Downgrading WinXP to Win98SE or WinME

[DaCurryman]

Hello Everybody,

I know this is going to sound a bit weird, but what do all of you think about downgrading. I have this older laptop that came preinstalled with Win98.

Laptop Specs:
Toshiba Satellite 2545XCDT
AMD K6-2, 3DNow!, 333MHz
64MB RAM

After a few years, it had a bunch of garbage on it and I figured it was time for a reformat/reinstall of the OS. I decided to keep up with the times and installed WinXP. I havent had a problem with the OS so far considering I have 2 desktops with WinXP Pro and 1 with WinXP Home.

I installed XP Pro on the laptop with all the service packs, updates, and drivers. However, I noticed it takes like a year and a half to boot up now. It gets to the Windows user screen in OK time, but once you select any user, it takes forever to finally get that user running. I got rid of all the background and startup applications that could be slowing it down, but it still takes a while.

I know it's an old computer, but I'm sure the OS has a good deal to do with it. I recently installed Win98SE on a Pentium 200 that boots up quicker than the laptop.

So now the question is what do you all think about downgrading the OS to Win98SE or WinME. I have them both, so I guess it's whichever one you guys choose. I'm a little scared of WinME since it used to crash my brothers desktop all the time. If you think downgrading is a bad idea, let me know also. Any valuable input is highly appreciated. Thanx in advance for any help.

 

[minendo]

WinME = the devil. Definitely go with Win98.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yes, I've only had problems with WinMEss. It's funny cause WinME was supposed to be like an "update" to Win98. I have a P-266 laptop that I tried running xp on, and it was slow a he*l! I put Win98SE on it and its ran great ever since!

 

[tboneuls]

I agree. Definetly go with Win 98 or 98SE NOT ME.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

I'm a little scared of WinME since it used to crash my brothers desktop all the time.

Heed your own warning...Avoid ME like the plague.

 

[DaCurryman]

Haha, now that it is abundantly clear that ME is not the way to go , how about the idea of actually downgrading from XP to 98SE? Does it seem dumb to downgrade?

 

[Willoughbyva]

I downgraded to winme. I tried 98se first, but decided to go with winme. I am now able to play the older games that I couldn't play in xp. Winme has been pretty stable so far and it is very quick compared to xp even though I am using it on an AMD 2000XP and 512 megs ram. I also use Mandrake Linux 9.1 right much.

 

[EeyoreX]

It would be dumb, IMO, if you downgraded a system that was better suited for Windows XP. I think if I tried to run Windows XP with 64MB RAM I'd go insane, so Windows 98 is a good plan.

Just to reiterate; Windows ME is Satan's Imp. Aviod it, fear it, loath it.

\Dan

 

[igiveup]

Amen on the 64meg comment. 128 really is the absolute LOWEST you should go, and thats pushing it. 256 feels better and 512 feels snappy compared to anything else. Since you are using an older laptop 64 meg might be all you can get or want to get. If so, go with 98SE. I have had too many problems with Win ME.

 

[chanachana]

Originally posted by: igiveup
Amen on the 64meg comment. 128 really is the absolute LOWEST you should go, and thats pushing it. 256 feels better and 512 feels snappy compared to anything else. Since you are using an older laptop 64 meg might be all you can get or want to get. If so, go with 98SE. I have had too many problems with Win ME.

Yeah, I highly agree. Even 128 has lag, but it is *somewhat* tolerable.

 

[dougtran]

Definitely Win98SE. WinME just has more crap that can slow down your PC.

On some of my really old notebooks( compaq LTE P5-133 48MB), I actually use Win95OSR2 because I saw issues with the IDE drivers under Win98x. Linux seems to work pretty good too depending on what you are doing.