Off topic:
Does anyone have a computer with "Windows 8" operating system, and does it work on this forum? I have heard it is much different to use than previous windows systems.
I think I may need a new computer, as I am having a hard time with my XP. It doesn't want to start up-sometimes. Have to try starting several times, or sometimes it hangs up and I can't do anything except shut it down and try again.
Sam
Have you given thought to doing a wipe of the hard drive and reinstalling everything? Or is yours a 'packaged' computer that came preloaded? Still if you have the original software that came with it you should be able to manage it. Things is you'll have to reinstall your programs and applications, but you'd have to do that on a new one as well.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I have Windows 7 & have heard complaints about 8. Personally, i would like to go back to XP. If there is any way you can save your computer, I'm sure you will be happier with your XP.
Joe Staten Island West
Go with 7 and stay.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I Had XP for many years on 2 different computers, and thought I'd absolutely DIE switching to windows 7.
I did not die, and think I like it BETTER than XP.?!
I thought windows 8 was for things like tablets, so that/those I dont know about yet.
But, if you are having problems with the computer, maybe time to trade it in for one with 7?
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
MRR Forum works just fine under Windows 8 -- "So says" my new Toshiba Satellite Laptop. My Acer Laptop screen "blew up" so I hooked up a spare flat screen monitor to the Acer, and now have an "Acer Desktop" instead of a Laptop.
Note that Win 8 is a modern 64-bit, not 32-bit, and some old 32-bit apps that worked under WinXP (now apx. 15 years old) may not install under Win8.
[1] If you get a new Laptop (or Desktop), purchase Windows 8 for Dummies (apx. $10 US) to learn how to access basic settings under Win8. When in doubt, mouse touch the four corners, of your new Win8 Metro Screen to get to essential functions.
[2] My 1st download for Win8 was the freeware -- Classic Shell -- The easiest way to restore the Start Menu Button that Win8 has hidden/disabled -- I have set it to boot directly into the (not Win8 but) more familiar "Windows 7 Desktop." You can always access the Win8 Metro Screen & Apps by mouse touching the lower left screen corner. See YouTube.
[3] My 2nd download for Win8 was the freeware -- FreeCommander -- To actually see what you are doing in the file system. "Do play" with the settings like Function Menu, Confirmations, Space Bar File-Tagging, etc. See YouTube.
[4] The Missing Windows 8 Instructional Video is a most excellent Win8 Primer. This video nicely explains the flexibility of new Win8 Metro Apps.
[5] Windows 8 - The Animated Evaluation is a "humorous" Win8 Primer (NOT!).
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Having played with Windows 8 on computers in Wal-Mart and Best Buy, I would never buy a computer with Windows 8! But new computers with Windows 7 are hard to find. When Windows 8 came out, all the windows 7 computers went back and were updated with Windows 8, rather than blow them out at a discount. Windows 8 is definately a learning curve. And I'm not up for a learning curve, just because Microsoft wanted to bring out something new. Change just for the sake of change is a PITA.
Have you tried a System Restore on your computer? It often helps eliminate various problems. Or you can backup everything you want to save, and run the "Recovery Discs", or other recovery program, which restores your computer to brand new condition. I've done both a couple times, with good results. Try the "System Restore" first, as it doesn't wipe out all your files.
samgolden Off topic: Does anyone have a computer with "Windows 8" operating system, and does it work on this forum? I have heard it is much different to use than previous windows systems. I think I may need a new computer, as I am having a hard time with my XP. It doesn't want to start up-sometimes. Have to try starting several times, or sometimes it hangs up and I can't do anything except shut it down and try again. Sam
How old is your computer? Do you get any error messages as windows tries to boot up or does it just hang? Can you hear your hard disk "thrashing" as windows boots up? I would guess that some piece of hardware is probably giving out, usually the hard drive. Before you go and get a new computer or HD you may want to try the system restore that another poster suggested. If you can remember the last time your computer was working properly set the restore date to that date. Sometimes windows components get corrupt or lost when programs are uninstalled or uninstalled incorrectly, a system restore can fix that. You may also want to be certain that you have all the windows xp updates installed (preferably after the restore). In a system restore you won't lose files (pictures, documents, music, etc.) but you may lose programs that were installed after the restore date you choose.
The OS and this website don't have anything to do with each other. If you get a computer with windows 8, 7, or xp this website will work fine as long as explorer is working properly. I like xp but do like some of the functionality and ease that windows 7 has available. Windows 8 has a "learning curve" because microsoft got rid of the start menu. I think it can be brought back if one desires it but without the start menu it does take some getting used to navigating around. The metro gui is also the big thing with 8 but I this is targeted more to computers with touch screens and pad devices. I'm sure there are many more changes but this is not the place for that conversation.
Try the system restore, if that doesn't work you may have hardware issues. Good luck.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
I am still using XP, but, do have some trouble with it. I run McAfee and it doesn't show any viruses and also run Advanced System Care and this also turns up nothing. I sort of think it's the built-in incompatibilities between XP and the newer stuff, taking over.
Computer and software manufacturers have sure got the public over the barrel, talk about built in obsolescence. Oh well, the high price of technology!
Take nothing I say as anything near the truth! What I know about confusers, will fit in your shot glass!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
We still have XP computers here, but I am rapidly changing people over to Win 7. Win 8 is compatible with our network as is XP-Professional (XP-Home is not). I do not have a Win 8 desktop yet, but I am running a Windows 2012 Server which has the same interface. You can work around the dumb tablet stuff. Also on a high learning curve is the new Microsoft Office 2013 which is designed to look like Win 8. If you have Office 2007 or later then you are familiar with the ribbons. Office 2013 takes that idea overboard to the max.
I have not evaluated Explorer-10 yet, but Firefox is happy on it. A 64 bit computer can run 32 bit programs, but I have some 64bit programs that do not have the features of their older 32 bit offerings, indeed Microsoft themselves recommends the 32 bit version of Office over the 64 bit version even for 64 bit processors, and suggests that you only need 64 bit Office if your network requires certain features.
More of a worry to me is the news that Intel will stop making PC motherboards and removable CPUs. It does look like the whole "Desktop Computer" as we know it may be coming to an end.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
As a customer, using and buying computers for more than 25 years, I still want a desk top computer, who is telling the manufacturers that we don't want Dek Tops anymore? I'm tired of this merry-go-round, maybe it's time to consider getting off!
DOS Rules! We don't need no stinking Windows!
Windows 3.1 does everything I want it to. Why do I need Windows 95.
Windows 95 is great and although networking capabilities aren't built into it, I don't need Windows 98 as the internet is just a fad.
(Sorry, I have no excuse for Windows ME. Move on.)
Windows 98 is works. Windows 2000 is for businesses. Why would I need that at home?
XP? Its just a Fischer-Price interface on 2000. Who Cares?
(Sorry, I have no excuse for Windows Vista. Move on.)
Windows 7? Well, okay, God-mode and Dockable minimized windows really make life eaiser... but....
WINDOWS 8! Who moved my Cheese!
Carry on. As you were.
Full Disclosure: Former IT Geek, Programmer and worked at MS for a while.
Two seasons in my Canada, Modelling and Paintball.
jeffrey-wimberlyhings is you'll have to reinstall your programs and applications, but you'd have to do that on a new one as well.
One other consideration... some of your existing software may not run under window 8. It is also a huge operating system by the way. Just something to think about.
Dennis
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
I'm still running XP, and hoping that my computers last a while. Vista, Win 7 and 8 don't offer anything that I care about. All three of them suck up more hard disk, more ram, and run slower than XP. If your XP system is getting flakey, it may be that something bad, malware or a bad piece of software somewhere is causing the problem.
Consider a serious cleanup exercise. Use "add&remove programs" to zap all those games and craplets you never use. Backup your files to CD/DVD. Zap anything you don't need. Virii have to hide somewhere on hard drive. It's easier to find 'em and zap 'em, if they don't have so many other files to hide behind.
Run at least two different anti virus programs. Run Ccleaner. Run Task Manager and see how many processes you have running right after boot. You ought to be able to pare running processes down to 28-30. Keep notes on what you have done.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Sounds like your O/S is corrupted or else you have a virus.
You can try a restore and if that does not work boot into safe mode then try it. If you do not understand what I am referring to, have it looked at by somebody.
Back up you files now because eventually it may not be possible.
Jim
I've been through a lot of computers and a lot of operating systems. It's seldom pleasant. One of the reasons I wanted a new home desktop machine was to play Flight Simulator. I stayed with XP, because I discovered that Windows 7 would not support the flight yoke and pedals, and replacing those would have been hundreds of dollars. We have Windows 7 on our machines at work. I really don't like it, because I have trouble doing anything that requires "admin" privileges. Some of this, of course, is Corporate IT in action, but it seems like W7 is putting stumbling blocks in my path. Also, I have used the "Cardfile" program from earlier versions of Windows, and that simply won't run under Windows 7, and there's no replacement for it.
We have an older Dell desktop that runs, but it's very slow compared to what it use to be. I think that it would be improved greatly with more memory, which tells me that a lot of the problem is the years of "upgrades" which gradually make any given computer unable to meet the requirements of a hungry and bloated government operating system.
When I bought my new machine, they could not put XP on it. So, I told them to skip the OS, and I bought a copy online and installed it myself. You can do that too, if you like XP and want to stay with it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
samgoldenI am having a hard time with my XP.
To keep WinXP -- In the event you have not been using clean up apps especially for your registry, etc. -- Here are some suggestions -- All of which are free:
[1] Advanced Uninstaller Pro
[2] CCleaner
[3] Glary Utilities
[4] Toolwiz Care
[5] Auslogics Disk Defrag
If your system has sufficient RAM to use each of these apps -- It is highly suggested that you install all of the above programs -- As no one single Registry Cleaner App catches all of your system errors. I run all of them -- One after the other -- For that very reason -- Even on my new Windows 8 Laptop.
You will see other modules in the above apps to clean out accumulations of temporary files. Another nice module is a Registry Optimizer (Registry Compactor) where your registry is "defragged" after you have run Registry Cleaners and File Clean Up Modules.
CCleaner does a good job, but with limited results, as it does not catch all of the system errors -- Why to run at least three more Registry Apps to catch most of them. Also, running Anti-Virus software does nothing to clean the registry -- Where most of "the muck" is happening due to registry errors.
Auslogics Disk Defrag does a better job than Windows Defrag. CCleaner also has a nice free app called Smart Defrag.
If you haven't been running Registry Cleaners -- You'll likely see 1,000+ registry errors!
Not sure if everyone is aware of this or not but XP support goes away in April 2014.
At that point no more security updates from Microshaft.
Hi and Thanks to all of you that responded:
I have seen Win 7 but wasn't impressed with it. I have been holding off buying anything new yet, and I missed out on Win 7 and now Win 8 is all you can find.
I am thinking of taking my computer to "Staples" and have their "Certified Technician" see if it can be saved.
Going to depend how much that will cost.
In the meantime My grand son looked it over and found a JUMP DRIVE that I had plugged in that was causing me some of my trouble, and also "Recovered" it to about 4 Mo. earlier.
Dr Gonzo DOS Rules! We don't need no stinking Windows! Windows 3.1 does everything I want it to. Why do I need Windows 95. Windows 95 is great and although networking capabilities aren't built into it, I don't need Windows 98 as the internet is just a fad. (Sorry, I have no excuse for Windows ME. Move on.) Windows 98 is works. Windows 2000 is for businesses. Why would I need that at home? XP? Its just a Fischer-Price interface on 2000. Who Cares? (Sorry, I have no excuse for Windows Vista. Move on.) Windows 7? Well, okay, God-mode and Dockable minimized windows really make life eaiser... but.... WINDOWS 8! Who moved my Cheese! Carry on. As you were. Full Disclosure: Former IT Geek, Programmer and worked at MS for a while.
Been through DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, 98, XP and 7. Everyone says that XP was the best, and I have to agree; but, leaving well enough alone, doesn't sell new software; or, hardware, does it?
I don't type well with my fingers, let alone with my thumbs! However, in business, maybe we'll have to go back to typewritters, if all that's available is smart phones an Mini Pads!
I use Windows 8 with no problems on this or any other site.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
NP2626 As a customer, using and buying computers for more than 25 years, I still want a desk top computer, who is telling the manufacturers that we don't want Dek Tops anymore? I'm tired of this merry-go-round, maybe it's time to consider getting off!
I've had two lap tops and neither lasted very long. So I feel the longevity of a lap top is suspect. Why don't people want desk top computers? To say that "nobody" want's them certainly makes me feel all alone!
I've had a couple of laptops, supposedly high quality one. Neither of them was satisfactory. I was already spoiled on the speed of my desktop, which I built myself to my own specs. I haven't seen a laptop yet that can match it and my niece and her husband have a couple of really good ones. No contest, my desktop smokes them both. And IF I ever do get another laptop or a notebook it WON'T be one from Dell. My mother bought a notebook from them some time back for her income tax work. She volunteered doing taxes with the AARP. It has a Celeron D dual processor. Slowest thing on the planet if you ask me. The US mail is faster. By the time it starts up and gets to the password screen my system is up, running, online, Firefox up and all tabs loaded and ready to go, easy. I've also worked on several Dell desktop systems. I'll never own one if I can help it. By the way, the Dell notebook? We still have it. It makes a great paper weight!
Save yourself all this trouble, and just switch to a Mac I got my first Mac about 6 years ago, and now can't stand any PC I've had to work on :P
On a more practical note, shouldn't operation on the forums have more to do with your internet browser rather than your OS? I would imagine that running a browser like Firefox or Google Chrome would avoid any of the issues with Internet Explorer, regardless of which version of Windows it came with.
-Tim
Good stuff, Dr. Gonzo. But what is God - mode? Admin, maybe? Just wondering in case I need to know.
- Harry
Get a new laptop/desktop and install Windows 7.
I'm also a computer geek, been working in IT for 15 years.
Me, along with all the other geeks, can't stand Windows 8.
Its made for touch screens, tablets. The GUI looks like its designed for a 3 year old, with all the big brightly colored icons. They took away the Start Button! Huh?
Microsoft's sales for Windows 8 is worse than there Vista sales. Go figure. Trying to shove it down everyone's throat and having the manufactures only providing Windows 8 on new machines is retarded.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyMicrosoft's sales for Windows 8 is worse than there Vista sales. Go figure. Trying to shove it down everyone's throat and having the manufactures only providing Windows 8 on new machines is retarded.