My computer is back up with Windows XP, but I lost a lot of important files (including all my e-mails) because I’m dumb. Hopefully it won’t crash every few minutes at least…
BTW, that means if you sent me a picture for the Peace Gallery that wasn’t posted yet, I don’t have it anymore and you’ll need to resend it. Excuse me while I go pound my head against the wall in memory of all my lost files.
Good news! Welcome to the 21st Century! Now, to get you to Linux….
Check out this site for some good tweaks to make XP better/faster…
http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/
If you need assistance, PM me…
-Jeff from PRMd (Tech geek at large…)
Sorry ’bout all them files, i lost a lot a few days ago when my laptop blew up (and yes, it BLEW UP, as in FLAMES!)
and i’m not jokeing, FLAMES WHERE SHOOTING OUT OF MY LAPTOP!
I never do backups.
Those things happen to other people, never to me.
I know it sucks Frank. I have been doing this computer gig for almost 10 years now, both as a hobby and as a profession, and I still do the same thing from time to time. Note to self: write down what you want to back up before you format…wait a day, look at list….write down all the shit you forgot to write down the day before….wait a day…you get the idea.
The Bastard
I copied my C: drive to my bacup drive, but apparently it didn’t copy everything (including completely skipping the Windows folder). Oh well.
Dont feel bad Frank 🙂 I think I backed up everything I needed, then after the fdisk and half-way through the format I realized I forgot something 🙂
Hmmm… As somebody thinking seriously about upgrading to XP myself, this doesn’t sound in the least bit encouraging.
I’ve got XP at work and I like it a lot, but if upgrading my trusty (if occasionally crashing) 98SE to XP means fuX0ring up my data and having to re-install my software, then I’ll just stick with what I’ve got.
And don’t get started on Linux. Once Linux comes out with something that’ll actually run everything I’ve got, I’ll be listening. Until then, I have only this to say: If I WANTED a $2,000 word processor, I’d have bought one.
I second the Emperor on giving Linux a pass. After I got my newest computer (about 2 years ago) I installed Red Hat’s Linux on the old computer. I can see why it is used and loved by really tech-savvy people, but for someone like me it was just a piece of crap. Windows has nothing to fear from Linux. Apple on the other hand should be looking over their shoulder, otherwise they’re going to find themselves replaced as the system “for people who are too pretentious to use an Intel/Windows” computer.
Emperor Misha I,
The problem wasn’t with Windows XP. I thought I copied my c drive as back up to my other drive, but was mistaken. I then formatted my C: drive and realized I couldn’t find my Windows 98 CD to reinstall my operating system. Thus I bought XP 🙂
Emperor Misha I: what were you not able to run under Linux? and if you’re looking for a free word processor OpenOffice.org has a nice one. it can even make pdf documents.
Open office is well worth its price.
Thats all I’m going to say.
Linux gets better and better as time goes on. I do not run it on my main machine (as i do a lot of gaming), but I do run it on my server (running the free and stable sendmail, apache server, and embedded firewall). In time, it may be good enough for all of us to use on a daily basis, and we will have the cult-like group of Linux fanatics to thank. That is if we can catch one of them away from the safety of their CRT.
The XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard captures your desktop, email settings and data, internet connections, My Documents, IE favorites, et cetera. It also gets data from apps installed in Program Files. The wizard can run from the CD on machines back to Windows 95 and saves a ton of time versus manually reconfiguring. I use it for backups since I’m only interested in preserving data. Try it when you get everything reloaded. Start… Run… migwiz
See Frank, this is why you use a Mac. It doesn’t have these sorts of problems. Plus, Unix-y goodness is an excellent thing in terms of stability.
Ahhhh… I see, Frank. At this point I’d love to be able to say “pfffttttt, something like that never happened to me”, but I can’t, so I won’t.
As to Linux, it’s mainly the twouble with games. Yes, I use my ‘puter for fun as well, shame on me. How impure, how puerile, how fantastically enjoyable 😉 The way I see it is that, considering the cost of the damn box, I might as well get some entertainment out of it as well 🙂
But no, I’m not “bashing” Linux. I think it’s a great idea and Windoze definitely needs some competition, it just hasn’t quite evolved to the point where it’s a viable alternative for me, which is a great shame. I’d LOVE to be able to throw Windoze and its dread BSoD out the window and never look back.
If Linux evolves to that point, I’ll be worshipping at the feet of the techies and devotees that spent years of their lives bringing it to that point. As it is, they already have my undying respect and admiration for even TRYING.
So XP won’t destroy my setup and give me a three-week headache if I try to upgrade my 98SE with it? Good.
Next question: Somebody told me that some people have had trouble with getting the “Home” version to work, whereas the “Professional” never seems to have a prob. Is this just a vicious rumor or does it have some merit?
Oh, and re: the Micro$loth registration process: I have two boxes running. Please don’t tell me that I have to buy two copies of XP.
Frank, don’t’cha know anyone you could’ve borrowed a ’98 installation disk from? XP, phooie! As someone who’s been doing this stuff since CPM/MPM days (yes, that’s the precursor to DOS/MSDOS, which is what Windows is just a fancy menus system for), it is my not-so-humble-opinion that all you XP users are actually paying Mr. Gates to be beta-testers. Stick with 2000/NT for now…
Oh. Backups. Yeah, ummmm… ya should do those regularly… ummmmm schedule them to go auto to your backup harddrive or CD burner… yeah… been meaning to do that myself, as a matter of fact. Now, when was the last time I did a backup???
Frank maybe you should get someone to save al your work and copy it for you? But then wouldn’t that be stalking?
And so it was, that on the first of November, 2003, Frank J. gave up humor in order to pursue his real passion: tech blogging.
And so it was, that on the first of November, 2003, Don Watkins made an ass out himself by failing to notice that Frank posted his tech update, not on the first of November, but the last of October.
Misha,
you will not need 2 copies of winXP for 2 computers.
however, microsoft does use an activation thing where you have to get a code from them. they are evil bastards, and will let you get codes a few times without bugging you, but if you reinstall enough, you will have to call them and ask for a code (instead of automated) and if they don’t like your reason (ie suspect you of piracy) your copy of XP becomes useless. also, after like 11 or so activations, you won’t get more for any reason, or so i hear.
TO: FrankJ, Emporer Misha I, et al
RE: Say WHAT!!!!
“I’ve got XP at work and I like it a lot, but if upgrading my trusty (if occasionally crashing) 98SE to XP means fuX0ring up my data and having to re-install my software, then I’ll just stick with what I’ve got.” — Emporer Misha I
All this trouble going from 98SE to XP? You’re kidding me, right?
Uuuuhhhh….guys….
We don’t have these sorts of problems in the Mac realm.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[When Microsoft finally makes a product that doesn’t suck, it’ll be a vacuum cleaner.]
Macintosh – Most applications crash if not the operating system hangs. God I love it. If you arent a professional graphics artist you have no excuse to own a mac.
A side not… XP professional gives you the option to not register with microsoft.
True dat, Dan. And even though XP does at first look and act like a computer starter kit for toddlers, it is HIGHLY customizable. Especially with the pro version. Frank, here’s a link that helped me immensely- http://www.tweakxp.com/
Good, safe advice for anyone new to the o.s.
Or just bored.
I’ve been a huge Linux user, once I got over that insecure feeling and went ahead and started using something that was “different”. I will NEVER ever go back. You couldn’t pay me. Never lost a document on it, never had a virus, never gotten the blue screen of death…
Open Office rocks. the GIMP rocks too. ;oD
TO: FrankJ
RE: Software?
“When you don’t have any software to run, it’s easy to be stable :)” — Walter
You mean, software that doesn’t have back-doors or security leaks or built-in trojans or require you to play Twister on your keyboard and borg-mouse or gets into a snit with third-party software or crashes out of shear cussidness…don’t you?
I got software…scattered across 5 machines on a hard-wired and 11g LAN, including an OS X server. We don’t have these problems. Even when we move to a new OS.
I got an integrated software package I bought in ’92. Still runs today. And it runs better on these newer machines than it does on the machine I bought it for originally…which by the way, I still have and it runs too.
Enjoy,
Chuck(le)
[Don’t ask someone what kind of machine they drive. If it’s a Mac, they’ll tell you. Otherwise, why embarass them. — Tom Clancy]
TO: Dan
RE: Beg to Differ
“Macintosh – Most applications crash if not the operating system hangs. God I love it. If you arent a professional graphics artist you have no excuse to own a mac.” — Dan
You must have one sorry machine. Never had the sort of problems you’re reporting, and I’ve operated the White Pages Computer Lab of what used to be US WEST for the last 10 years; 12 computers, 24/7/365. I’ve had one HD failure in that time. [Note: We have replaced machines as newer machines become available. But we having done that in the last 3 years, due to financial constraints…thank you Mr. Nachio….Please stay in Europe.]
On the other hand, the distaff, who worked in a Windows-based environment was re-installing her OS about once a month, on average. Or rather the IT-pros were doing it for her.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Unless you’re ready to be fully committed to operating a computer, get a Mac. — Windows user to someone contemplating getting a computer.]
Windows XP? Recently I attempted to install an upgrade copy of XP home over the top of Windows ME. What a waste of time. Told my friend whose PC it was on to get a full version of XP PRO. That went in with no problems. After downloading around 200 MB of patches, upgrades and protection, his PC works like a dream.
I’ve installed operating systems from DOS, Windows, WFWG, NT 4.0, Win 95, Win 98 (including SE), Win 2K, and XP. And have licenses for most of those operating systems. All I would say is to avoid MSN unless you really want to run Micro$oft’s Instant Messenger.
As to backups all I can say is that paranoid people make backups. They make backups often and on different media (how many times has anyone made either a tape or a CD backup that was bad?) so as to avoid problems. I’ve got customers who refuse to make backups even after they’ve lost everything several times.
Frank, you made a good choice in operating systems. The real difference between XP Home/Pro is that Pro gives you many more utilities than does the Home version. Found out years ago not to buy anything from MS that wasn’t a complete version.
Frank, you have a good site.
“require you to play Twister on your keyboard and borg-mouse”
Twister on the keyboard? Macs are the ones that require secret codes to eject a disk. That is, if it notices the disk. Otherwise you need to pry it out with a paper clip.
Borg-mouse? You mean something that has more than one button? Man that right mouse button is so hard to figure out…
Thanks, Elliot.
So let me get this right, because I checked it out online at Micro$loth’s website, and it looked to me like they said that after having installed and activated it on one machine, further activation requests will be ignored.
Just want to be sure here, because paying $600 for the privilege of running the same OS on both my machines seems a little bit steep, if you ask me.
And they wonder why piracy is so widespread?
I must be stupid, I like XP Pro, great luck with it and i agree, upgrading has never worked like a full install, but Mac is good for people who want great graphics and ease of use and are willing to pay for it, look at the cash for a decked out G5, it is for the artiste, not the geek, and that is ok. Why can’t we all just get along and agree that everyone has different uses and wants when it comes to computing. I recommend either for the individual, just makes sense that the desktop publisher wants a mac and the engineer wants to build their own pc. Gotta love the options.
TO: Mr J
RE: Of Mice and Boards
“Twister on the keyboard? Macs are the ones that require secret codes to eject a disk. That is, if it notices the disk. Otherwise you need to pry it out with a paper clip.” — Mr J
Don’t know what machine you’re thinking of. But all the machines I’m familiar with you can just click-drag-and-drop the disk into the Trash and it ejects. Paper clips are for when you have no power or the disc is physically damaged.
“Borg-mouse? You mean something that has more than one button? Man that right mouse button is so hard to figure out…” — Mr J
I’m just an old Army guy. I prefer to keep things simple. It’s more efficient and I’m more effective that way.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
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I just stumbled accross your site and found it quite interesting.. Just a quick comment about the cost of xp… i don’t know if you guys have this in us but here in uk.. i just bought the full version of XP for less than half the retail value… how?… i bought a spare hard drive for next to nothing and got the OEM version of xp pro.. ok ok so i’m sure this is common knowlege to most.. but i a mere novice at this computing thingy… anyways bye for now.. i will check again no doubt.