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Windows 98 Computer Help.

Started by Hoorah, December 20, 2009, 01:48:14 AM

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Hoorah

People probably would say why am I creating a topic like this here is the reason. I just recieved a pre christmas gift a Windows 98 laptop. I am struggling to figure out what office programs, to maps I can use.
All help would be  very helpfull.

lordmonar

Tie a rope to the Lap Top.  Tie the other end to a row boat.....throw laptop into water.

;D

PATRICK M. HARRIS, SMSgt, CAP

Hoorah

Quote from: lordmonar on December 20, 2009, 01:57:33 AM
Tie a rope to the Lap Top.  Tie the other end to a row boat.....throw laptop into water.

;D
No its almost a 2000 dollar win dows 98  used.

RiverAux

Boy, you're going to have a tough time using that with just about everything.  Your best bet is to ask around to see if anyone has any old software they haven't thrown away. 

FYI, it might have been worth 2K new, but now its in the paperweight category. 

Hoorah

Quote from: RiverAux on December 20, 2009, 02:07:14 AM
Boy, you're going to have a tough time using that with just about everything.  Your best bet is to ask around to see if anyone has any old software they haven't thrown away. 

FYI, it might have been worth 2K new, but now its in the paperweight category.
Attention all IT personel message me if you have any Windows 98 software.

Eclipse

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 20, 2009, 02:02:12 AM
No its almost a 2000 dollar win dows 98  used.

In 1998, it may well have cost the original purchaser $2000.  Today you can buy a Netbook with XP or Linux on it with 10x's the power, 5x's the RAM, and 16x's the drive space for less than $300.

Assuming its been optimized, and has a decent amount of ram on it, you can run programs from that era, including Office, etc., however it likely won't have wireless, or even a built-on NIC for internet, and would be considered a VERY insecure machine for surfing the web.  Microsoft no longer supports Win98, nor do they issues patches or security fixes.  I'm not sure if the last-round can even still be downloaded.

If its upgradeable, I would look into it, but likely its not worth it financially unless you can find the parts used or free.  You might consider
trying the Ubuntu version of Linux, but a Win98-era machine might be underpowered even for that.

"That Others May Zoom"

Seabee219

WIndows 98 is not even supported by Microsoft anymore for about a million years now.  Depends on the specs see if it can run XP.  I have software that can run on 98 still including office, not sure how good it will be for changing files, the new office should read older office files, but not the other way around. good luck

CAP Capt, Retired US Navy Seabee.
  MRO, MS, MO, UDF, GT3, MSA, CUL
1. Lead by example, and take care of your people

Hoorah

I found out from my good friend from GA that he can get tons of Windows 98 software but I was wondering if you could still find CAP software built for a Windows 98.

Spike

Let me get the DeLorean out and have Doc and Marty go back to 1999 for you.  I can not even remember what windows 98 looked like, or what color the fail-crash screen was. 

Seabee219

They are always the blue screen of death, blue with white letters.  >:D
CAP Capt, Retired US Navy Seabee.
  MRO, MS, MO, UDF, GT3, MSA, CUL
1. Lead by example, and take care of your people

Eclipse

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 20, 2009, 02:32:43 AM
I found out from my good friend from GA that he can get tons of Windows 98 software but I was wondering if you could still find CAP software built for a Windows 98.

CAP "software"?

Other than the CAP add-on for Flight Sim (which that box will never run), I don't know what would qualify as "CAP Software"  All the forms
will work if you have a Word-compatible office program, or an old copy of Acrobat reader.

"That Others May Zoom"

SamFranklin

Give the cadet a break. He's got his own laptop and is excited about that. It's not a Macbook Air, but so what?

Cadet Williams, boot it up and see if it has MS Office 97 installed. If not, check out a flea market or ebay for that software and offer no more than $20 for it.

If you can run Office 97 on it, you can use your laptop as a word processor for school. Ask your technology teacher at school for help, too.

I started with an outdated computer, too. You can get some use out of it. Good luck.


(Maybe the members of this board should show a little more gratitude and compassion once in a while. It's Christmas.)

cap235629

Bill Hobbs, Major, CAP
Arkansas Certified Emergency Manager
Tabhair 'om póg, is Éireannach mé

Eclipse

#13
Quote from: magoo on December 20, 2009, 06:14:09 AM
Give the cadet a break. He's got his own laptop and is excited about that. It's not a Macbook Air, but so what?

He asserted that he had a $2000 Windows 98 machine - those no longer exist.

He asked for "CAP Software" - that never existed.

He's likely expected to be able to use it in ways which will be a practical impossibility, or a financially unfeasible one. For which I made a viable suggestion - Linux (to which he should add a copy of Open Office) which is "free".

Quote from: magoo on December 20, 2009, 06:14:09 AMIt's not a Macbook Air...
Correct, if it was he'd really have something - a boat anchor he could sell to buy a real computer and a boat.

"That Others May Zoom"

flyerthom

Quote from: Seabee219 on December 20, 2009, 02:45:31 AM
They are always the blue screen of death, blue with white letters.  >:D



As for Win 98 - ebay
TC

Capt Rivera

http://www.ubuntu.com/ or any linux distro that your hardware can handle.
- Open Office and many other Open Source Free software...

* Google the rest...
//Signed//

Joshua Rivera, Capt, CAP
Squadron Commander
Grand Forks Composite Squadron
North Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol
http://www.grandforkscap.org

MikeD

Put Linux on it, I think someone else already suggest Ubuntu.  I'd say Open Office is on your must-have list, and I'd play around with writing code in C and Python on it. 

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: MikeD on December 21, 2009, 02:47:29 AM
Put Linux on it, I think someone else already suggest Ubuntu.  I'd say Open Office is on your must-have list, and I'd play around with writing code in C and Python on it. 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220584

$289 Shipped. Way more powerful too.

Eclipse


"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah

I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.

Eclipse

The GIMP & Winamp, but you may need to hunt old versions.

"That Others May Zoom"

BuckeyeDEJ

If you're going to go Unix, forget Linux and go for the best user experience around — Macintosh. So good, in fact, that Bill Gates made a poor copy that ran over DOS called, uh, "Windows."

You might pay a little more, but you get what you pay for. Windows 7 = Mac OS 9


CAP since 1984: Lt Col; former C/Lt Col; MO, MRO, MS, IO; former sq CC/CD/PA; group, wing, region PA, natl cmte mbr, nat'l staff member.
REAL LIFE: Working journalist in SPG, DTW (News), SRQ, PIT (Trib), 2D1, WVI, W22; editor, desk chief, designer, photog, columnist, reporter, graphics guy, visual editor, but not all at once. Now a communications manager for an international multisport venue.

davidsinn

Quote from: BuckeyeDEJ on December 23, 2009, 07:14:18 AM
If you're going to go Unix, forget Linux and go for the best user experience around — Macintosh. So good, in fact, that Bill Gates made a poor copy that ran over DOS called, uh, "Windows."

You might pay a little more, but you get what you pay for. Windows 7 = Mac OS 9

Except you'd pay $2000 for a computer that's really only worth a grand. The cadet has the computer already and is looking to use it as is.
Former CAP Captain
David Sinn

BuckeyeDEJ

Quote from: davidsinn on December 23, 2009, 11:03:45 AM
Quote from: BuckeyeDEJ on December 23, 2009, 07:14:18 AM
If you're going to go Unix, forget Linux and go for the best user experience around — Macintosh. So good, in fact, that Bill Gates made a poor copy that ran over DOS called, uh, "Windows."

You might pay a little more, but you get what you pay for. Windows 7 = Mac OS 9

Except you'd pay $2000 for a computer that's really only worth a grand. The cadet has the computer already and is looking to use it as is.

The base MacBook is $999, and for most people, that's enough.


CAP since 1984: Lt Col; former C/Lt Col; MO, MRO, MS, IO; former sq CC/CD/PA; group, wing, region PA, natl cmte mbr, nat'l staff member.
REAL LIFE: Working journalist in SPG, DTW (News), SRQ, PIT (Trib), 2D1, WVI, W22; editor, desk chief, designer, photog, columnist, reporter, graphics guy, visual editor, but not all at once. Now a communications manager for an international multisport venue.

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: BuckeyeDEJ on December 23, 2009, 07:27:54 PM
Quote from: davidsinn on December 23, 2009, 11:03:45 AM
Quote from: BuckeyeDEJ on December 23, 2009, 07:14:18 AM
If you're going to go Unix, forget Linux and go for the best user experience around — Macintosh. So good, in fact, that Bill Gates made a poor copy that ran over DOS called, uh, "Windows."

You might pay a little more, but you get what you pay for. Windows 7 = Mac OS 9

Except you'd pay $2000 for a computer that's really only worth a grand. The cadet has the computer already and is looking to use it as is.

The base MacBook is $999, and for most people, that's enough.

The base laptop these days is what? 500-400?

helper

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 22, 2009, 10:05:02 PM
I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.

You might try Irfanview for the picture editing, music & video playing software. Its FREE and it should work on Win98. Download both the program and the plugins. Read the FAQ's and play with it. I use it for scanning and cropping images for ebay.

http://www.irfanview.com/


In addition to an older version of MS Office, you might consider a simple text editor. There are several popular FREE ones available for download from http://download.cnet.com/windows/ Select Top Freeware and browse away.

Some of the fun of using an older PC is locating and installing the software. The process will teach you a lot about computers.

I just had another thought that you might look at purchasing really cheep (or getting free) upgrades like memory or a larger hard drive.  The free part comes in when IT people upgrade and end up with surplus, out of date tech stuff.

enjoy
Mitchell (pre-number) & Earhart (2144)

Eclipse

Quote from: BuckeyeDEJ on December 23, 2009, 07:27:54 PM
The base MacBook is $999, and for most people, that's enough.

For most people, that's two or three and a printer.

Boutique product, limited feature set, horrible support for business users, too expensive.
World-class engineering, at the expense of choice.  Form over function.

But you do get the xtra-large smug that comes with paying more for no reason.
Don't get me started on the steaming pile of smokescreen that is the iPhone.

"That Others May Zoom"

Майор Хаткевич

Hey, my fiancee just got the iPhone, after having the Touch for a year. It works as a phone, it has all the features of the Touch.

My touch is very much a media piece for me, even with just wifi. Is it a business phone? Not so much. But then again, I wouldn't want work calling while I'm listening to"My Humps" and playing Spore.

flyerthom

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 22, 2009, 10:05:02 PM
I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.
http://www.openoffice.org/ has everything you can do with MS Office for free.
TC

SarDragon

Quote from: flyerthom on December 24, 2009, 04:07:18 AM
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 22, 2009, 10:05:02 PM
I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.
http://www.openoffice.org/ has everything you can do with MS Office for free.

But will it run on Win 98?
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

cap235629

Quote from: SarDragon on December 24, 2009, 05:47:54 AM
Quote from: flyerthom on December 24, 2009, 04:07:18 AM
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 22, 2009, 10:05:02 PM
I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.
http://www.openoffice.org/ has everything you can do with MS Office for free.

But will it run on Win 98?

version 2 will
Bill Hobbs, Major, CAP
Arkansas Certified Emergency Manager
Tabhair 'om póg, is Éireannach mé

lordmonar

PATRICK M. HARRIS, SMSgt, CAP

Hoorah

Quote from: helper on December 23, 2009, 08:16:51 PM
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 22, 2009, 10:05:02 PM
I am looking for software such as picture editing software to music software to maps etc for Windows 98.

You might try Irfanview for the picture editing, music & video playing software. Its FREE and it should work on Win98. Download both the program and the plugins. Read the FAQ's and play with it. I use it for scanning and cropping images for ebay.

http://www.irfanview.com/


In addition to an older version of MS Office, you might consider a simple text editor. There are several popular FREE ones available for download from http://download.cnet.com/windows/ Select Top Freeware and browse away.

Some of the fun of using an older PC is locating and installing the software. The process will teach you a lot about computers.

I just had another thought that you might look at purchasing really cheep (or getting free) upgrades like memory or a larger hard drive.  The free part comes in when IT people upgrade and end up with surplus, out of date tech stuff.

enjoy
I like the IT please let me know by message when they are.

Hoorah

Well I have good news about my (old out of date computer) I have been able to make it sufficient to run. I can put new software on it but only if the software was made from 1990-1999 era.

C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on December 20, 2009, 01:48:14 AM
People probably would say why am I creating a topic like this here is the reason. I just recieved a pre christmas gift a Windows 98 laptop. I am struggling to figure out what office programs, to maps I can use.
All help would be  very helpfull.
I'm sorry, but Windows 98? Why did someone give you a Windows 98 computer? We are currently on OS Windows 7. Time to sell that computer and get a new(er) one.

Wright Brothers #13915

Eclipse

Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 15, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
I'm sorry, but Windows 98? Why did someone give you a Windows 98 computer? We are currently on OS Windows 7. Time to sell that computer and get a new(er) one.

Who's "we"?

While I don't have any 98 machines, I have several Win2k machines, and a number of XP notebooks.  Vista is an abomination before the Lord, and Windows 7 has few, if any, compelling features to justify the cost - the graphical nonsense is disabled the first hour any tech professional has the machine, and that's about all that's "different".  MS is still selling plenty of XP in the netbook market.

In fact, there really hasn't been a significant change in Windows in a decade, and not much improvement in hardware, beyond multi-cores
in at least 5 years.

Just because Big Box Mart decides to ask for more money, doesn't mean you need to spend it.

"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah

Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2010, 04:44:59 PM
Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 15, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
I'm sorry, but Windows 98? Why did someone give you a Windows 98 computer? We are currently on OS Windows 7. Time to sell that computer and get a new(er) one.

Who's "we"?

While I don't have any 98 machines, I have several Win2k machines, and a number of XP notebooks.  Vista is an abomination before the Lord, and Windows 7 has few, if any, compelling features to justify the cost - the graphical nonsense is disabled the first hour any tech professional has the machine, and that's about all that's "different".  MS is still selling plenty of XP in the netbook market.

In fact, there really hasn't been a significant change in Windows in a decade, and not much improvement in hardware, beyond multi-cores
in at least 5 years.

Just because Big Box Mart decides to ask for more money, doesn't mean you need to spend it.
Thanks Eclipse.

C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2010, 04:44:59 PM
Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 15, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
I'm sorry, but Windows 98? Why did someone give you a Windows 98 computer? We are currently on OS Windows 7. Time to sell that computer and get a new(er) one.

Who's "we"?

While I don't have any 98 machines, I have several Win2k machines, and a number of XP notebooks.  Vista is an abomination before the Lord, and Windows 7 has few, if any, compelling features to justify the cost - the graphical nonsense is disabled the first hour any tech professional has the machine, and that's about all that's "different".  MS is still selling plenty of XP in the netbook market.

In fact, there really hasn't been a significant change in Windows in a decade, and not much improvement in hardware, beyond multi-cores
in at least 5 years.

Just because Big Box Mart decides to ask for more money, doesn't mean you need to spend it.
We as in a Computer Community. That is what I meant.

I did not mean to come off rude, if I did, but Windows 98 was 12 years ago. CAP has update their software (if any) to at least Windows XP.

But congrats for getting a Computer.

Wright Brothers #13915

Hoorah


C/MSgt Lunsford


Wright Brothers #13915

Hoorah


vmstan

Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 15, 2010, 06:10:19 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2010, 04:44:59 PM
Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 15, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
I'm sorry, but Windows 98? Why did someone give you a Windows 98 computer? We are currently on OS Windows 7. Time to sell that computer and get a new(er) one.

Who's "we"?

While I don't have any 98 machines, I have several Win2k machines, and a number of XP notebooks.  Vista is an abomination before the Lord, and Windows 7 has few, if any, compelling features to justify the cost - the graphical nonsense is disabled the first hour any tech professional has the machine, and that's about all that's "different".  MS is still selling plenty of XP in the netbook market.

In fact, there really hasn't been a significant change in Windows in a decade, and not much improvement in hardware, beyond multi-cores
in at least 5 years.

Just because Big Box Mart decides to ask for more money, doesn't mean you need to spend it.
We as in a Computer Community. That is what I meant.

I did not mean to come off rude, if I did, but Windows 98 was 12 years ago. CAP has update their software (if any) to at least Windows XP.

But congrats for getting a Computer.

I wouldn't worry about coming off as rude Cadet, it was Eclipse that was being rude.
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

raivo

#42
The most compelling reason not to use '98 is that it's not NT-based, as everything after it (except for the dreaded Windows ME) is. That, and the fact that it's been officially discontinued from MS support, meaning no more security updates. Just about anything (other than WinME) would be better...

Sorry I can't be of more help, C/Williams, but honestly (and I'm not just playing the raving Linux zealot here) I think the best thing performance and security-wise would be to get Ubuntu so you can have an up-to-date operating system. Linux tends to perform better on older hardware, Ubuntu is designed to be user-friendly, and you can get free software that's still actively maintained rather than searching for older versions of Office et al.

I would very strongly discourage anyone from running an OS as old as Windows 98, especially on a machine that's going to be connected to the Internet. There are a lot of worms that scan IP ranges looking for vulnerable hosts to infect, running '98 is really asking for trouble.

CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

vmstan

I agree. I wouldn't advocate using anything pre-Windows 2000. Ubuntu would be the way to go.

Cadet, if you need help obtaining a copy please message me and I can send you a disk.
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

Hoorah

Quote from: Marshalus on February 15, 2010, 08:58:46 PM
I agree. I wouldn't advocate using anything pre-Windows 2000. Ubuntu would be the way to go, if you need help obtaining a copy please message me and I can send you a disk.
What is Ubuntu? Yes I would want a copy.

Eclipse

#45
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on February 15, 2010, 09:00:05 PM
Quote from: Marshalus on February 15, 2010, 08:58:46 PM
I agree. I wouldn't advocate using anything pre-Windows 2000. Ubuntu would be the way to go, if you need help obtaining a copy please message me and I can send you a disk.
What is Ubuntu? Yes I would want a copy.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Its a distribution of Linux, and currently considered one of the more user-friendly, Windows-like distros.  You can download an .ISO image and burn a "Live CD" from the above site.  It will give you the option of either running the OS from boot CD or installing it.

"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah

Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2010, 09:19:34 PM
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on February 15, 2010, 09:00:05 PM
Quote from: Marshalus on February 15, 2010, 08:58:46 PM
I agree. I wouldn't advocate using anything pre-Windows 2000. Ubuntu would be the way to go, if you need help obtaining a copy please message me and I can send you a disk.
What is Ubuntu? Yes I would want a copy.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Its a distribution of Linux, and currently considered one of the more user-friendly, Windows-like distros.  You can download and .ISO image and burn a "Live CD" from the above site.  It will give you the option of either running the OS from boot CD or installing it.
Can you mail me the disk?

C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on February 15, 2010, 09:21:29 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on February 15, 2010, 09:19:34 PM
Quote from: capcadetwilliams on February 15, 2010, 09:00:05 PM
Quote from: Marshalus on February 15, 2010, 08:58:46 PM
I agree. I wouldn't advocate using anything pre-Windows 2000. Ubuntu would be the way to go, if you need help obtaining a copy please message me and I can send you a disk.
What is Ubuntu? Yes I would want a copy.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Its a distribution of Linux, and currently considered one of the more user-friendly, Windows-like distros.  You can download and .ISO image and burn a "Live CD" from the above site.  It will give you the option of either running the OS from boot CD or installing it.
Can you mail me the disk?

The problem is... is your computer compatible? I believe there are software requirements.

Wright Brothers #13915

Eclipse


"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah


C/MSgt Lunsford


Wright Brothers #13915

Hoorah


Eclipse


"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah


C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: capcadetwilliams on February 15, 2010, 09:52:11 PM
What I don't get it.
What he means, PM Marshalus because he doesn't have the disk. Marshalus has a disk, and offered to send you a copy.

Wright Brothers #13915

raivo

You kids and your user-friendly Linux distributions.

When I was your age, I had to boot into DOS from a floppy, manually edit my partition table, then spend all night downloading installation packages over my 56K modem!

(Yes, I actually did that. Oh, and I screwed up the partition table on the family computer. That went over really well.)

CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

billford1

Push the reset button. Get a MAC BOOK PRO.

davidsinn

Quote from: billford1 on February 15, 2010, 11:44:14 PM
Push the reset button. Get a MAC BOOK PRO.

I believe he's looking for a low cost option not a gold plated one. ;D
Former CAP Captain
David Sinn

C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: billford1 on February 15, 2010, 11:44:14 PM
Push the reset button. Get a MAC BOOK PRO.
Couldn't agree more... but like Cpt. Sinn said,
Quote from: davidsinn on February 15, 2010, 11:58:22 PMI believe he's looking for a low cost option not a gold plated one. ;D

Wright Brothers #13915

helper

Another source for obtaining a current distribution of Linux is from a national chain bookstore. They usually carry Linux magazines and often include a CD. Typically the magazine will also have initial user information.
Mitchell (pre-number) & Earhart (2144)

EMT-83

Quote from: raivo on February 15, 2010, 11:41:55 PM
You kids and your user-friendly Linux distributions.

When I was your age, I had to boot into DOS from a floppy, manually edit my partition table, then spend all night downloading installation packages over my 56K modem!

(Yes, I actually did that. Oh, and I screwed up the partition table on the family computer. That went over really well.)
You had a 56K modem? Sweet.

IceNine

Heh.  I'm clocking more than that on my droid right now.

I can't believe I was productive on the web w/ those speeds
"All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies"

Book of Bokonon
Chapter 4

Eclipse

#62
Quote from: IceNine on February 16, 2010, 02:08:16 AM
Heh.  I'm clocking more than that on my droid right now.

I can't believe I was productive on the web w/ those speeds

Sadly, very little of what today's broadband speeds have brought us makes us more "productive" - with the exception of
some of the more advanced web services you and I are playing with, most people are still passing the same crap over email -
e-cards, wacky / poignant / political rumors with 100Mb of forwarding addresses, and then there's this Social crap.

The only difference is that email is now about 95% junk, and the routers don't block 15GB video attachments anymore.

"That Others May Zoom"

vmstan

Kind of cynical about the direction of technology, eh Eclipse?
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

Eclipse

#64
Quote from: Marshalus on February 16, 2010, 05:44:36 AM
Kind of cynical about the direction of technology, eh Eclipse?

Yes.  It what comes from nearly 20 years of dealing with vaporware and repackaged junk from essentially the same 10 vendors.

The only place there has been anything exciting in the last 10 has been the Googlesphere, and even that is basically a step backwards
to the centralized computing of 20 years ago.

My statements about the percentage of spam email aren't cynical, they are accepted fact as published by Microsoft and others.  Its just Fax poop from 20 years ago in a new form.  "Social Media" is "technology" its just an application.  WiMax is Technology.

I'm the guy that everyone calls when all the "new!" "neat!" "fun!" "Exciting!" stuff breaks, bends, and "evils" people's machines.  Somehow, with only an antivirus and common sense, I can keep my machines clean, yet less-educated users with 3 anti-malware apps and 4 anti-virus layers still get infected and become bots.

Why?

Ecards, Facebook, MySpace, and all those "wacky emails".

"That Others May Zoom"

raivo

Quote from: Eclipse on February 16, 2010, 03:10:19 PMSomehow, with only an antivirus and common sense, I can keep my machines clean, yet less-educated users with 3 anti-malware apps and 4 anti-virus layers still get infected and become bots.

Why?

Ecards, Facebook, MySpace, and all those "wacky emails".

Um.

That's like saying cars are are a nuisance because people go street-racing in them.


CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

Eclipse

#66
Quote from: raivo on February 17, 2010, 01:00:31 AM
Um.

That's like saying cars are are a nuisance because people go street-racing in them.

If 95% of the traffic on city street was racing, and said racing clogged the ability for proper use of the streets, I'd say it was an apt comparison.  Since they aren't, the comparison is not valid.

"That Others May Zoom"

CDCTF

#67
Williams, I'll bring a copy of Xubuntu, (which is the copy of Ubuntu designed specifically for low-spec/older computers), to the next meeting. Honestly I think this will be your best bet. Make sure to bring your laptop on Tuesday so I can test it by booting the live CD. Do you have an intel or amd processor.
C/SSgt. Fagrell

vmstan

Quote from: cadetTF on February 18, 2010, 02:41:21 PM
Williams, I'll bring a copy of Xubuntu, (which is the copy of Ubuntu designed specifically for low-spec/older computers), to the next meeting. Honestly I think this will be your best bet. Make sure to bring your laptop on Tuesday so I can test it by booting the live CD. Do you have an intel or amd processor.
C/SSgt. Fagrell

Excellent, that is exactly what I was going to send him.

I don't think the process will make much of a difference, the big issue is going to be if it has enough RAM to even load the installer.
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

CDCTF

He only needs 192mb of RAM, which I hope he has, if not, I have a copy of XP we can try out. I've gotten that to install and run well on as little as 128mb. I'll know better when I can look at his specs....I might even have some old RAM sitting around.

jimmydeanno

I have a Pentium III Windows 95 desktop that I'm using as a print server in my house.  It came with 128Mb RAM so I put an additional 256 in it a few years ago.  It's running XP Pro right now like a champ.  It has a copy of Office 2000, Photoshop, Chrome, etc, as well as a current anti-virus.  It runs fine.

There really isn't any reason that he shouldn't be able to upgrade his OS on this machine with a minor investment in some yard sale SDRAM.  Open Office, Gimp, Chrome, etc should all run just fine.

 
If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law. - Winston Churchill

Eclipse

Chrome, I don't know.  Its pretty memory heavy.  Its my browser of choice, but it also tends to be a resource hog.

As I write this Chrome is using almost a GB of RAM, though I have several extensions loaded and 8 tabs running.

"That Others May Zoom"

vmstan

It's a lot better than Firefox at memory usage, that is for sure.

As far as the laptop, getting to 192 may be harder then it seems. I can remember my machines as far back as 2001 only having 128MB in them, and that was high-end. You may be able to use the old text based installer to get the OS installed, if it has less.

I have Xubuntu 9.10 installed on a year old laptop with 2GB of ram, dual core, and a 64GB solid state HD. Boots up from cold to ready use in about 10 seconds flat.
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

Hoorah

Here is specs of my windows 98. It will be in several phases.
Microsoft Windows 98 4.10.2222 A
Upgrade using Full OEM CD /SrcDir=C:\WIN98 /IQ /U:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
IE 5 6.0.2800.1106
Uptime: 0:05:04:13
Normal mode
On "I5I7E7" as "user"

GenuineIntel x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3
256MB RAM
65% system resources free
Windows-managed swap file on drive C (4081MB free)
Available space on drive C: 4081MB of 5703MB (FAT32)
____________________________________________
It has some system errors don't no why?
But the computer does run.
I currently run Opera Internet Browser.
I do not have Java installed.
I have trend Micro VP installed.
____________________________
More specs to come.

Hoorah

Operating System       System Model
Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222)
System Locale: English (United States)       Compaq Armada M700
System Serial Number: 3J05FBJ8L21M
Chassis Serial Number: 3J05FBJ8L21M
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a       Main Circuit Board b
650 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded       Board: Compaq 0538
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Compaq 1.35 12/01/1999
Drives       Memory Modules c,d
5.98 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
4.24 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Compaq DVD-ROM SD-C2402 [CD-ROM drive]
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

HITACHI_DK23AA-60 [Hard drive] (6.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n H70906, rev 00XEA0H0, SMART Status: Healthy       256 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM #1: J18' has 64 MB
Slot 'DIMM #2: J19' has 64 MB
Slot 'DIMM #3: J20' has 128 MB
   Local Drive Volumes
            
c: (FAT32 on drive 0)   5.98 GB   4.24 GB free

   Network Drives
   None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details)       Printers
WORKGROUP domain logons
user   1/5/80 12:11:41 PM   
       None detected
Controllers       Display
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)       RAGE MOBILITY-P AGP (English) [Display adapter]
Default Monitor (2x)
Bus Adapters       Multimedia
Texas Instruments PCI-1450 CardBus Controller (2x)
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller       ESS Device Manager
ESS Multi-Device Enumerator
Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
Maestro DOS Games/FM Devices
Maestro MPU401 Devices
Maestro Wave / WaveTable Synthesis Devices
Virus Protection [Back to Top]       new Group Policies
No details available       None discovered
Communications       Other Devices
Lucent Win Modem
      
Intel(R) PRO/100+ MiniPCI
primary     Auto IP Address:    192.168.2.4 / 24
   Gateway:    192.168.2.1
   Dhcp Server:    192.168.2.1
   Physical Address:    00:D0:59:10:1C:C2
SMC IrCC (Infrared Communications Controller)

Networking Dns Servers:    192.168.2.1
209.18.47.61
209.18.47.62
       Infrared Communication Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
USB Root Hub
More to come.

Eclipse

That's actually a fairly respectable machine - it should run Windows 2000 or Linux without too much problem.

The ram and drive space are an issue, but you could probably scrounge a 30Gb from someone's trash pile.
256 is fine, though more would be better.  With three SIMM slots 384 is probably the max.

I'm getting ready to give my kids a couple of notebooks with those basic specs.

"That Others May Zoom"

Eclipse

#76
http://ixbtlabs.com/articles/compaqarmadam700/



Says max ram is 576 MB, which should be fine.

"That Others May Zoom"

Hoorah

Quote from: Hoorah on February 18, 2010, 08:15:10 PM
Operating System       System Model
Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222)
System Locale: English (United States)       Compaq Armada M700
System Serial Number: 3J05FBJ8L21M
Chassis Serial Number: 3J05FBJ8L21M
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a       Main Circuit Board b
650 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded       Board: Compaq 0538
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Compaq 1.35 12/01/1999
Drives       Memory Modules c,d
5.98 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
4.24 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Compaq DVD-ROM SD-C2402 [CD-ROM drive]
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

HITACHI_DK23AA-60 [Hard drive] (6.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n H70906, rev 00XEA0H0, SMART Status: Healthy       256 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM #1: J18' has 64 MB
Slot 'DIMM #2: J19' has 64 MB
Slot 'DIMM #3: J20' has 128 MB
   Local Drive Volumes
            
c: (FAT32 on drive 0)   5.98 GB   4.24 GB free

   Network Drives
   None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details)       Printers
WORKGROUP domain logons
user   1/5/80 12:11:41 PM   
       None detected
Controllers       Display
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)       RAGE MOBILITY-P AGP (English) [Display adapter]
Default Monitor (2x)
Bus Adapters       Multimedia
Texas Instruments PCI-1450 CardBus Controller (2x)
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller       ESS Device Manager
ESS Multi-Device Enumerator
Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
Maestro DOS Games/FM Devices
Maestro MPU401 Devices
Maestro Wave / WaveTable Synthesis Devices
Virus Protection [Back to Top]       new Group Policies
No details available       None discovered
Communications       Other Devices
Lucent Win Modem
      
Intel(R) PRO/100+ MiniPCI
primary     Auto IP Address:    192.168.2.4 / 24
   Gateway:    192.168.2.1
   Dhcp Server:    192.168.2.1
   Physical Address:    00:D0:59:10:1C:C2
SMC IrCC (Infrared Communications Controller)

Networking Dns Servers:    192.168.2.1
209.18.47.61
209.18.47.62
       Infrared Communication Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
USB Root Hub
More to come.
Operating System       System Model
Windows 98 SE (build 4.10.2222)
System Locale: English (United States)       Compaq Armada M700

Hoorah

Quote from: cadetTF on February 18, 2010, 02:41:21 PM
Williams, I'll bring a copy of Xubuntu, (which is the copy of Ubuntu designed specifically for low-spec/older computers), to the next meeting. Honestly I think this will be your best bet. Make sure to bring your laptop on Tuesday so I can test it by booting the live CD. Do you have an intel or amd processor.
C/SSgt. Fagrell
Um I have  Intel Sgt and I will bring it in sgt Tuesday if we have it again weather pending.

Hoorah

Quote from: Eclipse on February 18, 2010, 08:23:42 PM
http://ixbtlabs.com/articles/compaqarmadam700/



Says max ram is 576 MB, which should be fine.
Well we bought the computer used like 2 years ago with what it had it use't to have Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro Windows NT Workstation 4.0. I do not know why the person did that. Few Keys fell of.

Eclipse

Its Windows 2000 or Windows NT - they are separate products (actually most Windows products up to Vista) are derivatives of the NT Kernal.

I would bet you could get a replacement keyboard on ebay.

"That Others May Zoom"

vmstan

Quote from: Eclipse on February 18, 2010, 08:21:44 PM
That's actually a fairly respectable machine - it should run Windows 2000 or Linux without too much problem.

The ram and drive space are an issue, but you could probably scrounge a 30Gb from someone's trash pile.
256 is fine, though more would be better.  With three SIMM slots 384 is probably the max.

I'm getting ready to give my kids a couple of notebooks with those basic specs.

6GB will probably hold Linux just fine. A lot of netbooks sold today running Linux just have 8GB drives, although they're SSD. Xubuntu is probably the best bet as far as fitting.
MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

Hoorah

I have found a way to make room get rid of old dud files. It is time consuming. It also makes it run faster.

Eclipse

You'll want to get something like startupmanager to strip our unneeded services, etc.

"That Others May Zoom"

billford1

Quote from: davidsinn on February 15, 2010, 11:58:22 PM
Quote from: billford1 on February 15, 2010, 11:44:14 PM
Push the reset button. Get a MAC BOOK PRO.

I believe he's looking for a low cost option not a gold plated one. ;D
I can respect that. The prices have come down somewhat. A really good deal is a MAC BOOK which is $999. The display is really clear and with the Apple operating system you're not so vulnerable to viruses and registry problems. I also have a Toshiba laptop. The MacBook is much faster and everything works great.

raivo

If the question is "how can I make the most of what I have," the proper response is not "what you have sucks and you should go drop hundreds of dollars on something else."

OS jihad is a pet peeve of mine. -_-

CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

SarDragon

Well, it appears that he will need to spend a bit of money to improve his computing capability. The suggestions have been varied on how to do that. Given the availability of free operating systems, that could be the cheapest method, given the suggestion to acquire some additional memory as a part of any practical solution. I saw very little "you should go drop hundreds of dollars on something else".

YMMV.
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

raivo

Quote from: SarDragon on February 19, 2010, 09:25:23 AM
I saw very little "you should go drop hundreds of dollars on something else".

Yeah, I was referring mainly to the "get a Mac" comment.

CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

billford1

#88
Quote from: raivo on February 19, 2010, 05:26:15 PM
Quote from: SarDragon on February 19, 2010, 09:25:23 AM
I saw very little "you should go drop hundreds of dollars on something else".

Yeah, I was referring mainly to the "get a Mac" comment.
I always feel great when a computer is easy to use and I don't have to worry so much about the security of what I have in it.
That's why I say " Once You Go MAC You Never Go Back " .

C/MSgt Lunsford

Quote from: billford1 on February 19, 2010, 02:14:31 AM
Quote from: davidsinn on February 15, 2010, 11:58:22 PM
Quote from: billford1 on February 15, 2010, 11:44:14 PM
Push the reset button. Get a MAC BOOK PRO.

I believe he's looking for a low cost option not a gold plated one. ;D
I can respect that. The prices have come down somewhat. A really good deal is a MAC BOOK which is $999. The display is really clear and with the Apple operating system you're not so vulnerable to viruses and registry problems. I also have a Toshiba laptop. The MacBook is much faster and everything works great.
Have to agree on that... Mac's are the best!

Wright Brothers #13915

Майор Хаткевич

Meh, I run a windows computer, have since I first started using computers. I hated the macs at school. I hate the setup, it treats you with kid gloves in respect to what you can and can't do with it.

I have no problems running windows. At all.

raivo

Different operating systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. One of the reasons why there's less malware targeted at Macs is because there simply aren't as many Mac users as there are Windows users. (Why write a worm that won't affect 90% of the systems it comes across?)

If you want to do basic e-mail, word processing, and Internet stuff on a low budget, Linux is probably your best option (hence, why I recommended it.) If you have some extra cash, sure, you might want to consider upgrading to a Mac. Unless you like playing games, then you're almost certainly going to want Windows.

Over on the server side of things, I'd take UNIX/Linux for a webserver any day, but for managing large groups of computers you really can't beat a Windows domain server. (The fact that it ties in nicely with Exchange for e-mail is another plus.)

Sorry to rant, but like I said, pet peeve. Different people need different things, so it just annoys me when I see people insisting that their round/star/triangle-shaped peg is the best, without considering that the original question was how to fill a square hole.

CAP Member, 2000-20??
USAF Officer, 2009-2018
Recipient of a Mitchell Award Of Irrelevant Number

"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit has ever survived combat."

vmstan

MICHAEL M STANCLIFT, 1st Lt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, NCR-KS-055, Heartland Squadron

Quote"I wish to compliment NHQ on this extremely well and clearly written regulation.
This publication once and for all should establish the uniform pattern to be followed
throughout Civil Air Patrol."

1949 Uniform and Insignia Committee comment on CAP Reg 35-4

JC004

I can't believe this thread is 5 pages.

billford1

#94
Quote from: raivo on February 21, 2010, 03:40:50 AM
Different operating systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. One of the reasons why there's less malware targeted at Macs is because there simply aren't as many Mac users as there are Windows users. (Why write a worm that won't affect 90% of the systems it comes across?)

If you want to do basic e-mail, word processing, and Internet stuff on a low budget, Linux is probably your best option (hence, why I recommended it.) If you have some extra cash, sure, you might want to consider upgrading to a Mac. Unless you like playing games, then you're almost certainly going to want Windows.

Over on the server side of things, I'd take UNIX/Linux for a webserver any day, but for managing large groups of computers you really can't beat a Windows domain server. (The fact that it ties in nicely with Exchange for e-mail is another plus.)

Sorry to rant, but like I said, pet peeve. Different people need different things, so it just annoys me when I see people insisting that their round/star/triangle-shaped peg is the best, without considering that the original question was how to fill a square hole.
Sir, I have used several versions of Windows throughout my work career. I used to commute to work with people who worked for Microsoft. What I learned is that there has been a long succession of fixes for each version of Windows throughout the operating system's lifespan. One Microsoft Software Developer I knew spoke of the emphasis on getting the newest operating system released and in the stores. Maybe I  misunderstood the the original post but anytime I encounter someone who has an opportunity to "trade-up" I simply want to share my enthusiasm for the MAC operating system based on my own experience as one who uses both operating systems daily; Windows XP at work and OSX at home. BRgds

C/MSgt Lunsford

I feel that Mac OSX is both easier to use and smoother. Windows is too complicated compared to Mac OSX.

Wright Brothers #13915

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: C/SrA Lunsford on February 22, 2010, 04:05:00 AM
I feel that Mac OSX is both easier to use and smoother. Windows is too complicated compared to Mac OSX.

What's complicated about it?

CDCTF

I love how once someone recommends an OS the thread eventually degenerates into whose is better. LOL Let's see if we can another argument going. I think Open Solaris is the best OS ever. What do you have to say to that?

MIKE

Or we could just kill the thread for no longer bring relevant.
Mike Johnston