I am so pissed about XP

[qb]

When I bought my computer (HP Pavilion), I said, "Can't I get it with Windows 98?". The sales guy said, "Sure, for an extra $200!" So I went with XP.

Half of my kids' games don't work on XP. After many headaches, I bought a Windows 98 disk and made a partition for the kids. I also had to buy a new sound card, because the one that came with the HP was from some fly-by-night company in Korea with no web site and no Windows 98 compatible driver. The internet connection doesn't work for the same reason (which is okay with me - they don't need to go there yet!)

Now I find out I need to get a patch for my patch to protect from more worms (on the XP partition).

[Avalux]

1. Get rid of XP, 98

and install Windows 2000.

[wtmusic]

3. Better yet, get a Mac

[eyesroll]

6. I agree.

We have six computers in the house right now. Four are Macs. (One is non-functional and one is so old it might as well be.)

One of the PCs isn't ours so it doesn't count.

The other PC is a dirt-cheap eMachines that we needed to run one stupid, but necessary, program (and any work-arounds would cost as much as or more than buying the cheap machine, we discovered).

[DS1]

8. snore, buy a mac, buy a mac, buy a mac

those games won't work on that either! :eyes:

The answer is to not buy a computer in an electronics store, they are all shit. They might as well have that "As Seen On TV!" tag on them.

Sorry for potentially ruining your day, get your money back if possible.

[wtmusic]

22. That's true, Macs are not at ALL compatible

with the Sobig virus... :)

[Leftist78]

21. once you go mac

you'll never go back

[Systematic Chaos]

7. You can *cough* obtain a *cough*

FREE *cough* copy of Windows 2000 *cough* on certain file sharing *COUGH* sites....

Or you could get an OEM version of it from many vendors just by buying a refurbished floppy drive for $6. Might run you $50 or so....

[demnan]

2. Yeah it's stupid

they keep coming out with new versions of software but the software doesn't really provide any improvement, on the other hand all your other software and hardware becomes immediately incompatible.

I still have Windows 98 on my home machine.

[ixion]

4. for future reference, HP makes some of the worst machines

on the market. Go with a Bare Bones, Dell or IBM next time. You'll be much happier.

[billbuckhead]

5. Windows products are very good............................................

at generating profits for Microsoft and it's allies. I use Windows 98/XP at work and Mac at home. It seems that more than 3/4 of the software ever made works on Windows 98 and virtually every printer is compatable, but it crashes all the time. Windows XP rarely crashes but it's a nightmare running the same software and printers.

[TXlib]

14. What ixion said!

HP sucks.

They use shitty parts and have horrible customer service.

Stick with Dell, Gateway, or AlienWare (the last if you're mostly into gaming). I've not heard of Bare Bones...

[FlashHarry]

15. Wow. I've had nothing but good to say about HP.

I have an HP notebook. So far, I've had no hardware issues, only a few XP bugs, which were fixed quickly with the help of their excellent 24/7 customer service staff. In fact, I'd give HP's CS a 10 out of 10.

[dani]

23. don't get a Dell

unless you want to give money to this guy:

Michael Dell mobilized high-tech support for his former Austin neighbor George W. Bush throughout the campaign. In a letter dated December 5, Dell and a group of two dozen high-tech executives urged Al Gore to quit the race before the votes were even counted. "We understand that some of your advisors may be urging you to fight to the bitter end," the executives wrote. "We call upon you to voluntarily concede this close-fought election . . . for the betterment of our country."

His financial and political support certainly affords him direct access to Bush. In January, Dell and 35 other business leaders who had contributed a combined $1.6 million to the GOP were invited to a private forum with the president-elect.

http://www.motherjones.com/web_exclusives/special_reports/mojo_400/104_dell.html

Do a search on motherjones.com for more info on Dell.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Sigh..............

Sorry you have problems...all I can tell you is that I run XP Pro and love it, never have any problems with viruses, etc. But Software/hardware conflicts are the downside for PC based systems that are built by lots of OEMs and 3rd party reseller's add-ins.

SOunds like your bitch is with the hardware side, not with Windows...have you checked the Windows Update site to see if they have a driver that may be more current for your OS?

[denverbill]

10. I have XP home on 2 Compaqs and have had no problems.

I think maybe one 5 year old game didn't work very well, but every other game I had on WinME worked just fine.

On edit: Oh, and I was going to say that XP almost NEVER crashes. I had TONS of problems with crashes on ME.

[xJlM]

12. ME stands for "Many Errors"

I think I'd leave the kids on W98 with no internet connection.

[billbuckhead]

11. HP printers do seem much more compatible, but I bought a Brother

It was highly rated and cheaper than the HP. Said on the box it was compatible with XP. I've downloaded the latest drivers from Brother but it still cuts the bottoms of contracts off. The software we use for our business is designed for Okidata printers and the manufacturer pretty much says if any other printers work, fine, but we don't support them. It seems HP printers always work with this software but every other printer we've tried has problems when running XP. These non-HP printers seem fine on Windows 98. I'm also skeptical of the quality of HP PC's and their cameras seem hard to use as well.

[FlaGranny]

13. Find the executable file for your game

and right click it, click on "properties" and then "compatibility". You can set XP to run any program for compatibility in 98, ME, XP, etc. There you can also set the the color to 256 and a lower screen resolution.

Edit: On re-reading your post I see you made a 98 partition for the games. It's a VERY GOOD idea to have you kids games on a separate partitition.

[FlashHarry]

16. You're pissed old software doesn't work with a new OS???

Amazing!

Seriously, why not just go to a pawn shop and pick up an old PIII machine with Win98 on it? Use your new machine to surf the Web and run new software!

[qb]

18. I guess I'd been conditioned into expecting too much.

With Windows 95 & 98 upgrades all of my old software worked after the upgrade. They didn't invent the term "backwards-compatible" for nothing.

[FlashHarry]

20. I hear you.

It's a crime--and a great way to sell new software. Although, Win98 was really just an upgrade from Win95. XP really is a whole new ball-game.

Somebody else posted a way to get XP to run Win98 programs. Did you try it yet? It sounds like it might be your ticket.

(Sorry if I sounded snotty earlier...)

[qb]

24. It worked for one game, but not the rest.

My partitioned drive is actually working out well - I don't have to worry about the kids mucking up the important stuff!

[BlueJazz]

19. I agree....I've run XP Pro since even before it came out for sale

and have never had one single problem with it.
You can't put Jet Fuel in a Yugo and then sit back and blame the
manufacture of the fuel when the car runs like shit.

I fix computers for a living and have almost (not quite yet) told folks that I really can't help them when they call up and complain because some P.O.S. they've bought is not able to run DumbRaider 2004. :)

The folks that are always bashing Windows should live in a world
where some manufactures make Macs for $299.95 and see how well they would run at that price.

If ALL computers cost as much as Macs do, the Mac devotees wouldn't have anything to crow about.

[qb]

25. Where can I get DumbRaider? That sounds like fun!

:)

[Parche]

17. yes

I had the same problem, though I love my computer, because it is
very fast awesome graphics for my flight simulator 2002
I cannot play 5 of my older games that only played on windows 98
including the awesome Silent Hunter