downgrade for different reason

[doriswaltz]

Please, can anyone help me? I want to downgrade from Windows XP to Windows 98 for a different reason. My son's computer has begun to seriously malfunction and I think it's the operating system. It is taking 20 minutes to boot up and 20 minutes for each operation. He has Windows XP Professional on it and it's way overkill. He doesn't need that. I tried reinstalling Windows XP and the install failed. I dont' want to go out and buy Windows XP home edition because it's very expensive. I have a copy of Windows 98 and I want to install that. However it says I have to start it in DOS to install Windows 98. I don't know how to do that. If I uninstall Windows XP first then how on earth would I restart the computer?

As you can see I'm not a techie--just a computer user. Can anyone please just tell me how to start up the computer in DOS...or back out of Windows XP once it's started up?

Doris

[evilphantomx]

First let me adress the problem before offering you the answer to your request....

The operating system should not be the cause of the problems you are having.

You did not list the spec's of the computer but if it used to run faster with no problems then this "slow down" came on gradualy...
I would suspect that there is either spyware or a virus running possably both.

You should try to figure out if this is the problem first because a "downgrade"will not solve the basic problem even if it seems to at first.

I have repaired several machines that the complaint was very similar to what you have stated and within an hour I removed over 500-1000 pieces of spyware that were running and slowing the system down.

You can do a very simple test/fix for spyware with two FREE programs that can be downloaded HERE.

Download and install Ad-Aware se Personal and Spybot Search and Destroy.

These two spyware killers are the most commonly used programs to kill spyware and what one misses the other usualy catches.

read the info/help files to insure proper operation and update before useing and you may find that the computer will return to all it's former glory without an OS change.

This is what I would do first if you were to drop it off for service at the shop.And I would highly recomend that these two programs be installed no matter what your final solution is.They are two of the most important pieces of software you can use in todays world.Spyware is almost wosre than a virus.

Second if you do not have an anti-virus program.....GET ONE!!!
almost all of the retail ones are acceptable and all of them are better than nothing.
If however you are a cheapskate like me the best free one can be found HERE .
Use the link to the free download and use it.

The frequent use of the above solutions are critical in everday computing NO MATTER WHAT OPERATING SYSTEM IS USED!!!

But if after trying that and you wish to boot to DOS it is very simple ...insert a win98 boot disk into the floppy drive and start/restart the system.

thats it like I said very simple.....

If you do not have a win98 bootdisk you can get one HERE.

click on the link marked Windows 98 SE OEM | Alt1 | Alt2
(I use alt1 all the time)and save.Copy it to a floppy disk an there ya go....simple as can be.

But please try the spyware fix first and let us know how it worked out....I think you may be pleasantly surprised.....

[doriswaltz]

evilphantomx,
Thank you very much for your helpful reply. I have already spent $50 on the latest Norton Antivirus (2005). I installed it and it cleaned up 3 viruses, but this did not improve things. I will try your suggestions about the spyware.

Doris