Microsoft to no longer support Windows 98- should I upgrade?

Dis · December 14, 2003, 16:30

I have Win XP pro, but I haven't upgraded yet. Mainly because Windows 98SE seems to be running fine.

Also another major concern I have is that blaster virus/worm.

If I upgrade to XP pro? will my computer be hit? Because if my computer starts shutting down, I will have no way to get the windows update.

SlowwHand · December 14, 2003, 16:40

Yes. 5 years ago.

mrmitchell · December 14, 2003, 16:42

download a removal tool ahead of time before you install winxp. then if you get infected you've got the removal tool on a floppy disk

install a good firewall, good antivirus, good antispyware tool as the first thing (although you should already have them.)

and make sure your computer can run winxp adequately, as well.

if you've jumped through all these hoops and each one is a "Yes", then, go ahead and upgrade.

OTOH, microsoft already poorly supports winxp anyways (there's an article on imarton about some patch or something).

Dis · December 14, 2003, 16:44

why would they poorly support that? What else do they have to support? XP is their premeir OS right?

Az · December 14, 2003, 16:56

Quote:

why would they poorly support that? What else do they have to support? XP is their premeir OS right?

Skanky Burns · December 14, 2003, 16:58

While upgrading is generally a good thing, you will need fairly modern hardware to run a newer OS at a decent speed.

If 98 suits your needs, why bother changing?

Dis · December 14, 2003, 17:02

I have a P3 700 with 256 megs of ram.

Adagio · December 14, 2003, 17:32

Double your ram, then WinXP will be the best choice...

Solver · December 14, 2003, 17:50

I've found that with 256 MB RAM XP runs considerably faster than Win98. Heck, it ran faster for me with 128 MB.

Dis · December 14, 2003, 17:57

I hope it does. I had trouble installing windows 98 SE on my mom's computer. Instead I installed winows XP pro disk that I have. It seems to run pretty fast. And her computer is a P3 700 with only 128 megs of ram.

I can't see how an OS needs that much ram. Civ3 does- but that's another story

monkspider · December 14, 2003, 18:25

Go to ME, it's the fastest OS out there.

Spiffor · December 14, 2003, 18:35

ME is probably the worst OS I've ever seen

I though MS stopped to support Win98 a year ago. I don't think it changes anything, since MS updates for windows are mostly related to security issues, and nobody exploits 98's security holes anymore.

So, keep SE until switching is an absolute necessity, or if you have a high end computer (for which SE wasn't made).

Kuciwalker · December 14, 2003, 18:49

I wouldn't say ME is the worst, not nearly. I run ME on my older computer, and it runs quite well, and the only real bugginess I ever experienced on it turned out to be due to the age of my mouse.

monkspider · December 14, 2003, 18:51

I never understood all the ill will towards ME, for my money, it's still the best OS microsoft has ever made.

Dis · December 14, 2003, 20:17

I admit my main reason to change is for graphics reason. Seeing those desktop threads make me jealous.

Urban Ranger · December 14, 2003, 23:26

There's no need to upgrade unless you need to, which means when there's an application (read: games) you want to run won't run on your computer.

Kuciwalker · December 14, 2003, 23:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I admit my main reason to change is for graphics reason. Seeing those desktop threads make me jealous.

I find XP incredibly ugly. I changed it back to the Classic look-and-feel.

Sikander · December 15, 2003, 00:18

I'd keep 98 if you have an older machine to run it. A lot of good older games run well on 98, and won't run at all on XP, or only with a lot of tinkering.

VJ · December 15, 2003, 00:20

Quote:

Go to ME, it's the fastest OS out there

I've got ME, it's pretty unstable, even compared to standard M$-quality.

reds4ever · December 15, 2003, 01:22

Quote:

Originally posted by ADG
Double your ram, then WinXP will be the best choice...

you don't need anything like 512 to run XP, I've got a laptop with 192 that runs XP Pro just fine

connorkimbro · December 15, 2003, 01:57

i upgraded to XP about a year and half ago, and have never had a problem with it.

Dis · December 15, 2003, 02:01

I did something really stupid. I upgraded to Windows XP pro.

My graphics card doesn't seem to work properly. I downloaded drivers, that didn't work. I then reinstalled the original drivers from my original CD. That doesn't work. The graphics card does work. I tested it on Civ3. But when I'm in internet explorer, the screen flickers- this is especially noticiable on white or silver backgrounds. I had this problem before on Windows 98- in fact it was Civ3 that kept screwing up my drivers- though civ3 no longer does that. I would have to reinstall my drivers and the flickering would stop.

My sound card doesn't seem to be supported by XP at all.

And my Zone Alarm doesn't work properly. I have to disable it to open up any page on my IE explorer.

What's really annoying me is this flickering. It hurts my eyes.

I actually reinstalled Windows 98SE. It installed in a different directory, I now have the option of running either OS when I start

. Of course that means my brand new copy of 98 is not updated, and I'll have to reinstall many drivers and my favourites.

Urban Ranger · December 15, 2003, 02:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I did something really stupid. I upgraded to Windows XP pro.

Excellent accessment of the action.

aaglo · December 15, 2003, 02:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I did something really stupid. I upgraded to Windows XP pro.

This is sig material. Great post starter

oh... and thanks for the warning (I have win98 too)

Dis · December 15, 2003, 03:13

I found out the best thing about Windows XP Pro. It allows you to uninstall it and return to your previous version of windows

Best...Feature...Ever

So now I'm back to normal.

I looked at the hardware XP supports, it doesn't appear my video card is on that list. So it looks like I'll have to upgrade my video and sound cards before I put XP on my computer.

CerberusIV · December 15, 2003, 06:37

I upgraded to XP home a few months ago. P3 450 with 320MB RAM and a Voodoo 3 card. I had, and have, no problems apart from a minor glitch with the printer which a new driver cured.

Runs faster and more reliably, plays C3C fine and a couple of my older games once the exe file properties are changed to run as 98.

You do need to do the research and get hold of all the up to date drivers you may need first though.

Final thought: it's Microsoft. You expect no problems?

Kaak · December 15, 2003, 06:39

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
Go to ME, it's the fastest OS out there.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

ME is the worst release windows has made, EVER.

The Mad Monk · December 15, 2003, 06:47

I'm running 98 on my four year old NEC (read: Packard Bell) PIII 450 with 192 RAM.

No. Problems. Ever.

At least, not with the OS.

Agathon · December 15, 2003, 07:00

You might as well upgrade since Windows "Longhorn" is anywhere from 3-5 years away.

Kaak is right, Win ME sux big fat ones.

Windows 3.1 and 2000 are the only acceptable OSes MS has ever shipped.

Kaak · December 15, 2003, 07:18

I like XP because it's fairly stable, and its fast, and it looks pretty

but 2000 is definately the best MS OS...