I thought this might be a good place for you to add any interesting tidbits about XP since it's becoming more popular. Maybe you've found something that won't be easily noticed by others? Disclaimer: I have a new computer coming with XP, so the little goodies (or quirks) that come with it would be of interest to me. My current computer has been giving me headaches by freezing up, and just acting weird for some time. So I finally gave in.

Ed

Just one tidbit to share. I can't say why this happened but when Dave was installing some hardware upgrades such as another hard drive, CD rewriter and ram, we got a warning from Windows XP that there were some corupt files. It commensed to erase them of it's own accord. That turned out to be all my Photoshop work and several client photo files. Big mistake not backing them up first and totally my fault for the loss. But it happened and I can't even say why but just make sure you back up first before doing any upgrades. Other than that problem and who knows why it even occured but all has been fine and things have been running smoothly. Good luck and let us know how your new machine works out for you. You know we love those new toys. :D
DJ

DJ - what a nightmare losing all those files. I dread it and am happy to say that one of the items winging its way up from SA is a CD writer, which will be put into hard labour immediately it arrives! Seems like a good way of archiving one's files.

Sorry, Ed - I don't have anything to say about XP. Just thought I'd butt in there. :)

Carry on ...

I like XP so far. The one thing I would note here is that if you have any particular program or hardware device you like, say a digital camera, you may want to make sure that it is compatible before switching to XP. Pretty much most hardware/software vendors have added XP drivers and patches to their web sites, but not all... and some are just now developing drivers and patches for XP. This is something to think about. The XP home page has a site that lists what hardware, software etc. is compatible with XP. Typically most companies have updated XP drivers, but you may own the one that doesn’t.

-T

Windows Catalog (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/catalogshell/shell.asp?subid=22)

I have only been using it for 5 days now, my old computer crashed and I had to get a new one, it came with XP. I thought that I would not like it, been using 98SE for so long. After a few days I now like it better than 98SE. I really like the XP My Pictures program. Another feature I really like is that if a program your running crashes or locks up, it only affects that program, XP will close out that program and the computer continues to operate normally, no need for reboots. It also has a built in recovery and restore system to take you back to the last good working configuration if every needed. I have ordered a few books to help me become more familiar with the operation system, will let you know if I find any extra or interesting functions.

I concur with everything said so far, it was the easiest OS install I've ever done and its been running smoothly since with not one GPF. I used to reckon a couple of weeks to get a new OS running smoothly but not with XP.
I've deliberately tried to crash it with one or two progs known to bring 98 down in flames but to no avail. The integral cd burning software is handy for quick backups. No complaints apart from the cartoon style 'skin' but thats easily changed. I've installed several programs not specifically intended for XP but apart from a 'proceed at your peril' warning they've run fine and by now there seems to be XP patches for most things.

Just a couple of tips from the "Dummies" book:

Before you add new software or hardware, go to "System Restore" and make a restore point (snapshot). Then do your thing. If there's a problem, you can revert back to just before installation.

Do you have an older program that doesn't want to co-operate with XP? Right click on it's icon, select "properties", click "compatibility" tab. A list of previous Windows versions will pop up. Select the proper version from the list. You might be able to fool the program into thinking it's working under that version of Windows.

Ed

Ed

Thanks good information to know. Each day I get a little more familiar with XP.

Wish I'd known that before the disaster. :D Thanks Ed. Very valuable info.
DJ

Debbie,

I'm not sure if that would help with the photo files or not. It might only revert the necessary files to run properly. That would be good to find out.

Ed

Ed

From what I have been able to determine it will restore the files necessary to run XP, that is drivers, DLL's and etc. It will not restore image files, data files and etc. That was why I was trying to get GoBack loaded so I could restore those type of files if needed. Now I will just have to be more careful.

The system restore is a grest feature, sure can save you a lot of time, by restoring to a known working configuration. It automatically marks good configurations but like you pointed out it would be a wise move to mark your own starting point before loading new software, hardware, or updates.

Hooray!!! Some how XP must have squirreled those files away in a file called Found 000. Don't know how or why but all I know is I recovered all those erased files. Can't even say if it has it's own "snapshot" recovery but I did notice in those files listed, besides my missing photo files, there were registry files and some called snapshot was among several of them. Who knows, who cares, I am just tickled pink. It was purely accidental that I happened to stumble accross them. Just thought I would let you all know because I had mentioned loosing them in my earlier posts.
DJ

Wow! That's GREAT news DJ!! I'm about ready to go out a buy XP. My machine is acting more and more strange and I cannot afford to lose any info I've got on here right now. (Well, I don't think I could ever afford to lose info, but right now is an especially critical time.) I backed up my system last night, but am still freaking out with the strange happenings going on in my computer. Not that I have time to do a clean install right now, but I guess it's better to take time to do it now than lose everything when I least expect it! :eek:
Jeanie

Had to use the system restore. I downloaded some updates from Microsoft windows site for XP, one being a update for HP ScanJet scanners. I did this a few days ago and every program I used open the generic window for the scanjet and I could not shut them down.

Used the system restore to go back to a time prior to that and it reloaded to that time, restarted and every thing back working normally. As expected it also reverted a softwarte program I had installed to an earlier version. I had to reinstalled the update for that program, otherwise everything worked normally.

Once I get everything running the way I want, I will mark my own restore point, that way I will know the configuration if I want to restore.

If anyone else is going to down load the new updated HP ScanJet driver from the windows update page for XP, you might want to create a restore point, in case you have a similiar problem with the update you can go back to a configuration you know.

Jeanie
I know how you feel about the clean install especially when you have alot of stuff on your PC. We had to reinstall everything after reinstalling XP and that's not an easy task.
I was thrilled to find all those files. We were so sure they got deleted for being corupt. I think I need to get myself a dummies book like Ed suggested so I can better understand what happens to things when they go wrong. I am so computer illiterate when it comes to the inner workings. I just like to do my thing with no problems and that's that. Anything goes wrong and I'm lost. Lucky I have a live in fix it man but I notice even he gets stumped sometimes. There is just so many things that can go wrong and usually do. Then it's like finding a needle in a hay stack trying to locate the problem.

George
Good advice, thanks. Guess we're not the only ones learning the ins and outs of XP. However, I have to say it's still a big improvement over earlier additions.
DJ

I'm really glad for you Debbie. That's great. According to what I've read, XP will create a restore point each day automatically. I'm going to keep track of any software or hardware I add (and the date) on a piece of paper. I'm also noting each and every day whether or not *anything* seems a little off kilter. This should only take a minute each day, and it could prove handy some time.

Ed

You haven't even gotten your machine with XP Ed and you're putting me to shame. :D I am really going to have to follow your lead and get a good ref book. Should have done that from the beginning.
DJ

I've been on XP pro since November and haven't rebooted since.
I spent quite a bit of time configuring it to stop most of the unnecessary services from running and chewing up memory.
Can't praise it enough. After battling with 98SE for so long and running out of resources continuously, I can run PS6, IE6, Outlook, Flash, Dreamweaver, ICQ, and my scanner without it even batting an eyelid. Got to love that W2K kernel.

One piece of advice after searching through countless XP forums, don't upgrade.......do a clean install.

Dolby
Can you explain what unnecessary services you disconnected to free up memory? May want to do that myself.
DJ

OK.

Click the start button.
Select run from the bottom of the right column.
Then type "services.msc" in the box and click ok.
Once the services window has loaded you are ready to turn off unneeded services.
To change the whether the service is running etc, right click on it and select properties.

The best reference I have found for which services to run is

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Good luck!!!!

Wow!! Didn't know there were that many. Thanks for that link. I am going through it to see what services there are and what I really need. Thanks again.
DJ

I'm a super busy guy today, but I thought I'd pass this on. If you're interested in getting daily XP (or other) tips in your e-mail, go to http://www.emazing.com/c_technology.jsp to sign up. Hopefully, I'll learn what I'm doing in XP within the next month or so. :)

Ed

Great! Thanks Ed, every bit helps info wise.
DJ

Another good info site: wxperience (http://www.wxperience.com/)

Yeah, looks like a real good resource. I created a file to bookmark all my XP sites now. Thanks
DJ

I don't have XP but I came across this little tip in a tips newsletter I get, maybe it will be of some interest to some of you. Here's the tip as it appeared in the newsletter:
"On the subject of Microsoft Software, those of you who've upgraded to Windows XP should be aware of the new, free PowerToys program that gives you some great little programs to play with. Check it out at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp - the Slide Show Wizard is an
absolutely fantastic program for creating a mini-web site from a folder of photos."
I just went to the site to check it out and the download is unavailable at the moment they say to check back on Friday 18th. hopefully it will be there then.

hehe.........had it since I installed XP pro.......well TweakUI that is........I don't use the powertoys. XP Tweak UI is a similar thing to the 9x Tweak UI.
You can still get it here (http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/tweak_software.asp)

I'm using 98SE currently (128M RAM), but am planning on upgrading to XP. How much RAM do you recommend? I have a flatbed scanner now and plan on getting a negative scanner in the future. Like others, I like to have several apps all running at the same time.

So, how much RAM should I get for XP? 512M? 1G?

Memory still seems pretty inexpensive now, so I want to get enough for Photoshop to have plenty, even with large raw scanned images. I'm curious to know what you've used, and how much difference it makes in performance.

Also, how about 2 CPUs using XP Pro? Have you found the 2nd CPU makes a big difference in Photoshop performance?

Thx!

Gene

Hello Gene. Welcome aboard. I'm running XP with 512 megs of ram. I started out with 256, but with larger file sizes, it took forever to do certain things (such as saving a file). :) Since I upgraded to 512, things have been running pretty well for me, and I think that's enough for me. I'm sure you'll have more responses. I think DJ is still running 256, and I'm pretty sure she'll have a reply for you. The subject of RAM and XP could have been a thread in it's own, since it might be a common concern, and it would be easier for people to find what they're looking for when searching.

Ed

XP seems to like 512mb. My XP Pro is pared right down without all the fancy eye candy and still uses about 120mb to just idle.
You'll need to find out how much RAM your motherboard can handle as well.
Don't know about 2 cpu's but Photoshop loves RAM also. I'm using 512 and don't have too many probs unless an image is well over 100mb.......then I notice a slow down.

PIII 933mhz, 512mb, XP Pro.

HTH

Phil

I've brought this thread back to life wondering how XP 6 months down the road users feel about the OS. Has it fulfilled your requirements, do you regret the upgrade ? I was in on the ground floor and am pleased with the results, I've had one crash after XP and Norton firewall tangled and my efforts at recovery finally crashed both. Pleased with the easy install of hardware and the go-back facility is a boon when its in the mood ! What are your thoughts.

I do have one tidbit of info regarding XP. It retains 20% of your bandwidth by default to send messages about performance to itself (lol) - I don't have the exact details on how to change this to hand, but I will look it up and post back here, if some other kind person has not beaten me to it:)

By all means !

:eek: sounds very interesting Mike, I'd really like to find out more info if you have a link or something.

- David :)

Does anyone run the latest version of Nero under XP. Any problems ? Had a few problems with XP crashing rather spectacularly on opening Nero.

I'm running Nero 5.5.8.2 on a regular basis and have never had an issue at all? Are you running anything such as Zone Alarm? If so, I have heard that this will sometimes cause a problem. I myself am running Blackice as a firewall and have no problems with that one!

By the way, I still think XP is the most stable platform Microsoft has ever put out here! It handles my dual screen setup and my P3 933 without a hitch!

Chris,

Sorry I missed your post. I think XP is by far the best OS I've had. My previous two OS's were Windows 3.1, and Windows 98. They can't even come close as far as I'm concerned.

Ed

Thanks both. I had been running Nero without any problems and then after an upgrade from the home site XP was crashing as soon as I attempted to open Nero. However I at last managed to get a new winsock32.dll file from the Nero site and all seems back to normal. First crash I've had with XP though.