Upgrading Windows

[mcs328]

I have Windows 98 SE and wondering what would be the next logical step in upgrading the OS. Should I go Windows 2000 or XP? In either case I'll need to install new drivers for all my devices I think. Which one is easier or more geared to the home gamer?

Anyone have a clue if my Vortex 2500 Aureal sound card will work since they've gone bust a few years back if I go 2000 or XP?

[Cantacuzene]

XP definitly. YOu won't have nearly as many driver difficulties and since you are a casual home gamer 2000 doesn't have anything special to offer you, besides an upgrade headache.

[spigidygak]

The aureal card might have some problems, I did an install of xp on my friends system and he had an aureal vortex 2 and it doesn't work in xp pro. Also, do not do an upgrade, save yourself tons of headache and do a clean install.

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by spigidygak
The aureal card might have some problems, I did an install of xp on my friends system and he had an aureal vortex 2 and it doesn't work in xp pro. Also, do not do an upgrade, save yourself tons of headache and do a clean install.
:stupid:
also, dont expect every game you own to work. in my experience most of my games dont work. you might want to consider a dual boot.

[bachviet]

Wrong post

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by TommyBoomfiger

:stupid:
also, dont expect every game you own to work. in my experience most of my games dont work. you might want to consider a dual boot.

Thats a misleading post. Most games DO work on XP, maybe most of the games you own just happen to be the ones that dont work.

Think of it this way, every good worthwhile game plays on XP, the ones that don't arent worth playing anyway.

[RatBastard]

XP is the way to go.. Depending on your hardware, you may not need to intall ANY drivers... Just maybe update some audio and/or video drivers.

Maybe it's just me, but I NEVER upgrade OS versions. I always back my stuff up and reformat and start clean. Just a thought.

Rat.

[sbp]

Most games work fine under Win2k.

Windows XP is where the focus is at today.

Time for a new sound card amigo. The Vortex 2500 Aureal sound card was a great sound card for its time. I tried my MX300 under Win2k but it wasn't fully functional since unfortunately Aureal died before the drivers were finished.

Don't bother with a SBLive-its been surpassed by other soundcards out there.

The three soundcards I would consider are:
Sound Blaster Audigy (http://www.americas.creative.com/products/category.asp?Category=165&MainCategory=1)
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/santacruz/producthome.asp) uses Cirrus Logic's SoundFusion CS4630 (http://www.cirrus.com/design/products/overview/detail.cfm?d=42) soundchip
Philips Acoustic Edge (http://www.pcsound.philips.com/_acoustic706.html)

The prices are the same for OEM models on the net.

If your soundcard will be used for mainly gaming get the Audigy. The Audigy has the best EAX implementation.
The Audigy is a bit more forward looking (EAX Advanced, firewire).

Turtle Beach has really good WinXP drivers. A lot of people like it and say it has nice clear sound. It is certainly less problematic than the SBLive is especially with Via chipset motherboards.

As for the Philips Acoustic Edge most owners like the way it expands sound.

links of interest: http://www.3dss.com/
http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/Audio/Sound_Cards/

[Repost Nazi]

go for the audigy for gaming, eax rules

[Jcranmer]

Originally posted by TommyBoomfiger

:stupid:
also, dont expect every game you own to work. in my experience most of my games dont work. you might want to consider a dual boot.

:confused:
I have yet to find anything that doesn't work with XP.

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Thats a misleading post. Most games DO work on XP, maybe most of the games you own just happen to be the ones that dont work.

Think of it this way, every good worthwhile game plays on XP, the ones that don't arent worth playing anyway.

thanks for clearing that up cantacuzene. i couldnt have said it better myself. except the part where i said:
in my experience most of my games dont work also i thought that games were a personal preference. i didnt realize that the games i like "arent worth playing anyway".



Originally posted by Jcranmer
:confused:
I have yet to find anything that doesn't work with XP.

i dont really have any new pc games so a lot of my games wont work. games like: Hitman, NFS series, MGS, Pacman: Adventures in Time. there are a few others which ive had problems with like Racer (http://www.racer.nl)

[OC]

I have to vote for XP as well. Better driver support, imho. I have an HP USB scanner that was a COMPLETE B*TCH to get working under W2k, but is natively supported in XP. My box will never have 2k again.

-OC

[mcs328]

Cool...I have to go and buy a copy of Win XP eventually.
Pricewatch here I come.

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by mcs328
Cool...I have to go and buy a copy of Win XP eventually.
Pricewatch here I come.
buy???
:confused: :dodgy:




:angel:

[mcs328]

Yah buy an OS...it's new territory for me. :P I got Windows 98 SE when I was working at college in tech support. They would order dozen computers all shipped pre-loaded with the OS and the CD's. So I saved all the books with the serial numbers and all the Win 98 SE CD's in a file cabinet...never to see the light of day.

Now that I'm older-ish, I think I should go legit and actually "buy" some of the stuff I use. Well not mp3's b/c isn't the royalty fees I pay to buy the CD-R's go to the Music companies anyway? So in that sense I have "paid" for that *one* song I wanted. :)

[sbp]

XP Pro "Go Pro" bundle: http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44399

[coleslaw]

By "upgrade OS", I hope you mean reformatting and installing a clean full-version operating system. Upgrading an existing OS is always asking for trouble.

[Cantacuzene]

You are doing yourself a disservice if you buy the upgrade retail version of an OS, because the time may come someday where you need to format, and you dont wanna buy the full version then, after you bought the upgrade.

[DoPeY5007]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene


Think of it this way, every good worthwhile game plays on XP, the ones that don't arent worth playing anyway. NFS is wotht playinf and wont run in XP

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by DoPeY5007
NFS is wotht playinf and wont run in XP

Enlighten me to what NFS is? I hope its Lemmings.

[sbp]

NFS=Need for Speed

Because 1 or 2 games don't run under WinXP, an unstable and clearly inferior OS should be used. :2far:

There were some DOS games that didn't work right under Windows 95/98. Guess DOS should have been stayed with for gaming.

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by sbp
NFS=Need for Speed


I didn't realize people would play years old racing games.

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I didn't realize people would play years old racing games. who needs old games anyway? games like pacman and dig dug are useless. who needs nostalgia?

[Cantacuzene]

Originally posted by TommyBoomfiger
who needs old games anyway? games like pacman and dig dug are useless. who needs nostalgia?

Everyone I know plays new games.

BTW, my 1000th post. woohoo!

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Everyone I know plays new games.
so because everyone you know plays new games means everyone else should only want to play new games? sounds like some solid logic to me:hmm:

[mcs328]

Just looked over at Amazon.com and saw this $45 rebate for MS XP Home version (Not the Upgrade version). I think it's worth it for $50 right?

Rebate (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005MOTE.01.RB09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)

[sbp]

Originally posted by mcs328
Just looked over at Amazon.com and saw this $45 rebate for MS XP Home version (Not the Upgrade version). I think it's worth it for $50 right?

Rebate (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005MOTE.01.RB09.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) :confused:
$184.99 -$45 rebate
Price After Special Offers: $139.99

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005MOTF/002-0429566-1258452

[TommyBoomfiger]

Originally posted by sbp
:confused:
$184.99 -$45 rebate
Price After Special Offers: $139.99

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005MOTF/002-0429566-1258452
mcs is talking about the home edition upgrade, which is 89.99 before $40 rebate. total 49.99 + shipping
Amazon XP home upgrade (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005MOTE/qid%3D1021999932/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F0%5F1/103-5508349-0299048)

[Paymaster]

Originally posted by Jcranmer

I have yet to find anything that doesn't work with XP.

The same is true for me... but I did have to download a software patch to get Worms World Party working... As well as new drivers for darn near every external device I have. :P

[MJordanash]

Definitely upgrade to XP instead of Win2000. A lot less problems and almost all of the games are compatible with it.