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General discussion

Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?

Nov 19, 2003 8:04AM PST

If you have then do you prefer XP over ME? Secondly, did you upgrade ME rather than cleaning your hard drive and installing XP? What kind of issues were you faced with after going from ME to XP on your system? Drivers, hardware issues, ram, etc? I really appreciate any information that you are able to provide.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 19, 2003 8:29AM PST

That was two machines ago, but I did the upgrade to save a few steps, then later moved to another machine and did the clean install. (This is in answer to Subject title question.)

You also ask:

1. If you have then do you prefer XP over ME?

Yes.

2. Secondly, did you upgrade ME rather than cleaning your hard drive and installing XP?

Both. I was in a hurry so I did the upgrade since (a) was in a hurry and (b) I wanted to see what would happen. I have a full backup and a copy of the hard disk so failure was ok. It went fine.

3. What kind of issues were you faced with after going from ME to XP on your system?

It was on some Via based board and I had the SB Audigy issue. Easy to fix by new drivers and then move it to another slot. Sometimes I wonder if Joe and Jane could have figured that out.

4. Drivers, hardware issues, ram, etc? I really appreciate any information that you are able to provide.

a. Microsoft doesn't install the latest or best drivers in ANY offering of any Windows OS. Maybe because I know this, I don't think twice to check the vendor sites of what motherboard, video, audio and such for latest drivers. Some are unaware of this.
b. Issues? Too vague. I had no issues.
c. RAM? Unsure of the question. The machine had 512M RAM so I was well inside the envelope for that.

In closing, Windows ME was just a bad idea. At least it gave me a big stick to whack Symantec at the tradeshows. Here's the article -> http://www.bugnet.com/alerts/bugalert_010110.html

Bob

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Re:Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 20, 2003 9:34AM PST
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TIP: New CDRW drive w/software may be cheaper than Roxio.
Nov 20, 2003 9:40AM PST

Your choice on the matter, but it's rather amazing that I find 20 dollar CDRW drives with bundled software that is good enough to use (Nero) and saves a few bucks.

Bob

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Re:TIP: New CDRW drive w/software may be cheaper than Roxio.
Nov 21, 2003 8:17AM PST

Thanks for the advice Bob!

bob

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Re:Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 22, 2003 8:28AM PST

As you can see......I'm in no great hurry to do the XP upgrade (which is what I have decided to do rather than clean install). Please address the following if you have enough patience:

I've attempted to install XP twice now and I get to a spot that says that I need to uninstall GoBack and that I can reinstall after installing XP. Also, says I need some update software for a Kodak EZ200 digital camera. No real problem here. I will uninstall GoBack to install XP and I have gone to the Kodak site and downloaded and will install the software for XP when I go offline tonight. What is bothering me is that I would prefer to use the Dynamic option for the XP install, but the installation will not connect to the Windows Update site and I assume that this is because of how Microsoft has changed Windows Update site since they were targeted. Anyone know if this is the case and, if it is or isn't, got any suggestions on going ahead with the install of XP and doing the update thing later?

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1. Goback note. 2. Update note.
Nov 22, 2003 11:16AM PST

1. Goback does work, but make sure you go get their latest patches and notes before you install whatever version you have.

2. Update of XP. Or Windows Update. A real annoying problem is that the WORMS can invade your machine before you can install the patches needed to prevent the invasion.

Consider a little research on how to use the built-in firewall or TCP-IP Security to ease that issue.

Bob

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Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 19, 2003 9:12AM PST

I had a Gateway laptop for a month with ME pre-loaded. It was an insurance replacement for a stolen laptop. My insurer offered me the Gateway with ME, but I said no way, I don't want ME, so they offered me an XP Home upgrade. I played with ME a bit, and to say I hated it is an understatement. I then did they upgrade over ME and it went seamlessly- I didn't even have to upgrade any drivers (but take note of what Bob said, because this isn't always the case.) The system was pre-loaded with only 128 megs of ram- too little for XP- at minimum, I'd say you'd need at least 256 megs. I had no issues. ME is one OS I skipped entirely because everything on read on it said it was a stinker, and most people I know that have it agree. I'd take XP over any MS OS for the home user any day.

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Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 19, 2003 10:55AM PST

I ran ME on my Presario for over two years and was about to upgrade to 98SE when I was given a copy of XP Pro. I did a clean install on a new hard drive and then copied my files from the ME drive to the XP. I ran a compatability tes(got the link from this site) and found no issues. My only problem was that XP didn't recognize my IE5 address book and emails until I installed IE6 0n the old drive and then re-copied the files. Also Win Fax Pro was supposed to work but didn't. NBD, I downloaded Free Call Center. I only wish I had changed to something sooner. My machine is a Presario 700MHZ and I am running 512 RAM. If your machine will handle XP, go for it.

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Re:Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 22, 2003 1:55AM PST

Sound issues were taken care of with a new soundcard which it was time for anyway. I was getting sooo sick of constant crashes with ME....haven't had any with XP and my two daughters love having their personalized desktops.

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Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 23, 2003 8:53AM PST

Anyhow, I updated software to make it compatible with XP, I uninstalled GoBack. Ready for upgrade so jump in and do it. First problem, can not get dynamic update to work at am unable to get internet connection working no matter what I did. Ok, bypass and update later maybe. One hour...........ta dum, ta dum, more time. Ok, XP starts firing up, but a box comes up saying that the install is deleting the software updates I made to get the software XP compatible,,,,no problem,,,,,,,,,will update later. Do the restart business or whatever per instructions. Ready to update all software to make it work with XP. Can not get an internet connection to work no matter what I did. Notice, also, that I now have no sound from speakers period. Enough already, go to add/remove and throw away XP. ME back and running. ZoneAlarm got whacked.....how come. Reinstall GoBack first and then download/install ZA again. There was more that happened, but this is enough. About my first sentence here in the reply.......apparently during the install of XP........the install decided that it didn't like my connection options and changed them so idle disconnect and another similar option got enabled again which trashes what's typed in a message before it gets posted.

Question: I have a 20GB hard drive with 13+GB free space. Can I partition the hard drive and do a clean install of XP on the new virtual or whatever drive? I have never partitioned a hard drive before and know not how, but would consider this option if feasible.

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I'll write no.
Nov 23, 2003 10:03AM PST

NT ran out of space on 4GB drive C's. 2000 was often run on a NT 4.0 box and upgraded and severe space issues with the 4GB drive C. So they doubled it and still if was a squeeze as Microsoft Office and more would go on the install drive.

Your choice, but please don't tell me when your windows drive is running slow, full and no space.

Bob

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Re:Anyone here go from ME to XP on their current PC?
Nov 23, 2003 11:09AM PST

I did a clean install and left ME on the system in order to have a dual boot system. I never use ME anymore except to run a Tamarack slide/film scanner that won't work on NTFS.
I did have a few programs that needed to be updated. Namely EZCD Creator, and GoBack which I had to uninstall before XP would install. Once XP was installed I downloaded and installed the new drivers and have not had any problems.
XP does seem to run a little slower on my system but the stability more than makes up for that.
I have purchased a new scanner and would get rid of
ME in a minute except I don't want take a chance on messing up my MBR.