4 Months of XP Pro

[dr_roberts49]

I love this OS. I've read of the problems some have had, and I know that everyone has different configurations and needs. I can say for myself, that it works for me. Since installing XP Pro, I've upgraded my printer, keyboard & mouse, new case, cables, and lighting, plus a 160 MG SATA drive. I've also added several software applications, and XP Pro took it all in stride. I've enjoyed exploring it, and have much more to learn. Just wanted to share.

ABIT IS7 mobo
Pentium 4 2.4c Ghz
CoolerMaster Jet 4 fan/heatsink
512 3500 DDR in Dual mode
Master IDE1, Maxtor 60GB
Slave IDE1, Maxtor 80GB
Master IDE2, Sony DVD
Slave IDE2, Sony CD burner
SATA 1 Master, Maxtor 160GB
Logitech wireless keyboard & optical wheel mouse
Creative 5.1 speakers
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card
Sennheiser headphones
NVIDIA FX 5200
Microsoft Sidewinder
Microtek Scanmaker E3 Plus
Canon i475D Printer
Aspire Super X-Alien black & silver tower case
6 green LED case fans
Aspire's modded 500 watt power supply
Blue plasma case light
UV cold cathode light
ViewSonic 17' flat display
MCI DSL connection
Linksys router and wireless access point

I think that's everything, not counting all my games and other good stuff

Robert
Aspire

[jmichna]

I have to agree with you. I've got three systems at home, two AMD one Intel... They are significantly different in components. I've done numerous upgrades, especially to the two AMD systems (new video cards (nVidia and ATI), new CPUs (Palominos, to TBreds, to Bartons), new mother boards (VIA and Intel chipsets), SCSI controllers, new hard drives, new joysticks, all kinds of peripherals... and I've never really had any problems with XP dealing with all that various hardware.

I make sure all three systems are always patched to the latest and greatest.

I understand that YMMV... but I've gotten good mileage with XP Pro and our systems.

[dr_roberts49]

I know what you mean, jmicha. I was with Windows 98SE for so long, and really got pretty good with putting out all the fires I started with 98SE's help I saw more than my share of blue screens.

Like you, I keep on top of my upgrades. I run spybot and adware on a regular basis, and also keep my virus definitions up-to-date. I backup my important data to RW CDs, and created a boot CD with all my most current drivers and settings. I also have my system drive ghosted on my SATA drive.

Robert

[jmichna]

Originally posted by dr_roberts49
...Like you, I keep on top of my upgrades. I run spybot and adware on a regular basis, and also keep my virus definitions up-to-date. I backup my important data to RW CDs, and created a boot CD with all my most current drivers and settings. I also have my system drive ghosted on my SATA drive.
Robert

Same here:
NAV2003, always kept up-yo-date on all 3 PCs
Spy-Bot + Ad-Aware run weekly, also always kept up-to-date, on all 3 PCs
ZA Pro on all 3 PCs
All sit behind router with NAT
2 of the 3 have back-up hard drives for weekly Ghost B/U's
The third PC's important data are backed up to one of the other two PCs.
jmichna
[me=mini-admin]

[QCompson]

Just curious: have either of you had to deal with XP's activation mumbo-jumbo when upgrading various pieces of hardware?

glad its working out for you dr_roberts49, i was using xp for while but it seemed as time went on it slowed down.

have you looked around this site to get more out of your xp box?

http://www.tweakxp.com/

[dr_roberts49]

jmicha, forgot to mention my firewalls. ZoneAlarm plus my Linksys router is a good shield. Each of my 3 kids have their own computers, using Windows 98SE (with ZoneAlarm), and my 18 year-old son plays around with Linux.

QCompson, so far, I only had to use my activation twice, and none of it had to do with my hardware. I had already replaced my old mobo and P3 with a P4 and new mobo with 800fsb. I purchased XP Pro from Newegg a couple of weeks later. When I first installed XP Pro, I went the upgrade route (I was running Windows 98SE), which worked fine. I did my first activation then. I stayed this way for about a week, and decided that to fully realize the power and speed of XP, I needed to do a clean install. That was my 2nd and last activation. Both were done over the internet.

My hardware additions after that, were fairly minor. I got a new Canon photo printer for Christmas. I also decided to ditch my old ANTEC beige case, which had served me through 3 major computer upgrades. Right after New Year's, I ordered Aspire's Super X-Alien case in silver & black from Newegg, along with Aspire's modded 500 watt power supply to replace the 430 watt stock model that came with the case. I also picked up a rheobus to control 4 of my 6 case fans and 4 heat sensor probes. At the time, Newegg had a special on Maxtor's 160GB SATA drives, so I ordered one of those. I'm ordering another one next week.

From SVC, I ordered some mod supplies like cold cathode lights and UV lights. From my local CompUSA, I bought CoolerMaster's Jet-4 fan/heatsink. Newegg was out of stock on those, but CompUSA had them for $9.00 less. From a nearby auto supply store, I bought some colored looming.

Once I got everything in one place (my bedroom), I did the transplant from my old case to the new, and added the SATA and the mod goodies. I spent a lot of time routing wires behind the mobo and connecting my rheobus and the lights. This was my 1st case mod. I took a big chance and assembled everything before firing up the computer. After all that work, I think I would had died if nothing worked Well, everything did. Since I had pulled my cards and re-installed them, XP went through the procedure of identfying my new hardware and automatically installing the drivers. Didn't need to do a thing. My computer, with it's new facelift was up and running, but like I said, my hardware upgrades were minor. If I had added a new cpu ,mobo, or new video card, then I'm sure I would have to go through the activation again.

GroundZero, yes, I have that link in my favorites folder. Nice site. I've also followed some of the advice in Maximum PC magazine, and definitely the good advice given on this board. In fact, all my recent upgrades (since last August when I got my new P4 and ABIT mobo from Newegg) were done on advice and recommendations from this board. I can't thank everyone enough.

Robert

[jmichna]

Originally posted by QCompson
Just curious: have either of you had to deal with XP's activation mumbo-jumbo when upgrading various pieces of hardware?

Yes, a few times. I had one instance where I changed motherboards and DID NOT have to reactivate!

On the occasions when the hardware has changed enough to prompt for reactivation, or after changing hardware and do a clean reinstall of the OS, it has actually been quite painless... just takes a toll-free call to the MS mothership, explain what I changed and they gave me the new activation code over the phone (many times, it's even an automated system... only when a human needs an explanation do you need to actually talk to someone). I doubt if it has ever taken me longer than 5 minutes to complete.

[dr_roberts49]

I'm sure my time will come when I need to call the Mothership too. I just haven't had the OS that long. Picked it up in early September. Still a newbie

Robert