Windows XP Upgrades

[SerapisIV]

Alright, here's a pseudo-Civ3 related question. I have the option through a buddy to pick up Windows XP upgrade for $20. I have to figure out by this weekend if I want it. However, i don't want to screw up my system before my pre-ordered Civ3 arrives (finally talked my girlfriend into an early Xmas gift, as it's what I really, really wanted )

My system:
P2-400
128 MB RAM
GeForece2 MX

The recommended system min for XP is a 300 MHz Pentium family chip with 128 RAM, now does anyone out there with similarly powered computers have XP? How does it perform?

Thanks for any help, this is damn important because I'm already at the low end of Civ3 system requirements, I don't want to handicap myself further with a new system-hogging OS.

[Capt Dizle]

To help you with this decision I will list below all of the reasons I can think of to upgrade to XP:
















....

(I am still using win 98 FIRST edition, lol)

[saracen31]

I don't think I'd upgrade to XP with those specs. I'm running XP now on an Athlon 1.4 Ghz, 512 MB RAM, and even at that it can lag occasionally. It's a sweet O/S - haven't had to reboot the PC ever in 2+ months, but I don't know that I'd upgrade if I were you.

[Swissy]

It depend on what you are running now. If your current O/S hasn't had a blue screen in the last 30 days, then it doesn't make sense to upgrade. If you can't make it thru the day without seeing the blue screen, then you should upgrade.

If you aren't going to upgrade, that $20 would be better spent on another 128MB stick of RAM.

[SerapisIV]

I have Win98

I'm mainly looking to upgrade for my folks and future usage, as I'll be getting out of grad school in May and getting a new computer over the summer, so my current one will get shipped to the folks to replace a buggy P1-133, but I don't want to limit their ability to use the computer if XP is going to be a widespread OS

[Swissy]

MS considers Win98 dead as of June 30th 2002, and will end support of it one year later.

[Simpleton]

I am going to get a new system with XP installed. My only concern is if Civ3 sucks (heaven forbid) will Civ2 or SMAC still work on XP? It should but if it doesn't I'm screwed.

[saracen31]

I'm playing Civ II on XP right now. No problema.

[Simpleton]

Originally posted by saracen31
I'm playing Civ II on XP right now. No problema.

Excellent!!!!!!! Then I'm definitely telling that sales guy not to give me 98SE! I want XP!

[tniem]

Originally posted by jimmytrick
....

(I am still using win 98 FIRST edition, lol)

I have been using XP since this summer when I got it through MS's test thing so that I could test it for my summer employer. All I can say is that if you are using Windows OS, XP is far superior to anything I have ever used before and that includes 2000 which I own (although due to legal reasons I may not be able to reinstall it).

Why is XP so good?

Well for one, like 2000, it never crashes. Period. Crashes do not happen. The OS has simply never stopped. Occassionly programs will crash but that has never resulted in the OS stopping. Quite simply it is crash-proof.

Second, it is absolutely the fastest OS I have ever seen and that includes the Linux kernels I have messed around with. Log in, including typing my password, takes less than 30 seconds. That is the entire length of time that it takes to get on to your computer. Then once on, programs run amazingly fast. One of XP's features is that if you have the harddrive space, it will optimize locations for putting heavily used programs extra processes so that it speads them up. Plain and simply it is fast.

There are some other reasons, but most of are just personal preferences that I never thought I would like (the blue does look nice and the new start menu is smart). I thought that XP would be somthing annoying but it is really pretty smart. You should take a look at it, you will be glad you did.

[saracen31]

I was worried about compatibility issues when I first installed XP, so I just put it on another partition (the C: drive is Windows ME, ugh.)

There's only been 1 program I can't run on XP: High Heat Baseball 2002 - seems to be incompatible no matter what I do. No big loss there.

For the most part, games & apps are smoother and prettier in XP.

[tniem]

Originally posted by Simpleton
I am going to get a new system with XP installed. My only concern is if Civ3 sucks (heaven forbid) will Civ2 or SMAC still work on XP? It should but if it doesn't I'm screwed.

I know that someone mentioned Civ2, just to reassure you, SMAC works as well. Just finished playing my MP turns.

[saracen31]

Agreed, tniem. It just flat never crashes. Never. I have had a couple hangups here & there, but the Program Manager lets you get rid of the problem with no reboot.

There's not even a need to reboot after installing new hardware or drivers. I am a fan of Win 2000, but Microsoft (for once) really outdid themselves this time.

[Sarxis]

Well, I have made up my mind on the subject: gonna get XP.

I can always create a partition with Win98 if I have to, just in case some of my apps don't run- but I don't forsee that happening really.

[Jaybe]

Serapis,
If you upgrade to XP, get some more RAM while you are at it. Minimal system with XP is 128M.

XP wants to talk to Microsoft within 30 days of installation, to "Activate". Which means to register your hardware specs to that occurance (ala serial #) of the system. It's their anti-piracy scheme, so if this is a "copy" and you don't somehow get around it, ...