New computer questions

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:56 pm

Hi everyone. Today I got a new computer. I got it from my aunt, and it has windows ME on it. I hate windows me. Its so darn ugly, but its a good computer. Its not gonna have internet on it as I dont have a phone line in my room, and my parents wouldnt let me anyways. Here are my questions.
!) For some reason the control panel doesnt work. It comes up and it says control panel at the top, and it says that there are 36 objects, but the window is blank. Anyone know what this is?
2) I have a lot of games/ pictures and stuff on my computer that I am typing on right now, and I want to put them on my other computer. Floppy disks only hold 1.4mb so it would take for ever that way. Could I just use a usb cable? I dont want to spend money on one of those usb memory sticks or what ever. This is probably a stupid question, but I dont know what to do.
3)Is there any way I could change the OS? I dont want linux, and Kazaa doesnt have any opperating systems. Id prefer Mac OSX or Windows XP. Anyone know where i could get those for free? Thank you to anyone who helps me.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Thu May 12, 2005 11:46 pm

I say you don't want XP. It needs activated, which is usually done over the internet. The only way other than that that XP is activated is by phone, which can be a pain.

Also, Mac won't run on a PC without an emulator.

If you dislike Linux, I suggest Windows 2000 Professional. It is stable, has good driver support, and doesn't need as many resources.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:12 am

MM007 wrote:I say you don't want XP. It needs activated, which is usually done over the internet. The only way other than that that XP is activated is by phone, which can be a pain.

Also, Mac won't run on a PC without an emulator.

If you dislike Linux, I suggest Windows 2000 Professional. It is stable, has good driver support, and doesn't need as many resources.

BUT! Win2k kills compact flash cards... so no worries for you, since you dont think you will be getting one

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Fri May 13, 2005 4:35 am

I found a reboot disk for my windows Xp. One of those things with every program on your computer on it if your computer crashes. Could I put that on my windows ME computer to get windows XP?

Post by **bicostp** » Fri May 13, 2005 6:06 am

From the sound of your control panel problem, you have an infected or corrupt system file.

LToidKing · Post by **LToidKing** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:43 am

The reboot disk isn't going to work, cause it's a completely different system than what's saved on the disk. If for some reason you can get it to copy, windows will female of the dog species and moan at you about EVERYTHING. That happens because every motherboard has its own set of drivers for every part, so your USB drivers will change, PCI, system bus, etc etc.

You're best off heading over to New Egg and coughing up $100 for a new copy of XP Home SP2.

If you do pick up XP, make sure to back up any important files on a different comp, then FORMAT THE HARD DRIVE. Set your comp to boot to CD, put in the XP disk, follow the instructions (oh, and use NTFS for the format, it's fastest).

As for copying things, have you ever torn a computer apart before? If yes, take the hard drive out of your new comp, set it to slave, and put it in your old comp on the same cable as that HD. Make sure to set the old one to Master. Set it up in the BIOS, then boot up. Copy everything over as usual, then put the new HD back in the new comp. Repeat the process after you've installed your new OS.

If no, find someone who can do it for you, then pay them in cookies

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Fri May 13, 2005 11:44 am

how fast are we talking here? Since it has Windows Me, I assume it's about 1GHz. The next question is what do you want to use it for? That will determine your next operating system. If you want to do homework, I'd suggest Linux, probably SuSE. It's rock solid, but not great for games. If you are going to play games, I'd suggest Windows 2000 or XP. More and more games are requiring one of these OSs. Trust me, you do NOT want Windows Me. As you can probably tell already, it sucks. Very few people like it, and those that have it change it as soon as possible. For example, my relatives have had nothing but headaches over Windows Me. Now they probably should get a new ISP or something, since they keep on getting viruses and stuff, even with Zone Alarm, AVG, and Spybot. Lousy people making viruses

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:45 pm

I dont know why microsoft even made Windows Me!!!

Its so STUPID!
Does anyone know if you can get an OS at all over the intenet? Would Lymewire have some? Or some other cough illegal cough site? Also could I uses ausb cable to transfer my stuff, and possibly an opperating system?

Doofus · Post by **Doofus** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:59 pm

Find a friend with Broadband and BORROW his LEGIT version of Windows XP Corporate Edition...

But no... Honestly, the best way to transfer files from one computer to another, is to just hook yourself up with a small network. (Hub, 2 Ethernet, Presto)

ME is also just about the worst OS Microsoft ever created, so be sure to trash that asap.

Good luck.

Geebs61 · Post by **Geebs61** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:16 pm

MM007 wrote:I say you don't want XP. It needs activated, which is usually done over the internet. The only way other than that that XP is activated is by phone, which can be a pain.

Also, Mac won't run on a PC without an emulator.

If you dislike Linux, I suggest Windows 2000 Professional. It is stable, has good driver support, and doesn't need as many resources.

Since when did you need to activate XP online or over the phone? I've installed XP on literally dozens of computers and never had to activate a damn thing. Just be sure you have the right CD key. I would think its highly possible to find XP on Kazaa, Ares, Lymwire, or any other P@P service. I know for a fact you can find XP on bittorrent. A whole crapload of versions actually.

But I would need your system specs to tell you the best OS to use. I Ran XP pro on a 633mhz mach8ine with only 64mb of RAM. Just turn off all the fancy features, like fading menus and stuff and it'll run like a champ. ME was an operating system that was rushed to the market and produced only as a bridge between 98 and XP. It has all the good and bad features of both 98 and NT. Unfortunately, the bad features are more prevalent.

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:37 pm

After 30 days it will stop working unless you activate.

sam · Post by **sam** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:45 pm

I can help you with the activation portion. Just pm me when you have installed Xp.

Mr. Cool · Post by **Mr. Cool** » Fri May 13, 2005 9:59 pm

Thanx guys, but can I use a usb cable to transfer stuff, i dont want to buy one if it wont work.

Geebs61 · Post by **Geebs61** » Fri May 13, 2005 10:35 pm

goodie wrote:After 30 days it will stop working unless you activate.

Since when? Ive had XP installed on machines for YEARS, and never was prompted for an activiation.

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Fri May 13, 2005 11:39 pm

You didn't put in the Product Key? If you didn't, then you must have used a hacked version, because right from the first CD made, activation is required for more than 30 days. It's better than 98 though. Once my 98 ended up screwed, so I tried installing over top, but couldn't find the PK, so I installed XP instead. I was glad, didn't have to format, so I kept my stuff. Of coarse, I wont forget the time that I installed XP on my Aunt's computer, but used same PK with different user name. Didn't work. Had to re-install 98, and hade to reformat in the process. That was a bad day.