Windows XP

I know that I shall get honest advice here, so here goes, I have got the
opportunity of a nice young man installing WinXP for me on this machine. I

donut...

donut...

have

haven't a clue what it will entail - what I 'could' lose and what I would
gain. I am doing quite a bit of on line shopping & banking - would I have
to have everything set up again?
I guess some of the programmes I run on SE would not suit XP - I just do not
know.
Before I commit to anything I am trying to suss out the probs. before I
decide.
TIA
donut

Jeff Gaines...

May be worth checking on software suppliers' web sites if you have
anything critical you need to run, just to make sure it will run on XP.

You should back up our data, twice if possible, to avoid being caught
by Murphy's law :-)

Ponder...

Or put another way: to be sure, to be sure ;)

What's the spec of your PC, i.e. CPU and RAM - XP needs a bit more
grunt than W98.

donut...

Jeff thanks for your help but you are asking questions to a real *numpty*
and I am not joking!
As far as the spec for the PC goes I shall copy what I *think* is relevant
from the invoice received from Viglen in Oct. 1999
Intel Pentium 111 Proc. 600MHz

Ali...

Modern machines are 3 to 4 times as fast.

Ponder...

That's good enough.

128MB SD Ram

Ali...

Rather small.

Ponder...

That's not. You'll need to at least double that or it'll crawl slower
than a tortoise on valium.

512KB cache on CPU
20GB 7200rpm IDE Hard Drive

Ali...

Again rather small, how much free space have you on it?
Double click My Computer, right click the drive C: icon, Properties.

100Mb Zip Drive

Ali...

Make sure you've got the XP drivers for this - your nice young man should
help. XP probably has the drivers, but make sure *before* committing
yourself. This is particularly important if you back up all your stuff to
zip disks.

the rest concerns Monitor/Graphics/DVD Rom/Movie player/sound
card/Fax/Modem/Speakers etc. which I guess is not applicable.
So is there enough grunt do you think?

Ali...

I am against upgrading the OS on an old machine on principle - from bitter
experience. Be prepared to buy more RAM. Be prepared for data-intensive
applications (such as photo-editing) to crawl. It may not happen, in which
case you can be pleasantly surprised, which is much better than getting a
nasty surprise if it does happen, and you're not expecting it.

Tickettyboo...

Installing XP could take your pc back to a basic state, just the operating
system, so you would lose info that you have since added ( you would have
to go through and save everything like that 'before' he installed XP)

donut...

MCC...

Think very carefully before putting Windows XP on that machine Donut. It's
just not really capable of doing the program justice. You might be a lot
better off re-formatting and re-installing Windows 98SE after you've backed
up all your data.

donut...

Thanks MCC - that's what I needed to know.
donut

I need guidance with that Boo.

donut...

like..isp account details, usernames/passwords, email

Depends, I think, on how the install is done. Though I can't remember if
the 'upgrade' option lets you keep all your own data, sorry, but someone
else will be able to tell us.

That includes stuff like..isp account details, usernames/passwords, email
accounts, news accounts, email addresses any files you have saved, mail
you have saved, favourites in your IE, photos etc etc , any programs you
have added that don't come with the operating system

They are easily saved to cd, if you have a cd writer.

donut...

Yes Boo, I do have a cd writer.

What would you gain? Well, even a reinstall of your current operating
system would make the pc fly, installing XP would make it seem slightly
different, but, in my opinion, a lot more stable.

donut...

Sounds good!

We can help you compile a list of stuff that would have to be saved..and
also help you to find out how to save and reinstall it, but if your nice

donut...

I would definately need help on how to save and reinstall.

but if your nice

young man ( aren't they handy to have!) is going to be there and is
willing, he could probably help you to do it too .

donut...

Depends Boo on how long the procedure takes - I may very well be left to
re-install all but the Win XP all on my ownsome.

If it were me, I would take a bit of time to make sure I had all my stuff
backed up before going ahead.

donut...

That's just where I *shall* need help.

Thanks Boo for answering this post - especially when you have just got back
from your travels - I copied your post and gave it to Maurice because he did
that over 60 years ago when he was in the army - he says, "nothing has
changed
was stony & gloopy then".

Tickettyboo...

LOL, hope he had as much fun as I did. Though, apart from buildings and
hotels round there I don't suppose its really changed much in thousands of
years, wonder if Moses and his mates giggled when they floated in it?

donut...

Anita...

donut I was using ME on my other pc I now have xp on here - and everything
I used on the one with ME on has been accepted without any problems
whatsoever - printer and scanner too.
All the programmes I used on ME are now working well on XP.

donut...

BoyPete...

I was going to suggest dual booting 98SE/XP, but I agree with Mike.....your
machine doesn't have the ooomph. :(

donut...

When I bought it the spec. was good but like me it's getting old!!

Jeff Gaines...

You've done well to get 6/7 years service. Don't throw it away if you
get a new one, it's make a useful backup device and you can play
networks :-)

donut...

BoyPete...

Tell me about it!!!!

I have wondered about that but I do not have much space.

donut

Jeff Gaines...

I meant to say, but forgot, that if you do decide on a new one think
about a laptop. Prices have come down a lot in the last year and you
can use it on your lap and in bed :-)

I have been working up and down through the posts Anita - you will prolly
see the opinion that this machine would not cope with XP. :(( - I have been
dithering about a new one for ages.
Maybe now I shall get a roundtuit.

I guess it would be a good break for them between "activities" so probably
they did
have loads of fun.

Ta muchly Boo - I shall be coming along for all the help I can get I reckon.

Tickettyboo...

Well, just shout out when you have had a think about it, everyone in here
will help. I see further down that there is some doubt about whether or
not you would be getting a new pc or putting XP on your current one. No

donut...

I have just been told to get a new one !!!
By guess who?

No

matter what you do, you would still need to save your 'data' ( stuff that
you want to keep or is needed to make your progs work properly).
First off, I would make sure you have all the details of your isp account

donut...

Anita...

Go for it, donut - I have and am pleased, although my old machine would have
taken XP ok - I decided to go for a new one instead - treated myself :)

don't have dial up anymore, since I went to cable. I suppose I should do
really!!??

, both for whooshing and for bog standard dial up, written down somewhere.
Either on paper or in a .txt file, made in notepad, on your pc..LOL I have
both! belt n braces me :-) That's usernames/ passwords and dial up numbers
if needed. Without a net connection, you can't even start shouting for
help if you need it :-)

donut...

Boo how would you like to spend a jolliday somewhere up norf and sort it all
out - that would save me shouting for help
ROFL
Have just scrolled back up - these posts are getting so long!!

Tickettyboo...

LOL I would be willing, but dunno if the salaried fun would let me have
another jolliday this quick!

MCC...

Donut, the only thing I had problems with after installing XP was my
Concise Oxford Dictionary, but a phone call to Oxford Uni Press told me
just to start my computer in 'safe' mode, install the program, re-boot and
that was all that was necessary.
Drivers for your printer or scanner, if either are particularly old, might
be a problem, but I found none.
Good luck.

Paul Jeffree...

Yes, we have a Nikon slide scanner (c1997) which won't jbex under WXP or
W2000. Was sold to us as the "latest" thing, but was superseded rapidly so I
think they meant "late" in a different sense ;)

So we keep on with W98se.