Win Xp

[samsamsam]

I've been on WinME for ages now despite having a file called 'Windows XP Professional Upgrade-no activation.exe' which I got from KL long ago. What I'm worried about is starting to install Xp then not being able to activate it and having to spend ages stopping the installation adn getting back to ME.

The title says no activation but is that true? Are XP copies available where activation is avoided?

Is it worth it anyway? - Is XP going to any better than my ME with all the tweaks I've added?

Am I likely to need to reinstall all drivers adn software to be compatable?

Any thought or recommendations will be very apreciated.

[monkeyhead]

you need 2 reinstall drivers 4 xp bt its well worth it oh yea u problerly downloaded th corprate version which requires no activatio apparntly

[samsamsam]

Thanx monkey head

[Ynhockey]

It's not really a question of whether XP Pro is worth it... it's a question of what's better - WinME or a risk of getting your comp f*x0red... i'd say the latter's much better. WinME is such a sh!t system that even DOS is better... at least it doesn't crash. I know after using ME for 2 hours (crashed 6 times in the process). So, yeah, install XP, much better.

[Wolfmight]

what are your comp specs? I recommend XP only to High-end users. Atleast 1.0ghz, with 128-256mb ram.

[Roosh]

Wolfmight,

I'm in the same position as samsamsam and have got only 733mhz, but 191 RAM.
Do you think I can manage?
What about my hardware? I've got a Dell Dimension series pc, circa 2000

I still haven't gotten a clear answer on which specific xp files to download -- pro, pro corp, sp1, office w/ frontpage or not, etc. Can you make a recommendation and then narrow it down for me when I do a search by giving its exact filename and size?

I don't understand the notion of activation, either: if the filename doesn't say with activation or activated, it's a short trial & I've got to get my hands on a random 5x5 key? And if so, where do I look?
Does getting an activated copy rule out the possibility of getting support from microsoft because it's someone else's registration info, or does it allow you to?

THX!

[Xilo]

You might be cutting it close when running it on that. I think the minimum requirements are around there and i know you need at least 128 mb of ram. And with the activation, it's where you have 14 days to activate Windows. If you don't do it within that period of time, Windows will not operate until you do activate it. What you want to get is Windows XP Proffessional Corp edition. This doesn't have the activation in it. You can still get support from MS if you call them in or visit their website. All the latest of Microsoft's OS and Software like Visual Studio or Office have 2003 in their name so it be best to look for those or at least in the near future since I think Office is still in beta which would make XP the latest released. If you only want the OS just get Windows XP Proffessional Corp. If you also want an office suite, look for Office XP.

[Roosh]

That doesn't sound good -- and you can't adjust mhz, right? Well, I don't have much choice as ME has literally and figuratively been a disaster for me -- or maybe I'll go for Win2000 with some xp icons from icon packager... :P

So if the file says with activation, that means it comes activated and I don't need to do anything?

I'm downloading the "win xp pro corporate final -- this prog works great and need not be registered or activated". Do you know this copy to be trustworthy?

So when it completes, do I run the exe and install to a disc and use as an installation disc? I can't save it to the hd because I've got to reformat prior to installing, correct? (same goes for )

I'm unclear on service packs -- do the necessary sps already come with the xp pro corp file, or do I have to download one of those 130+meg sp1 files separately and install later? Aren't sps downloaded from microsoft and added on, or am I confusing that with internet explorer service packs?

[Xilo]

No you can't adjust mhz unless you buy a new processor and/or motherboard. Windows 2000 is tried and true and works great on older computers.

I don't know about the files floating around on p2p networks since I got a corp copy from my cousin's college but i'm assuming with activation means you have to activate it.

The file you are downloading is most likely an iso or a bin/cue file or one of those rarred up. When you burn those, goto wherever the "burn image file" option is in your cd burning program and choose the file you downloaded.

Some copies floating around already have Service Pack 1 in them. If not you can just install it through Windows Update one you install XP.

[Roosh]

Ok.
What, in your estimation, am I losing by going with win2k over xp (what are the key differences)?

By going with win2k, do my specs work more to my advantage, or is it similar to xp's suggested requirements?

Can I combine 2000 with office xp w/ front page, or would I just get an office 2000 to match?

[Xilo]

Na, Windows 2000 works great on older computers and would actually run a lot better on your comp then XP would. Main difference between them is 2000 is geared more torwards office environments.

Ya, you can use Windows 2000 with Office Xp just fine.

[balamm]

Note that windows 2000 doesn't have a million drivers included like XP does though. You may want to locate windows 2000 drivers for all your hardware before you quit your current system.

[Roosh]

Xilo,
My interests are word processing, e-mail/newsgroups, p2p, and playing/editing audio and video files. Will the fact that win2k is geared towards an office environment affect those plans at all? What exactly does that mean?

I've got win2k pro, office xp/frontpage and xp pro corp in case all downloading. Should I even attempt xp at this point, given your suggestions?

Will 2k pro and office xp be compatible as well?

Balamm,
Are you giving another reason to go for 2k or reccommending xp -- I can't tell. Where do I look for these 2k drivers?

[Xilo]

Ya Windows 2000 is fine for that. Office environment just means computers are used more for office suites (like word processing, excel, etc), databases, programming, and things like that. Really only advantage Windows XP has over 2000 is it's geared towards gamers and media lovers.

If your not really a huge gamer you can cancel XP, though you can download just to have it for the hell of it if you ever get upgraded.

Yes almost everything works fine with Windows 2000 except some games. The drivers can be found by visiting the manufacturers websites. Like if you have a GeForce card, goto www.nvidia.com and download 2000 drivers.

[Twigboy]

Originally posted by balamm@12 July 2003 - 05:24
Note that windows 2000 doesn't have a million drivers included like XP does though. You may want to locate windows 2000 drivers for all your hardware before you quit your current system.
Well said,this was one reason I went with Win Xp over 2000.

[Xilo]

Does it really matter though? You still SHOULD download updated drivers for all your hardware even if drivers were provided with the Windows cd...

[Wolfmight]

XP for Fast New Computers, 2000 for people with Average Computers

[lynx]

If you are going for XP, make sure that drivers for older equipment (scanners, printers) are available, a lot of the manufacturers haven't bothered to upgrade their drivers (but that goes for w2k too, for very old bits).

[vampiro]

i run XP Pro on 667mhz machine no probs no slow down unlike win me so itll be able to cope on a 733mhz machine no probs