Author Topic: Need O.S. advice (Read 825 times)

bloom25 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2002, 09:16:25 PM »

Skuzzy, do you think Microsoft will ever manage to write a secure piece of software?

http://sec.greymagic.com/adv/

Look at all the unpatched MAJOR faults with IE. I found this the other day (because of a problem with Opera, which was patched in 2 days).

Pei · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2002, 09:57:26 PM »

My last install was WinME: it crashed regularly (btw Win ME is basically Win 98 made to look more like 2K). In Feb a crash killed my on-board IDE controller: I rebuilt with Win2K and it's been smooth so far. I use Win2k also at work and it has been rock solid.

As previously mentioned you need to fix the refresh - rate problem (but that;s true for XP as well).

I have an X36 : while the Saitek drivers are still limited to button programming there some 3rd party drivers available that give you the full range of options (though it takes some effort). Check out the Saitek Help pages and forum at SimHQ.

SKurj · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2002, 10:29:41 PM »

eeek.. mebbe i'll have to find w2k then +(

SKurj

Ghosth · « **Reply #18 on:** June 20, 2002, 10:56:04 PM »

Guess I'll be sticking with my win 98 SE

If you build a good system its stable.
It does what I need it to do.

And perhaps they'll get linux to the point where anyone can manage it like windows soon.

Starbird · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2002, 08:45:52 AM »

I'm going to put win 2k on my game box, and use linux on my workstation for now.

I just got mandrake 8.2 installed on my latop, and it works great. the newer versions of kde and the nvidia drivers have come a long way.

I still have a lot of learning to do tho.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2002, 09:40:39 AM »

I so not think it is possible bloom. I have looked through a lot of the OS in assembly and it wreaks of an application mentality.

One on hand it is hard to blame MS for the lousy code. There just are not that many good systems level programmers around, so they end up with system programmer wannabes instead.
On the other hand, the MS mentality pretty much ensures it will never get better. Why should it? When you are the only game (perception) in town, why bother with the details?

We have had to live with this garbage so long we have become used to it and MS knows it.

Oh,..and those of you thinking about going to W2K might want to speed up that process. W2K, in its current incarnation (i.e. not requiring subscription) may not be around much longer. The reason MS has not converted W2K to subscription based has to do with the server market. They are desparatly trying to get a bigger portion of that market and know a subscription based OS would die. So they are working on another approach which will allow the server market to continue, but users will have to go subscription based. This is in rumor stage right now, but it would not surprise me to see it happen.

Scootter · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2002, 12:23:49 PM »

WOW! Thanks for the advice

Think I will stay with 89se for now It's running fine no real problems so "if it ain't broke ..."

Thanks again

Soulyss · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2002, 03:08:10 PM »

Eagler, could you email me either how you set up the rotors on the saitek for trim or send me your AH profile so I can take a look? Soon as I got my saitek out of the box I took one look at the rotors and thought they'd be great for trimming, but I couldn't really figure out a good intuitive way get it to work?

if you could send it to kdalger@hotmail.com , I'd appreciate it, thanks.

sorry for the mini-hijack

Thorns · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2002, 09:19:37 PM »

I have Win98 with all the updates and patches, and have no problems at all. Runs rock solid. It was free too.

Thorns

beet1e · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2002, 06:01:30 AM »

Quote

As soon as Windows 2000 is obsolete, I'm switching to Linux.

I agree with bloom25 100% on this. My only concerns are how well Linux will run MS software and other software designed for Windows.

XP is a time bomb. People might be over the moon with it now, but I wonder how things will be in January 2004 when those XP licenses reach the terrible twos.

W2000 Pro SP2 here - no problems, but W-ME for games - no problems there either. No hardware issues or difficulties of any kind. All I can say is the guy who put my system together must have known what he was doing

Oh wait a minute, that was me

skwrl · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2002, 02:01:31 PM »

I was going to put XP on my system, but now I'm thinking I'll replace my Win 98SE with Win 2000.

I know 2000 had some compatability problems back in the day... are those fixed now? Mostly worried about the compatability of CH Pro Peds USB.

In short, is 2000 the way to go for stable all-around operation? Or should I dual-boot 2k with 98SE?

I really want to make effective use of all of my RAM, and 98 don't cut it anymore.

Thanks for the info here... I'd never heard of the "leased OS" concept before. Why didn't anyone make a big stink about that, the way people did with product activation?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #26 on:** June 22, 2002, 02:41:06 PM »

Nobody has made a big stink as 99.9% of all people do not read the software license that you must agree to during the installation of the OS.
Those that merrily press "I accept" will not have a leg to stand on as all MS has to is say, "Hey, you agreed before installing the OS."

Then there those that choose not to believe it, even though it is spelled out very clearly in the license.

Heck, you see it on this very board, "I have the corporate version and it does not require activation." It was activated, they just did not have to do it and expires with equal tenacity of the non-corporate version.

Thing is, most seem to think they will be able to just buy an upgrade when it expires and MS has made it very clear, as of 7/31/2002, there will be no upgrades of any MS product available, except for W2K. Which simply means, when the license expires, you have to buy a full version of whatever MS is shipping at the time.
Again, this is all public information, but most people just do not believe it. Go figure.

skwrl · « **Reply #27 on:** June 22, 2002, 02:50:33 PM »

I just showed my dad this thread. His reply: "I'm not worried. Papa Bill will take care of us - as long as we pay him to."

Great.

bloom25 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 22, 2002, 08:43:15 PM »

Skwrl, take a look at http://www.ntcompatible.com and look for all the hardware and software on their compatibility lists. Windows 2000 is as mature as it's going to get, and most XP drivers will also work with Windows 2000. (Windows 2000 is known as NT 5.0 and XP is 5.1)

I'd suggest a dual boot setup for now, so you have something to fall back on for gaming, if nothing else. I think you'll find that Windows 2000 is more stable than Windows 98 and generally faster. (Slower to boot up with USB devices attached though.) Once you get used to it, you'll find it more convenient as well. In the future, the next time you upgrade your system, just start over with 2000 only if everything works OK.

The main problems are going to be with older games that were written for DOS. They probably won't work with 2000, but they wouldn't have worked in XP either. There is a very useful setting called "compatiblity mode", which is installed with Service Pack 2, that tries to trick a program into thinking it is running under Windows 98. This sometimes works. Nearly all newer software generally works perfectly with Windows 2000.

skwrl · « **Reply #29 on:** June 23, 2002, 08:35:13 PM »

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Didn't see CH Pro Pedals USB on NTcompatible.com. Anyone know from experience that they work?

Edit: in Windows 2000, that is.