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Which XP version should i buy?

Discussion in 'Windows OS' started by Tha General, Mar 24, 2008.

  1. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    Using win98se and i was going to do some testing and maybe upgrade for good from win98SE to xp, but which xp version should i buy?

    Thanks
  2. LinkedKube TechSpot Project Baby Posts: 4,180   +23

    If you plan on using less than 3 gigs of ram use xp 32 bit, and if more than 3 get 64 bit. Professional version is the best of the xp copy to get unless you're putting together a media center.
  3. designer4u Newcomer, in training

    i agree 100% with supersmashbrada, you must but WindowsXP Professional version
  4. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    I bought Windows XP Home Edition w/SP2.
    Works perfectly from upgrading from win98se.

    :)
  5. Bobbye Helper on the Fringe Posts: 16,406   +16

    Then you have found the answer yourself. Is that correct? Unless you already added RAM, I suspect you may be low on that. Window XP should have at least 512MB RAM to perform best.
  6. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    I had 512megs of ram in my computer for about a year now, i have everything i needed it to run it and more. People was saying XP was a system hog, but its far from it. Everything is working perfectly and i can play games which i never could play on win98se. Its just amazing!

    peace :)
     
  7. LookinAround TechSpot Chancellor Posts: 7,677   +39

    You should look at the cost of going 512MB -> 1GB. Typically, it's not that much. (i just upgraded a friend's computer from 512MB to 1gig and it cost a grand total of $36 including tax and shipping from www.crucial.com)

    You'll get a very noticeable performance improvement upgrading to that first gig and if you price it, you'll probably find it's most worth it. (You can go to crucial's web site and let them scan your computer. They;ll tell you your current memory config and cost of upgrade options)
  8. Bobbye Helper on the Fringe Posts: 16,406   +16

    "People was saying XP was a system hog," In all my years with Windows XP, I have never heard it called a system hog! The two things that may lead people to problems is having too many processes on Startup and having unneeded Services set to Automatic, thus starting at boot.

    Once these are handled, Windows XP is a very nice operating system!
  9. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    Wait a min, now that i have upgraded from win9x to xp home edition, i can add more ram if i wanted too right, how much ram can i have?

    Btw, the site crucial is ok i guess, but i don't know my motherboard model. Is there a easier way to check how much ram i can get?

    I have 2 slots in my computer, i guess i can just buy 2 sticks of 512MB and it should be ok right?
  10. LookinAround TechSpot Chancellor Posts: 7,677   +39

    Crucial.com home page will show you an option (you click to agree) to allow it to scan your computer to find out the type of memory you need. Go ahead. is ok to do.
  11. pdyckman@comcas Newcomer, in training Posts: 718

    I run 2 versions of XP. I have a copy of XP Home and a copy XP Pro x 64. Also a copy of Vista Home premium. You can download an "evaluation copy" of Windows XP Pro x64. (64 bit). It's supposed to be an 120 day evaluation. Anyway, that's available. I've had mine for about 150 days. ??? Everyone says to me "get XP Pro" but I've had no problem with XP Home. Good Luck
  12. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    I did the scan, it says one stick has 256 and the other one has 255 , for a total of 511, but that isn't true haha. I have 512megs, because in the system data it says 512. Even tho in dxdiag, it says 510, shared ram.

    Anyway, i can only use certain memory, 133 or 100 speed. So i have to buy a stick that reads 512 133 or 100. I know where to get them, but it will cost me a bit more , because 133 or 100 old stuff = always cost more. So i will upgrade to 1GB when i get the chance.

    Thanks!
  13. Bobbye Helper on the Fringe Posts: 16,406   +16

  14. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

  15. Stacks Newcomer, in training

    Your system might be maxed at 512mb if you're using SDRAM.
  16. LookinAround TechSpot Chancellor Posts: 7,677   +39

    here's another approach to determine an answer for you
    • Download/install System Information Viewer. Start it
    • Click Machine then Copy. Then paste it into .txt file
    • Click DIMMS then Copy. Then paste it into .txt file
    • May as well do System button as well while you're at it
    • Post the txt file(s) as attachments
  17. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    Thanks for the viewer. But also hey stacks, i don't believe using sdram memory has a limit. They sell them in 512mb format, and i read over at newegg, people are using 2 sticks of them to get 1GB, so i think its ok.
  18. tipstir TS Ambassador Posts: 3,668   +15

    You can run XP Pro on a system with 256MB, 384MB, 512MB, 768MB on older PII and PIII systems. I still have one laptop with 256MB and running XP Pro on it. The key is to use 40GB 7200 rpms HDD. You could use larger HDD but you'll need to update the BIOS. The same goes for desktop systems with Win98SE. I would backup your files then start off fresh with a new OS and a formated NTFS HDD. In the past a lot users installed OS ontop of NT, 95, 98SE 2000, ME eek!

    PIII can handle 768MB
  19. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    Using home edition , everything is working fine. :)
    The only thing left which i have to do on this computer is, upgrade to 1GB, buy a new PCI video card ( read the PCI card thread ) and buy another HD( 80 GB ) , that will be it. :)

    Btw, i did do a fresh install , but i didn't backup any files. It only takes about 30mins to download all the files and programs which i lost from win98se.

    Peace :)
  20. Tha General TechSpot Paladin Posts: 1,220

    Question, do you know what processes are suppose to be active and what is not?
    Or should i just leave it alone and focus more on msconfig start up programs?