How much Memory for Win ME?!?

[deadken]

I am putting together a 'real' budget box for my friends kids. I wanted to know with Windows ME what would be the optimum amount of memory? Again, these are kids using it (no 3d games), mostly surfing the net and doing homework.

Specs are:
Asus Mobo
PIII 500 (@550 (5x110FSB)
Windows ME
256mb of Ram
16mb PCI Video card

I typically believe that more then 128mb with Win98 is a waste and that with XP you can go as high as you can afford. But for ME I don't know.

BTW: The Mobo has 4 DIMM slots, so I might stuff some old 32 + 64 sticks in there (along with one 128mb at least).

 

[amdskip]

384 but why windows ME. You do realize you will be fixing this in no time when it corrupts itself.

 

[Busithoth]

Originally posted by: amdskip
384 but why windows ME. You do realize you will be fixing this in no time when it corrupts itself.

QFT

 

[necine]

98 SE is superior to ME. However budget box, I'd go with 2000 pro.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: necine
98 SE is superior to ME. However budget box, I'd go with 2000 pro.

Definitely. Especially if it's for a couple kids who don't know anything about computers.

 

[phaxmohdem]

YES YES YES!! Heed to warnings of your Anandtech brethern, as they look out for your eternal soul! ME = Satan in all his glory! Windows 2000 Pro is THE ONLY OS I would install on a Windows budget box.... Lest you're ready for the eternal damnation that is..... Daily Tech Support!

 

[EagleKeeper]

No matter which OS you install, after you get it up, updated and stable (and it can be done with ME), make a image of the drive.

I just wiped out an ME installation from one of my kids and put on 98Se2.
The ME installation was so corrupted that I could not repair it.

 

[jadinolf]

ME

shudder

 

[Modeps]

Do not, not not get WinME.

 

[Zugzwang152]

definitely 2000. If you coule somehow upgrade the processor a little, win xp home is cheaper than 2000 pro licenses these days, if you can find them anymore at all.

 

[Powermoloch]

4 years with me and no problems....128 is the minimum these days

 

[LandRover]

I have a 366MHz ThinkPad with 128MB. It runs Win 2000 nicely. Win Me is more trouble than it's worth.

 

[JackMDS]

For regular use 196MB is the braking point in memory for the Win98SE/ME.

Above it s usually a waste.

:sun:

 

[xgsound]

I'm the one in my family that serves as the PC junk collector and rebuilds simple PCs for internet and homework. If you're going to 256 MB anyway, consider XP slipstreamed with SP1 minimum in classic mode. Memory is the most serious limitation, and 256 Mb is very usable on a 500 Mhz PIII if you have 6GB disk or better. Most motherboards and periphials will then have drivers installed automatically.

I've found win2000 to have more limited driver support and also need 256 Mb to run reasonably. Even so, as you can see above, many people like it on older machines.

My winme experience is limited, but 256 Mb on win98se is helpful. I use the win98se rollup at
http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html which includes many drivers, functional USB, and an override to the win98se 512 MB limitation.


Jim

 

[AdamSnow]

Here's another vote for : STAY THE FVCK AWAY FROM WINDOWS ME

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
No matter which OS you install, after you get it up, updated and stable (and it can be done with ME), make a image of the drive.

I just wiped out an ME installation from one of my kids and put on 98Se2.
The ME installation was so corrupted that I could not repair it.

I just came across one of these at work. It was impossible to even remotely get close to fixing it.

 

[evilharp]

Originally posted by: deadken
I am putting together a 'real' budget box for my friends kids. I wanted to know with Windows ME what would be the optimum amount of memory? Again, these are kids using it (no 3d games), mostly surfing the net and doing homework.

Specs are:
Asus Mobo
PIII 500 (@550 (5x110FSB)
Windows ME
256mb of Ram
16mb PCI Video card

I typically believe that more then 128mb with Win98 is a waste and that with XP you can go as high as you can afford. But for ME I don't know.

BTW: The Mobo has 4 DIMM slots, so I might stuff some old 32 + 64 sticks in there (along with one 128mb at least).

If you do choose Win-ME (Please, please reconsider) remember that ME is 98se with a layer of garbage added on top. So, the old 98se memory rules still apply.

I have a P2-400 humming behind me with 512mb. It was 98se, it is now 2000 pro. It ran great with 512 and 98se, I just mucked with the swap file to cut down on drive usage (fixed max and min). It runs awesome with 2000.

Back to ME, really reconsider. If they (the neighbours) can't afford another OS, I can see your problem, but ME is an enormous headache. I worked in an office that deployed a bunch of PCs with OEM ME on them. They lasted about a month, and the problems were insane. I convinced the IT manager to purchase a Win 2000 volume liscence, and we deployed 200o on all the boxes. Tech support calls dropped 90%. OS related problems disappeared.

If you must use a 9x variant, use 98se. But if you can, get an NT variant (i.e. 2000 or XP).

 

[deadken]

WOW! Thanks for all of the suggestions! I ALSO HATE WINDOWS ME! But, it is the one O/S I can install on this system for FREE (Well, it's kinda obvious why....). Please realize that when I say 'Budget Box', I mean it! I will be selling this for $50. That is with a Antec Case! I figure that the two sticks of 128MB in there now are worth $10-$20 alone (hence the idea of using up all of the Memory slots with smaller sticks). I wish I had a cheapo case to put all of this stuff in, but right now I don't (don't get me wrong, the case is an older version of the Antec 1600, no Antec PS, but still a nice case (uses a 92mm fan in the rear instead of the 120mm)).

So, If someone wants to give me a better O/S then the FREE copy of ME I already have, I will gladly take it. I will certainly do some digging and see if I can find my copy of Norton Ghost. If I can (and I hope I can), I will make an image of the HD. That should help minmize some headaches later on. I will also look for a Win98SE disc....

Anyway..... So.... The answer is?!?!? 128,196,256,XXX????

 

[Winchester]

So... you are stealing Windows ME? Kinda like stealing a three legged bird dog IMO.

Just install Ubuntu or Kubuntu.

 

[Patt]

I'll chime in with another vote NOT to install ME. Worst piece of garbage ever. Can't believe MS shipped it in such a state. If you're bound and determined, put in as much ram as you like, it won't stop it from corrupting.

 

[Czar]

I'm taking a MCSA class and its funny when someone mentiones Windows ME everyone laughs, and its usualy the teacher who starts.

 

[NeoV]

NOTE TO SELF - NEVER INSTALL WIN ME ON A COMPUTER...PERIOD

 

[redbeard1]

Somewhere I read that WinME could make meaningful use of 192 meg of ram, where 98SE was only 128 meg. Either system is still hamstrung by the resource problem. Both of them pull the core running files from the first 2 meg of memory. So a ton of things starting up at boot will eat system resources know matter how much ram you throw at it.

On a side note. While ME is a pain, it's system restore files are handy. I've gotten a number of systems booting again by copying an older good copy of the registry files, which are in the _restore folder, and replacing the corrupt ones in the windows folder.

WinME seems to need to be defragged at a regular interval to keep it running smooth.

 

[tuteja1986]

YOU POOR POOR SOUL for god sake anything but windows me. That windows has left some painful memories that will be never be forgetten.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: necine
98 SE is superior to ME. However budget box, I'd go with 2000 pro.

:thumbsup:

Stay away from WinME. Set them up with a standard (limited rights) account on a Win2000 setup and you'll have a lot fewer headaches.