The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **14 Feb 2003 12:04 am**

Careful - DOS is still available from IBM. The last numbered version - and the current one is IBM PC-DOS 2000. Fully Y2K compliant. Form IBM it runs about $62.00.

jdg

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MSA D-10 w/Nashville 400
'63 Gibson Hummingbird
16/15c Hammered Dulcimer

Posted: **14 Feb 2003 8:59 am**

I bought a new pc with XP Home on it. I use XP PRO at the office so I removed the Home ver and installed the PRO version. No problems whatsoever and the thing doesn't hang up like my WIN 98 does. My Win 98 machine will soon be an XP PRO version.
Besides, since I use Excel and Word a lot, I like the Pro version of Excel and Word much better than the scimpy little version of Home version.

Posted: **15 Feb 2003 9:38 pm**

I had a few crashes and hangups with my Windows 98, but with my new computer with Windows Home, I haven't had a single crash or hangup. So I think it is better, but I do miss the control I had with Windows 98 and the ability to use DOS. But then again, those days are gone.
Can anyone tell me if Windows XP Professional is any more useful , or has more advantages, than the XP home.??....thanks...al

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 15 February 2003 at 09:40 PM.]

Posted: **15 Feb 2003 10:40 pm**

Al, the Home edition seemed to be more cluttered with stuff that I would never use. Probably for those that have time to browse the web during the day or do home shopping or keep your check book and banking up to date plus games. I'm not a gamer and I can setup my own accounting practices with Excel.
If I'm not mistaking I think you have multiple choice of IP providers with the Home edition. I have one IP provider so why would I need 3 more capabilities for them on my pc? Also, with XP PRO at the office and at home, I can dial into my office and work from home since both machines are setup nearly identical. Most users are not in that situation but it sure helps when I can leave the office and come home to finish up tasks at home with basically the same setup as my office.
I hated XP at first but now that I'm using it daily, it appears to be easier than the WIN98 machine. Getting use to the new icons was the biggest obstacle for me. And, Excel and Microsoft Word are full blown with XP PRO (and not with the Home edition). I have to have the total functionality of Excel and MW Word for my music as well as personal and business needs. PLus, as others have stated, XP doesn't seem to lock up like the other WIN 9x's do.

Posted: **23 Feb 2003 7:15 am**

I just got XP Pro. No problems so far. Yes, the post above states, if you buy XP from a retailer, then Microsoft takes over support. I needed a new OS because I reformated the hard drive, lost my recovery disk from Dell, all I had was a bootleg of 98, which was a lousy eary version.

Posted: **24 Feb 2003 7:02 pm**

To John Gretzinger

John,I have XP home on my laptop and it seems
to be sufficient for my needs.

I have Windows 98 SE on my desktop PC and I
wondered if it would be an advantage to change the Windows 98 OS to XP Pro or Home.

Is this possible?? and is it practical? & what might the cost be?

Thank you for your e mail John..I appreciate
your help and expertise.

Posted: **25 Feb 2003 6:59 am**

Jody,

I do recommend moving up to XP from Windows 98. I only recommend doing it, if you PC can handle it. What are the specs of your desktop? Also, I HIGHLY recommend a minimum of 256MB of RAM to run Windows XP. You will see a big improvement on the OS. Jody, if you post your spec's I can tell you if it is possible to upgrade to XP.

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Posted: **25 Feb 2003 7:48 am**

Mark
I appreciate your offer to help. This is what I have at present.

Intel Pentium III 667 mHz processor
128MB 133 MHz SDRAM-2 DIMMS
30GB ATA-66(7200)RPM Hard Drive
Ultra ATA-66 32 bit local bus integrated controller

1.44MB 3.5in floppy drive
12X40 Variable Speed DVD Rom w/software decoder

32 MB NVvidia GE FORCE 256 AGP card
56K 3 com Data/fax controller modem
Aureal Vortex 2 superquad Digital PCI Audio Card W/ RCA SPDIF

Micro Soft OFFICE 2000 SB
Micro Soft Windows 98 SE
104 keyboard
System BIOS
19" Trintron Sony Monitor

and many long stories.

let me know if this information is sufficient
Thank you Mark. You have a Fender in your future...

or how about some meatballs that Joey Ace didnt eat?

Thank you plus a computer illiterate MORON who sits at this thing called LOVE

Jody [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 25 February 2003 at 07:51 AM.]

Posted: **25 Feb 2003 10:33 am**

Jody,

Yep, I would recommend Windows XP Professional. You can purchase the "upgrade" version and that should work just fine for you. You will want to do a "upgrade" and not a "clean install". The only thing that I would recommend to you is to upgrade your RAM to 256MB or more. If you are feeling handy, it might be a good project to get your feet wet into the computer inner's. But, if you are not feeling brave, any computer store or Best Buy or whatever does installs for a minimal fee.

Let me know if you have any questions....

I already have a Fender, but would sure love another! Here is mine...

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

[This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 25 February 2003 at 10:34 AM.][This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 25 February 2003 at 10:36 AM.]

Posted: **25 Feb 2003 6:00 pm**

Thanks Mark
Would I have to back up my files such as "My Documents"? I have many photo's that
are precious to me and I dont want to lose them.

Good Looking Stringmaster Mark,those are getting more and more difficult to find. Appreciate your help.

Posted: **25 Feb 2003 6:21 pm**

Any files that are "Precious" to you should be backed up before you upgrade. You could even put them on floppys. I'd better let Mark advise you, I've broken my computer more than once.

That's a fine looking Fender, Mark.
Everyone seems to have one these days.

I hope to see you in Grand Rapids.

Posted: **27 Feb 2003 7:23 pm**

Jody,
If you have a CD burner,you can copy to a more reliable medium than floppies,you don't have to worry about ereaseing,carefull where you store floppies,they are magnetic sensitive.
I have XP Pro on my system and like it much better than 98xx..........If you have a digital camera and a usb port on the front of your pc,you can transfer pictures without hooking the camera to it,don't mean to overload you with too much stuff. (Disregard everything after 98xx if it's too confusing)

BTW Jody,my first "REAL PSG" was a 1960 cream colored Fender 400
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Bill Ford[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 27 February 2003 at 07:27 PM.]

Posted: **27 Feb 2003 8:05 pm**

Jody,

OK, your Win 98 system that you would like to upgrade to WinXP...does it have a CD-Burner on it? ZIP drive?

Let me know...

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Posted: **28 Feb 2003 9:41 pm**

Mark
Neither one.

Posted: **1 Mar 2003 6:12 am**

Jody,

On the desktop you would like to upgrade, how many photo's were you looking to "Backup". Any other data on the PC do you want to Backup as a "just-in-case" problem happens.

The photo's could probably be zipped and then put onto a floppy disk. Have you ever zipped a file before? It is pretty easy. Let me know and I can walk you through it.
Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Posted: **1 Mar 2003 8:01 am**

I bit the bullet a while back and invested in a 750 MB Zip drive. I really like it . I used it to transfer my info from one computer to another. It works off the USB port. I can see that it would really be handy to store files on that you you don't want to clutter up your computer with.
Erv

Posted: **1 Mar 2003 6:19 pm**

Mark
I am not certain as to the amount of photos I have. I am not at home at present. I will post when I return home on Wednesday.

BTW, my Model 2650 Dell laptop is working like a charm,in fact I'm using it now.

However I find that I will seldom have the chance to use it so I'm more than likley going to offer it for sale. Its only a month or so old.

Which I have a question for you. Can I forward all my photo's etc to my Laptop as a backup and then after installing XP home on my desktop send the photo's back to my desktop?? from my laptop?? I'll watch for your reply.

Thanks so very much for your help

Posted: **4 Mar 2003 8:47 pm**

Jody,

OK, this website here has a USB peer-to-peer cable. Basically, you plug this USB cable into your laptop and your desktop and you can send file back and forth via this cable. I am not sure if this comes with instructions or not, but maybe another forumite can jump in here and give some help if they have ever used a USB cable to transfer files back and forth. This will be easier than setting up a peer to peer network and doing it.

Lets here some suggestions from some other upgraders out there.

Thanks,
Mark

p.s. Jody, do I still have a Fender in my future? hehe

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Posted: **5 Mar 2003 8:29 am**

Thanks Mark
That sounds relativley easy..but for me?? it may be the biggest challenge of my life

Posted: **5 Mar 2003 9:26 am**

Jody, I didn't reply here earlier because I thought you were looking for a way to temporarily "store" your files.....but if you want to "transfer files" between computers the suggestion above will do it.

I have used the "COMPUSA USB lINK Cable" to transfer my files from one computer to another....just plug one end of the cable to each computer and the files from both computers come up on the screen....then you just use your mouse to "drag" the individual files that you want to transfer from one computer to the other. The software and instructions CD comes with the cable.

It's a snap to do......Casey could do it!

Gene
[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 05 March 2003 at 09:29 AM.]

Posted: **5 Mar 2003 10:48 am**

Gene
How ya be? I intended on sending all my photos
to the desktop once the XP OS is installed.
I only wanted a place to save them while the XP Home was being downloaded to the desk top.

Yeah,,Im sure Casey can do it pronto.

Why are you not in Dallas??
Best to Charlotte.

You can expect an e mail from Casey,she is practicing and making certain she knows what to say to you,she's a bit shy. You are her favorite steel player you know.

Thanks for your help.