best Windows OS for Pentium II laptop?

ignatz · 04-21-2004, 07:58 AM

I know this is a little random, but does anyone have an opinion about what OS I should put on an old PII laptop, 98 or NT? I just received a hand-me-down laptop that still works great. I'm going to let me wife use it to surf and do some basic work wirelessly and wonder whether 98 would be better for drivers (for the wireless networking) and such, or whether the inherent strength and stability of NT would be more appropriate.

Any opinions to help guide me in this?

Alexander Turcic · 04-21-2004, 03:32 PM

I think it depends on the available memory. If you can fit the notebook with at least 256Mb Ram, Windows 2000 might work even. I wouldn't go with Windows NT anymore, since, as you mentioned yourself, you will probably run into driver troubles. On the other hand, I am not fond of any Windows 9x-based system... so again, if you can, go with Windows 2000. --- Or try one of the free alternatives like Linux or Freebsd :P

ignatz · 04-21-2004, 03:59 PM

I think that I have 164 on it now. Currently having a hard time with the hard drive, may be broken, so it may not matter much.

Would love to go 2000 as I also despise the 9x series. And yah, been researching the wireless and I don't see any I like that support NT. Would love more to go Linux, but this will be mostly for my wife, and she's used to Windows and not too interested in a change. I'll have a look at reqs for 2000 if I can get this damn thing to work. Not even sure where the HD is! It's a Toshiba Satellite Pro, and I think the HD is buried inside, not easily accessible from the exterior. Have to open the whole sucker up! Thanks Alex, I'll let you know what I do...

ignatz · 04-22-2004, 07:53 AM

This poor old thing cannot handle more than 160 Megs of RAM, which is what it has now. Evidently the hard drive problems were just caused by a loose connection, because once I removed it and reinserted it, it started up just fine. It is running 2000 now! Long boot, but seems functional, and fast enough for a PII. However, the HD is only 2 gigs, and is pretty full... Looks like a project here!

Unregistered · 10-14-2005, 12:22 PM

Jst a thought here..Why not go with Windows ME? Unless you plan to upgrade the hard drive from 2gb to 30 or 40+ gb.

JAYMAN

Henrycat · 10-14-2005, 01:47 PM

I still use my old PII for some games and agree that windows ME ended up being my best choice.

ignatz · 10-14-2005, 02:16 PM

That's good to know; I would never have thought of it. I'll give it a try. I was working with Linux but I'm too much of a newb at it. Rather stick to what I know for now.

Henrycat · 10-14-2005, 04:57 PM

Don´t forget to use a disk backup tool to make an disk image to a restore dvd.

It's real handy to be able to install windows and all my goodies in 15 minutes

04-21-2004, 07:58 AM	#1
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	best Windows OS for Pentium II laptop? I know this is a little random, but does anyone have an opinion about what OS I should put on an old PII laptop, 98 or NT? I just received a hand-me-down laptop that still works great. I'm going to let me wife use it to surf and do some basic work wirelessly and wonder whether 98 would be better for drivers (for the wireless networking) and such, or whether the inherent strength and stability of NT would be more appropriate. Any opinions to help guide me in this?

10-14-2005, 12:22 PM	#5
Unregistered Nameless Being	JAYMAN! Jst a thought here..Why not go with Windows ME? Unless you plan to upgrade the hard drive from 2gb to 30 or 40+ gb. JAYMAN

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04-21-2004, 03:32 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I think it depends on the available memory. If you can fit the notebook with at least 256Mb Ram, Windows 2000 might work even. I wouldn't go with Windows NT anymore, since, as you mentioned yourself, you will probably run into driver troubles. On the other hand, I am not fond of any Windows 9x-based system... so again, if you can, go with Windows 2000. --- Or try one of the free alternatives like Linux or Freebsd :P

04-21-2004, 03:59 PM	#3
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	I think that I have 164 on it now. Currently having a hard time with the hard drive, may be broken, so it may not matter much. Would love to go 2000 as I also despise the 9x series. And yah, been researching the wireless and I don't see any I like that support NT. Would love more to go Linux, but this will be mostly for my wife, and she's used to Windows and not too interested in a change. I'll have a look at reqs for 2000 if I can get this damn thing to work. Not even sure where the HD is! It's a Toshiba Satellite Pro, and I think the HD is buried inside, not easily accessible from the exterior. Have to open the whole sucker up! Thanks Alex, I'll let you know what I do...

04-22-2004, 07:53 AM	#4
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	This poor old thing cannot handle more than 160 Megs of RAM, which is what it has now. Evidently the hard drive problems were just caused by a loose connection, because once I removed it and reinserted it, it started up just fine. It is running 2000 now! Long boot, but seems functional, and fast enough for a PII. However, the HD is only 2 gigs, and is pretty full... Looks like a project here!

10-14-2005, 01:47 PM	#6
Henrycat Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 1146 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pernes. A small village in Portugal. Device: Kindle Voyage	I still use my old PII for some games and agree that windows ME ended up being my best choice.

10-14-2005, 02:16 PM	#7
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	That's good to know; I would never have thought of it. I'll give it a try. I was working with Linux but I'm too much of a newb at it. Rather stick to what I know for now.

10-14-2005, 04:57 PM	#8
Henrycat Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 1146 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pernes. A small village in Portugal. Device: Kindle Voyage	Don´t forget to use a disk backup tool to make an disk image to a restore dvd. It's real handy to be able to install windows and all my goodies in 15 minutes

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