mr mark,
Since you ask...(g)
Stand By: go to Start|Shut Down|Stand By. This stores the data and programs you are using, and keeps them in memory using very low power. Restarting the session is very quick. Actually, what I thought I was getting was Hibernate, where the data and programs in use are written to a temporary file or partition, and then all power to the computer is shut off. I went to Control Panel|Power Options and turned it on, now Hibernate appears in the Shutdown dialog box and I use that.
I intend to install the service pack some time soon. I wanted to run with just the browser and spreadsheets for a while, to make sure the basic installation would hold up. Seems fine. And it won't be much of a chore to install with my cable modem. It used to take 2 hours to get the latest MSIE, now it takes 6 minutes.
I opted not to start out with NTFS. My plan was to change over gradually from W98 to W2000 and I was betting that there would be times I would need to get something from the W2000 partition during a session in W98. I would not be able to see NTFS, but I could work easily in another FAT32 partition. Add to that I want to change my laptop over to W2000 also, I just don't want to have to do it all at once. Both computers have ethernet cards, so networking them would be easier if everything was FAT32. After everything was running smoothly, I planned to convert to NTFS with a couple of mouse clicks and be done with W98.
I have since found out that NTFS can be seen on a network by any OS. Whether that applies to my home network or not I don't know. Also I read about complications in dual boot systems when converting an existing disk from FAT32 to NTFS. So maybe I'll leave everything as it is. But a third thing: W2000 will offer file or folder encryption or compression on the right-click menu, but only if it's running NTFS.
At this point I know I'm over my head for sure, but I have come a long way just by reading the directions on the box and hanging out here. :)
DriveImage is my main backup method, onto a second hard drive. I keep a basic image with the OS and main applications, and also a current image which I make 2-3 times a week.
Dual booting appeared as promised after installation. If I select W2000, the machine starts and I do my session. Fine.
If I choose W98, it starts to boot, then lays back and does nothing. Maybe it's frozen. 30 seconds go by, then I zoom the cursor around the screen for a while. Sometimes that helps, I think. At last the hard disk starts working again. And stops again. I Ctrl-alt-del and see that mprexe.exe is not responding, whatever that is. It finally responds and I find my work but the autohide taskbar gets stuck and I can't get it up. I try to print something and the machine reports that some other device is using the parallel port. I don't have any other device. I try a few work-arounds until the printer works, finish my project, and then Windows hangs on shutdown. I know that when I boot up again, I will see the scan disk screen admonishing me that this would not be necessary if I would remember to shut down correctly. At that point I'm thinking that it's time to walk the dog, but my wife has just given him a goofy haircut and my ego is not strong enough to take him out in front of the neighbors like that.
OK, I'm exaggerating a little. But the stability is something I really wanted. I think MS is trying to get Whistler out soon, but I'm glad I didn't wait.
Frank |
