should i install win 2k or windows 98 on my new system?

m1ke101

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2001
2,825
0
0
i usually play games and surf the internet on the comp. i was wondering if i should stick with windows 98, or should i go with 2k. ive heard that win 2k is much more stable, but is it different drivers and such? could anyone tell me the differences between them and which one i should use.
 

loosbrew

Golden Member
Oct 30, 2000
1,336
1
0
win2k is built on the nt platform and is much different in terms of drivers than win98. you will need to download the newest win2k drivers for all of your hardware. but i would defintely recommend win2k as being the most stable MS OS. i will never go back to win98. i tried once, to see if i missed anything, and i imediately went back to win2k

loosbrew
 

WildeBeast

Senior member
May 17, 2001
464
0
0
Yes, 2K is far more stable than 98, It never really crashes. I use it on my laptop because I don't game on my laptop. Perhaps a dual boot would be nice for you, that will let you game sometimes and be stable the other. On the other hand, 98 can be stable enough to run for months, provided you are careful with your installs and so on.
 

NelsonMuntz

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2001
1,827
0
0
I just got in here, but I can say that Win 2k does need different drivers than Win 98, but companies are making concerted efforts to put out drivers for their products that have Win 2k support. The things that you want to do with your machine s/b fine on either system, and Win 2k does have greater stability, so if that issue is worth the extra money, I say go for it. I have been running one machine on Win 98SE and one on Win Me for some time now and have very few problems. If I had access to Win 2k cheap I would probably put it on the Me machine and see how I like it before I go in full. It does have improved networking capability if you are interested in that sort of thing.
 

MrHelpful

Banned
Apr 16, 2001
2,712
0
0
Windows 98 offers no gaming advantage over Windows 2000, save for the rare game incompatibility.
 

AG73

Senior member
Jan 2, 2001
497
0
0
and m1ke101, check that each component in your rig is on the
hardware compatibility list

if some of the components aren't, then check the manufacturer's webpage for updated win2k drivers and compatibility. win2k has more stringent hardware requirements than win98, though in general most new stuff is win2k compatible.

just a thought, but this might factor into your decision to upgrade to win2k. i agree with the others though, it's a much more stable OS and is great for games.

AG
 

Rob9874

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 1999
3,314
1
0
Mike101,
I've had both OS's on my system for quite a while, but was using 98 for its compatibility with all my hardware. Not until recently did I start using 2000, and it is SO much better! I have 320 MB RAM, and 98 doesn't seem to use very much of it. In 98, my cursor won't move when web pages load (cable modem), but in 2000 I don't have that problem. And, web pages load much faster. Overall it's much smoother and feels much faster.
However, I do have compatibility problems. My Turtle Beach Montego II sound card isn't fully compatible, so I don't have bass/treble controls. My STB Velocity 4400 TNT1 video card doesn't play games well. Madden 2K is noticably jerky - so much so that I play it in 98. I can't get my Kodak 240 to connect via USB, so I load pictures in 98 too.
But, I do those things very rarely, and would rather just take the additional 2 minutes to boot over to 98 when I need to do those. I will be upgrading my sound card soon, and perhaps video too. But for everyday computing (web, office, email), I run 2000.

Rob
 

wolf550e

Golden Member
May 22, 2000
1,370
0
0
there is no question, only win2k! i have dual (well quad actualy) boot, and i havent touched my winme/win98se so long i'm going to wipe those partitions. i havent got winxp to try yet, but until its ready win2k is only ms os i'll use!
 

m1ke101

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2001
2,825
0
0
thanks for all your replies everyone i think i'll try a dual boot or just win 2k, and if i dont like it, ill go back to win 98.
 

m1ke101

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2001
2,825
0
0
whats win 2k pro?? and also whats all this about windows xp ive been hearing about? what kind of os are those? sorry i dont know very much about os's.
 

AG73

Senior member
Jan 2, 2001
497
0
0
hey, it's cool.

win2k Pro (or professional) is the one to get unless you're running a server, in which case win2k advanced server may be the way to go.

windows XP is the new OS coming out, also based on the NT kernel like win2k (but not like win98/95, which are basically operating systems running on top of DOS, which is crap to begin with). XP is supposedly prettier than win2k (though it depends who you ask), and has been marketed as "the OS for my mother" even though it's supposedly very powerful and stable. I think functionality will be similar between winxp and win2k. one BIG catch is that they charge you an annual subscription fee, and you CANNOT install it on more than one PC. Also, if you make big hardware changes, like video card or whatever, winxp will think it's on a new computer and will not run unless you get microsoft's permission (ok that's 3 big catches). Kinda big-brotherish if you ask me.

I have win2k and don't plan on switching to winxp. I can make my desktop pretty, too -- I can use webshots!

AG
 

DeeK

Senior member
Mar 25, 2000
700
0
0


<< whats win 2k pro?? and also whats all this about windows xp ive been hearing about? what kind of os are those? sorry i dont know very much about os's. >>



Windows 2000 Professional is basically the workstation version of Win2000. If you're going for Win2000, that's the one you want. Windows XP is the next version of Windows, and it will replace 2000 and ME. It's slated for October.
 

DeeK

Senior member
Mar 25, 2000
700
0
0


<< one BIG catch is that they charge you an annual subscription fee >>


That idea was dumped a while ago. The mandatory registration and activation is there, but there's no periodic fee of any kind.
 

vash

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2001
2,510
0
0
Another bump for Win2k here. If you have problems with it, you are in the minority and we'll help you fix it up.

vash
 

m1ke101

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2001
2,825
0
0
so if i want to run dual doob win 98/2k, do i install 98 first? if so, how do i set it up so that i can dual boot?
 

bjc112

Lifer
Dec 23, 2000
11,460
0
76
go 2k,, you will never go back

what video card do you have.. i lost about 5 FPS in my games.. which is a small price to pay for the HUGE speed gain i got on my overall system!!!!!!! :) :) :)
 

Medea

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2000
1,606
0
0
Another vote for a dual boot. Also, get Partition Magic to set up your partitioning and the dual boot. You'll find that it's a breeze to use.
 

CAMS

Senior member
Feb 11, 2000
471
0
0


<< i usually play games and surf the internet on the comp. >>



Despite what the one eyed fanatic's say Win98SE is best for gaming, more compatable and faster.
For everything else Win2000 would be better but not by much.

I find Win98Se very stable, the people that say Win2000 is more stable must be running 24/7, then I would agree.
 

Shuja

Member
Jun 16, 2001
65
0
0
;)Hi
Do you playing games of DOS or in DOS mode. if yes Ps chech compatibility of these games in WIN2K and than go for WIN 2K. As far as net surfing i sconncerned there is much better perf in WIN 2K. WIN 2K do not support DOS. DOS is there only for backup compatibility. If your resorces permit go for WIN 2K (I.e. 128MB and more RAM, HDD atleat 4GB etc.) WIN 2K is gainn support NTFS partitoion and thus more security options available.
 

mackstann

Banned
Apr 17, 2001
1,013
0
0
oh god shuja, pm me, i can get you a good deal on Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.;)

EDIT: just noticed the sig. too:



<< An PC Businessman >>



damn man.