My computer upgrade is a mixed blessing.

[NightTrain]

Last night, I got my P.C. back after being without it for a week-and-a-half. I had left it with my buddy Dan, who performed a free upgrade, both by replacing my Windows 98 with XP, and by installing the parts he had taken out of his own P.C. when he upgraded it a couple of months ago. I've also ordered a memory chip, which will boost my RAM from 128 megs to 512.

Suffice it to say, the computer is functioning a hell of a lot better now! However, having to reload a lot of my software programs is proving a time-consuming and often frustrating process. Seems I had installed a lot of that software before Windows XP came into existence. So, the computer either won't upload it, or else I have to jump through a shitload of hoops with all sorts of apocalyptic warning messages jumping out at me.

Fucking computers.... :argh:

[historian]

1. running older computers

You can go to compatibility ( i think its on the accessories bar) and make the puter compatible with the programyou want to run. It will offer you win 98, 98 second edition and so on

[Goldom]

2. i have not -once-

had "compatibility mode" actually fix anything for programs that used to work, but not on xp. I dunno what it does, but it's not very effective...

[historian]

3. another solution

Go to search (google if you have it) and type in xp tips - you will get wonderful pages full of advice and how to modify, speed up, fix problems etc...on xp. It's free too!

[UTUSN]

4. Threads Like This Are Always Helpful and Appreciated

Thanks.

[Interrobang]

5. Gee, I just did that!

It took me about three days to get everything more or less running the way I want it to. Now if I could only get rid of these damn sliding windows on the taskbar, I'd be reasonably happy.

The candy-coloured XP interface went, the animated dog Office Assistant got dragged out behind the woodshed (along with the spelling/grammar checker) and shot in the head (there's a lot of rabies around here, you know, and Microsoft Hydrophobia is the worst!), and all the folder views I set to List. Now it more or less looks and works like a Real Computer. ;-)

Now I remember why I'm such a Stuckist when it comes to hardware/software upgrades -- they're a real PITA.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Welcome to MY world!

This is something I do for a living. For the equivalent of two hours labor I will: -back up the existing data on your hard drive, including your Favorites, your email databases, your documents, and any proprietary software. -wipe the hard drive to kill all resident viruses and worms. -do a clean install of whichever version of Windows/Linux that is appropriate. -reinstall all available software. -configure said software. -import your email database into the newly installed program. -track down drivers for any old/unidentified hardware components. -apply all existing upgrade/security patches. -do a burn-in test. -etc. etc.

The word I use most often to describe it is "tedious".

[Bundbuster]

7. Are you coming to Denver anytime soon?

Internet Explorer 6 lasts about 4 months installed in my XP before getting unstable/corrupted/schitzoid.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Welcome to MICROSOFT'S world!

"It's not a bug, it's a feature!" :nuke: