Need help...What WinXp version Should i use

BigBee 2452 · 08-18-2006

I have decided to switch my OS from ME to XP but im not sure what one to upgrade to. Are all versions of xp now 64 bit? Is the 64 bit version better? My main use for this cpu is gaming does that effect which one i should choose?

My main reason for changing my OS is due to memory problems with WinME. [Not having enough physical HD space mostly]. To my understanding memory management is a serious problem with ME correct? By changing to XP will i see many of those problems disappear?

Sorry to drag on the questions but also, DBAN [deriks boot and nuke] would you recommend using this and will it completely remove any viruses ive ever had? Thanx for the ears guys and keep up the work you answer these posts extremely quick and accurate.

Hengis · 08-18-2006

Are all versions of xp now 64 bit? Is the 64 bit version better? My main use for this cpu is gaming does that effect which one i should choose?

No, you can still purchase 32-bit Windows XP.
Here is a document released by Microsoft that should address your concerns: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ght_for_Me.doc

My main reason for changing my OS is due to memory problems with WinME. [Not having enough physical HD space mostly]. To my understanding memory management is a serious problem with ME correct? By changing to XP will i see many of those problems disappear?

Yes, the memory management is better in XP than ME but the resources required to "power" XP will put more constraints on your PC so the benefit will probably not be visible for you. If you are going to upgrade to XP then it would be well worthwhile taking this time to evaluate your current PC/Memory/Hard drives etc - to see if it will be worth it. I don't know what your current PC has "under the hood" but XP requires at least a P3 (forget about what MS say on this one) with a decent amount of RAM (512mb) to run anything more than Office apps.

Sorry to drag on the questions but also, DBAN [deriks boot and nuke] would you recommend using this and will it completely remove any viruses ive ever had? Thanx for the ears guys and keep up the work you answer these posts extremely quick and accurate.

I recommend that you save anything you don't want to lose off of the PC (DVD or Memory stick storage) - then start completely afresh with the XP install. The installation process will allow for you to delete any existing partitions and then to format the drive...this will be sufficient.

GaRHaR · 08-18-2006

Hi BigBee...you need to be very careful with selecting 64bit. You need to make sure you have a 64bit processor. If you have anything Intel, you most likely won't 64bit.

If you use the computer mostly for games, I'd say xp home. You can turn all the fancy graphics off in windows and have it run faster then windows ME...i used to do this quite alot...I used to be a gamer on a student's budget. Now i'm a gamer with a true computer!

XP uses more hard drive space then ME, but ME has so many rediculously stupid problems, that not upgrading with be another problem. ME has officially been dropped by Microsoft and they don't support it anymore.

And I've never heard of DBAN before, but if you're looking at getting rid of virus's, I'd strongly recommend you follow the steps located here

http://www.pchelpforum.com/hijackthi...a-prework.html

Hope this helps!

BigBee 2452 · 08-18-2006

Hengis, Garhar ty for the advice. I see now that i will not be able to use 64-bit if i want basically every program i have to run. Also, should i use SP2

For my notes garhar you said that you can turn all the graphics off on windows xp? How would I do that?

DBAN is a self-contained stand alone sytem. Basically all it does is rewrites your hard drive to 00 and makes a triple pass. Settings are fully adjustable.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Take a look guys/gals A more direct approach to clearing your hard drive completely for any non XP user. Create boot disk or cd leave it in cpu reboot, follow instructions. Will take a LONG time. On my 180 gig HD it took approximately 6 hours at roughly 60,000 kbs/sec.

GaRHaR · 08-19-2006

No problems

To turn the graphics off in WinXP, right click on My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Performance Settings -> Adjust for Best Performance.

This turns everything off in one hit, instead of going through and manually turning each part off by itself which most people do

ih8bills · 08-20-2006

Of course... then you're running XP --but it looks like '98. There are more tweaking guides for XP available online

http://www.google.com/search?hl=&cat...f-8&q=tweak+xp

and a few programs-- I like XP Smoker... which I found via another post on this site

http://www.xp-smoker.com/

while these are not required-- they can make things easier. It's just that XP has all the "eye-candy" enabled by default... so it can take a little bit to get it adjusted to your liking/needs.

I do agree with Hengis' suggestion to evaluate your system before you make the leap.

08-18-2006	#1
BigBee 2452 Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Need help...What WinXp version Should i use I have decided to switch my OS from ME to XP but im not sure what one to upgrade to. Are all versions of xp now 64 bit? Is the 64 bit version better? My main use for this cpu is gaming does that effect which one i should choose? My main reason for changing my OS is due to memory problems with WinME. [Not having enough physical HD space mostly]. To my understanding memory management is a serious problem with ME correct? By changing to XP will i see many of those problems disappear? Sorry to drag on the questions but also, DBAN [deriks boot and nuke] would you recommend using this and will it completely remove any viruses ive ever had? Thanx for the ears guys and keep up the work you answer these posts extremely quick and accurate.

08-18-2006	#2
Hengis PCHF Founder & Owner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The PCHF Bunker Posts: 14,077 PC Experience: Microsoft Certified Professional	Are all versions of xp now 64 bit? Is the 64 bit version better? My main use for this cpu is gaming does that effect which one i should choose? No, you can still purchase 32-bit Windows XP. Here is a document released by Microsoft that should address your concerns: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ght_for_Me.doc My main reason for changing my OS is due to memory problems with WinME. [Not having enough physical HD space mostly]. To my understanding memory management is a serious problem with ME correct? By changing to XP will i see many of those problems disappear? Yes, the memory management is better in XP than ME but the resources required to "power" XP will put more constraints on your PC so the benefit will probably not be visible for you. If you are going to upgrade to XP then it would be well worthwhile taking this time to evaluate your current PC/Memory/Hard drives etc - to see if it will be worth it. I don't know what your current PC has "under the hood" but XP requires at least a P3 (forget about what MS say on this one) with a decent amount of RAM (512mb) to run anything more than Office apps. Sorry to drag on the questions but also, DBAN [deriks boot and nuke] would you recommend using this and will it completely remove any viruses ive ever had? Thanx for the ears guys and keep up the work you answer these posts extremely quick and accurate. I recommend that you save anything you don't want to lose off of the PC (DVD or Memory stick storage) - then start completely afresh with the XP install. The installation process will allow for you to delete any existing partitions and then to format the drive...this will be sufficient. __________________ Pre-Work / System File Checker / Promote PCHF!

08-18-2006	#3
GaRHaR Tech Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Australia Posts: 6,068 PC Experience: Elite PC Guru	Hi BigBee...you need to be very careful with selecting 64bit. You need to make sure you have a 64bit processor. If you have anything Intel, you most likely won't 64bit. If you use the computer mostly for games, I'd say xp home. You can turn all the fancy graphics off in windows and have it run faster then windows ME...i used to do this quite alot...I used to be a gamer on a student's budget. Now i'm a gamer with a true computer! XP uses more hard drive space then ME, but ME has so many rediculously stupid problems, that not upgrading with be another problem. ME has officially been dropped by Microsoft and they don't support it anymore. And I've never heard of DBAN before, but if you're looking at getting rid of virus's, I'd strongly recommend you follow the steps located here http://www.pchelpforum.com/hijackthi...a-prework.html Hope this helps! __________________ < Prework \| PSU Calculator \| PCHF Rules \| Microsoft Knowledge Base \| Guru 3D \| Toms Hardware \| Blackle.com - Spread the word! >

08-19-2006	#5
GaRHaR Tech Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Australia Posts: 6,068 PC Experience: Elite PC Guru	No problems To turn the graphics off in WinXP, right click on My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Performance Settings -> Adjust for Best Performance. This turns everything off in one hit, instead of going through and manually turning each part off by itself which most people do __________________ < Prework \| PSU Calculator \| PCHF Rules \| Microsoft Knowledge Base \| Guru 3D \| Toms Hardware \| Blackle.com - Spread the word! >

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08-20-2006	#6
ih8bills Tech Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: coastal Rhode Island Posts: 4,633 PC Experience: More Stubborn than any PC	Of course... then you're running XP --but it looks like '98. There are more tweaking guides for XP available online http://www.google.com/search?hl=&cat...f-8&q=tweak+xp and a few programs-- I like XP Smoker... which I found via another post on this site http://www.xp-smoker.com/ while these are not required-- they can make things easier. It's just that XP has all the "eye-candy" enabled by default... so it can take a little bit to get it adjusted to your liking/needs. I do agree with Hengis' suggestion to evaluate your system before you make the leap.