Dump Windows ME

Hello all.

I was given an ancient laptop in the hopes that I could get it up and running well enough that my kids (4, 7 & 10) can use it to access their simple online programs (Reading Eggs. Starfall) and to watch DVDs and type in MSWord. The case says Toshiba Satellite.

However, it is running Windows ME and IE 5.5. So, the internet based programs won't work. I have a D-Link Wireless adapter to use to connect to our home wireless network.

After fooling around with it to attempt to get stable internet access, I have, apparently, created a situation where the system is unstable and will not even boot normally. Really - I didn't do much other than delete old printer drivers and add the D-Link drivers.

So - what I am wondering - can I wipe the hard drive in some way and load Windows XP? I do have the boot disks that came with a now not-running Acer Aspire desktop that our downtown independent computer shop sold us preloaded with Windows XP about 6-7 years ago. Is this a legal use of a program that I had to pay for, since I will still only be running it on a single system (just not the one it was originally loaded on to)? And will the Acer disks work in the Toshiba?

Thanks a bunch!

 

I would doubt that computer would be able to run XP. You could try going into safe mode by pressing F8 at boot and undo what you did to see if it helps. I think ME had a system restore feature. You may be able to access that in safe mode and take it back to a date before the changes.

If the above fails try and find a Windows 98SE disk with key. I think this machine would even have a hard time running linux unless it was DSL or Puppy.

 

Unfortunately, software restore disks that came with another make or model of PC will not work in your ancient one.

In most cases, Microsoft embeds a code in the restore disks that checks if the PC you're trying to install the disc on matches the make/model it came with. If it doesn't match, it won't load.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news; however I hope this answer helps.

 

Thanks GMan and TGel.

I was able to do a safe mode start up and after doing a selective start up it seems to be at least functioning.

I am not really quite sure what to do with a system running ME when everything seems designed for XP or 7. It seems a shame to just send it off to recycling and buy the kids something new (and bigger/faster than they need).

Is is possible to upgrade just the IE from 5.5? Or will Firefox run on ME?
I know that I can't get CCleaner to load on this old OS and I can't get my spyware programs to update (Although, obviously that doesn't matter if they aren't online!).

I suppose I just need someone to develop a line of computers or tablets designed for small kids - like a durable, but basic laptop or iPad.

Thanks again for your help. Your prompt and helpful replies are very much appreciated by this busy mom.

 

I would delete anything in a "Temp" folder. You probably have a lot of junk files on the computer. C:\WINDOWS\TEMP and c:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files are a good place to start.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article...orary-files-and-folders-in-windows-98/5030772

You can do a search for *.tmp files and see how many there are. Also clean out the recycle bin.

Also you can use the Disk Cleanup Utility included with ME.

It's under Programs>Accessories>System Tools

 

Re: Dump Windows ME - to Linux Mint?

I hope that revisiting this thread is the way to go versus starting a new thread.

Since it would appear that I will not be able to update the ME on this ancient laptop to XP, I am wondering about eliminating Windows altogether and running a Linux OS.
It would have to be a USB based install of some sort as I do not have a working burning drive attached to an internet connected computer. The old laptop has a DVD drive, but my ancient desktop has a CD-rom drive that will only read not burn (can't figure out why, but it was a "gift" to us as well, so I didn't question). My only other functioning computer is a netbook - of course, without any form of optical drive.

Granted, I know nothing about Linux. I simply want to be able to let my kids use this computer to access basic things on the net (PBSkids.org, etc.) and do some word processing. I also thought about possibly allowing them to use it to watch DVDs - although the speakers seem somewhat fried and no DVDs will currently play without stalling repeatedly.

Yup - it is a piece of garbage that we were given, however the current family budget does not have sufficient wiggle room to buy them something better. So - I'm trying to make do.

Again, thank you for your help & support.

 

I'd say try it with a USB flash drive running Puppy linux. That will let it get online with Firefox web browser. You can see if it can access the sites they want to use and/or connect to their games. If that works then you can worry about setting up Open Office or Office Libre that would be free versions of word processing programs.

Live Linux USB Creator can format an empty USB flash drive with Puppy Linux for testing purposes. It is a five step process.

Install the program on your netbook.
Insert a USB flash drive which can be completely erased so it should have no files you care about--copy anything you need on the stick back to the HD.
Start the program.
Step 1 is just selecting the USB flash drive. Make sure you have the correct drive letter.
Step 2 is choosing a linux distro. So choose Download and then from the dropdown choose Puppy Lucid 5.28 (fairly far down the list) then Automatic for the download type.
Step 3 is Persistence which will be Built in so it can be skipped.
Step 4 is the three check boxes. Tick box 1 and 2 and leave the third for Enable in Windows unticked.
Step 5 is click on the lightening bolt to begin formatting and installing on the USB drive.

Then boot the laptop from the USB.

****
It just occurred to me but depending on how ancient the laptop is it may not boot from USB. See if there is an exact model number on a white tag on the bottom of the notebook and post it if there is.
***
Also, it appears that FF 2.0 will work on ME, might be worth a try http://www.oldapps.com/firefox.php?old_firefox=13?download

 

I was thinking Puppy too, so easy to use and so undemanding of resources. But I can't see any way to install it to a hard drive without booting it first from a CD, so it's a catch 22. I would also think it very unlikely that that old machine will boot from USB but there is a way around that. I boot Puppy from a flash drive on a comp that can't boot USB by using Grub4DOS as bootloader, and Grub4DOS can be installed from Wary Puppy. But again we first need to get a bootable CD, so mommysews, could a friend d/load and burn a CD for you?

There is another consideration - because of the ancient gpu, DVD performance may be unacceptable, so if that's important then that machine may not meet your needs whatever OS you may install.