Windows XP - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....
Sunday, April 14, 2002 by AJCrowley | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Well, it's that time again, the magical season of reformatting that seems to have become all the more frequent since I moved to XP. It seems that for every 5 times I install it, one installation will be good, the others will disagree with programs I use, crash at random, or simply be full of weird glitches. I would make the move back to 2K, but XP has a lot of new stuff that I've got used to having, so I guess I'll just have to deal with it, hopefully this install will go right first time (current's been on about 4 weeks, and I've been putting up with strange crashes and glitches such as explorer's treeview not showing icons next to any of the nodes). Wish me luck...
AJC
AJC
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Splash0453
Reply #2 Sunday, April 14, 2002 5:45 AM
Reply #2 Sunday, April 14, 2002 5:45 AM
Hey, AJ, is yours a upgrade or a full version. Mine is an upgrade and I have every install full of rubiish too. I have never had any of the problems you descibe, but my one every time I load up, my taskbar will not respond at all for about 2-5 minutes. The desktop and any windows which open do work though. Has anyone got any ideas about it? I'm trying to contact Microsoft, but their support takes soooooo long!
MikeB314
Reply #3 Sunday, April 14, 2002 9:57 AM
Reply #3 Sunday, April 14, 2002 9:57 AM
Splash, Just to point out what you probably already know: You can use the XP upgrade CD to do a full clean install. Just boot with the upgrade CD and during the setup process it will ask you to insert your Win2K CD (or other qualifying version) to verfiy you are authorized to use the upgrade CD.
Splash0453
Reply #4 Monday, April 15, 2002 4:27 AM
Reply #4 Monday, April 15, 2002 4:27 AM
Yes, but I haven't got a WinMe CD! It came pre-installed and Packard-Bell never gave me a CD. What would happen then?
Splash0453
Reply #5 Monday, April 15, 2002 4:29 AM
Reply #5 Monday, April 15, 2002 4:29 AM
And also, don't you have to go through the rubbish of formatting and partitioning and stuff? My computer also never came with a master CD for the factory preset configuratrion and if I reformat and re-partition and stuff, I will probably end up wiping the hidden partition full of this stuff which they gave me instad of a master CD.
Griffinme
Reply #6 Monday, April 15, 2002 11:43 AM
Reply #6 Monday, April 15, 2002 11:43 AM
I have noticed that computers with built in video cards seem to have problems. I think it comes from using a video driver that was meant for a card that is independent from the motherboard.
Curses on OEM machines.
Curses on OEM machines.
Jafo
Reply #8 Monday, April 15, 2002 5:46 PM
Reply #8 Monday, April 15, 2002 5:46 PM
All of my installs of XP have been over a virgin '98, where absolutely nothing was set up in the 98 OS, not even the graphic card or audio.
I just put XP over it, not as a dual boot, and let XP handle the card configs, etc.
The only 'weird' thing is that the XP startup will stall if I have the explorer mouse NOT in the PS2 port.....for a while I ran two mouses/mice...the Explorer in the USB, and a PS2 Mouse in the PS2 port.....
I just put XP over it, not as a dual boot, and let XP handle the card configs, etc.
The only 'weird' thing is that the XP startup will stall if I have the explorer mouse NOT in the PS2 port.....for a while I ran two mouses/mice...the Explorer in the USB, and a PS2 Mouse in the PS2 port.....
Jim
Reply #9 Monday, April 15, 2002 10:48 PM
Reply #9 Monday, April 15, 2002 10:48 PM
I was just, reading an article about XP in Maximum PC, where they mention you should have a 1.2GHz CPU and 256MB of memory to get the full advantage of XP. Or have at least 800MHz CPU and 256MB of RAM.
Now I'm not sure about these numbers, I know my system falls short, and that Microsoft system req. on the box is going to to be far less then the specs in the article. I wonder which is closer to fact. How does you systems meet the two power specs?
Now I'm not sure about these numbers, I know my system falls short, and that Microsoft system req. on the box is going to to be far less then the specs in the article. I wonder which is closer to fact. How does you systems meet the two power specs?
Jafo
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 1:24 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 1:24 AM
500 P3...1 gig of PC133 ram running at 100..[old MB...Abit BX6]...
AJCrowley
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:29 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:29 AM
Well, I'm back, and everything is at least holding the illusion of working well for now. Let's try and answer a few of those questions:
Koasati: There comes a time in every person's life when they must reformat. I am cursed with an innate stupidity that makes me do it out of habit every few months. It's a habit carried forward from my win9x days, when such a thing was necessary. I find that after a reformat, there's less crap on my system that I don't actually need, and my machine runs a lot smoother and faster.
Splash!: No, I have the full version, MSDN edition (which means that you don't pay for it, you just convince your boss that it's a good idea to pay for it).
Griffinme: Onboard sound and video cards are the devil. I have an ATI Radeon 8500, which due to ATI's infamously terrible driver support, is probably to blame for a great deal of my problems, such as mIRC crashing whenever somebody pms me when it's skinned, or Advanced Administrative Tools giving strange errors whenever it tries to display any of those fancy Delphi tooltips with little pictures in them.
Jim: P4-1500 with 640MB of SDRAM, which should be more than enough. Of course, even if my machine barely met the minimum spec, it should just be slow, not a perpetual crash.
Personally I blame all of the manufacturers who had anything whatsoever to do with my machine. Intel, Microsoft and ATI are all horrible monsters and I pray for their death. I have given serious thought to going back to Win2k, but to be honest I don't really recall any more if that was much better, and I've grown used to some of the pleasantries that XP has graced me with. I think what I need is a shiny new machine, but unfortunately I don't think my local hardware supplier would give me much for 7 cents, some pocket fluff and a button.
AJC.
Koasati: There comes a time in every person's life when they must reformat. I am cursed with an innate stupidity that makes me do it out of habit every few months. It's a habit carried forward from my win9x days, when such a thing was necessary. I find that after a reformat, there's less crap on my system that I don't actually need, and my machine runs a lot smoother and faster.
Splash!: No, I have the full version, MSDN edition (which means that you don't pay for it, you just convince your boss that it's a good idea to pay for it).
Griffinme: Onboard sound and video cards are the devil. I have an ATI Radeon 8500, which due to ATI's infamously terrible driver support, is probably to blame for a great deal of my problems, such as mIRC crashing whenever somebody pms me when it's skinned, or Advanced Administrative Tools giving strange errors whenever it tries to display any of those fancy Delphi tooltips with little pictures in them.
Jim: P4-1500 with 640MB of SDRAM, which should be more than enough. Of course, even if my machine barely met the minimum spec, it should just be slow, not a perpetual crash.
Personally I blame all of the manufacturers who had anything whatsoever to do with my machine. Intel, Microsoft and ATI are all horrible monsters and I pray for their death. I have given serious thought to going back to Win2k, but to be honest I don't really recall any more if that was much better, and I've grown used to some of the pleasantries that XP has graced me with. I think what I need is a shiny new machine, but unfortunately I don't think my local hardware supplier would give me much for 7 cents, some pocket fluff and a button.
AJC.
Splash0453
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 5:09 AM
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 5:09 AM
Have any of you who uhave had problems used Microsoft's Tech Support? They usually solve the problem.
Griffinme
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 9:04 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 9:04 AM
266 
, 160meg of ram with real video and sound cards is much more stable then the faster machine with soldered on video and sound.
, 160meg of ram with real video and sound cards is much more stable then the faster machine with soldered on video and sound.
Karika
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:43 PM
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:43 PM
Pentium 3 750mhz 1gig of DDR Rombus Ram 520meg per sec transfer 0 Page file Windows XP Professional
I got 4 letters for you babe NTFS
havent had a crash since! or maybe its the fact I dont have a Windows Page file heheh anyways my computer lasts 4weeks before I feel lag might try NTFS works great espically too keep little brothers outa files
I got 4 letters for you babe NTFS
havent had a crash since! or maybe its the fact I dont have a Windows Page file heheh anyways my computer lasts 4weeks before I feel lag might try NTFS works great espically too keep little brothers outa files
Splash0453
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:50 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:50 PM
I've got 800Mhz Celeron with 192Mb RAM. And a page file!
My HDD is NTFS too.
My HDD is NTFS too.
Jafo
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 5:45 PM
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 5:45 PM
Yes..prime reason for running 2K or XP is NTFS.....no more Fat corruption...
Jim
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:58 PM
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:58 PM
Oh OK, it looks like the power of the system has little to do with the problems. Sorry about the delay in getting back, (I bet this message is just about over).
Yes I've used Microsoft Tech Support, the $35.00 an issue type. They where great, they stayed with me until the problem was fixed, all three hours and two phone calls. I can't say enough good things about them.
OK, I was thinking about going to XP, until I read that article, my system being a PII 700MHz, 512MB RAM, 100BUS I have an old motherboard to Asus P3B-F. But after reading this I have new hope.
Yes I've used Microsoft Tech Support, the $35.00 an issue type. They where great, they stayed with me until the problem was fixed, all three hours and two phone calls. I can't say enough good things about them.
OK, I was thinking about going to XP, until I read that article, my system being a PII 700MHz, 512MB RAM, 100BUS I have an old motherboard to Asus P3B-F. But after reading this I have new hope.
Karika
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 17, 2002 2:45 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 17, 2002 2:45 PM
Page File = LAG when I got my 1000megs of ram it took my computer 10seconds to shut down before it took 3mins I only wish my system hard drive was more then 1.5gig heheh then I could use Hiber and it would take me 10seconds to reboot woohoo! anyone know how too redirect the Hiber.sys file I got a 80gig media drive (a way without reinstalling xp onto 80gig)
JavaBrain
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 17, 2002 3:12 PM
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 17, 2002 3:12 PM
I think those specs for XP are crazy, and they are not Microsoft's specs. I run XP just fine on a pentium III 600mhz with 256 RAM (with all of the Object Desktop stuff running) and have had no problems. (unlike a very similar box running...gasp...ME)
I believe that Microsoft specs are 233mhz (300 recommended) and 128 RAM (a bit different from a 800mhz with 256 RAM)
I believe that Microsoft specs are 233mhz (300 recommended) and 128 RAM (a bit different from a 800mhz with 256 RAM)
juni
Reply #20 Thursday, April 18, 2002 8:01 AM
Reply #20 Thursday, April 18, 2002 8:01 AM
I did one upgrade, no reformatting and it has worked fine ever since. I upgraded from win2000 pro. System is a Pentium 4 1.4 GHz, 512 Megs of memory, 80 gig harddrive, nVidia Geforce 3. XP seems stable, looks nicer. All games I've played have worked fine, 3D Studio MAX runs smoothly, in fact, everything I've tried runs faster.
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Reply #1 Sunday, April 14, 2002 4:03 AM
But one question, if I may.........why didn't you leave it alone after that ONE time out of 5??