In news:xYcel.539698$yE1.157025@attbi_s21,
William R. Walsh typed on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:54:37 GMT:
[...]
> Windows 95 and 98 CDs are generally not startable, so they won't help
> you a whole lot. If you intend to install Windows 95 or 98, you will
> need a boot diskette that starts the computer and sets it up enough
> so that the CD-ROM drive is recognized.
>
> Some might differ with me on this, but if I were certain that the
> system could handle a newer operating system like Windows 2000, I'd
> find a secondhand copy of that for sale cheap somewhere (be sure it's
> legal) and use it as a light duty or secondary computer. I have one
> of these systems that is still in some active use. Windows 2000 will
> start from its installation CD.
>
> You might also take the opportunity to try Linux, if you're curious
> about it. It too can breathe some new life into an old computer.
>
> Either option will need at least 128MB of installed RAM (and in
> reality, more is better) to work well.
>
> William (hates to throw anything that works out)
Well I have a original Windows 95 Upgrade CD and a Windows 98SE generic OEM
CD and they both are bootable. And all retail versions should be bootable.
OEMs on the other hand may or not be. I have some branded OEM versions too
and they are not bootable. Is this different than your experience?
I also have two Toshiba 2595XDVD ('99 era) laptops. They originally came
with Windows 98FE. One I put Windows 98SE and the second one I put Windows
2000 on it. Both I upgraded to 192MB of RAM (Celeron 400MHz). The 98 one,
besides running out of resources very quickly, runs very well. The W2K one,
doesn't have the system resource problem, but it can be very sluggish.
Worse, it can only handle 100kps video. While the W98SE one can handle over
700kps. So I have very mixed feelings about whether to put W98SE or Windows
2000 on an older machine.
--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu
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