Member Avatar for MAD_DOG

It's been a long time since I used Windows 9x systems. Hell I was on WinNT back in those days but I think if your on any of these systems it is time to upgrade big time stop waiting stop getting problems after problems.

There really is no different from Windows 98 to 2000 or XP.
People say stuff but it's all BS. Now if you have software that you got custom made for you and you need Windows 98 fine. But otherwise everything else is the same dont be scared moving to Windows XP same stuff expect you dont have to restart the computer every day & every hour. You dont have to sit and watch your computer go to Blue Screen mode lol.

It's been about 5-6 years since the last 9x OS was made. Now 5 years in technology is like 40 years in human life. It's time do the move even MS stopped supporting those OS's expect I believe Windows ME. Anywho that is my two cents.

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This thread frames the classic choice between keeping a vintage 9x box for compatibility and moving forward. ’s push to modernize, ’s point about 9x being lightweight, and ’s pointer to alternatives cover the broad arguments; the material below fills practical gaps with a short, actionable migration plan and safe alternatives.

A concise upgrade checklist:

  • Inventory critical items: list apps (note 16‑bit installers), printers/scanners, modem/serial devices, and any hardware that lacks vendor support.
  • Preserve data and licenses: export mail and browser bookmarks, copy user folders, and record product keys or license files.
  • Test compatibility before committing: try a fresh OS on a spare drive or partition, or boot a live environment to confirm network and driver support.
  • Decide the path: full clean install of a newer OS, dual‑boot, or isolate legacy needs in a virtual machine.

Key migration steps and troubleshooting tips:

  • Prefer a clean install to avoid leftover drivers and registry problems. Install chipset, network, and video drivers first so updates and downloads are possible.
  • Expect some 16‑bit installers and drivers to fail; identify those up front. For stubborn hardware, check vendor driver archives or consider replacement peripherals with modern driver support.
  • Create a full image of the 9x drive before any change so rollback is immediate if needed. If blue screens or driver failures appear, use Safe Mode to remove problematic drivers.

Safe alternatives for legacy apps:

  • Virtualize the old environment (VMware/VirtualBox) to run legacy software while the host stays patched. For DOS games/utilities, DOSBox is the lowest‑effort option.
  • If a physical 9x machine must remain, isolate it from the network and restrict its use to offline legacy tasks to minimize security risk.

This approach preserves legacy capability without accepting ongoing instability and security exposure.

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Member Avatar for Tekmaven

Glad to see ya Jimmy! WB!

Windows 9x still has its uses. 9x kernel requires very little ram, and can be shrunk down to very small sizes.

But your right, the advantages of 2000 and XP are enourmous. However, 2000 and XP have some requirements ;-). In my experience, 2000 and XP will basically run on anything you throw at it, providing its a Pentium and has more then 64mb of RAM.

2000 and XP love RAM. The more you give it, the happier you will be.

Member Avatar for )BIG"B"Affleck

(side note) If your using M E your a loser
(suggestion) If your updating to M$ XP your about to shill out

  • $ 99.00 XP Home
  • $ 189.00 XP Pro Upgrade
  • If you want to take a learning curve & gain OS's for free
    www.LinuxISO.org
commented: Linux in a 9x Forum? Are you looking to start a flamewar? -7
Member Avatar for Tekmaven

Lets stop the fight before it starts. Feel free to take this to a PM, but we only want friendly chat, and this has flamewar all over it. Topic Closed.

Tekmaven

commented: I think you should just ban him. Disallow all rights to the forum, and just plain get rid of BigBAffleck. Hell, .htaccess his ass, that'd put a stop to his idiocy. Let him troll elsewhere. +31
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