Win Me Sos
 

Please can someone help me out with a lil big problem, i really need to get rid of crappy win ME off my new to me pc, i cant remove it from add/remove programmes cos its not listed on it, ME doesnt go into DOS mode away from windows so i could format the hardrive.......so what do i do cos i want to boot up n install 98 ..... can anyone help or advise?????

TIA

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Tis ok folks i managed to sort it now the dreaded ME has gone :)

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I agree ME was the worst ever release of Windows. XP is probably the best of the Bad lot.

There are alternatives you know!

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Like what? other than throwing it over the hedge lol

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Personally I use Gentoo Linux. There are other flavours of Linux as well, SuSE, Mandrake, Debian, Slackware, Fedora.

It is a very secure OS. No viruses, Trojans etc don't work. Lots of choice of software of which 99% is free to use(including the OS itself). If you are interested I can give you more info. One beauty of it is that it will set itself up to 'dual boot' so you have the choice of Linux or Windows. I have a lot of friends who use Linux for all their Internet usage(email, Browsing, P2P) and Office work(OpenOffice) only booting into Windows to play the odd game that isn't released for Linux(Although even this is getting a lot better, Doom3 and HL2 both have Linux installers, as do Doom 2 and Unreal.

Like I said, if you want more info let me know.

Ian

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I heard that most (if not all) Linux users are more technically minded about (their) computers than most of the general public, and that it's not as user friendly as Windows.

I guess that so many people grow up with Windows and the Office applications that they are comfortable with it - if it ain't broke why fix it?

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I'm a bit like that when it comes to PCs. I'm tempted to try other things but think if I'm happy with what I've got why upset the apple cart?

I did have ME for a little while and did NOT like it. Much prefer XP.

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Yes vorlon, they probably are mainly due to that fact that you have to know that it exists in the first place. As far as useability goes it is just as easy to use as windows. In fact some would say easier as you do not have to worry about Anti Virus, Spyware etc. Also most mainstream distros are 'firewalled' by default. Distros such as Mandrake and Suse include lost of nice gui wizards to help people and have been accused of becoming too Windowsy. You don't have to be a wierdo techie to use Linux at all. If anyone wishes to try it without touching their Windows install there are versions available that run from the CD drive albeit a little slow as CDs are a lot slower than Hard disks. Have a look at www.knoppix.org

Open Office(www.openoffice.org) is a superb tool and one that people familiar with Microsoft Office will have no problems whatsoever with. It is also available for Windows and is free to use( so those of you with dodgy copies of Office can get rid of them and cleanse your conscience :) )

Ian

Re: Win Me Sos
 

People don't have dodgy copies of Office, surely!!! :eek: :D

Re: Win Me Sos
 

never would i think of taking money out of bill gates pokets hes barely scraping a living as it is

anyway bill gates stole the idea for windows so payback i a bitch lol

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Re: Win Me Sos
 

What - dodgy copies of Office? ;)

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Aye Willow, what would you like to try?

Re: Win Me Sos
 

The thing with computers is that whatever you do to them can normally be undone (unless you are prone to throwing them out of windows, etc (excuse the pun!)).

All I would suggest is ensure you have backups of everything that you want to keep (this should be done periodically anyway, in case of failure), and I don't just mean the usual word and excel files, but also emails. I use Outlook, so can export the whole thing to a .pst file. I have yet to master Outlook Express. I prefer Outlook as you get a little more protection with the latest versions (it blocks .exe and various other file types - to help with preventing viruses from hitting your inbox)

So yes, take backups and then play!

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I didn't mind windows ME...... but that is probably because it was all I had ever known......have XP now and HATED it at first, but have got used to it.
I am with Willow.......a bit chary of trying anything new, even though I KNOW you can restore......I don't trust these Bl**dy machines, but I trust myself even less.

Re: Win Me Sos
 

You can blind me with science anyday.

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I'm going to have a go with something new. I've decided that seeing as how I have a brain I am going to use it and not let it stagnate.

I may not know much now but I'm going to be brave and try to learn to at least understand what I'm doing.

I look at it his way. At one time I wouldn't have known where to start making emoticons and little graphics but now I can do some simple ones and quite enjoy it. Also it's another excuse to do less ironing.;)

Re: Win Me Sos
 

yeah ME is crap we had loads of probs.On XP Pro now seems alot better

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Does Busman know that you are doing that instead of his ironing then??? :p

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Personaly I use Fedora Core 3 on my linux machine, it's great and easy to use as a 'my first linux'. However, it's still nowhere near as userfriendly as windows and I wouldnt recommend it unless you are experienced with computer systems..

Windows isn't all that bad really, if you set it up right with firewall and antivirus it's usualy fine..

Re: Win Me Sos
 

*Waves a Linux flag*

I'm not very computer literate but whenever I use Linux I generally don't have any trouble.. less in fact.

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Doesn't everyone on here have Less trouble??? ;) :D



Sorry - I know its off-topic, but I couldn't resist that one!!!

Re: Win Me Sos
 

I keep thinking that maybe I should go to classes to learn how to build a machine, but I am scared of looking thick.....plus I get confused by all the jargon that computer folk use. I do wish that I knew more about the guts of the machine.

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Recently there was an 80yr old guy in the telegraph who had built his own computer....puts me to shame!

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Computers are just like a big jigsaw with only a dozen or so pieces. It is almost imposible to get it wrong as the connectors are all different so will only do in a matching socket. As long as you don't try to force something that doesn't want to go then you will be fine.

However the days of saving money by building your own are long gone. Even using the trade suppliers to get the components you can normally by a ready built box for the same money if not much more.

I would say the hardest part of the build would be getting windows installed and locked down against virus/hacking and malware. Also a little understanding of the logical view of things is what is missing from most peoples understandings.


As far as user friendliness, Linux is different to Windows. Not harder just different. People who come to Linux from Windows have to learn a slightly different way of doing some things. If you went the other way I'm sure you would find windows exactly the same. Certainly it is far easier to install Linux to the majority of machines as all drivers and software installs are taken care of in one stage. I built a PC for my neighbour a short while ago. It took over 9 hours in total to get everything installed. I installed Mandrake onto the PC with full Office/Games/Internet functionality in less than 1 1/2 hours. This included connection through my Wifi network for internet access. He is safe in the knowledge that all these viruses/trojans and worms will do absolutely nothing to his PC in linux wheras in Windows he is scared to click on things because the last time he managed to get a rougue dialler complete with 'searchbar' and god knows what else.

Ian

Re: Win Me Sos
 

Yes but he's learned to put up with it by now and I keep promising to teach him things. ;)

We've all learned to put up with that too. Life would be ever so dull without him. :D
But back to the plot:
To get back to the plot:
When I first learned to use a "wordy processor" (quoting the Stanley Unwin ad - shows you how long ago that was) it was an Amstrad and used "locoscript" so when I "advanced" eventually to a PC with Microsoft Word I had to unlearn a lot of things and learn new ones. For a while I was so used to the way things had been that I found fault with the new system all the time and was sure it was nowhere near as good but over the years I've got used to it and have to admit now that there are many advantages. I still liked the old clipboard system which locoscript used though and there are still things I'm learning.

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I remember Locoscript!

The school I went to ran evening classes, and I was asked to teach one chap Locoscript as I was the only one there who knew it inside out.

I should have asked for payment, shouldn't I!!!

Re: Win Me Sos
 

When Roy was at school & the teachers used the new computer for doing the school reports he was constantly being asked to go & show them how to use the p.c.

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dont understand alot of what you lot are talking about.Not clued up with computers.I wonder if I can log on here with my daughters V-TECH Laptop..LOL

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Of course you can!!!

Is it the letter fun laptop? We got one for our son a few years ago now, and now his sister plays with it!

I can't believe the batteries still work after all this time

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Was just wondering if I could log on with my spectrum, or I have a atari? maybe I could which one would be faster lol;)

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No vorlon it's definitely the Barbie V-Tech laptop i seen it lol!!!!

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I still have a ZX81 here and 2 VIC-20s