Help A Luddite II

Jesse · July-28th-2005, 12:10 AM

Here's the situation:

I have come into a Sony Notebook, circa 1999. It has Windows '98 installed (remember '98?), but it's disabled for reasons that I don't care to investigate (an application is missing, or some such).

Q: can I uninstall Windows '98 & install Windows XP, and it's that simple?

Let the guidance (& mockery) commence!

Thank you in advance,

Jesse

And the deeper riddle-how do I move this to the appropriate thread?

Ron Thorne · July-28th-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse

Here's the situation:

I have come into a Sony Notebook, circa 1999. It has Windows '98 installed (remember '98?), but it's disabled for reasons that I don't care to investigate (an application is missing, or some such).

Q: can I uninstall Windows '98 & install Windows XP, and it's that simple?

Let the guidance (& mockery) commence!

Thank you in advance,

Jesse

And the deeper riddle-how do I move this to the appropriate thread?

Cool that you got a notebook. I've been seriously thinking of one for myself.

I'm not your white knight, Jesse, but I well remember '98 as well as Windows98, which is all I've ever known on our computer. It's a pretty damned stable OS, actually.

Ok, now will someone please help my friend, Jesse?

Thank you.

ps: Lois can and will move this thread for you if you wish.

Jesse · July-28th-2005, 12:53 AM

Thanks Ron, & I would maybe be content with Windows 98 if it worked. A window opens up saying a file needed to operate Windows 98 is not found, presumably deleted. Plus, this sat at a friend's apt. for two years, several users, who knows what's what.

My thought was install Windows XP, if I can simply uninstall W 98, run some virus scans, install the usual phalanx of weapons against hostile invaders..it was free, so...

Are you being humble here? Do you know if I can uninstall W 98/install W XP?

Ron, an aside-read my last post on ask Dennis Gonzalez. I mention that only as it attempts to address what I was trying to say to you the other night re: music from 'the past', how I see those once treasured dates as neither outmoded nor of lesser value, as all great music is, with attuned ears, now.

john williams · July-28th-2005, 01:28 AM

Jesse. You may even be able to upgrade from '98 to XP without having to uninstall. However, I forsee a possible problem. You may not have enough processing power or RAM to run XP on an older notebook; XP is a system hog. You may also need to do a complete format of your hard drive as his will help it to run better. I routinely format my hard drive at least once a year. XP makes this process very easy. If you can find out what the missing or corrupted file is you may be able to download it from somewhere and replace it.

Jesse · July-28th-2005, 01:44 AM

Thanks, JBW, that's the rub-I have no clue how to search for the missing file to run W 98. Or what if it's deleted?
Know a manageble way to determine whether a '99 notebook can handle XP?

Jesse · July-28th-2005, 01:45 AM

What does a complete format of your hard dive mean?

moneyp · July-28th-2005, 09:53 AM

Jesse, tell me the exact model laptop that you have, and I can tell you whether or not it can run XP. You should never upgrade XP over a previous system. Wipe the drive and do a fresh install.

Jesse · July-28th-2005, 11:19 AM

Thanks Mone. I should have included the exact info in my plea. It is a pcg-f250. I surfed sony-related sites last night, looking for software installation clues. I don't think it'll manage xp, but I defer to you!

Do I need to take it to a pro geek for diagnosis of the w 98 issue? Money's funny, so I am treading cautiously, before investing in this *free* notebook.

Btw, is this a decent (if terribly outmoded) computer?

Thanks for paying attention to my petty demons,

Jesse