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Does ME really suck? I know that 98SE is the bomb, but it totally sucks when it comes to drivers, especially video, audio, and modem. For instance, I had to do a fresh OS install for someone, and I put on 98SE. I could not find a modem driver to save my life. So unfortunately I had to reinstall the OS using the ME restore disks that the HP came with, and worked great. I love 98SE but it's just the driver issue that totally kills me...is there anyway around this? Is there a way to save the drivers before you wipe out the drive? I've used that program to do it, but I don't like, I wanna do it all manually.
Thanks
ME does not suck...once it's properly tweaked, it runs at least as good as 98. Plus it has extra features that, IMHO, make it even better.
As for your driver issues...you should be updating them somewhat regularly anyway. Unfortunately for you, you have a Compaq. But if you were to identify the make/model of your hardware components (video, sound, modem, motherboard chipset, etc), you could go to the different manufacturer's websites, download the appropriate drivers for your operating system of choice, then burn them to disk, or back them up on a separate partition. Then you'll always have them if you need them in the future.
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB
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How can ME be properly tweaked? Is there a web page that outlines the steps?
On the side, I repair and upgrade PC's for people. When I get a computer that needs XP, that's a breeze, because it identifies almost any driver. But fairly often, I get 98 machines. The one I just did, and HP, did NOT have the drivers on the site. I called HP and they said they are switching over to a new database, and are getting rid of all the older system support. So therefore, I had to TRY to find the modem driver elsewhere, and out of the 3 I found, none supported 98. So that's why I had to put ME back on. I wish I could find universal drivers that WORK for almost any video/sound/modem card. I don't care if it doesn't off ALL of the bells and whistles of the OEM, just as long as I can get out of 16 color mode. I don't care if the sound card doesn't have all the EQ functions and all, just as long as it WORKS. Most people I do computers for wouldn't even know the difference. Maybe there is a CD out there that has millions of drivers on it the works with EVERYTHING. I just want the basics...Or maybe you know which folder(s) has all the driver files that I could just back up before I reformat, and than put back on afterwards.
Thanks
Tim
Thanks
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Hi Tim,
Installing modems is the hardest thing we do.
Usually, if the right driver can't be readily found, I just toos the modem.
You MIGHT save existing drivers by copying the .inf and all the files which it references.
If you find the magic million driver CD, lemme know, I'll buy a copy.
M2
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<sarcasm> Win ME is the only Microsoft operating system, that has not had to have a revision or a service pack added. Either it's that perfect or it's in Microsoft's to hard to fix basket. </sarcasm>
Purgamentum initium, exitus purgamentum
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All I can say is, the people that knock ME have bought into the bad press & probably never even gave it a fair shot.
michael2 posted the link to Trev's site...you'll find plenty of tweaks & info on ME there.
As for your driver issue (again)...you have to identify your hardware. That means you'll have to open the case & physically inspect the cards. Look for a make/model number or a number on the main chip...or you can try Everest:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
Once you've identified what you have, do some searching for drivers. If you look at the column on the left side of this screen, you'll find a drivers section that may be of some help. (People tend to miss all the other stuff available on this site & just concentrate on the forums).Any drivers that are included on the OS disks are outdated by now...sure, they'll work, but do you wanna run your videocard on drivers that are 3-6 years old?
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB
0
I have found ME to be a perfect blend of 98 and XP, with the best features of both. BUT (IMHO) it does need a lot of tweaking to get it running anywhere near as acceptable as 98 or XP. Preferably cutting it down to ~30meg ;)
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jam,
"All I can say is, the people that knock ME have bought into the bad press & probably never even gave it a fair shot."
Nice try, but we installed it on a few of our own PCs when it came out and in the ensuing weeks, had several clients come in in tears. Every installation was a complete mess.
M2
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ME is fine as long as you set it up correctly in the first place & don't expect to install too much additional software - it seems to grind to a halt a lot quicker than other systems when the average user starts piling games etc. onto it. Mind - I don't knock it as it's a nice little earner doing the re-installs ;-).
On the driver front, modems are the real pain because even if you can physically identify the chipset model, getting the driver for that chipset to be recognised is usually fruitless & the manufacturers don't always label them properly. These days, if I haven't managed to get the driver details before re-installing I resort to buying 'white box' modems & binning the old one - for the £5 they cost, it saves all the hassle."I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."
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I run ME on my desktop, have tweaked as per Trev's page and have no hassles at all. I have XP SP2 on my notebook and have no hassles there. If you stuff about with any OS too much you will have hassles.
BTW I repair vacuum cleaners. NOW THEY SUCK!!!D4
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Mechanix2Go,
"Nice try, but we installed it on a few of our own PCs when it came out and in the ensuing weeks, had several clients come in in tears. Every installation was a complete mess."
I must being doing something wrong then, because my own main system is an ME/XP dual boot & I have another that's strictly WinME. I've had no major probs with either. Of course, I'm not the average home user or office smuck. If I encounter a prob, I usually know how to fix it. Probs occur with ALL systems, not just those running WinME.
I've sold no less than six rigs with WinMe on them & have had no major problems...at least not related to the OS. I HAVE had probs related to user's changing things though, then blaming it on WinME...but that's outta my control. Some idiot makes some changes, the PC gets screwed up, then they run off blaming WinME. Of course, it can't be them cuz they know what they're doing...besides, someone told them WinME sucks. Then they tell 2 friends, who tell 2 friends, who tell 2 friends, & so on, & so on, etc...LOL!
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB
0
No OS which - straight out of the box - has a memory leak, is gonna tempt me I'm afraid. It's a perfect example of how poorly tested it was.
ME got bad press because it was a bad OS.
< insert profound, thought-provoking statement here >
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Wombat - ME has a major service pack issued for it - it's my homepage......
and others like it.....
:)
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Anyway, should you be using sarcasm on a forum ?
See the iDiOt walk
See the idiot TaLkWaLk IdIoT WaLk
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So, dannyboy, isn't using any of the micro$oft products then.
Sorry Viking, I guess you don't like to hear sarcasm. Though that is sarcasm, it's truthful sarcasm.
Just my opinion, based on true/proven facts, about "memory leak"(s). Micro$oft, has plenty of documentation, to back that statement up.
Well, enough antagonizing, on my part.
;-)Off, to file the holes :-)
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LOL. Actually, I was being sarcastic when I said # 15.
:-D
See the iDiOt walk
See the idiot TaLkWaLk IdIoT WaLk
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Viking...LOL...nah, you don't say.
as I'm rotflmao ;-) :-)
Later bro
p.s. Their subject line was "Does ME REALLY suck??". Me doesn't, but I do know what/who does. Whoops, time for a spanking, I'm sure, sorry.
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"So, dannyboy, isn't using any of the micro$oft products then."
eh? speak the english?
< insert profound, thought-provoking statement here >
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The MS products that I use, by the way, are 98SE, 2000 Pro, XP Home and XP Pro.
< insert profound, thought-provoking statement here >
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