Os Question For You Techies..

Stag · 02-16-2004, 03:55 PM

I use a laptop which has Windows XP and I also have a PC which has Windows ME. My question is this, would you upgrade the ME to XP or leave it alone?

What is the difference between the two? My understanding is that Windows ME is basically Windows 98 in disguise.

Cymro · 02-16-2004, 04:58 PM

Unless you want to run old Windows 95 based games on it, You might as well upgrade (as long as your system can handle it). XP is Windows 2000/NT with some of the better features of ME mixed in. It's not based on DOS like 95/98/ME so it's a lot more stable(less crashes).

The only other thing to consider is your programs and files, if you install XP, you'll need to wipe your hard drive and install everything over again.

Arik · 02-16-2004, 05:02 PM

Upgrade! Get the plague off of your computer!

ME was basically a terrible attempt at updating Windows 98. They threw in a few extra features, increased the code size to make it run slower (at least, that was my experience), and to me it seemed like all they really did was release a beta copy of the OS as a final. It was riddled with bugs, moreso than the (much better) 98 SE.

The difference is that XP runs off of the NT kernel, making it much more stable. It does a better job with programs crashing, where it doesn't crash the computer, but rather just the program. If you upgrade, it can make use of the NT File System (NTFS), which is a journaling file system, which means, among other things, that if your computer does crash, or is shut down outside of the normal Windows power-down, the computer doesn't need to run a check of the file system on the hard drive, and it's less likely that such an error will result in loss of data.

If you can, upgrade!

Arik · 02-16-2004, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cymro@Feb 16 2004, 11:58 AM
Unless you want to run old Windows 95 based games on it,

Even some of the '95 stuff can be run via emulation (the only old game I have problems with is the Star Trek: Borg game).

Stag · 02-16-2004, 05:27 PM

Thanks, I'm going to upgrade.

I bought the computer from <ahem> best buy, and then never used it because my company has been giving me better and better laptops for work.

But now that I have broadband (and a wireless router) there are somethings I want to download that I can't on the laptop <cough>PORN<cough> like MP3s or videos...

Cymro · 02-16-2004, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arik Peterson+Feb 16 2004, 06:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Arik Peterson @ Feb 16 2004, 06:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cymro@Feb 16 2004, 11:58 AM
Unless you want to run old Windows 95 based games on it,

Even some of the '95 stuff can be run via emulation (the only old game I have problems with is the Star Trek: Borg game). [/b][/quote]
Well, I'm running 2000, so that might affect it, but I can't run Generations, A Final Unity, or Top Gun: Fire at Will, which are DOS/Win95. They're all by Spectrum Holobyte, and they refuse to work for me. I've got a '96 DOS DS9 game going, and the 25th anniversary game going, but these bastards won't budge.

Arik · 02-16-2004, 06:50 PM

Have you tried Dosbox for any DOS shit that won't run?

The other thing, XP (and I think 2k also) has a compatibility mode where you can make the game think it's running in 95.

Cymro · 02-16-2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arik Peterson@Feb 16 2004, 07:50 PM
Have you tried Dosbox for any DOS shit that won't run?

The other thing, XP (and I think 2k also) has a compatibility mode where you can make the game think it's running in 95.

The compatibility modes don't work with them, and neither does dosbox (which seems to work best with games pre '93). As far as I'm concerned, they're write off's, which is a pity cause i love those fucking games.

Arik · 02-16-2004, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cymro@Feb 16 2004, 03:11 PM
The compatibility modes don't work with them, and neither does dosbox (which seems to work best with games pre '93). As far as I'm concerned, they're write off's, which is a pity cause i love those fucking games.

Dunno then. I've seen some other apps that'll play older games (I've been working my way through some of Sierra's classic lines), but dosbox was the one that everyone said always works.

Cymro · 02-17-2004, 08:43 AM

Perhaps xp works better, as it was designed more towards home use than 2000 was.

02-16-2004, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stag It's me again Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Florida Posts: 3,286	I use a laptop which has Windows XP and I also have a PC which has Windows ME. My question is this, would you upgrade the ME to XP or leave it alone? What is the difference between the two? My understanding is that Windows ME is basically Windows 98 in disguise. __________________ "I want to do a motorboat on Shatner's manboobs" - Sam Cogley

02-16-2004, 04:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Unless you want to run old Windows 95 based games on it, You might as well upgrade (as long as your system can handle it). XP is Windows 2000/NT with some of the better features of ME mixed in. It's not based on DOS like 95/98/ME so it's a lot more stable(less crashes). The only other thing to consider is your programs and files, if you install XP, you'll need to wipe your hard drive and install everything over again. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

02-16-2004, 05:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Arik Astro-Monkey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here, dumbfuck! Posts: 2,304	Upgrade! Get the plague off of your computer! ME was basically a terrible attempt at updating Windows 98. They threw in a few extra features, increased the code size to make it run slower (at least, that was my experience), and to me it seemed like all they really did was release a beta copy of the OS as a final. It was riddled with bugs, moreso than the (much better) 98 SE. The difference is that XP runs off of the NT kernel, making it much more stable. It does a better job with programs crashing, where it doesn't crash the computer, but rather just the program. If you upgrade, it can make use of the NT File System (NTFS), which is a journaling file system, which means, among other things, that if your computer does crash, or is shut down outside of the normal Windows power-down, the computer doesn't need to run a check of the file system on the hard drive, and it's less likely that such an error will result in loss of data. If you can, upgrade! __________________ The writers of this post apologize for you being too stupid to understand it.

02-16-2004, 05:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stag It's me again Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Florida Posts: 3,286	Thanks, I'm going to upgrade. I bought the computer from <ahem> best buy, and then never used it because my company has been giving me better and better laptops for work. But now that I have broadband (and a wireless router) there are somethings I want to download that I can't on the laptop <cough>PORN<cough> like MP3s or videos... __________________ "I want to do a motorboat on Shatner's manboobs" - Sam Cogley

02-16-2004, 06:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Arik Astro-Monkey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here, dumbfuck! Posts: 2,304	Have you tried Dosbox for any DOS shit that won't run? The other thing, XP (and I think 2k also) has a compatibility mode where you can make the game think it's running in 95. __________________ The writers of this post apologize for you being too stupid to understand it.

02-17-2004, 08:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Perhaps xp works better, as it was designed more towards home use than 2000 was. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

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