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Best OS for Older Hardware

jacktesterson

jacktesterson

Diamond Member
Pentium II 350
256MB PC-100 Ram
8.4 GB HDD 5400 RPM
12X Burner
4MB ATI Rage Pro 2X AGP


Windows 2000 or Windows XP?

This PC if for my girlfriend to use at University. She was using a P166 but I said I had something laying around that would be better than that so the above is what I came up with.

I am leaning Win 2000....Suggestions please?

PC will be used for Internet/MSN/Email/Burning a music CD once in a while. This is all

 
I run Windows 2000 on a Pentium 2 366 laptop with 256 MB of RAM and it runs fine. Just a little slow because of the old slow hard drive.

*EDIT* Windows XP should work fine too as long as you disable the junk like System Restore, Indexing and turn off services that will never be used.
 
XP should be fine on that system. Switch to the "Windows Classic" theme and disable any visual effects. Should run like a champ with 256 MB of RAM.
 
Originally posted by: MrChad
XP should be fine on that system. Switch to the "Windows Classic" theme and disable any visual effects. Should run like a champ with 256 MB of RAM.
Click to expand...


And disable any unnecessary services and apps as well.
 
IMO Windows 3.11


Just kidding...
Um I 'd run win2k as long as she isnt into heavy gaming.
Turn off all unnecessary services, but if she is in a dorm hooked to dorm network, dont disable the wrong things.


Although, a linux variant like RedHat/Fedora/Suse with OpenOffice etc would do all you need and run a little faster and more secure.
 
XP? Well, spending money for a legit copy of XP to run on that computer would be a waste of money. The XP license alone is worth WAY more than the hardware!

I say find an old copy of 98 or ME, hopefully free or super cheap, and install that. Get it working, install virus scanner and spybot/adaware, then tell your gf to NOT install any P2P software. Should work fine after that.
 
I am thinking Windows 2000. As far as the liscense goes I have about 4 of each operating system sitting here that I don't use and will just give one to her (unopened Windows upgrade boxes I picked up couple yrs ago real cheap from a going out of business sale). they are just upgrades but she has a legit copy of Windows 98 SE so I don't think i would be doing anything illegal. I'll look into it anyways.
 
I'd use xp. If you patch win2k with all the latest service packs and patches it basically uses as much system resources as xp, so there isn't much point in using 2k.
 
If you do use XP, make it XP Pro so the computer can function in an Active Directory domain, etc, since she's at University with it. Whether it's Win2000Pro or XP Pro, I think it would be good to set the system up with one Admin-class account that she uses exclusively for Admin stuff, and then at least two Limited accounts, one for her to use in daily-driver stuff and one for visitors/guests to use. A great way to help stave off spyware, adware, and six different types of media players that don't like eachother 😉
 
...she has a legit copy of Windows 98 SE ...
Click to expand...
Then why not stay with Win 98SE? It was my main OS for over 3 1/2 years. Just got Win XP about 3 months ago, set it up as dual boot with Win 98SE. I still keep my anti-virus up to date under Win 98SE; also use Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy with both OS. She'll have a faster machine with Win 98SE than with later versions of Windows.

Ah, wait a minute. Since she's a university student, she should be able to buy Win XP, MS Office 2003, and maybe other software at academic pricing and save big bucks. I know students at one major university can get Win XP, Office 2003 Standard, and FrontPage 2003 for $100! If she can get a package like that and needs Office, I might go that route. Otherwise, I'd stick with Win 98SE. Maybe she could run Win 98SE now and hold up on the idea of getting the academically priced package. She might have a chance to find other students who've installed Win XP and Office 2003 on similar hardware, and get their opinion on how their systems run.
 
Originally posted by: dderolph
...she has a legit copy of Windows 98 SE ...
Click to expand...
Then why not stay with Win 98SE? It was my main OS for over 3 1/2 years. Just got Win XP about 3 months ago, set it up as dual boot with Win 98SE. I still keep my anti-virus up to date under Win 98SE; also use Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy with both OS. She'll have a faster machine with Win 98SE than with later versions of Windows.
Click to expand...

I agree, win98 will run much faster than 2k or xp and dual-booting is also a thought.

 
2K would be fine. NT4 if you have it.. Crack, even 98. Dunno the OS requirements, should say on the box.

Consider Red Hat, you can determine what all gets installed. Choice of KDE or Gnome desktop. I believe KDE can be smaller, Gnome can be more like windows. Just make sure that you set up the CD nice for autoplay and burning. The chances of getting a virus are less, and has some good stability overall.
 
I put Windows 2000 on all of my old systems. It went pretty quick even on my old laptop with a 366mhz celeron and 256mb pc100. It's not bloated like XP and it's really stable.
 
I'm still using Win 98SE (when I have to use Win at all) and can do everything I want. But if you wan't to go with w2k, that would probably be OK too. I wouldn't use XP just because I don't feel like begging BillyG for a new install code every time I want to change something...
. Why not go with Linux anyway - time for folks to start opting out of the Windows trap.
.bh.
 
Win2k will run fine on that hardware. As much as I like 98 on older stuff, if it has the amount of ram that you have, I put 2000 on it.
 
Originally posted by: Delorian
Originally posted by: dderolph
...she has a legit copy of Windows 98 SE ...
Click to expand...
Then why not stay with Win 98SE? It was my main OS for over 3 1/2 years. Just got Win XP about 3 months ago, set it up as dual boot with Win 98SE. I still keep my anti-virus up to date under Win 98SE; also use Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy with both OS. She'll have a faster machine with Win 98SE than with later versions of Windows.
Click to expand...

I agree, win98 will run much faster than 2k or xp and dual-booting is also a thought.
Click to expand...

 
Win2k would run fine on that... I ran win2k on a P200 with 128RAM when I first started at work years ago... and it ran decently enough I could use the PC without problems.
 
I vote for Windows 2000. I would not install XP. I know you can customize XP so that it will probably run ok but what does XP offer that 2000 doesn't offer?

I put XP on my P4 1.3Mhz and it runs ok. If I could go back to Windows 2000 without lot of bother, I would. HTH
 
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