Windows update questions

Dan_8

Scott, just a couple of things that largely reiterate what folks have said above.

XP is pretty good. Make sure you get the 'pro' version rather than the 'home' version. They're very similar, the pro version gives you a few more programs but more importantly (in my opinion) it allows much finer control of which users have which rights. The home version has no 'power user' distinction so almost everybody that I've seen with XP Home just runs as the administrator and that's bad.

If/when you get the new machine don't just run as administrator or as a user with administrative rights as most folks do. If you run as a regular old (non privileged) user a vast number of viruses and other nasty things (including unintentional stuff on your part) can't do nearly the harm to your computer that they can if you're running as the admin user. It can be a hassle when you're initially setting things up but it's a much safer way to do things.

There are so many deals out there on new computers that the pain of upgrading your old one is likely not worth it. For around $500 (with a big "ish" tacked on to the end of that number) you can get a pretty decent desktop computer with everything installed and it will almost certainly be way faster than your old one. If you start pricing your time on an upgrade you'll easily come up to that kind of money and you'll only have one computer instead of two. Also, a failed upgrade leaves you dead in the water while a slow migration to a new computer that's sitting right next to the old one is much less likely to leave you computer-less.

Lots more to say about firewalls and network connectivity but without a clearer picture of your computer's "boiler room" it's hard to ramble on very effectively.

Hope that's helpful,

Dan R

ScottMP

I am currenlty running 98

With no problems but would like to keep up with things.

The suggestion I got was to update to Windows 2000, or Windows XP proffesional.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
We currently run two towers and have them networked with a Linksys. I an hopping to get a laptop with a remote network/internet access.

Thanks Guys

Scott


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chuck shaw

Windows XP

Scott,

I am using windows XP, so far I like it. You can set it up to give different levels of access to different people, if you choose. The only thing I dont like, is the way people tend to find a backdoor in with a virus, but those a%*holes would figure out a way anyhow. I use a lap top on the road, gives a nice neat clean bill to customers, right at the time of service. I have a portable printer as well. Talk with a computer expert, you may have to, or want to make additional upgrades to memory if you switch to XP. The professional version comes with some pretty neat programs.

Good luck and have fun,

Chuck

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Bryan_5

Scott,
It is probably a good idea to upgrade to XP Prof. It works good with networking. Microsoft does not support 98 with updates anymore per their website. XP is much more stable then 98 a lot less crashes. You may be able to upgrade your existing machines but at $200 each machine for the software alone plus any memory upgrades you may want to buy a couple of new machines. If your processor is less then 1 gig I would opt for the new computers over an upgrade. And nothing says you have to replace them all at once. Good Luck
Bryan

BillW@honeywell

XP

I have XP on my new Gateway machine at home. I got the SmallBusiness upgrade, which gives you Excel, Word and PowerPoint and others. Be sure to get a firewall, I used McAfee, but since I installed it, they have come out with a package called McAfee internet security that includes Firewall, SpamKiller, Anti-Virus and some others that block cookies from being left on websites etc. I found it at Staples. I have Norton anti-virus. Both firewall and antivirus automatically update when I go on line. Gateway has some deals on laptops at the moment, check out your local store.

jim_51

Windows xp

Scott

I would go with Windows XP Pro. It is very stable. Get a good antivirus with firewall. McAfee or Norton both outstanding. Make sure you keep up with Microsoft updates. Go to Start and click on Windows update. This can be set auto also.

ScottMP

Great Advice

Thanks to everyone, once again, you guys are the best.

Its allways good to get advice from people who have " been there, done that ".

Thanks so much

Scott



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Robert O'Connor_4

echo

Thanks for asking the question Scott. I am considdering the same upgrade.

Mark J Strawcutter

XP pro

My recommendation would be to use XP professional. Stay away from XP "home edition", too many limitations.

Others have commented that new machines are pretty cheap these days. But most of the low end ones come with XP Home edition. You'll pay extra for XP Professional.

Also, check with the vendor of whatever applications you're running - bookkeeping, heat loss, whatever - to make sure they will run under XP.

Mark

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

XP Pro here as well

and as others have said, it is extremely stable; my screen doesn't freeze any more, no compatability problems and it boots and shuts down quickly.

I get automatic updates from Microsoft and Norton and it well worth whatever I pay for that service for the peace of mind.

Keep well,


Alan

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John@Reliable_4

xp Pro here too

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Windows 2000 Professional

Is my current version. BY FAR the best Windows I have used. It lacks quite a few "frills", a GOOD thing in my book. It's extremely tolerant to process errors that would bring Windows 98 crashing down upon you.

Windows 2000 Pro, Windows XP, and Windows XP all supposedly use the same kernel that came from Windows NT. It is this kernel that provides the tolerence to process errors--or so I'm told. Printing FINALLY works well!

Have a new computer in my store using Windows XP (not Professional). Don't really like it--mainly because Microsoft insists on changing methodology with every new version.

XP Professional will probably have functions that you don't need, but like 2000 Professional will probably eliminate some of those stupid frills that you don't really need either.

Microsoft will probably continue to operate as they always have and Windows 2000 will become "unsupported" in a few short years.

Be warned that if your computer is more than 3-4 years old that an operating system upgrade may well result in DIMINISHED performance as they are designed to work "best" with the latest generation of computer.

Also be warned that Microsoft program "upgrades" may or may not work anymore if you install other new Microsoft programs that may or may not come "bundled" with the operating system. Much of this is an INTENTIONAL thing that stems from getting an OEM version of Windows and other Microsoft software with a new computer. The "real" version of such programs will cost more than low-priced computers.

TJ

Linux

Scott,

If your not wed to Microsoft products, give Linux a try.
Linux can be downloaded for free and there are literally 10's of gigabytes of well written free software available for the Linux O.S. There is a product called Open Office that will do everything Microsoft office will do - and it's free! Barring your switching to Linux, if you buy a new system - load Linux on your old system and set it up as a firewall proxy for connecting to the internet - should cut down on the number of computer viruses you get hit with; except the ones that come in with the mail or Microsoft files|:-)

eleft_4

HOLD IT!!!

I use 98 second addition and regularly get automatically upgraded by Microsoft. FACT! not rumor. My wife has Millennium and it also gets upgraded, my server has 98 second addition and it gets the latest upgrades also.Facts Facts!!

al

Steamhead

Still Running 98SE also

and eleft is right, Microsoft still updates it. My laptop runs ME and that's still supported too.

I have a DSL connection on my desktop and a small phone-line network using Linksys PCI and USB adapters and 2Wire USB adapters, that allows my laptop (and my girlfriend's laptop too when she's here, she runs XP Home) to share the DSL connection.

The problem with XP is a draconian copy-protection feature that disables the OS if you change your system configuration. I refuse to call Microsoft to get their approval every time I modify my system.

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