Aqua-Soft ForumsI'm having a bit of trouble downgrading an old laptop with XP to ME. Does anyone have some tips on how to help me do this?
Downgrading To Me From Xp
I hate to act like an ass...but why? ME had to be the worst M$ OS, why would you want to downgrade XP to ME?!
// Lou
Originally posted by Lou@Aug 29 2004, 12:36 AMI hate to act like an ass...but why? ME had to be the worst M$ OS, why would you want to downgrade XP to ME?!
// Lou
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exactly >.<
The most obvious reason is speed...he's trying to make an "old" laptop work more efficiently by installing an OS that requires less resources. The only thing I can think of is reformatting and installing ME from there.
if you're using NTFS in XP, you will have to reformat as FAT or FAT32, ME doens't support NTFS
you'd think that josh would know that ME is worse than XP. if he's asking how to do it don't be a tard and act like it's such a horrible ordeal.
You could install win98se... better than me and it will be good for your old notebook.
Windows Me has too many unresolved issues to be a viable, stable OS. Google Windows Me help and you'll see what I mean. A BETTER IDEA would be to custom tailor Windows XP to the bare minimum, then install the customized version on your laptop. How do you cut away the XP fat? Try nLite, from MSFN.
For example, stripping out unecessary WinXP utilities, many of which are auto installed with the standard load procedure, can trim a 500+mb XP iso down to 250Mb! Features such as themes, system restore and other such bloat can be easily removed. This makes for a smaller footprint and a snappier, less resource intense OS.
Make certain to read through the FAQ and the nLite forum before you just pull out any old section of WinXP.
If you aren't that brave, pick up Windows2000. It is lighter than WinXP, very useful for less powerful systems, and can read NTFS. Not to mention, its VERY stable (my last Win2000 machine ran over 2 years without a re-install).
Good luck. Just remember if you choose ME, you're also choosing the headaches and wasted downtime that comes with such a patchwork, incomplete OS.
The laptop is not mine. It's my boss's. All he plays is solitare so ME will be just fine. If I wanted to know what would work best on a aold laptop, I would of asked that.
Ok, wait a few secs Ill post a toturial. I think it will work 
ok I hope this will work,
NOTE : If your file system is not NTFS then skip to step 3.
#1. Right Click on my computer and click manage. Then click manage disks.
#2. Creat a new partition for windows ME, not bigger then 2 GB cause that is
the limit for FAT.
#3. Start the windows ME installer, and you will get a little windows from XP
telling you not to downgrade.
#4. Press Alt+Ctrl+Delete to open the task manager and click on "processes".
#5. See the process called AHUI.EXE ? That is the process that is preventing
you from upgrading. Kill it.
NOTE : Skip the rest if you didnt have XP installed on NTFS
#6. Now the little windows should have disapeared and you can continue
installing windows ME.
#7. Once it is done, get all the data off the NTFS partition where WindowsXP
was installed. Then format the NTFS and split it into 2 GB partitions and format
all of them in FAT.
Done !
Hope this helpes,
ifido.
Oh, also, once you are in Windows ME you wont have the XP disk
partitioning tool, you will have to get an app like partitionmagic
or just the ms-dos "FDISK.EXE" will be fine.
Dude, there's an edit button.
Use it, and don't triple-post.
I concur, XP -> ME is not a good idea at all.
Either go with XP -> 98SE or XP -> 2000. Both are excellent OSes.
Minimalist ? 
Originally posted by XJOSHATTACKX@Aug 29 2004, 03:25 PMThe laptop is not mine. It's my boss's. All he plays is solitare so ME will be just fine. If I wanted to know what would work best on a aold laptop, I would of asked that.
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Then, dig ME and downgrade to NT4 Service Pack 6.
Runs OK on 16 MB RAM, 166 MHz and up. Really flies on 128 MB and 200 MHz.
Accepts IE6 and the desktop enhancement.
If the laptop is of Pentium II class with 266 MHz or faster, use Windows 2000.
You can't seriously bother a BOSS with a kids toy operating system (LOL).
Advantage on both is that you can keep NTFS.
thx for the nLite link deadzombie. Oh, and I hope you figure it out josh.
from experience, ME sucks. 98 is way better.
on my laptop, pentium 2, it crashed every 2 minuetes and when i started printing.
Originally posted by XJOSHATTACKX@Aug 29 2004, 02:25 PMThe laptop is not mine. It's my boss's. All he plays is solitare so ME will be just fine. If I wanted to know what would work best on a aold laptop, I would of asked that.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Then just buy him a pack of cards!
two posts that actually answered to question, the rest of you suck ass
Originally posted by Photo678@Sep 1 2004, 03:34 PMtwo posts that actually answered to question, the rest of you suck ass
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well from this post we can be rest assured that you contributed to this thread. really though...come on. and josh, i wish i could help ya, it just doesn't sound good starting off anyways.
// Lou