Query -- Are you taking 'Tech Support' questions...

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 6:37 pm

from your devoted, adoring and challanged forum members?

Post by **bio** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 11:11 pm

There's actually several of us here who are technically savy, so you'll probobly get multiple answers.

Go ahead and ask.

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 7:36 am

First is should I stay with Win XP or go back to Win 98? Trying to get all the updated software for XP is a bit of a challenge.

Post by **bio** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 9:53 am

Personally... I'd stick with XP.

I haven't had too many problems with software updates (well... only one problem with a scanner, but they haven't updated the drivers on it since windows 95). If you stay with it, at least you'll be compatable with everything new that comes out.

XP is without a doubt the best thing Microsquishy ever put out (Windows ME is the absolute worst... avoid that bullet at all costs!!).

Updating the OS itself is easy... just point your browser at the auto update site and it does everything for you (slick as hell). Since XP is actually NT based, anything that runs on NT should work (and 99% of Windows 9x software should work as well). The only place where you might have problems is with finding drivers for old hardware (hence, my scanner issue).

Stick with XP... that's my advice.

Post by **eddiecanuck** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 11:05 am

I have to agree, I've got XP Pro at home and XP Home on my laptop and have not had any problems with either. Except my old scanner doesn't work with XP but then I hardly ever used the damn thing anyway. Definitely do not go back to 98 if you can help it. XP is much more stable and is well supported.

jc · Post by jc » Fri Feb 28, 2003 11:08 am

agreed.

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 2:13 pm

bio wrote:Personally... I'd stick with XP.

XP is without a doubt the best thing Microsquishy ever put out (Windows ME is the absolute worst... avoid that bullet at all costs!!).

Stick with XP... that's my advice.

I did make the initial mistake of using ME, but could not go back to 98 so I had to trudge along until I got XP. I have put XP over ME as opposed to wiping the drive and I feel that is where the greater amount of my problems are. Should I continue to sally forth or wipe the drive and start with a clean slate? Then there is the problem of finding all the new XP drivers for my software/hardware.

Post by **bio** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 2:42 pm

Never, EVER upgrade by installing the OS over the old one. You just pass any problems you had before onto the next OS.

It's always best to back things up, apply the cleansing flame, and start fresh.

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 2:56 pm

bio wrote:Never, EVER upgrade by installing the OS over the old one. You just pass any problems you had before onto the next OS.

It's always best to back things up, apply the cleansing flame, and start fresh.

Sh!t. Well I did not have any major plans for the weekend except bother everyone at the forum with idiotic tech support questions.

baldy · Post by **baldy** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 2:59 pm

definitly definitly clean slate ......

the registry on your machine will look like roadkill otherwise

yuck

there ya go Bio .... left ya open for another picture post

Post by **bio** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 4:00 pm

Post by **eddiecanuck** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 4:41 pm

okay, ya gotta warn me about those man. my boss sits right across from me so if I hurl there is a risk I may hit him.
And by the way... that definitly left a mark, or two.

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 5:24 pm

WARNING

I about to ask a question that shows you my level of proficiency with Win XP. Laugh if necessary, but answer my question please. I can reformat the drive with no worries, but I have never installed Win XP from scratch. So at the moment I am bumbling around the help files trying to locate some information regarding reinstalling the software. Where can I find a place to create the damn boot disk. This was a heck of a lot easier with Win 98.

Post by **bio** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 7:53 pm

The XP CD is bootable... so if your computer isn't from 1985, it should boot from the CD (you may have to set it in the bios). You don't use a floppy.

Before you scrub your box, test it by putting in the XP cd and see if it boots to it.

Stingray · Post by **Stingray** » Fri Feb 28, 2003 9:00 pm

I STINGRAY have mastered the clean installation of Win XP. You, oh members of the brhf may feel free to grovel and pay me your respects as befit STINGRAY the Edified Sage of Win XP.

Well you do not have to grovel, but I am rather impressed with myself and I thought I would express myself a bit. I need to absorb this moment as much as possible before my balloon bursts and I have to ask all of you another question. Thanks everyone for your input.