On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 06:35:55 -0800, wrote:

On Nov 9, 2:23 am, wrote:
On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:07:51 -0600, Mark Lloyd

wrote:
Strange, considering that I found w2k more reliable than any other
version.

Maybe it is. I quit using it mainly because I still like to access
DOS. Not only do I still use some dos apps., but I like to be able to
tinker with windows from the C: prompt when it gets screwed up. I
rarely have problems with 98, except for IE locking up fairly often,
which means I just use Firefox more now. The only other drawback with
98 is the need to install drivers for USB devices. I have considered
switching to WinME because of that, but I understand ME lacks dos too.

I may have to eventually dual boot to 98 and XP or something, but that
seems like a big hassle to me. All I really do with the computer is
internet, word processing and some photoshop stuff. None of this
really needs anything above 98 or more power. I cant play most of the
videos that are so popular these days on the net, but being on dialup
they are too slow anyhow, and who really needs them.....


When you make the claim that you are still using Win98 because it's
less trouble than any newer OS, it makes me wonder how out of touch
with reality you really are. You could practically crash Win98 just
by looking at it. There was no use of memory protection to isolate
one task from another, so when one app blew up, the whole system
crashed. XP and Vista are an order of magnitude more reliable,
easier to install new hardware/software, user friendly, and support
apps that Win98 never could. If you only use one app and it still
runs fine on your Win98, that's OK, but it doesn't make Win98 the
superior OS. I can't imagine using Win98 on a PC today that's
connected to the internet and being used for even a part of what most
home PCs are used for today.

I am using the same installation of Win98 that goes back to 98. I
have changed computers, cloned it to other hard drives, and done other
changes. It would take me months to rebuild everything.

Everyone I know that uses XP seems to have to reinstall it every year
or two. It gets flakey after awhile. Also, you can not transfer a
hard drive with XP from one computer to another. I tried it, it
failed miserably.

I know 98 like the back of my hand, and I keep the installation clean
of unwanted and old software that is removed, both the files and the
registry entries.

I actually could run XP on this computer. I have it installed on
another hard drive. All I have to do is swap drives. I gave it a
shot, and everytime I actually tried to make use of it, I hated it.
It was slow on this 1000mhz PIII too, but it did run. Thats where I
learned that it cant be transferred to another computer because I also
have a 700mhz PIII and since I did not plan ot use it often, I moved
the hard drive to that computer and it failed. Yeah, I could have
reinstalled, but why bother when I dont like it.

I do agree that 98 can crash at times, and take down the whole thing.
But it rarely happens to me. I use many more than one app at a time.
Right now I have Agent, Firefox, IE, Eudora, and Paint shop pro
loaded. I'd rather deal with an occasional crash than to have to
rebuild my whole setup every year or two.

I have not tried Vista, and really dont care to.

Regarding your restoration project, the govt will be giving out two
$40 coupons for converters to any household that receives ONLY via
antenna, ie they do not have cable, sat, etc. That should drop the
net cost to less that $30 bucks or so for a converter. Yeah, it
ain't free, but it seems it's not such a bad compromise either.

Yep, I am aware of that. Right now they are selling them on ebay for
$100 and more. If they do drop to $30 and the coupons are $40 I guess
they would be free, but I have a feeling they will stay around $80 or
more, which means we will have to dish out $40 or more. I think the
govt. should give them for free. After all, they are the ones that
created this mess.

BTW, you said you'd only spend $100 for a TV. How much do you think
it's going to cost to restore that 50's TV? I'm no expert in this
area, but I would think that components beyond the simple stuff like
capacitors, could cost quite a bit. Like what do people do for tubes
these days?

Thats a whole different matter. It's an antique and costs just like
restoring an old car. But I dont have to do it all at once. Actually
I think most tubes will be fine. They dont degrade from sitting.
I'll likely have to replace some of the paper caps., clean the
potentiometers and tuner, and I know the last time I tried it, there
was a high voltage leak. I hope I only need some corona dope, and of
course dust removal from the whole thing. Some tubes are actually
being remanufactured, and there are several sellers online that sell
the old ones. I still have a tube tester which I bought second hand
around 40 years ago. I used to work a lot on the old tube stuff when
I was young. It's actually much easier to work on than the modern
stuff, just a little more dangerous if you screw up and touch the
wrong thing. Of course I learned the hard way when I was younger what
NOT to touch.