Is this a sign that I should stop using Windows?

[Pool Hall Ace]

I got a message that there were Windows updates available, so I opened up Internet Explorer and tried to go to the Microsoft site.

The thing is, I couldn't go there, or anyplace else, using Internet Explorer. I've been using Firefox for a few months, and I like it, so I have no reason to use IE except to pick up the Windows updates.

So should I just download the latest version of IE and pick up the Windows updates? Or is this a sign that I shouldn't use Windows anymore?

[reprobate]

1. It's a sign from the Big Mac in the sky that window's era is fading.

I have a small form factor PC that I speced and built myself that has sat in the closet since I got my iMac eight months ago. I simply have found no reason to turn it on.

OS X is so much more stable than windows and runs on machines that are much slower than windows requires. And if you think XP is resource hungry, just wait for longhorn.

One thing I DO NOT miss is the registry. No more need to clean, weed and fertilize the registry. OS X doesn't use it. Rather the information the registry maintains is kept in separate files called preference lists, and each program has it's own, kept in something called the Library.

You also don't need uninstaller programs to remove a OS X program. You simply drag it to the trash and it's gone.

Sorry. Didn't mean to proselytize. I'm just so pleased with computing now that I'm not subject to the vagaries and fragility of windows amy more. All I can say it try it, you'll like it.

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. Oh, no need to apologize for proselytizing.

I know there are many reasons that OS X is better, and you just gave me a few more. I'm always open to that.

And as far as XP? I'm still using the first computer I ever purchased, which runs Windows 98. :blush:

[hobbit709]

3. Internet Exploder could be set

"Work Offline'. If it is, it won't connect. Nothing really wrong with 98 if you understand its quirks and know how to work around them, but yes there are better OS's around. I alternate between 98, 2000, Suse 9.2 and and Ubuntu 5.1. Each has some advantages over the other but each also has limitations. No one OS is perfect, it's just a matter of what works best for your needs. Depending on what I'm doing on the computer determines what system I use. Any one of mine does about 95% of what I need but it's not the same 95% on each one. Occasionally I even boot up an old clunker and run DOS 6.2 just to keep my hand in.

[democracyindanger]

4. So is your problem with 98 or XP?

'Cause Windows 98 is so...1998. I don't think Microsoft does much update or support for it anymore.

[Pool Hall Ace]

5. The problems is with 98.

So I guess it's time to update the OS.

[democracyindanger]

6. Pretty much

you can get XP OEM cheap at newegg.com. Check the hardware requirements though, just to be sure that your 98 computer can run it.

[FormerDittoHead]

7. Alternative to Windows Update...

http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/index.html

There is at least one other website like this as well - the one I saw on tv had its own small program which detected the needed updates, told the host website which ones you needed, etc. - It was on "Call for Help" so I'm thinking it's OK. Let us know how (what) you did...

[Pool Hall Ace]

8. Well shoot, the downloads won't work for me.

The dang hourglass just gets hung up. :-(

[Berserker]

9. Have you tried to uninstall

IE and reinstall it? http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
I use 98se and I refuse to use XP.
Next computer will have Linux.
Moving up to XP using the term loosely is like trading for a bigger pile of shit.

[Pool Hall Ace]

10. I haven't tried that; I was wondering about that.

I don't know that much about computers, and I was concerned that if I did an uninstall/reinstall, I would somehow turn the computer to toast.

I love the shit pile comparison! :rofl:

[Berserker]

11. Do you have these

programs installed? If not you should check them out they are free and VERY needed to keep the garbage off your machine.
Spybot S&D...http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
Ad-Aware SE...http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html
CrapCleaner...http://www.ccleaner.com/
SpywareBlaster...http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
You already seem to know better than to use IE for surfing so you may already have these.

[Pool Hall Ace]

12. I do have Spybot, Adaware, and CrapCleaner.

I don't have SpywareBlaster, so I'll check it out, thanks.

:thumbsup: