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General discussion

Which version of Windows do you mainly use?

Oct 3, 2005 10:36AM PDT

If you use Microsoft Windows, which version do you mainly use?

Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional SP2
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Home SP2
Windows 2000 Pro
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows 95 (really?)
Other Windows (which one?)

Discussion is locked

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Get an other video rendering program
Oct 11, 2005 3:05PM PDT

The software that comes as part of Media Center is worthless, especially if it detects that the recording is copy protected.
Try Nero Suite; or Intervideo WinDVD Platinum or Sony's Click to DVD.
As far as the bugs are concerned I think they are reltated specifically to my Sony VAIO VCG RA-710G.
Many problems with Windows Media player 10, and they won't ALLOW you to go back to Windows Media Player 9.
Many blue screens from WMP 10 crashes....they blame it on my nvidia video card. I have had to re-install the C:\ Drive 12 times since I purchased the computer in 2004.

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For entertainment, 98 is best! For work, NT 4 is best!
Oct 4, 2005 4:21PM PDT

Of course, Windows 2000/XP are good, but they are bulky and slow. Windows 98 isn't fast, but it is the traditional entertainment system, with high compatibility with many old games. Windows NT 4 is stable, and not too large and slow compared with 2000/XP. Windows 2000/XP are slow and large because of their abundance of services, new features and security. We should use what fits us best.

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I have XP Pro SP-2 and gaming
Oct 4, 2005 9:07PM PDT

isn't an issue for older W95/98 games. You just have to right click the game shortcut on your desktop or in quicklaunch, choose Properties, and then the Compatability tab. Use the dropdown arrow choices for the correct older version and the game slams right in without choppy video or sound that you normally would get with the more 'robust' XP settings for it.

I'm a huge old Adventure/Role Playing game person (such as Myst, Shivers, etc) and not the action games that First Person Role Playing games have become the last couple of years, and most of those games can still be purchased pretty inexpensively at the author sites so I've accumulated many....and nearly all of them are written for W95/98.

Don't give up on those older games if you have XP...they can all be played easily still. I'm hoping that Vista is just as 'game' friendly.

TONI HACKLER
Moderator CNET Forums

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Thank you for your advice!
Oct 8, 2005 1:27PM PDT

With your valuable advice, games that run on Windows 98 can now be played on XP, too! That's excellent!

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2000 not slow
Oct 5, 2005 12:22PM PDT

Actually I find that Windows 2000 works quite fast. Xp is slow with all the added junk enabled but with it disabled it is almost as streamlined as 2000. Yea they can be slow if you have ancient hardware but works very fast on all mine(that I actually have windows installed on). I have also found windows 2000 to be the most stable of the bunch. I had problems very often with 98 but not many with 2000.

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(NT) (NT) XP pro SP2
Oct 4, 2005 4:27PM PDT
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I use windows xy professional.
Oct 4, 2005 6:01PM PDT

To whomb it concerns.

I use both windows xp professional and windows 98, I find XP very good, I do not thing 98 is as good but i have used it for years and it is ok just XP runs better, that is my choice anyway, some may not agree with me.

I still have the other two versions of windows 95 and 3.1 wimdows, I think 95 was better than 98, it did not give as much trouble, it might be there was not as much hackers out then as now, I still think XP is the best I run today.

Regards

James Conway.

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Call centers in Cameroon
Oct 4, 2005 6:47PM PDT

Hi,
I'am a CEO of Ellipse Soft-tech and Telecom LTD, Cameroon Branch.

I want build Up call centers in Cameroon for Quiz and for Assistance.
Please, I need Help, Help! Help!

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I use...
Oct 4, 2005 7:37PM PDT

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005!! Till now i haven't found a single bug or anything. It works awiftly!!

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Sorry!!
Oct 4, 2005 7:38PM PDT

Spelling mistake:

Replace "awiftly" with "swiftly"

Thanks

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Sure that wasn't a Freudian slip?
Oct 4, 2005 8:40PM PDT

I have Media Center also, it does some strange things at times, but I wouldn't ever say it ran "swiftly". Awfully is probably closer to the truth, however personally, I would probably say that it "needs improvement".

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Windows 2000
Oct 4, 2005 7:51PM PDT

I am a UK student and I use Windows 2000 because it was on the laptop when purchased.
Why upgrade, at my own expense, for little extra functionality?
When I was working, the company would upgrade after the first round of "bug fixes" were released and then only on a roll out basis.
I'm old enough to remember the switch from DOS to windows and the user training that involved.
How many non-technical users get more than 10% out of windows anyway.

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Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004
Oct 4, 2005 9:37PM PDT

I use Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 because I have a TV tuner in my laptop.

It is good, but not totally reliable. I am considering buying a Mac too, if only they made a version of OSX Media Center.

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Which OS
Oct 4, 2005 9:42PM PDT

XPpro/SP2. OK, its the best so far, but the following downloading/installing of security and other items is, to say the keast, boring. I don't know if anyone has tried the RAID facility but it just dosn't work with my Maxtor hard drives.

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Win 200 professional does what I need
Oct 4, 2005 9:56PM PDT

Its fast, basically stable and does what I need. It has the same kernal as XP.

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Yup
Oct 6, 2005 10:33AM PDT

Bingo

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I use Not XP not 2000 not 98 or 94 or NT
Oct 4, 2005 10:04PM PDT

I'm using Windows 2003 Server, it more efficient than XP and is more stable.

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Win98SE is the best
Oct 4, 2005 10:21PM PDT

I'm still using Win98. Why?!!! Simple. It just because it's fast, stable, work best with older program, and the most important thing is it's simple (don't have those stupid tooltip popup all the time).

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3.11
Oct 4, 2005 10:30PM PDT

I use Windows 3.11, codenamed "Chicago"

who-hoo - awsm

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XP Pro (SP1) - because SP2 makes networking impossible.
Oct 4, 2005 10:33PM PDT

I do have SP2 installed on one of my computers, but that one is unreachable via my home network. My main PC still works on Windows XP Pro Service Pack 1, and I will NOT upgrade it to SP2.

I have tried upgrading to SP2 twice already, and every time I completely lose all networking capabilities. No internet, no network printers, no file sharing. Nothing!

Yes, I have tried ALL the suggested solutions from Microsoft's Knowledge Base and from other Tech Forums. I installed the patch, I double-checked all my settings. Enabled file-sharing. Still, no network. SP2 just refuses to cooperate. After a week of struggling with it, I uninstalled it. PResto! My network is back!!! It will stay that way.

''Upgrading'' to Vista? Forget it! Too much work, and too much risk of losing ''God-knows-what'' capability, in order to achieve some intangible little extra ''something''? I am not a gambler. Far too much time is spent installing upgrades and ''fixing'' the computer, ... all at the expense of real productive work.

I used to be eager for upgrades. Not any more. Now I am a minimalist. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I'll upgrade only when ''forced to'', i.e. when I purchase a new computer.

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Assuming you are on a router
Oct 4, 2005 11:55PM PDT

for your networking, have you considered the possibility that because SP2 AUTOMATICALLY ENABLES its firewall (SP1 DID NOT and you had to manually enable and configure it), that the XP firewall is in conflict with your router? You could try again and make sure the XP firewall is disabled/turned off to see if that's the problem.

TONI

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SP-2
Oct 5, 2005 12:24AM PDT

I removed SP-2 at the suggestion of our PC guru at work because my computer became increasingly sluggish.Unfortunately, it didn't help much. Most of what I've read says that SP-2 is primarily a security add-on. However, with Norton Anti-virus, I haven't experienced any serious security problems. How much security does a computer need? Any comments?

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Windows version
Oct 4, 2005 11:17PM PDT

I am currently using Windows XP64 Professional. I like it, but before anyone jumps into it beware of one caveat. The driver database is quite small and 64 bit compatible drivers are a must. Creative labs has finished drivers, but those who are using Nvidia graphics cards will have to accept beta drivers. The latest version is 78.03. The OS found the NIC okay, and upgraded mobo drivers can be found with whichever Manufacturer you prefer. I use ASUS.

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Window XP Home SP 2
Oct 4, 2005 11:41PM PDT

Have had a few minor problems but nothing like Windows 98.

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Actually 3 versions of Windows
Oct 5, 2005 1:08AM PDT

Since I upgraded my tower to a 64bit motherboard and chip,I now use Windows Pro 64bit, Windows Pro SP2 and Windows Home SP2. I do this by changing hard drives. This way I can also experiment with different techniques to solving Windows problems (of which there can be many).

So when Vista comes out I will probably put it on another hard drive and use it that way. These removable drive enclosures are GREAT?

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Version Vote
Oct 5, 2005 1:12AM PDT

BEEN WITH MICROSOFT for many , many years and "XP PRO"
is one of the best OS on the market. As far as security, all OS's have and will have problems with HACKERS and security violaters.
olsonl@westelcom.com

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Windows 98SE
Oct 5, 2005 1:16AM PDT

I have been using 98SE for years and find it very comfortable and user friendly. It does what I want it to do. I see no reason to change, at this point in time anyway. I firmly believe one system does not fit the needs of everyone. I have seen and heard some people just want the latest since it is suppose to be the best. If those people do not understand and have the expertise to use the best, then, what good is it. Seems to always be a problem of some sort. True, we all have a learning curve but are we just making it hard on ouselves for the sake of having the most updated and technically best?

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Operating systems
Oct 5, 2005 1:23AM PDT

Well, sence asked--I have Windows XP--and I still have my Windows 98SE, I really prefer the 98SE and feel alot more comfortable with it...it does the jobs I want it to.

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Vista
Oct 5, 2005 1:43AM PDT

I will wait to let the dust settle before jumping into another MS OS. The different versions that will be sold is confusing. I am also looking forward to Leaopard, Apple's OS. However, I will also wait to upgrade until version 10.5.3.

MS OS sounded promising but they keep taking away the interesting features. And the ones that remain, it seems to me you are forking over too much of your computing to a single company.

I 'll wait and see.

ruben dario

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(NT) A joke, right.
Oct 5, 2005 2:24AM PDT

Still use 3.11. Must be a joke.