Microsoft eases switch to XP

zdnet.com. ^ | February 25, 2003

[MeekOneGOP]

Re #9 & #16: Thanks, folks ! I'm not familiar with Linux, though I've heard of it. I SHOULD have known HD = hard drive. Sheesh ! lol ...

[Billy_bob_bob]

See my post #40.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you for sharing.

You bet.

What's it like working at MS anyway?

LOL ! That's funny, but I don't work for Microsoft. I found this article through a Google News Search ...

[Lael]

While it might be a good replacement for Win98

XP sucks...doesn't remember default folder settings, and I'm not convinced it isn't LOADED with Spyware!!

[MeekOneGOP]

I understand. They are making patches for those things that don't work right. I was told that some things might not work, but so far, everything I've loaded works fine. All my old hardware (and I mean OLD - such as the Panasonic monitor from 1991 and my HP 4L Laser printer from 1993) included. I DID get a refurbished 17" Dell monitor for it just because I wanted another one. (The old 13" was still working fine).

Just conveying my own personal experience. I am NOT very technically oriented or experienced. Most of what I know about using a computer has been on my own and from other individuals. And I don't work for Microsoft as has been suggested here on this thread ...

[MeekOneGOP]

The replies to you so far are FAR more help than I could ever offer ...

[babaloo999]

I have a Compaq laptop(mistake #1) with XP Home(mistake #2)--affectionately known as XP Crap edition.

Lappy is PIII 1.1 Ghz cpu, 512M ram and the performance is awful, but it is probably because I have loaded it up with a bunch of useless software.

My old Dell Precision with dual PII 450s, 512M ram has XP Pro and is rock solid and has much better performance than the lappy. I only have to reboot when I do the blasted updates. Otherwise, I just let it run 24/7.

I have Zone Alarm and don't let the boxes phone home to big cheese in MS land. Spy-Bot is also a good tool, I haven't tried the Ad-Aware on the Dell.

[MeekOneGOP]

Your link is to, basically, an advertising overview--why should I use XP, etc. I am sure the compatibility center is buried in the sludge, but could you please link that URL? Or is it obvious and I'm just missing it?

I think I see what you're talking about. Here is the link to the article:

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-985820.html

Is that what you needed? Let me know if not, and thanks ...

[MeekOneGOP]

lol ...

[billorites]

^KD

[buffer]

Have you tried bootvis?

Check here. http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/platform/performance/fastboot/default.asp

[Quilla]

I have been struggling with my dilemma for days now and was so thankful to see this thread. I knew the sharp folks at FR could help me out but I couldn't bring myself to post a vanity (the horrors!). Free Republic and Freepers have no equal! Thanks to all who've shared their knowledge.

[eno_]

MUCH better than WIndows 98, imho ...

XP doesn't suck. Some complain about bloat compared to Win2k, but XP includes all the multimedia goodies.

However, XP may be the last Microsoft product without Palladium (Big Brother Inside). As soon as I don't have control over every bit in MY computer, Microsoft gets the heave-ho.

[Capt_Hank]

Try running www.pcpitstop.com, very good at finding problems with XP and helping to repair them.

[Quilla]

Hmmmm. Just copied and ran your run command and then received this error message: Error unregistering the OCX 16442.

[buffer]

Check your time settings/properties, it is being update by a microsoft time server.

FRegards.

[Quix]

XP certainly has not been LESS troublesome than the earlier MS conglomerations.

How has Linux gone for you?

I have a good Linux box collecting dust in my bedroom. My XP is on my new dual CPU 1.6GigHz motherboard with a RAID C DRIVE (DUAL 80 GIG HD'S), 1 GIGABYTE of HARDWARE RAM and 2 added 80 gig HD's etc.

I hate all the transition learning curve stuff and have a variety of educational and other software geared to XP. It would not be an easy transition.

I suppose I could get a Y connector somehow and hook both boxes up to the wireless broadband net connection and play with it. Just haven't quite motivated myself to do it I guess.

But MS's support and problems related to XP-P are horrendous in my experience. I've virtually given up.

[Myrddin]

Have you defragged the hard disk? Is the swap file on a dedicated partition? Are you setting the NTFS allocation size to a value no smaller than 1024? I've made these standard practices for years on NT boxes. They run fast for years. The Diskeeper products from Executive Software are very effective.

I've retired all but one Windows 98 machine around the house. Windows 98 has a memory leak in the kernel that MS has chosen not to fix. All the machines that I use to develop software are Windows 2000. My kids run XP Home. I picked that for better compatibility with their gaming products and fewer sysadmin headaches for me.

[buffer]

This site has everything you need to know on how to secure and optimize Windows XP.

http://www.blkviper.com/