Windows 2k Pro or XP Pro

[winwiz88]

Im trying to decided which version of windows to get, either Win2k or WinXP, and i am wondering which one is better for gamming, networking, etc?

 

[wicktron]

About the same for both.

 

[ethebubbeth]

xp just adds visual enhancements for the most part. It's nice, but the activation is a pain, especially after you've used your key a couple times and they make you call in to get it validated.

 

[rmrf]

I would recommend w2k, especially if you haven't bought xp yet. It is based on the same kernel, but like ethebubbeth said, xp just adds visual enhancements. With xp, everytime you make a change to your hardware, you will have to reactivate the software. just a few things to keep in mind.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: rmrf
I would recommend w2k, especially if you haven't bought xp yet. It is based on the same kernel, but like ethebubbeth said, xp just adds visual enhancements. With xp, everytime you make a change to your hardware, you will have to reactivate the software. just a few things to keep in mind.

No you don't.

I prefer Win2K over XP, but that's not the reason.

 

[rmrf]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: rmrf
I would recommend w2k, especially if you haven't bought xp yet. It is based on the same kernel, but like ethebubbeth said, xp just adds visual enhancements. With xp, everytime you make a change to your hardware, you will have to reactivate the software. just a few things to keep in mind.

No you don't.

I prefer Win2K over XP, but that's not the reason.

I have always had to reactivate after a hardware change, even something as simple as adding a hard drive. I didn't do SP1, so unless that fixed it, nothing has changed.

piracy

You must be using a cracked version of xp then, because in this link, it says that the reactivation has been changed from immediately after reboot to 3 days after the hardware change. You should maybe check where you are getting your software, or stop giving knowledge on an pirated copy of software.

 

[Sunner]

I don't run XP myself, have a few friends who do though, and I've helped them change various relatively minor things(GFX cards, new memory, etc), and never had to reactivate.
And there are many other people around here who've done the same.

And no, those weren't corp versions.

 

[JW310]

Originally posted by: rmrf

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: rmrf
I would recommend w2k, especially if you haven't bought xp yet. It is based on the same kernel, but like ethebubbeth said, xp just adds visual enhancements. With xp, everytime you make a change to your hardware, you will have to reactivate the software. just a few things to keep in mind.

No you don't.

I prefer Win2K over XP, but that's not the reason.

I have always had to reactivate after a hardware change, even something as simple as adding a hard drive. I didn't do SP1, so unless that fixed it, nothing has changed.

piracy

You must be using a cracked version of xp then, because in this link, it says that the reactivation has been changed from immediately after reboot to 3 days after the hardware change. You should maybe check where you are getting your software, or stop giving knowledge on an pirated copy of software.

I've got a legal copy of WinXP that I purchased from newegg.com last summer and it never asked me to reactivate it after something as simple as adding in a hard drive to the system. WinXP uses a points system to keep track of when it needs to be reactivated, IIRC. Once you make enough hardware changes to accumulate enough points, then it'll ask you to reactivate it. Just adding in a hard drive shouldn't cause you to need to reactivate it.

If you always have to activate it after a minor hardware change, then I'd almost say that there's something questionable about your WinXP installation. Either that or you're changing multiple things at once each time you make a hardware change, and changing just enough that you need to activate it every time you make a hardware change.

JW

 

[Unforgiven]

ive gotten much worse fps for gaming in general with xp pro as opposed to w2k. id go with 2k if i were you.

 

[winwiz88]

Im going to say that since Xp loads more graphics thats what is probably slowing it down, so i guess i will use 2k then.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: rmrf

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: rmrf
I would recommend w2k, especially if you haven't bought xp yet. It is based on the same kernel, but like ethebubbeth said, xp just adds visual enhancements. With xp, everytime you make a change to your hardware, you will have to reactivate the software. just a few things to keep in mind.

No you don't.

I prefer Win2K over XP, but that's not the reason.

I have always had to reactivate after a hardware change, even something as simple as adding a hard drive. I didn't do SP1, so unless that fixed it, nothing has changed.

piracy

You must be using a cracked version of xp then, because in this link, it says that the reactivation has been changed from immediately after reboot to 3 days after the hardware change. You should maybe check where you are getting your software, or stop giving knowledge on an pirated copy of software.

In all honestly a lot of people who own legit copies of XP use activation cracks, IMHO, they should be legal and all, microsofts activation deal is a pain. Put that aside though and I'd go for Windows XP Pro, it's newer, and a little more game friendly and a bit easier to network. I myself am hoping Microsoft will get rid of the activation system, it's gotta cost them more in the long run than it's honestly worth.

lol also another thing, Microsoft would not be the dominate OS if it weren't for piracy, they'd have a much smaller ammount of the OS market. Not saying I condone that, I'm just saying that's a fact

 

[bsobel]

You must be using a cracked version of xp then, because in this link, it says that the reactivation has been changed from immediately after reboot to 3 days after the hardware change. You should maybe check where you are getting your software, or stop giving knowledge on an pirated copy of software.

Perhaps you should stop giving the advice, as your simply wrong. You do not have to activate after every hardware change, just certain ones (hd's and mb's are big ones). Video cards, net cards and others will usually not result in reactivation unless you change a number of them at the same time.

Bill

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: ethebubbeth
xp just adds visual enhancements for the most part. It's nice, but the activation is a pain, especially after you've used your key a couple times and they make you call in to get it validated.

There are kernel, networking, and other changes in XP besides that of 'visual enhancments'. I'd strongly recommend XP over 2k anyday.

Bill

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: ethebubbeth
xp just adds visual enhancements for the most part. It's nice, but the activation is a pain, especially after you've used your key a couple times and they make you call in to get it validated.

There are kernel, networking, and other changes in XP besides that of 'visual enhancments'. I'd strongly recommend XP over 2k anyday.

Bill

Agreed, XP has more than just a few visual changes.

-Spy

 

[winwiz88]

Well maybe someone could list any pros/cons of the two? If you know any.

 

[ethebubbeth]

well, it depends. If you have less than 512mb of ram, definitely get 2k because it will be faster, but i've done a dual boot on my system and ever since i went to a gig of ram my benchmarks and games run faster in xp. I have had to reactivate twice, but taht was because i uninstalled my motherboard drivers and then installed the new ones instead of just merely updating. Something big like that will trigger a reactivation, but i've removed a sound card, added a hard drive, and swapped out for three or four different vid cards and i haven't had to reacticate based on that.

 

[jonmullen]

We really need to see the specs of the system to give a real answer other wise you just get someone's personal opinion and like they say opinions are like assholes everyone has one. A good rule of thumb is if you have a decent system with 512 ram or more than go XP anything less and I would not recoment XP for gameing. Also XP is more than just added visual stuff the people who say that dont know what they are talking about and probably dont even really know much about the OS.

 

[boran]

I've never run XP, but 2K has definetly stolen my heart

 

[winwiz88]

Well the computer has:
P4 1.8Ghz
512mb Ram
Sound Blaster 5.1
GeForce 2 MX 400
WD Special Edtion 80GB HD
52X CD-RW
ASUS P4SDX Motherboard

 

[Mem]

I prefer XP PRO,btw winwiz88 your system is more then good enough for XP PRO.

 

[TheCorm]

2000 is getting old, XP is the way to go nowadays....generally I have found it to be on par with 2k in speed, faster in some cases...not much difference in terms of gaming but have found XP will run some games that 2k will not. Never had to re-activate my systems once, except after doing a clean install and re-activation has never taken more than 60 seconds. I think most people complain about XP for the sake of complaining such as "it has a fisher price look"...well then change the theme...."activation is a pain"....Windows XP can be activated quicker than it takes to save a large bitmap to a floppy....

Jamie

 

[ET2nuke]

I run XP Pro on my pc (happens to be a laptop) with 512 ram, and do not notice a problem with memomry consumption (I usually run with my paging file turned off) except when I run 3dsMax. Then it takes a reboot to clearthe memory and get back to running like normal. But other than that, UT2003, IL2Sturmovik, LOTR, and all my other games run just fine (inc UnrealII). Actually, on my ship, I played with people running Win95, ME, 98SE, and xp and honestly the xp's in general did better, tho that was partly due to the rest of the machine, as well. Do seriously consider upgrading with more memory, tho- this has done ok for me, but that's the mext thing on my list!

 

[filmmaker]

Windows XP Pro hands down

 

[bsobel]

(I usually run with my paging file turned off) except when I run 3dsMax.

There is no good reason to do this.
Bill

 

[Thedevilsson]

I say XP pro corporate version. I got it and love it, no activation or any of the BS. Installs like 2000 or 98! NO ACTIVATION!