazaa and hunt down Powerquest Partiton Magic Pro. You need at least Version 6, it words with 2000 and XP drives.
Install and follow the wizard to create an EXTENDED DOS partition and a LOGICAL DRIVE or 2. This assigns the Drive letter (as in C:\ D:\ E:\ etc) DONT USE FDISK, it will nuke your data.

Format ALL drives as FAT 32, Win 2000 and XP can work with them. (I use NTFS on my machine for better data security, but Win 98 cant read NTFS partitions.) I have four partitions on my 20 gb HDD. A 4gb Fat 32 for 98, A 5 gb NTFS for Win2000, A 2.5 Ext3 for Linux and A 9.5 gb FAT32 for Data storage/games/movies/media . Also in there is a 52x Cd-rom, Aopen 12/10/32 CD-Rw and a BTC 12x DVD-Rom. My drive letters are A, C,D,E, F,G, H. (And I for the Linux drive). it may sound confusing but once you get the hang of it, its not.

Freaky, the best scheme I would advise would be 4 patitions at 9.5 gb a piece. This way you can leave 98Se on the Primary(C:\), install 2000 on D, Xp on E, and still have a Data Storage Partiton. Then it will be dual boot, which Powerquest Bootmagic will take care of, Bootmagic is included in Partition Magic.

After getting them all installed and working, use each one in turn until you find the one you like the best.
You have my ICQ number and my email is "kurgzcomp@yahoo.co.nz". Contact me there or on ICQ and we'll work you thru the various things you will need to do before each installation.

Now before anyone jumps on me and starts with the "My OS is better than your OS' crap which has happened from time to time.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION STATED ABOVE: get over it.
I am a A+/Net+ Certified Technician with 6 years experince in system building, config & maintainence. I am currently employed by a New Zealand company as "Technical Services Manager" and "Systems Manager". I'm not saying I know it all, but when it comes to Windows, I'm up with the play:

Freaky, best of luck in your endeavours, and feel free to contact me via the above mentioned methods for help and guidance.
This offer is open to anyone else who wants to learn more as well.
My ICQ is listed in my Details, just mention your from LIT and I'll add you to my list.

Regards to All

Draco (The friendly dragon)

 

[freakygirl]

Wow..

(SweetCherry, Please don't get mad here and slap me.. k? ) But your man makes my panties wet.. My god.. all this tech talk.. It's like hearing a french man talk to me. I don't know what either of them are saying


Ok.. seriously.. Draco, You have totally and completly lost me. Could you come to my house and do it for me? All travel arrangements and housing (plus your normal wages) are included. You can bring a few guests *winks at SweetCherry*. I'll entertain her.. and you can fondle my keyboard. Deal? (oh yeah.. this will have to be paid by you originally.. and I'll make monthly payments to reimburse you.. for 800 years.. )


I'm going to go see if I can find Partition magic.. (I have a link to I think... a free one. But I'm not sure.. I'll have to check it out)

 

[Guru]

 

[Captk]

Windows XP is supposed to be the "most stable OS yet". You should be able to use MS Office applications 2000 or XP. Compaq's can be finicky - if you have the source files, you'd probably have better results to reformat and install fresh. Whatever you do - backup all your data first!

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[freakygirl]

Another question

I have BlackIce Defender..is it compatable with 2000 and/or XP?

 

[Weird Harold]

Rule #1: Never use anything from MS that is version x.0. Wait until x.1.

Optimist!