Windows ME upgrade.

[Steve M]

My wife has taken such a liking to Windows Me that she wants to install it on her laptop. We've always upgraded to the latest program but she wants to own and install the full version of ME. When you do this, is it no different than re-formatting with a recovery disc, or is there more to it than that. Best Buy just replaced her hard drive and reinstalled HP/Windows 98 so there's no important data to lose. If it's an easy task, we'll go get and install it. If not, we might just go for the upgrade.

 

[BK]

Steve,

The main reason that there are upgrades & Full versions are three fold...

One, yes to save some money for owners of the legacy OS...



Two, "shot, forgot what I was thinking for the 2nd reason"...



But the biggest that isn't really known is. .

To make installing the newest version easier, over a legacy OS, your older computer's chip set or peripherals (sp?) may not be compatible with the latest OS. Time and Time again I've seen this, even though they say it is..... if one is to have a try at making a full, new, from scratch install work, 1st get a list of all the periphirals in the machine and revisions of them, get to know what chips sets you have. Visit the manufacturers' website for each and see if you can find the new drivers for ME. They may not be fully compatible with a full version of ME.



I would advise against it, try the upgrade... but unless you do all your home work... stick with the present OS or just try the upgrade.



If you choose to take this mission. .

Good luck, tape will self destruct in 10 seconds...

9,8,7,.....

Bob

 

[Steve M]

Thanks Bob... We'll go with the upgrade. The kid in the store said it's as easy as putting the disc in the slot and following the instructions. That sounded to me like the upgrade. Tomorrow it's back to Best Buy! Thanks again...

 

[joel]

Good luck.... I thought ME sucked.

I upgraded from 98 and had nothing but problems. I have a PIII at 450Mhz and 192 M of RAM and after running ME for a while (I leave the computer on all the time) I'd be down to no memory available. None! I couldn't even open a program. The stupid OS wouldn't return allocated memory to the system when a program closed so that after opening a certain number of programs (varied, based on how memory intensive they were) my system would come to a standstill. I re-installed numerous times, even slicking the HD to try a fresh install and it did the same thing every time. I s*&tcanned ME and upgraded to 2K and love it. Same interface as ME but a much more stable OS. I'd recommend 2K over ME. Hell, I'd recommend DOS/3. 1 over ME!!

 

[JConley]

Install Windows 2000. It is the best OS that Microsoft has made so far...

 

[BK]

I've got 2000 pro on an Aopen machine... .

I've had all sorts of problems, the USB doesn't work right, problems install my DSL, problems with my HP CDR...

Wierd lockups...



I know it's machine related, even though the machine is supposed to be 2000 compatible... .



But the machine originally had 98 on it. .

Another example I of why I stay with the OS's that came on the machine.



My IS dept put 2000 pro on the machine I tele-comute... cause they needed it for the secure - private intranet software our company uses over the internet.



I know 2000 is supposed to be a pure 32bit OS, that doesnt run a stack of memory ontop of a base 16bit kernal... so it's supposed to be more stable... but it just seems the support of odd software and peripherals stinks. .



Bob

 

[Dkevdog]

Windows ME offers few to no real benefits over windows 98se- both of which (in microsoft tradition) are shakey OS at best. Windows ME is nothing more than Microsoft's answer to getting out a new OS in time for Y2K. Windows 2000 (which changed to ME when it wasn't ready) was supposed to be the newly named Windows XP- rock stable NTFS based on the Win 2000 platform. You're better off sticking with 98 until XP is available or go with 2000 Pro. When's the last time you heard some one say their computer didn't crash!?!?! Ask someone running 2000 (Or Linux... ..... now there's a REAL OS. OOOPS of the subject!)



Unless you have your heart set on resetting your machine- Windows 2000 is by far the way to go. I have been using final release versions of Win XP for several months and it seems to have the stability of 2000 pro. It's really gonna suck for a lot of us though- manufacturer support of 2000 drivers is scarce. They'd rather you buy a new component than develop drivers. So beware!



Kev

 

[BK]

I still have O/S2 and O/SsWarp sitting on my software shelf.

Both spent time operating my 386 year back, great stuff. But when MS changed the Kernal for Office, it all became too soo and not worth running. . I don't know why I still have them. . I guess it's hard to get rid of something that works well, even though there's no use for it.

 

[Steve M]

We found the answer to our dilemma. We bought her a new Compaq Presario 1215US laptop with ME on it. It has a CD re-writer/DVD player and an 1Ghz AMD Athalon processor. It goes well with my Compaq Presario 1200US laptop I'm using now. Mine has an 800mgz Celeron processor and DVD minus the CD re-writer. For all I save, the 3. 5 floppy does me fine. She itemizes everything on her computer and backs up alot. Thanks for all the input. I think it steered us in the right direction for what's best for us. Hers replaces a HP laptop with 475mgz processor and no CD re-writer. She's happy as a puppy with two tails and that's what matters!

 

[BK]

Great to hear...

Helped the economy too... !!



If you keep her happy, she keeps you happy... everybodies happy.



It's a great time to buy too... all of the pc makers are hurting a bit and haven't moved as much as they thought they would.





Good luck with the new equipment.

 

[DRR-24V]

I would really stay away from that ME. I belong to Overclockers. Com and we HotRod computers just like TDR HotRods the Dodge. I am running a Celeron 600 chip at 900mz and it's fine. We use Big Fans, watch the temps and BOMB away. The Drivers for ME and Win2000 leave a lot to be desired. Win 98 just keeps plugging along. JMO