Running XP on an old laptop ?

Quigs Snr

Howdy, am heading off travelling for a few weeks and bringing a really old laptop, because (a) its a tiny IBM with 10" screen or something like that, so its light, and also (b)its old so I don't mind so much if I lose it !

So my question is... this lappie is weak, 128mb ram, windows xp on it (very slow to start but fine when running), with 20gb hd and a P3 800 Processor....

I want to wipe the O/S and start again. Ideally I would like to use XP again, possibly using nlite or something like that to take my existing XP disc for the machine and chop it to bits to try to get it running faster... anyone done anything like this before and if so how did it work ? any tips ?

Thanks,

Ghost Train

haven't used nlite but would be interested to know how you get on

only thing with the spec is the 128mb of ram, changing it to 256 or ideally 512 would make a noticable differance i think

Capt'n Midnight

You'll need a transferrable license

You won't be able to transfer an image unless the Machine type matches and even then you'll need to set the IDE controller to standard to avoid stop 07b's

128 / P3 800 - by an amazing concidence I put an XP image in an old Dell XPS, ok I swapped a drive into it, it was a desktop so would be a lot faster than the IBM, and it was just painful. I would not like to have to sit by it while installing

Windows 2000 would be a better bet, again you would need a transferrable license.

is it for internet use or off line use

Quigs Snr

Mostly used for Internet I reckon whilst on the road. I have a transferable XP license and a 2000 license, so I should be ok on that front (I don't know what nlite does to that).

New problem is that I have misplaced my adapter for the CDRW drive (external because its one of those Micro Machines !) It does have USB, so I am trying to get it booted from that. Might just get my adapter going and go the windows 2000 route maybe with an XP skin. Although I already have XP on it and its fine, slow to start but good when it gets going. I wonder could I cut it down in situ rather than doing a full re-install.

matt-dublin

i would go with 2000, it will perform better with that hardware spec.

Sean^DCT4

I take it none of you have heard of Windows XP Fundamentals.. ?
tut tut

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx

Microsoft wrote:

Microsoft Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, available exclusively to Microsoft Software Assurance customers, is a small-footprint Windows-based operating system solution designed for customers who have legacy computers running early operating systems and who are not in a position to purchase new hardware. This solution provides the same security and manageability as Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) while providing a smooth migration path to the latest hardware and operating system.

EDIT:
I forgot to mention that I have installed this on 2x Pentium3 800Mhz with 128MB RAM each and they both run smoothly.



Regards

Seany

matt-dublin

also in that doc:

Eligibility

For each Windows Client License covered under Software Assurance, you are entitled to install one copy of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs as the Windows Client License.

The following Volume Licensing programs are eligible for this benefit:


Select License Software Assurance Membership

Enterprise Agreement

Enterprise Subscription Agreement

Sean^DCT4

Don't shoot the messenger.. I'm just saying it's an option.

Also, let's not beat around the bush here.. The OP in question has a laptop and refers to using nLite.. I'm sure it's all legit if you catch my drift *wink wink*

Anyway, by far the best site for finding out information on how to use tools like nLite and other Unattended XP Disks is:
http://unattended.msfn.org [100% legal content]

Regards,

Seány

TerrorFirmer

Get another stick of ram to bring it to 256mb total, on adverts.ie or ebay mind, as you'll pay more then it's worth new. Then you're good to go. Running XP on 256mb is perfectly fine provided you aren't doing anything overly intensive. I've run XP on 128 and even 64mb of ram and found it usuable, after some initial slowness starting up. Win2000 in practice isn't actually much faster to be honest.

Even with 128mb of ram XP should be ok as long as you have all non essential services disabled on startup, and all effects turned off. Put on a basic theme as well. Make sure to run a spyware check to clear out any junk.

edit: definitely use Nlite too. If you're starting fresh.

Sean^DCT4

matt-dublin wrote: »

i would go with 2000, it will perform better with that hardware spec.

Just to point out too, Windows 2000 is probably the worst OS to load as it loads of unneccesary network services?

FYI:
Windows 2000 was targeted as a business orientated OS

matt-dublin

yes, but these can be disabled, and its "lighter" than xp on older machines. IMO

Quigs Snr

Right, just bumped it to 256mb (had an old stick lying about that I had forgotten about, along with a million other bits, one of the rare occasions where being a hoarder pays off). Running with standard XP Pro SP2, its now running sweet, even starting up very quickly, thanks to some heavy editing of the startup services, and use of Hijack this... plus uninstallation of a load of junk. So speed is no longer the issue.

Sean, I have legit copies of XP, my living depends on it, the use of nlite was proposed purely to create something that runs fast... and it would have used my own licensed XP files to do so ! No point now though with this thing motoring along nicely ! Thanks guys.

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.litepc.com/