Anybody got a Windows ME install disc I can borrow?

[5thGenDemocrat]

Andy the Right Wing Republican built me a cool new computer tower (like, 80g RAM as opposed to the 7g I'm working with now). It's got all the toys and he put it all together for $96.83 (for the case and hard drive) and I can't wait to use it.
But I lost the disc I installed ME onto this (old) mainframe with. I don't want to have to contact Microsoft and spend big $$$ to replace it.
Can anyone help out?
John
Am I even making sense? Truth is, I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about when it comes to computers.

[Moochy]

1. Google shows a bunch :)

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22windows+me+boot+disk%22&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

google for "windows me boot disk" and lots of kind souls have created /archived boot disk images.

[5thGenDemocrat]

4. Thanks for that link

I downloaded the boot disc onto a floppy. That should be all I need, right?
John
I figured someone had had to make shareware out of it by now. Thanks again.

[sabbat hunter]

2. ME sucks

why would you ever want to put ME on a computer. put 98SE on instead, somebody must have an old copy of that around.

ME sucked ass. very buggy and not all drivers were designed for it.

[5thGenDemocrat]

3. I don't know why Andy insisted on it

I understand he's just pulling my current hard drive (the 7g one) out of the present tower and slipping it into the new tower in tandem with the new (80g) drive. Seems to me that the ME would transfer intact -- but what do I know?
I'll ask him about the 98SE though.
John
Kinda flying blind here.

[zulchzulu]

5. Why ME?

Upgrade yo silf!

You can get a copy of XP Home for $20 or less... Check www.craigslist.com

[5thGenDemocrat]

6. Yeah, I don't understand why Andy wants me to reload ME

He just got done building his own computer for the third time (this one cost 4K for the parts -- it's a humdinger). The previous two models are why he had all the extra parts laying around necessary to build my new one.
I'd think he'd have a better OS than Windows ME over at his house. But for some reason, he wanted to reload ME.
John
I should have probably asked him about that.

[zulchzulu]

7. Get on the Linux Train

Download or get Red Hat (SUSE if ya want) and have all the functionality of Windoze and then some.

[5thGenDemocrat]

8. SUSE?

I understand Linux is all freeware, right? Considering I'm largely computer illiterate (I can operate one but have little idea how it works -- kind of like a car), is Linux a good choice for me? Can I find all the software I need?
John
Who mostly just surfs the web, anyhow.

[zulchzulu]

9. Linux solution is really a good choice

I've used various kinds of Linux over the years and the versions now available are easy to install, easy to configure with printers, monitors and other peripherals and have great software that is compatible with Microsoft Office and other applications.

More info: http://www.linux.org/dist/download_info.html

Or: http://www.linuxiso.org/

I recommend FreeBSD, which is very cool and FREE:
http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=15

OpenOffice by Sun Microsystems is basically MS Office circa 2000 or so and FREE:
http://www.openoffice.org/

There are many free open source applications like Gimp that rival Photoshop 5 or so.

...and the best part about Linux is that it runs really fast on older machines!

I might suggest going to a local software store and getting Red Hat (the cheapest version-around $30) if you want a lot of extras and support as well.

Linux looks like this:

[5thGenDemocrat]

11. Is the advantage of Linux that it's more bug-free or simpler or what?

I know it's shareware but why is that preferable to Windows? Can you explain it to someone who's reasonably intelligent but not that hip to computers?
John
Someone, say, like me.

[zulchzulu]

14. It's pretty much virus free and very stable

It all depends on what you use a computer for. If you surf the web, do graphics, watch or listen to files, use spreadsheets, write or even do presentations, Linux has all you need.

If you're a geek, there are tons of applications that would leave even the latest version of Einstein busy.

Linux runs really fast (especially using the net) and offer just about all the software choices you would ever need. Most applications are written by and for the Open Source community, with which software developers add new features and get thousands of others to test and tweak...for free.

I have one box (Computer) running Red Hat that is about 8 years old. It would crawl along with Windows 98 but with Linux, it's like another computer.

The interface for most Linux distributions (operating systems) rival anything Windows or Apple can do with a graphical user interface.

[5thGenDemocrat]

17. Thank you

I think I actually understood that. And, like I said, I just surf the web -- watch and listen to files...yes, yes, yes.
And I'm going over to look at those sites you included. Maybe I can learn something.
John
Unlikely, but you never know.

[BiggJawn]

18. No, it's advantage is that you can giggle with glee...

...Knowing that there's one more computer in the world that Bill Gates got fucked out of supplying the OS for.

Unless you're tieing a group of computers together in a network, that is the ONLY "advantage" of running Linux at home.

I bought this box i'm using in 2000. It came with WinME on it. After a year of putting up with constant lock-outs, crashes and other endearing "quirks", I coverd it with a copy of Win2K. It has run EVERY day since without a freeze, crash, blue screen of death, NOTHING.

I had a distribution of Linux that I was going to install, but after reading the "Dummies" book and the documentation, I decided there was no advantage to running Linux. I could give a shit about Bill Gates.

I wonder why Symantec hasn't classified ME as a virus. That's what it is.

[sabbat hunter]

19. linux

is a good OS, but not really good for someone who is computer illiterate.
and while you can get open office for it, linux wont run games or a lot of software designed for windows.

[merwin]

15. Probably not the best idea for someone who doesn't know computers.

[zulchzulu]

16. Linux has gotten a LOT friendlier in the past couple of years

The installers are much better and with a little direction, anyone can configure their computer to be online pretty easily. For instance, Red Hat has an installer that gets you online and viewing in millions of colors by the time the software is installed.

You now can just drive and not have to open the hood to get your computer going...like earlier versions of Linux.

[merwin]

23. One problem and the whole thing is hosed though.

From a user's standpoint, at least. I have no doubt that a novice can install it. It's the post-install that's a bitch.

At least with windows, you can ask any 12 year old for help and get it fixed :-)

[Wickerman]

10. You wonder why Andy wants you to use ME?

The answer is in your first line:

Andy the Right Wing Republican

He is punishing you for being a Democrat. ME, as others have said, is the suckiest OS ever cobbled together.

Good luck, install ME as he asks then get yourself a copy of XP and install that over the top.

[5thGenDemocrat]

12. So the new computer tower is just part of an insidious plot?

I hadn't thought of that. That's ingenious. Simply ingenious.
John
For a Republican, I mean. But I bit -- so what's that make me?

[Wickerman]

13. An industrious Dem

you will foil his plot by overwriting the dastardly ME and give yo'self a kickass machine by installing XP or, as some would have you, Linux!
:toast:

[name not needed]

20. Windows ME?

Obviously, it's a cruel prank he's playing on you.

[sabbat hunter]

21. im guessing

that you mean you are getting a 80 gig hard drive not 80 GB ram.

how much ram do you have on the system?

if you are going to run XP like many people are recommending, you should have at least a 500 Mhz processor and 256 MB ram (preferably 512MB ram)

what processor speed do you have?

peace

[5thGenDemocrat]

22. Right. 80g hard drive

512 ram. And whatever processor the new box has, it HAS to be faster than what I'm using now. Andy's told me all the numbers, but it sounds like "blorbelbeebelburbel" to me.
Anyhow, I'm certain it'll handle XP -- the parts are only a year old or so (the tower I'm using now is a 2000 model and not a high end one at that).
John
I'll get all the particulars when I talk to Andy tomorrow.

[Nomad559]

24. Do you have a

fast Internet connection, and a CD burner?

If you do, I can send you Windows 2000 Pro, or XP pro (Corp).

I can also send you a fast download link for Linux SuSE 9.3 Professional - 5 CD's
But I suggest you Install Linux on another PC .. you will need your Windows system.
It will take you some time to work the bugs out of the Linux system.

:)

[5thGenDemocrat]

25. I have both

Check your DUmail.
John
And thanks -- I'll check it out. Seems this ol' Windows ME I'm using is the proverbial turd in the punchbowl.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

26. Upgrade to XP. You won't regret it. However, make sure you

have all the security working.