[Elecraft] Windows Upgrade

Mon Mar 31 15:29:00 2003

Dear Terry,
Windows 9x (98, 95 and all the various "releases") suffers from rot over 
time.  This general phenomenon is well documented and is caused by the 
fact that any program may overwrite portions of the approved operating 
system by substituting it's own *.DLL file for a similar (but different) 
from the one that Microsoft releases.  This coupled with sloppy mechanisms 
to add/remove programs causes the stability and performance of Windows 9x 
to deteriorate (rot) over time.  How fast?  It depends on how much you 
install/remove and other activity on the system.  The general 
recommendation is to re-install Windows 9x at least once a year, and 
perhaps more often.  Every time I've done this my system stability has 
improved dramatically!  Also, during the process, you inventory what's on 
the system, and only re-install what you want.  So, it's a housecleaning 
that helps as well.

There are mechanisms within Windows 2000 and XP (which is basically 2000 
with GUI improvements), to prevent and repair this issue.  You will find 
the stability of either of these operating systems *vastly improved* over 
any Win9x release.  Having said that, there is still room for 
improvement... (otherwise there wouldn't be Linux  ;-)

So, you need not spend any money.  Carefully inventory the programs, 
hardware, and data on your PC.  Backup, format, and re-install Win9x. 
Re-install only the needed applications.  Refresh drivers for video, 
sound, etc. from the vendor's web sites.  You'll see a big difference.

GL,
Steve
aa8af

Terry Kniffen <[email protected]>
Sent by: [email protected]
03/30/2003 02:12 PM

        To:     [email protected]
        cc: 
        Subject:        [Elecraft] Windows Upgrade

Hi all -

I have been using Windows 98 se for some time (on a pc) and it has become
too unstable. I'm getting tired of starting up in the "safe mode" among
other things.  An upgrade is in order.

I can find my way around the keyboard, but compared to some of you gurus,
that's about it. I need some advice.

What version should I use? 2000, ME, etc. Other than general use, I plan 
on
using the computer for logging, K2 control, (Tony's program, if I can 
learn
how), etc. I have a couple of dos based CW training programs I'd like to
retain, but understand that some op systems don't like dos.

Thanks for the bandwidth.

73 Terry KF4FD  K2/100 # 2008