Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
by Microsoft Software
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Software Reviews of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
Customer Review: Dreadful
Summary: 1 Stars
In its early years, this operating system was one of the most unsatisfactory I have ever used --- including DOS, Win 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows 98.
Aside from being incompatible with older hardware, XP Home Edition crashed frequently --- especially if you often work with several windows open at once as I do. This was particularly unhelpful. As a writer, I was forced to save documents no less than once for each new sentence, and at touchy moments, literally every few words.
Most important, the program is highly susceptible to viruses and hackers. Preventing these two problems requires expensive add-on software and hardware.
True enough, the built-in firewall OUGHT to work. But in my case, hackers got in anyway -- four times in six months. With this software, I suffered repeated break ins, the last of which cost me some primary data and several of my original poems. Even installing service pack 2 did not help.
After the last go-round, I was forced to hire an expensive data recovery guru --- another story in itself --- but was still unable to recover everything lost.
Throughout this six-month nightmare, I repeatedly reinstalled the XP program, including, more than once, service pack 2. That, however, didn't plug the security leaks. My computer was completely compromised. In the end, I had to junk the machine all together.
In my experience, Mac and Linux operating systems are both far superior.
Now I've got one Windows machine --- a laptop purchased in early 2007 at or around the release of Service Pack 3 --- to run a BioFeedback program whose authors, unfortunately, had not created a Linux version.
Admittedly, Microsoft's final XP service pack seems to have plugged XP's most serious security holes. Still, after my dreadful experience with XP Home Edition, I forever swore off Windows as my primary operating system. Microsoft operating systems remain magnets for viruses and hackers --- to say nothing of endless bugs and technical issues --- and eons of otherwise unnecessary computer security checks and maintenance.
Customer Review: So far so good
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this product for about a month. Decided to actually give in and buy a legit upgrade. I know I know, I suck for not doing it sooner. I had windows 2000 and just never wanted to waste money on a real upgrade. I'm glad I did though. All those bugs that I didn't get the benefit of fixing with a real copy of windows are now gone. My system runs so much smoother and I am so glad I finally made the switch. I got this edition pretty cheap and it does everything i need it to. My computer has yet to mess up *knock on wood*. If you are looking to upgrade, and are looking to do it pretty cheap, I definitely think this is the way to go! This is an upgrade, so you do need to be running windows already on your cpu for this to work.Customer Review: Revgoose
Summary: 4 Stars
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition UPGRADE with SP2 I'm very pleased with the quality of this product and the speedy response to my order. I'm updating an older laptop from Windows 98SE and a desktop computer with the same version to Windows XP Home Edition UPGRADE.Customer Review: How long will it live?
Summary: 4 Stars
Microsoft is trying to kill off Windows XP, but with the non-acceptance of Vista, it will live on for some time. Eventually MS will cut the cord on support, but until then, this is s fine operating system.Customer Review: Can be a great upgrade.
Summary: 3 Stars
I have an older Dell Dimension 4100 Pentium III (800 MHZ) with 128 MB RAM, 30 Gigs, and Windows ME. I decided to try the upgrade as fewer and fewer things are ME compatible, and my computer was still working great. My first try, I lost everything on my hard drive - you can't always restore to what you had, contrary to what the guide tells you. I would say if you are going to do this, first do a fresh install of Windows ME, then install XP before any add on drivers. The second try (with a fresh Windows ME install) went much better. The only problem I had was that when I would go to stand-bye or hybernate, the system ended up having to recover from a serious error. The problem was my video card - a Nvidia Riva TNT 64 (32MB). It is not compatible with Windows XP, and none of the driver updates would help. Other than that, things worked pretty well.
I decided to install a different video card. Found a used Winfast Geforce4 TI4200 (64MB) AGP video card on E-Bay for $14 with shipping. I also decided to upgrade my RAM from 128 MB to 384 MB by adding 256 SDRAM ($25 new) in the open slot. I had never even opened a case before, but the installation of each went very well (be sure to use a static strap).
Now, I couldn't be happier with my computer, and the XP upgrade! Since XP doesn't require anywhere near as much RAM as Vista to operate(1000 MB minimum rec.), 384 MB is very fast. I'm actually planning on upping to the maximum I can of 512 MB RAM. The system is now very stable - haven't had a single problem since the mods! Surfing with multiple windows open while simultaneously synching my Zune, or listening to music is no problem! I'm figuring that I should be able to get at least another few years out of my computer.
I would say if you are thinking about doing the XP add on, first run a check ahead of time to see what compatibility issues you may have (Microsoft has a free on-line check). It CAN be a great way to squeeze a few more years out of an older computer, but there may be some complications which take some time and effort to solve. If you are even slightly mechanically inclined, your older computer is working well, and you don't want to be part of the "throw away" society, I would say to go for the upgrade. After the modifications, I'm extremely pleased with the results - they definitely exceeded my expectations! For how I use my computer, it is just as fast as most brand new computers!
It is probably a good idea to spend a few extra dollars, and get the stand-alone version, and not the upgrade to decrease the hassle, and likelihood of errors.
I gave it three stars because of the initial compatibility problems. After performing the upgrades (now have 512 RAM), I would give it five stars.