From Win98 to where?

[Countryman]

My wife has a fairly old Toshiba Portege 7100 laptop which is running Win98. Support is becoming a pain with antivirus products etc. becoming incompatible. Is there an upgrade path to another OS which isn't going to slow it to a standstill?

 

[mc866]

xbuntu or another linux derivative maybe? What does she use it for? Xp possibly?

 

[RebateMonger]

It'd be helpful if you posted the specs on that laptop. They aren't easy to find.

Looks like it's a P3 500 MHz or so?, with 192 MB maximum memory (PC100)?

 

[Ratman6161]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
It'd be helpful if you posted the specs on that laptop. They aren't easy to find.

Looks like it's a P3 500 MHz or so?, with 192 MB maximum memory (PC100)?

If those are the specs, it might run Windows 2000 OK (if you could find a copy) but memory is going to be an issue with XP and Vista would definitely be out.

If you really want to keep using the machine, then the Ubuntu idea might work if you don't have any windows specific software you must run (edit: and if there are drivers for the ancient hardware). If you just need to get on the web (which is basically pretty much all this machine is going to be good for) This would be a good option.

Then again, if a basic system with Ubuntu and web access will meet your needs, you might consider one of the various netbooks out there. I was just pricing out one of the new HP's today and loaded up with 2gb of RAM and upgrading from an 8GB SSD to 16 GB came out at $429. You can probably find cheaper ones out there.

 

[sswingle]

I second the vote for 2k

 

[lxskllr]

I'd go with a light Linux distro. Maybe Puppy or DSL. It'll feel like a new machine again. The only problem might be dialup networking if she uses that...

 

[thescreensavers]

Originally posted by: sswingle
I second the vote for 2k

This or Win XP, winxp will be a little slow, but its another choose

 

[cparker]

Another vote for 2k. Keep it lean and it should work fine. I even have an old laptop with a P II running only 128k ram with 2k and it's passable. Someone gave it to me because it was "so slow" as to be useless, but it was filled with bloat. After getting rid of everything uneccessary and also defragging the disk it worked well enough.

 

[RebateMonger]

Avast! Home Edition runs on Windows 98.

Avast!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Countryman
My wife has a fairly old Toshiba Portege 7100 laptop which is running Win98.

Is there an upgrade path to another OS which isn't going to slow it to a standstill?

I refurb'ed my bosses dinosaur, doorstop, home PC (circa 1999) a year or so ago. His 20 GB Western Digital HD puked, and he wanted me to install a new HD and XP...

His machine had a 600MHz AMD slot 1 CPU with 128MB RAM and a Voodoo video card. LoL!

To make a long story short, XP Home ran fine on his 600MHz AMD with 128MB RAM, but it was S-L-O-W, especially at start-up -- however, it did run! Turned out, the problem was the anti-virus software was killing the performance. I switched him to some other AV proggie, and it was livable after that.

And, my boss hasn't complained about ANY slowness since I returned it to him... hello?!?!?

I guess his 'threshold' is pretty low!!!

I REALLY don't like XP Home, but that's what I would recommend installing on your wife's lappy - or W2K Pro, which I REALLY do like, if you have a copy laying around. You shouldn't have ANY problem running XP (or W2K) on a Toshiba Portege 7100.

That reminds me... I have a friend with two brand new copies of W2K Pro, still in the box - never been opened. He got like 4 copies for free when he was taking computer classes at some community college a few years ago - and only used 2 of them. He was asking me what they were worth, about a year ago. I said I'd give him 50 bucks, and he was hemming and hawing around.

Hrm...

I wonder if he still has those sitting in his closet?!?!?

Thanks for reminding me!

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Countryman
My wife has a fairly old Toshiba Portege 7100 laptop which is running Win98. Support is becoming a pain with antivirus products etc. becoming incompatible. Is there an upgrade path to another OS which isn't going to slow it to a standstill?

With a laptop that old, you would just be best served buying a new one. I was at Best Buy the other day and there were plenty of laptops in the $400 to $600 range with dual core processors and 2 GB and more of memory. In fact, many of these laptops have 64 bit Vista and 4 Gigs of memory.

Why waste any time and money on a worn out laptop when you can have a incredible upgrade for the fraction of the money it cost you to buy the Toshiba?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: soonerproud
Why waste any time and money on a worn out laptop when you can have a incredible upgrade for the fraction of the money it cost you to buy the Toshiba?

Sometimes you'll find answers in the oddest places...

http://www.expotv.com/videos/r...Portege7100Series/3320

It's undoubtedly of a better quality than the crap flowing out of China these days!

Think of it as restoring a Classic '55 Chevy...

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: soonerproud
Why waste any time and money on a worn out laptop when you can have a incredible upgrade for the fraction of the money it cost you to buy the Toshiba?

Sometimes you'll find answers in the oddest places...

http://www.expotv.com/videos/r...Portege7100Series/3320

It's undoubtedly of a better quality than the crap flowing out of China these days!

Think of it as restoring a Classic '55 Chevy...

Bad analogy.

You can make a 55 Chevy run as fast as any auto today. The same can not be said for a 500 MHZ processor. The op will be happier with what you are calling crappy because it will run circles around that old Toshiba no matter what you do with it.

 

[VinDSL]

Back on you...

Why are you wasting "time and money" on that worn out rig in your sig?

Seems kind of hypocritical making fun of noobs doing the same thing!

 

[Countryman]

Guys, I am overwelmed with so many responses in such a short time. Many thanks!

mc866: She mainly uses it for surfing with a bit of Photoshop and Office thrown in.

RebateMonger: The spec is as follows -
Processor : Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) III @ 497MHz
Installed Memory : 128MB SDRAM
Hard Disk : 5.6GB
Operating System : Microsoft Windows 98 Ver 4.10.2222A

soonerproud : "Why waste any time and money on a worn out laptop"
I'm retired so time I have plenty of. $400 to $600, I can find plenty other uses for...

I have an old copy of W2k so will try that. Thanks again for the steer.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Back on you...

Why are you wasting "time and money" on that worn out rig in your sig?

Seems kind of hypocritical making fun of noobs doing the same thing!

Excuse me?

All the parts in this rig are transferable to a new rig. When I am ready to replace the mobo, processor and memory, the rest of the system is ready. You can not do that with a 10 year old laptop. Please stop, you are not going to win this one.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Countryman
My wife has a fairly old Toshiba Portege 7100 laptop which is running Win98. Support is becoming a pain with antivirus products etc. becoming incompatible. Is there an upgrade path to another OS which isn't going to slow it to a standstill?

Why not treat your wife to a new laptop?

 

[VinDSL]

I'm running W2K Pro on an old Fujitsu Lifebook - works great! Actually, I wiped XP and installed W2K Pro.

Anyway, if you want to save yourself some time, after you install W2K Pro, run AutoPatcher on it:

http://www.autopatcher.com/

It'll save you hours of frustration... getting W2K Pro up to (ahem) speed!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Mem
Why not treat your wife to a new laptop?

[cough] Vista [/cough]

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: soonerproud
Please stop, you are not going to win this one.

Do tell...

http://www.lenon.com/images/So-close.png

Let's see yours...

 

[KeypoX]

good call Countryman, most of the people here cannot comprehend (not gonna mention names but you can read the posts above) not running the latest and greatest. And its a travesty to run anything old despite the old machine covering all or your needs. I had to upgrade my grandmas computer from 95 because of lack of support for printers.

I know i could of put on ubuntu or some linux but there is no way she would be up for that sort of thing, regardless of anything. So unfortunately we had to get her a new computer that she did not need. And the reason why is because people are to easy.

Also your gonna hve the same kinda issues with 2k as you did with 95... you may have to try some version of linux.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
[cough] Vista [/cough]

Someone once said it is better to be quiet and be thought a fool that to open your mouth and confirm it.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
Also your gonna hve the same kinda issues with 2k as you did with 95... you may have to try some version of linux.

All the better reason to junk it. The only versions of Linux worth even trying on it are Damn Small or Puppy. If the op thinks 2k is a headache, wait until he tries to install/configure Linux on that old laptop.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: soonerproud
Someone once said it is better to be quiet and be thought a fool that to open your mouth and confirm it.

Yes, exactly! Take your own advice...

We're trying to help this guy, and his wife by proxy.

All you're doing is thread crapping!

Have a nice day...

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Yes, exactly! Take your own advice...

We're trying to help this guy, and his wife by proxy.

All you're doing is thread crapping!

Have a nice day...

That is the pot calling the kettle black isn't it?

What do you call your little Vista slam? That is the very definition of thread crapping.

You were the one who said my original advice to just pony up and buy a new one was worthless. You made all the first moves. Then you try to equate a home built desktop to a very old laptop.

Don't start crap with people then accuse them of thread crapping. My advice was genuine and in my opinion is the best course of action for a 500 MHZ processor, 128 MB of RAM and a 5 gig hard drive.