Windows Getting rid of Xp on my laptop?

Well I've owned my laptop for over a year now, it could be 2 I forget.

Anyway, I haven't ever actually done any clean up on this computer, and tbh it is full of crap.

It is also pretty slow, due to poor hardware and windows Xp.

It is 1.5GHz Celly, 128mb ram.

I think I am going to format and put windows 98 on here, as it should run a hell of a lot quicker...... and smoother probably.

Do you think this is a good idea?
Does 98 support DVD drives?

 

Yes, and yes. Personaly I would go for 2k pro, but 98se isn't that bad either. And if you install something like winDVD you will be able to use your dvd drive as per normal (a dvd drive identifies itself as a normal cd-drive when a system doesn't support a dvd drive btw). So, go for it, should run a lot better

 

well I did install 98, but realised how poor it looked. It was running in 16 colours max for some reason, so, after another format I am back on a clean install of windows xp. It is running quickly and smoothly, and I am now processing seti in about 5h per WU

 

Sounds like driver issues. Got to the manufacturer's website and see if they have the 98 drivers for the video and stuff. I'd also prefer Win2000, but that'd depend on your ram. 128 or more and I'd go for Win2000.

 

Umm, real stupid question, did you install your monitor?

 

umm, not exactly, it auto detected everything, but said there were no drivers for my monitor, so it used some standard crappy ones.

Anyway, I'm keeping xp for the moment. That reinstall seemed to work nicely.

 

Ah, that would be your problem then. Never used 98se's standard monitor drivers I take it Basicly, just reinstall your monitor, hit "I will choose my hardware from a list" and select the driver that has the correct max res size (it'll say beside the driver what size it can take). I've allways used the 'standard' drivers with 98se for my lower end monitors (even some higher end ) and notice absolutely no difference in picture quality between the two (that is to say, between the correct drivers, and the 'standard' ones) But ah well, this is just all conjecture and here-say, your happy with what ya got, so stick with it .

 

Since xp is basically an updated 2000pro, i wouldn't imagine that would give you much of a boost! If your laptop can cope, xp should be far better than 98.

 

when I put 98se on it, there was 88% free system resources. So it should have been quicker than xp, and it was but I didn't like the look of it.

 

Windows 98 is a monumental leap backwards from XP. Not something I would recommend, especially on a laptop. If it is running slow it is mostly likely due to other factors than XP, but you can optimise XP.

This includes;

- Disabling start-up items.
- Disabling non needed services
- Disabling themes
- Disabling visual effects
- Optimising parameters

Check for a guide using google.