Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Which Operating System?

0 helpful
15 replies

by operatorx

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Here is the question. I'm building another computer. I really want to use Windows 2000 Pro as my O/S. But, I play alot of games, all relatively graphic intense. The last time I built a computer I installed 2000 pro but when I went to install directxI got an error saying that directx was not compatiable with 2000 pro. But when I go to the directx website, they have a download for 2000 pro O/S. Is anyone a gamer/multimedia type using windbloze 2000 pro?

15 replies

by james r linn

That way i get the latest and greatest Direct X, better compatibility with older apps, but more stable than ME.

James

by grimreality

I have used and currently use multiple OS's and I have never had any problems with Win2K and gaming or multimedia applications.
I do not trust or beleive in the viability of WinXP yet as nothing that has coe out has not needed multiple fixes beforeit is secure and sturdy enough to use. Win2K has all the fixes and the adantages of WinXP without any of the issues as to hardware compatibility.

by mtberjim

If you just built a box, you should not run in to compatibility problems. The problem is the 200.00 bucks for XP Pro. That's why I'm still using Win 2000 pro. I Like Quake2-3 and my son plays Diablo 2. With exception to some of the older games, ex- doom, quake1. We seem to have very little trouble with Win 2000. You can update to direct X 8.1 right from Microsoft's web site.

by slam5

Well, if you are building your own system. I think the best to do it is to use a HD caddy to make your HD a remove media. With the current price so low. You are better off running different OS on different drives. The only problem is with that you can't buy multi copies of OEM version of MS OS. At least, that is what I believe is MS's official OEM policy.

by timseery

W2K Pro is a good operating systems but is not a great gaming platform because of backward compatibility issues.

Windows 98 is good gaming platform but is dated and is not my personal favorite.

XP game compatablity is on par with 98 and is a lot more stable than 98.

In short go with XP.

by mrafrohead

stay away from xp...

use 2k - and yes direct x 8.1 will work with windoze 2k pro...

Mrafrohead

by james r linn

I have used W2K in business and moved to XP - I find XP marginally faster at some tasks, and even more stable than W2K, though both are better than 9X.

I had some minor problems installing the Java Virtual Machine but those were resolved, and SP1should eliminate that problem.

Are you expressing some resentment at the registration process?

James

by mrafrohead

No resentment towards the registration... I use a workaround for that... I personally feel that if I paid for something, I am not going to be told how to use it... So I just do it my way;)

Although, yes, if I didn't have a workaround, you can bet your kittens that I would not use the software...

I don't care for it because it doesn't work properly on my boxes. My computers use 3dfx cards and MS didn't write proper drivers for either of my cards...

Not to mention it is lacking in some of the security features of Win2k.

And I didn't notice any speed enhancements...

But this is just my opinion;)

Mrafrohead

by mrafrohead

The absolutely mandatory one for me is that you can not lock the computer when you are not at it. I run servers on my box so my computers are always on. I need the locking feature to keep nosy people out of my box when I'm not there. And also to keep my kids out of my box so they aren't "helping" me reprogram anything:)

You have to use a third party program to do that, and that's just not an option for me.

There is still the encryption software built into XP Pro though, which is nice:)

I also, this is not confirmed yet, think that XP talks home a lot... I don't want to be running anything that is telling anyone what it is that I may be or am doing on my computer. That is my business alone and whoever else I am involved with doing what I am doing at the time.

That's a reason that I don't trust XP...

Mrafrohead

by james r linn

Hit the shutdown button in the start menu and chose standby - it will hibernate the machine ad require a valid ID and password to access.

James

by tomsal

I'm also a big time gamer, in fact I've been a die hard gamer for some 20 years now.

I'm not able to build a complete system right now - totally a money issue for me, but I'm researching and budgeting so I can buy components a little at a time and I'm hoping in 4 months I'll have a complete system to assemble (all this just to play Unreal 2 - lol).

Anyway, the problem is Win 98 is officially dropped now (ie. Major PC companies are no longer shipping it and you can no longer buy 98 licenses), which means there goes compatibility for some of the games in my over 100 title PC game library.

The dilemma is what OS for my new system. Most gamers I've talked to say XP ratherly confidently.

But like the points raised here, I'm weary of Microsoft spying on what I'm doing on my PC or what hardware I have. The registration thingy on XP bothers me, I'm told from my MS rep (for work) that as long as I'm legitimately buying proper licenses for all software I don't need to worry, if the XP registration prohibits me during an upgrade I can call MS and they'll approve me a new code. But that is a pain! If any of you ever call MS, you know what I mean. I've better things to do than wait on hold for 45 minutes because I upgraded the motherboard and HD in MY COMPUTER that *I* paid for with *MY* money.

by mrafrohead

Remember the Windoze 98 License...

Allows you to use it on one machine at a time, and I think that it was still transferrable.

So if you scrap the other computer you can use it on your new box. Or if you keep the old box, just turn it off while using it on your new box...;)

And my opinion on games is to use ME... I know that it sounds cheezy, but think of it like this.

It has the same amount of bugs as 98. Different ones, but the same amount. But it does run faster... Thereforeyou do get a little more performance out of it.

At least that is what works for me:)

Hope that this helps a little bit...

And one other thing. Circuit City seems to still sell Windoze 98SE...

Mrafrohead

by mrafrohead

But if your box is in standby, servers access times drop severely...

And if it's out of standby anyone within arms reach can also access the computer. Windoze generic screensaver password is far from secure... When the computer is also coming out of standby or hibernate it can be forced into bypassing the pw also...;(

Mrafrohead

by arthurp

Hello,
Win 2000 was supposed to be the first OS that ventured into both the Home & Office, however due to delays in release MS failed to achieve the harmonisation & the move away from the 95 kernel; hence the reason they revamped Win98 & released ME.

Whilst XP has many critics, and is still not perfect, it is a step in the right direction. One feature is the compatability module that has been provided, allowing operation of "SOME" software that works on the 95/98/me/2000/ & NT4 platforms.
I've been using XP since it was first launched, & have experienced few problems with software that operated upon another platform.

The only problem that I have found annoying with XP is that it will not allow direct access to the com ports when running in "compatability mode" - although this is a general indication that I need to upgrade the package that I am using at the time.

Arthur

This discussion is closed to new replies.