Reformat ME, upgrade to XP, or...

Question

Hi,I have been having minor problems crop up here and there for a while. They're usually nothing serious, just annoying (icons for files changing, my recent post on WMP not playing video, for example). Then yesterday, I tried to manually create a Restore point. I understand my ZoneAlarm has a conflict that keeps ME from creating them automatically, so I turned it off. No dice. Even after uninstalling ZA, Restore said I cannot creat a restore point. I tried doing a Restore back a month, previous to my installation of a few things that I thought might be causing the problem, and again, Restore failed. I called Dell and described my problem. Their answer was that a criticle file/files were corrupted and a Reformat was the only solution. She said that, unlike XP, ME has no repair feature for the problem files. My questions are: 1. Is Dell correct, there is no way to fix the problem without reformatting?2. Should I just upgrade to XP if I'm going to go to all the trouble? Is it that much better than    ME?3. If I do upgrade, what are the negatives, other than having to hunt down new drivers for     everything? Are there privacy issues with XP?4. Do I have to buy new copies of Office and all the programs that came loaded on my     computer when I bought it?5. Are the CD/RWs I burned of photos and other files going to be recognized?6. I heard XP requires more resources. Given that this is an older system, how much slower     will my computer run, especially when doing things like photo editing or multi-tasking? It    has a 933Mhz PIII, 40GB HD that is about full (I could definitely clean things up a bit), and     512mb or RAM.

Yellowhammer · Answer

@noonin wrote:

1. Is Dell correct, there is no way to fix the problem without reformatting? - That is the last resort. As a start, you can disable system restore and reboot. Then enable it after the fresh boot. See if it works after that. Additionally there is a Microsoft Knowledge Base Article that may help here.
2. Should I just upgrade to XP if I'm going to go to all the trouble? Is it that much better than
    ME? If you are having problems with Windows Me an upgrade to XP would be questionable. Upgrading when you have problems sometimes means a new operating system with problems. A clean install would be much better. You would lose everything so you would need to back up critical data first.
3. If I do upgrade, what are the negatives, other than having to hunt down new drivers for
    everything? Are there privacy issues with XP? - There are privacy issues with all of the operating system. The best you can do is keep them updated and run a firewall, antivirus, and spyware protection.
4. Do I have to buy new copies of Office and all the programs that came loaded on my
    computer when I bought it? - No
5. Are the CD/RWs I burned of photos and other files going to be recognized?- Yes. If you do a clean install you will need to back them up first to avoid losing them when you reformat.
6. I heard XP requires more resources. Given that this is an older system, how much slower
    will my computer run, especially when doing things like photo editing or multi-tasking? It
    has a 933Mhz PIII, 40GB HD that is about full (I could definitely clean things up a bit), and
    512mb or RAM. - You have plenty of speed and memory for running windows xp. I am running it on an 800 MHZ P3 with 384MB RAM.

Message Edited by Yellowhammer on 12-27-2003 10:57 AM

noonin · Answer

Thanks Hammer, I'll try your suggestion for #1. As for #2, I forgot to say that I would only upgrade if reformatting is my only option, so it would definitely be a clean install, of either ME or XP. Is XP a better OS than ME? Worth the money for the upgrade?  (yes, I know that's totally subjective)

Yellowhammer · Answer

IMO Windows XP is much better.  I have virtually never had a crash with Windows XP.  I have a dual boot with Windows Me and Windows XP.  I don't use Windows Me at all.  I only keep it for a couple of games for the kids.

Denny Denham · Answer

Noonin, Since it is a subjective judgement, I concur with Yellowhammer's opinion that XP is superior to ME.

Brian Kilburn · Answer

Noonin   I read your comment that Zone Alarm has a conlfict with Sytem Restore that keeps RS from creating restore points. My SR has not been creating restore points (automatically) for a while now (I can still create them manually - but it's a pain). Do you have any other info on this conflict with ZA?   Thanks.

noonin · Answer

The bad things I read were that it ran slower than 9X, bundled things like a integrated firewall and a few other "goodies" that were nowhere as good as third-party programs, but were impossible to uninstall. Other knocks were a copywrite protection scheme or some kind of reporting feature and too much of a cartoonish interface. I guess, since I have never really had a chance to use it, I don't want to blow the money if a clean install of what I've got is better (I haven't had a chance to try your fixes yet to know if I have to reformat at all).
Thanks!

noonin · Answer

I about the conflict on this forum a while ago ( http://65.54.172.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=b6480d3cf658c010bb76db442bfad232&lat=1072641390&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fforums%2eus%2edell%2ecom%2fsupportforums%2fboard%2fmessage%3fboard%2eid%3dsw_winme%26message%2eid%3d32839). I used Scheduled Tasks in System Tools to create a reminder for me every week to turn off my ZA (while not connected to the Net of course). This seemed to allow Restore to create a point.

Denny Denham · Answer

Noonin,

The bad things I read were that it ran slower than 9X, That has not been the experience of most of the users I have communicated with who have upgraded older systems to XP bundled things like a integrated firewall and a few other "goodies" that were nowhere as good as third-party programs, but were impossible to uninstall The firewall blocks incoming traffic only so it is more limited than most third-party firewalls, but it can be disabled. I know of no "goodies" that might interfere with normal computer opteration. Other knocks were a copywrite protection scheme or some kind of reporting feature It does have product activation, which means one copy cannot be installed on more than one system--simply a means of enforcing the End User License Agreement which has been a part of all Windows operating systems and routinely ignored by users and too much of a cartoonish interface The interface grows on you but if you don't like it, a mouse click returns to the "Classic" interface which is what Windows 9X users are accustomed to. I guess, since I have never really had a chance to use it, I don't want to blow the money if a clean install of what I've got is better (I haven't had a chance to try your fixes yet to know if I have to reformat at all).
Thanks!

noonin · Answer

Thanks Denny,Hopefully I won't have to do 'the Deed', but if I do, I shall definitely consider XP then. I know somebody is always going to have problems with whatever. I read a heck of alot more bad raps on ME, which I think I finally have somewhat of a handle on (for a person totally new to computers 3 years ago. N

noonin · Answer

Brian,

Sorry about the dead link. I forgot I got here through the link on my Hotmail post notification email. Here it is again...

http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winme&message.id=23363&highlight=system+restore+conflicts+with+zone+alarm#M23363

noonin · Answer

It really does seem to matter who you talk to at Dell. Called tech support and got a guy who talked me through, what I think he called, a 'dirty install'. It used my WinME reinstallation disc to 'fix' my current OS. He said it would repair the corrupted DLL files. So far, so good, except a little glitch with Windows Update.Happy New Year!

Brian Kilburn · Answer

Hey Noonin,

I've been looking into this a little and i've found other forums where peole have been complaining about the same conflict between ZA (ver 3) and System Restore.

Several people sent emails to ZA but recieved no responce.

I did run into one user who said that installing the latest version of free ZA (version 4) fixed his system restore so that it is now automatically creating chech points again.

I just installed version 4 and will post here if I have any luck with it.

noonin · Answer

Hi Brian,

I am running 4.5.538 and it seems to be working. Look Mom, automatic Restore Points with no hands! I have been pretty busy the last few days and forgot to check. It's nice to not have to think about it anymore.

N

Brian Kilburn · Answer

Hey, that's great!  as of day 2 with ZA 4 my system restore is doing it's thing just fine.   I guess we can consider that one solved. :^)

noonin · Answer

Good to hear, Brian. It's nice when the fix is as easy as a simple version update.

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Reformat ME, upgrade to XP, or...

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