WinME suggestions wanted..

[Guest Ogg]

I am looking for advice on transferring an existing WinME system to another

(preferrably NEW) set of hardware.

 

I have an older WInME pc (which I was planning to retire and "convert" to

Linux) but I feel that the whole pc needs serious replacement.

Particularly, the video subsystem is showing age (at boot up the characters

are jumbled(1), and sometime the screen boots to BLANK(2)). I can fix (1)

with a simple ctrl-alt-del at bootup. But when (2) happens, it's the most

annoying since the next boot is only possible in SafeMode and 16 colours!

The latter happend recently; I ended up re-installing the older WinME

drivers for the video card - and it wasn't easy! (originally I had upgraded

the drivers to the latest Nvidia ones - but those are the ones that NOW

start to cause problems) The video subsystem is AGP via an external card.

The exisiting pc doesn't have an integrated video.

 

I still really need to use WinME for a little while. It's my ICS machine

that allows dialup sharing for another pc. And.. quite frankly, I'm used

to using it as is. A complete change over to Linux would stall me.

 

So.. I'm fishing for opinions on what would be a good strategy for

migrating WinME to a fresh set of hardware. I am leary on just using

someone's old pc which may or may not have problems of its own.

 

There were two approaches I was thinking might work:

 

[1] Barebone kit. This one inspires me: http://tinyurl.com/2pughc If that

link doesn't cooperate, try this one:

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=qAXQ110sLGI&offerid=101323.3202691&type=2&subid=0

Or.. just go to http://tigerdirect.ca and enter "M452-2850 C" (without the

quotes) in the product search.

 

With this approach, the idea is to them have a relatively modern pc that I

can use for Linux or XP in the future. This model seems to have both IDE

and SATA. The plan is to utilize the IDE for the exisiting hdd (with the

WinME OS) and then build upon the SATA for future storage or main hdd use.

Would that work, or are simultaneous us of IDE hdd and SATA hdd not allowed

on mobo's?

 

[2] A new pc that supports boot via USB and utilize the existing WinME OS

via an hdd enclosure.

 

The dilema of course is the ram limitation in WinME (max 512meg with tweaks

in Vcache) ..and maybe a few other limitations such as suitable video driver

support.

 

W.r.t the barebone kit above, would WinME have problems with PCI-Express?

[Guest Heirloom]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

Hey Ogg,

I know you have your heart set on maintaining Me a while longer,

however, you really should consider simply getting another machine with XP.

The transition from Me to XP for the user is very, very easy......well, I

found it so. The advantages are many when you consider hardware, software,

support, etc. Just my 2 cents, about what it is worth. Sorry, but, I am

unable to answer your other questions.....I'm sure one of the gurus will be

along shortly for that.

Heirloom, old and lovin' my XP

 

 

"Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

news:OIwnoe40HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>I am looking for advice on transferring an existing WinME system to another

> (preferrably NEW) set of hardware.

>

> I have an older WInME pc (which I was planning to retire and "convert" to

> Linux) but I feel that the whole pc needs serious replacement.

> Particularly, the video subsystem is showing age (at boot up the

> characters

> are jumbled(1), and sometime the screen boots to BLANK(2)). I can fix (1)

> with a simple ctrl-alt-del at bootup. But when (2) happens, it's the most

> annoying since the next boot is only possible in SafeMode and 16 colours!

> The latter happend recently; I ended up re-installing the older WinME

> drivers for the video card - and it wasn't easy! (originally I had

> upgraded

> the drivers to the latest Nvidia ones - but those are the ones that NOW

> start to cause problems) The video subsystem is AGP via an external card.

> The exisiting pc doesn't have an integrated video.

>

> I still really need to use WinME for a little while. It's my ICS machine

> that allows dialup sharing for another pc. And.. quite frankly, I'm used

> to using it as is. A complete change over to Linux would stall me.

>

> So.. I'm fishing for opinions on what would be a good strategy for

> migrating WinME to a fresh set of hardware. I am leary on just using

> someone's old pc which may or may not have problems of its own.

>

> There were two approaches I was thinking might work:

>

> [1] Barebone kit. This one inspires me: http://tinyurl.com/2pughc If that

> link doesn't cooperate, try this one:

> http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=qAXQ110sLGI&offerid=101323.3202691&type=2&subid=0

> Or.. just go to http://tigerdirect.ca and enter "M452-2850 C" (without the

> quotes) in the product search.

>

> With this approach, the idea is to them have a relatively modern pc that I

> can use for Linux or XP in the future. This model seems to have both IDE

> and SATA. The plan is to utilize the IDE for the exisiting hdd (with the

> WinME OS) and then build upon the SATA for future storage or main hdd use.

> Would that work, or are simultaneous us of IDE hdd and SATA hdd not

> allowed on mobo's?

>

> [2] A new pc that supports boot via USB and utilize the existing WinME OS

> via an hdd enclosure.

>

> The dilema of course is the ram limitation in WinME (max 512meg with

> tweaks

> in Vcache) ..and maybe a few other limitations such as suitable video

> driver

> support.

>

> W.r.t the barebone kit above, would WinME have problems with PCI-Express?

>

>

>

[Guest Ogg]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

I hear ya. Yes. XP would be the better way to go, especially if newer

hardware is concerned. I believe that is ultimately what I should be doing.

Getting a new box, slapping in the WinME OS hdd and expect WinME to

"resolve" all the hardware requirements is probably a risky long-shot. It's

probably better to consider converting my existing WinME hdd into an

external USB enclosure, and gradually move the data I want to keep onto the

new XP pc. I have been considering low-cost refurbished XP machines (under

$300) too.

 

Did you have any any other insight as what the "transition from Me to XP"

entails? Or do I have the right idea?

 

> I know you have your heart set on maintaining Me a while longer,

> however, you really should consider simply getting another machine with

> XP. The transition from Me to XP for the user is very, very

> easy......well, I found it so. The advantages are many when you consider

> hardware, software, support, etc.

[Guest Eric]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

 

"Heirloom" <roland58XX@XXcox.net> wrote in message

news:%23v$zm840HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Hey Ogg,

> I know you have your heart set on maintaining Me a while longer,

> however, you really should consider simply getting another machine with

> XP. The transition from Me to XP for the user is very, very

> easy......well, I found it so. The advantages are many when you consider

> hardware, software, support, etc. Just my 2 cents, about what it is

> worth. Sorry, but, I am unable to answer your other questions.....I'm

> sure one of the gurus will be along shortly for that.

> Heirloom, old and lovin' my XP

>

Transition from ME to XP is even easier if you go to XP display properties

and select the Classic theme. Then the biggest difference for users is file

locations. WinME lets you put files anywhere. In XP you can put them

anywhere if you are the system admin (since it's based on NT it's built for

multi-user and it's not recommended to sign in as an admin unless you need

the access rights for something particular), but the default is to put

everything in your user profile path.

>

> "Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

> news:OIwnoe40HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>I am looking for advice on transferring an existing WinME system to

>>another

>> (preferrably NEW) set of hardware.

>>

....

>> There were two approaches I was thinking might work:

>>

>> [1] Barebone kit. This one inspires me: http://tinyurl.com/2pughc If

>> that link doesn't cooperate, try this one:

>> http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=qAXQ110sLGI&offerid=101323.3202691&type=2&subid=0

>> Or.. just go to http://tigerdirect.ca and enter "M452-2850 C" (without

>> the quotes) in the product search.

>>

>> With this approach, the idea is to them have a relatively modern pc that

>> I can use for Linux or XP in the future. This model seems to have both

>> IDE and SATA. The plan is to utilize the IDE for the exisiting hdd (with

>> the WinME OS) and then build upon the SATA for future storage or main hdd

>> use. Would that work, or are simultaneous us of IDE hdd and SATA hdd not

>> allowed on mobo's?

>>

I don't believe you can use IDE and SATA hard drives in the same system at

the same time, though I'm not 100% sure.

If the old system works and you have a CDRW drive for it, you may just want

to get a CDRW disc and transfer files that way.

If you have a switch and can network both of them, it may be even easier,

though some people have issues getting an ME system to talk to an XP system.

>> [2] A new pc that supports boot via USB and utilize the existing WinME OS

>> via an hdd enclosure.

>>

>> The dilema of course is the ram limitation in WinME (max 512meg with

>> tweaks

>> in Vcache) ..and maybe a few other limitations such as suitable video

>> driver

>> support.

>>

>> W.r.t the barebone kit above, would WinME have problems with PCI-Express?

>>

I wouldn't recommend WinME on a new system.

 

It is possible to get a "new" system for under $300, but for a new PC with

XP and a monitor I'd expect at least closer to $500.

Spend closer to $1000 if you want it to last a few more years, or if you

want some extras (printer? backup power supply?).

Spend closer to $1500 if you want good bragging rights. You could even

spend more than that, but then you're probably just getting ridiculous.

If you really want to be a cheapskate, skip the new and refurbished and run

right to the classifieds. People have some decent sounding relatively new

systems in there usually well under $300. Of course they probably don't

have a flat screen monitor, or warranty...

[Guest Heirloom]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

On mine, there are no user profiles, everything is administrator. Of

course, my wife and I are the only ones with access to the machine.....I

guess it would depend on your circumstance.

 

When I went to XP, I had all the program discs that I wanted to put

on......in most cases the new install is best. As far as moving data, I

found using an ATA Flash card made it very easy. I simply copied what I

needed onto the flash card and moved it to the XP machine. My original

intent was to get the Me box 'talking' to the XP box through the router,

but, I was never able to get the Me box to recognize the XP machine and the

XP machine would only 'see' a portion of what I needed on the Me box.

(don't ask, I never did figure it out.....the flash card made it

easy.....and card readers are really cheap now....I got a floppy drive with

built in card reader that will read like 10 different cards for $24, IIRC).

And, you can get a 1G flash card for about $12 now.....I did all my moving

with a 256Mb card.

 

No biggie, it is whatever YOU want that really matters. I just felt that,

in the long run, you would be better off with the XP machine for a variety

of reasons. Functionally, it is nothing to get used to using.....very user

friendly and intuitive.

Heirloom, old and it's raining again today....I

have moss growing on my north side.

 

"Eric" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:O76ah450HHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

> "Heirloom" <roland58XX@XXcox.net> wrote in message

> news:%23v$zm840HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> Hey Ogg,

>> I know you have your heart set on maintaining Me a while longer,

>> however, you really should consider simply getting another machine with

>> XP. The transition from Me to XP for the user is very, very

>> easy......well, I found it so. The advantages are many when you consider

>> hardware, software, support, etc. Just my 2 cents, about what it is

>> worth. Sorry, but, I am unable to answer your other questions.....I'm

>> sure one of the gurus will be along shortly for that.

>> Heirloom, old and lovin' my XP

>>

> Transition from ME to XP is even easier if you go to XP display properties

> and select the Classic theme. Then the biggest difference for users is

> file locations. WinME lets you put files anywhere. In XP you can put

> them anywhere if you are the system admin (since it's based on NT it's

> built for multi-user and it's not recommended to sign in as an admin

> unless you need the access rights for something particular), but the

> default is to put everything in your user profile path.

>

>>

>> "Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

>> news:OIwnoe40HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>I am looking for advice on transferring an existing WinME system to

>>>another

>>> (preferrably NEW) set of hardware.

>>>

> ...

>>> There were two approaches I was thinking might work:

>>>

>>> [1] Barebone kit. This one inspires me: http://tinyurl.com/2pughc If

>>> that link doesn't cooperate, try this one:

>>> http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=qAXQ110sLGI&offerid=101323.3202691&type=2&subid=0

>>> Or.. just go to http://tigerdirect.ca and enter "M452-2850 C" (without

>>> the quotes) in the product search.

>>>

>>> With this approach, the idea is to them have a relatively modern pc that

>>> I can use for Linux or XP in the future. This model seems to have both

>>> IDE and SATA. The plan is to utilize the IDE for the exisiting hdd

>>> (with the WinME OS) and then build upon the SATA for future storage or

>>> main hdd use. Would that work, or are simultaneous us of IDE hdd and

>>> SATA hdd not allowed on mobo's?

>>>

> I don't believe you can use IDE and SATA hard drives in the same system at

> the same time, though I'm not 100% sure.

> If the old system works and you have a CDRW drive for it, you may just

> want to get a CDRW disc and transfer files that way.

> If you have a switch and can network both of them, it may be even easier,

> though some people have issues getting an ME system to talk to an XP

> system.

>

>>> [2] A new pc that supports boot via USB and utilize the existing WinME

>>> OS

>>> via an hdd enclosure.

>>>

>>> The dilema of course is the ram limitation in WinME (max 512meg with

>>> tweaks

>>> in Vcache) ..and maybe a few other limitations such as suitable video

>>> driver

>>> support.

>>>

>>> W.r.t the barebone kit above, would WinME have problems with

>>> PCI-Express?

>>>

> I wouldn't recommend WinME on a new system.

>

> It is possible to get a "new" system for under $300, but for a new PC with

> XP and a monitor I'd expect at least closer to $500.

> Spend closer to $1000 if you want it to last a few more years, or if you

> want some extras (printer? backup power supply?).

> Spend closer to $1500 if you want good bragging rights. You could even

> spend more than that, but then you're probably just getting ridiculous.

> If you really want to be a cheapskate, skip the new and refurbished and

> run right to the classifieds. People have some decent sounding relatively

> new systems in there usually well under $300. Of course they probably

> don't have a flat screen monitor, or warranty...

>

>

[Guest Shane]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

> easy.....and card readers are really cheap now....I got a floppy drive

> with built in card reader that will read like 10 different cards for $24,

> IIRC). And, you can get a 1G flash card for about $12 now.....I did all my

> moving with a 256Mb card.

>

 

This box has a multi card reader *instead* of a floppy drive! Hence the

great fun installing XP to a RAID, when it only accepts drivers from a

floppy (I do now have an installation CD that installs the drivers

automatically - and beyond accepting the eula, choosing to install rather

than repair and to which partition, automated the entire setup routine! Next

time you need to hit the keyboard is when the desktop is up!

 

In fact I'm prepared - for a reasonable fee - to constuct such CDs for

others - so long as they supply the original, of course. What do you think?

Send me the XP CD and a list of what they want - eg, keyboard and regional

settings, time zone, which extras, what to name the computer, whether to

install a workgroup and so on and get back a CD that after choosing where to

install to, you can leave running and just go do something else?).

 

As for the card price you quote, for not much more you can get a 2G SD card

in town, here. Real tempted to get one for the camera - only lately I

haven't even been making use of the 128MB it does have! I guess prices will

continue to fall though, so when I start using it again it won't be too late

to get a bargain. In fact I'll probably be able to get a 4G then, for the

same price.

 

But, you know, I get maybe 50 really big shots (that make crystal clear

filled-and-cropped wallpapers on this widescreen monitor) on 128MB! It's

when I think of being able to store about 16x as many that I decide to

'leave it for now'. I think there must be a smaller one - of similar value -

that will be more appropriate. But what is actually wrong with fitting, say

(for the sake of argument) 750 photos you could make posters with on my

camera's memory card? All I know is it makes my mind reel!

 

I don't recall if I bought this up before, H (old bean!) - but I read an

article that (like a slap round the face) made me aware of at least one part

of what is happening these days: that solid state storage is usurping the

mechanical variety. Quite astounding, really, just considering the space

that'll save - but then we do march relentlessly on towards ever-increasing

miniturisation, don't we, nothing new in that. But there'll be no spin-up

time. Push the 'On' button and Windows will be available just as fast as the

monitor can initialise. Well, this machine is 'whisper' quiet - certainly in

the daytime when there is background noise anyhow - but it'll sound like

shouting when instead of the HDD we're Solid State. Though if it gets

shortened to 'SS' I think we'll have forgotten the lesson of the valve era.

 

I saw - for the first time, realistically - the prospect of a mobile phone

with the power of a desktop. Now, if they can just advance cybernetics to

where we can swap our hands for ones with tiny little fingers...!

 

 

Shane

[Guest Heirloom]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

Yeah, I have often wondered when the solid state "HD's" would be available.

With the improvements that come out, almost daily, i.e. HDSD cards, speed

will become the least of our worries. My puny little 256Mb ATA Flash card

is over 20x larger than my first HD!!....and I thought I would never be able

to fill that up! The large G cards are still rather costly, but, like all

electronics, they will come down and get smaller in the process. Won't be

long before the "Dick Tracy" watch (or Bluetooth type headset) will have

wireless connections to printers, phone, Net, fax, camera and movie, tv,

radio, MP3,

visual scanner, GPS, health monitor and a myriad of other items with a

direct neuro connection to ones optic nerve and probably other sensory

abilities. Won't be any need for schools, simply program the knowledge one

needs into storage and get your degree.

Heirloom, old and I don't want to be

around then

 

 

"Shane" <shanebeatson@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:OfHSTGq1HHA.5532@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> easy.....and card readers are really cheap now....I got a floppy drive

>> with built in card reader that will read like 10 different cards for $24,

>> IIRC). And, you can get a 1G flash card for about $12 now.....I did all

>> my moving with a 256Mb card.

>>

>

> This box has a multi card reader *instead* of a floppy drive! Hence the

> great fun installing XP to a RAID, when it only accepts drivers from a

> floppy (I do now have an installation CD that installs the drivers

> automatically - and beyond accepting the eula, choosing to install rather

> than repair and to which partition, automated the entire setup routine!

> Next time you need to hit the keyboard is when the desktop is up!

>

> In fact I'm prepared - for a reasonable fee - to constuct such CDs for

> others - so long as they supply the original, of course. What do you

> think? Send me the XP CD and a list of what they want - eg, keyboard and

> regional settings, time zone, which extras, what to name the computer,

> whether to install a workgroup and so on and get back a CD that after

> choosing where to install to, you can leave running and just go do

> something else?).

>

> As for the card price you quote, for not much more you can get a 2G SD

> card in town, here. Real tempted to get one for the camera - only lately I

> haven't even been making use of the 128MB it does have! I guess prices

> will continue to fall though, so when I start using it again it won't be

> too late to get a bargain. In fact I'll probably be able to get a 4G then,

> for the same price.

>

> But, you know, I get maybe 50 really big shots (that make crystal clear

> filled-and-cropped wallpapers on this widescreen monitor) on 128MB! It's

> when I think of being able to store about 16x as many that I decide to

> 'leave it for now'. I think there must be a smaller one - of similar

> value - that will be more appropriate. But what is actually wrong with

> fitting, say (for the sake of argument) 750 photos you could make posters

> with on my camera's memory card? All I know is it makes my mind reel!

>

> I don't recall if I bought this up before, H (old bean!) - but I read an

> article that (like a slap round the face) made me aware of at least one

> part of what is happening these days: that solid state storage is usurping

> the mechanical variety. Quite astounding, really, just considering the

> space that'll save - but then we do march relentlessly on towards

> ever-increasing miniturisation, don't we, nothing new in that. But

> there'll be no spin-up time. Push the 'On' button and Windows will be

> available just as fast as the monitor can initialise. Well, this machine

> is 'whisper' quiet - certainly in the daytime when there is background

> noise anyhow - but it'll sound like shouting when instead of the HDD we're

> Solid State. Though if it gets shortened to 'SS' I think we'll have

> forgotten the lesson of the valve era.

>

> I saw - for the first time, realistically - the prospect of a mobile phone

> with the power of a desktop. Now, if they can just advance cybernetics to

> where we can swap our hands for ones with tiny little fingers...!

>

>

> Shane

[Guest Shane]

Re: WinME suggestions wanted..

 

 

"Heirloom" <roland58XX@XXcox.net> wrote in message

news:edjdHxq1HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Yeah, I have often wondered when the solid state "HD's" would be

> available. With the improvements that come out, almost daily, i.e. HDSD

> cards, speed will become the least of our worries. My puny little 256Mb

> ATA Flash card is over 20x larger than my first HD!!....and I thought I

> would never be able to fill that up! The large G cards are still rather

> costly, but, like all electronics, they will come down and get smaller in

> the process. Won't be long before the "Dick Tracy" watch (or Bluetooth

> type headset) will have wireless connections to printers, phone, Net, fax,

> camera and movie, tv, radio, MP3,

> visual scanner, GPS, health monitor and a myriad of other items with a

> direct neuro connection to ones optic nerve and probably other sensory

> abilities. Won't be any need for schools, simply program the knowledge

> one needs into storage and get your degree.

> Heirloom, old and I don't want to be

> around then

>

 

That's about the audible most lol I've managed here yet! No, I'm not sure I

want to be around then either.

 

 

Shane

>

> "Shane" <shanebeatson@gmail.com> wrote in message

> news:OfHSTGq1HHA.5532@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> easy.....and card readers are really cheap now....I got a floppy drive

>>> with built in card reader that will read like 10 different cards for

>>> $24, IIRC). And, you can get a 1G flash card for about $12 now.....I did

>>> all my moving with a 256Mb card.

>>>

>>

>> This box has a multi card reader *instead* of a floppy drive! Hence the

>> great fun installing XP to a RAID, when it only accepts drivers from a

>> floppy (I do now have an installation CD that installs the drivers

>> automatically - and beyond accepting the eula, choosing to install rather

>> than repair and to which partition, automated the entire setup routine!

>> Next time you need to hit the keyboard is when the desktop is up!

>>

>> In fact I'm prepared - for a reasonable fee - to constuct such CDs for

>> others - so long as they supply the original, of course. What do you

>> think? Send me the XP CD and a list of what they want - eg, keyboard and

>> regional settings, time zone, which extras, what to name the computer,

>> whether to install a workgroup and so on and get back a CD that after

>> choosing where to install to, you can leave running and just go do

>> something else?).

>>

>> As for the card price you quote, for not much more you can get a 2G SD

>> card in town, here. Real tempted to get one for the camera - only lately

>> I haven't even been making use of the 128MB it does have! I guess prices

>> will continue to fall though, so when I start using it again it won't be

>> too late to get a bargain. In fact I'll probably be able to get a 4G

>> then, for the same price.

>>

>> But, you know, I get maybe 50 really big shots (that make crystal clear

>> filled-and-cropped wallpapers on this widescreen monitor) on 128MB! It's

>> when I think of being able to store about 16x as many that I decide to

>> 'leave it for now'. I think there must be a smaller one - of similar

>> value - that will be more appropriate. But what is actually wrong with

>> fitting, say (for the sake of argument) 750 photos you could make posters

>> with on my camera's memory card? All I know is it makes my mind reel!

>>

>> I don't recall if I bought this up before, H (old bean!) - but I read an

>> article that (like a slap round the face) made me aware of at least one

>> part of what is happening these days: that solid state storage is

>> usurping the mechanical variety. Quite astounding, really, just

>> considering the space that'll save - but then we do march relentlessly on

>> towards ever-increasing miniturisation, don't we, nothing new in that.

>> But there'll be no spin-up time. Push the 'On' button and Windows will be

>> available just as fast as the monitor can initialise. Well, this machine

>> is 'whisper' quiet - certainly in the daytime when there is background

>> noise anyhow - but it'll sound like shouting when instead of the HDD

>> we're Solid State. Though if it gets shortened to 'SS' I think we'll have

>> forgotten the lesson of the valve era.

>>

>> I saw - for the first time, realistically - the prospect of a mobile

>> phone with the power of a desktop. Now, if they can just advance

>> cybernetics to where we can swap our hands for ones with tiny little

>> fingers...!

>>

>>

>> Shane

>

>