Just installed XP in my computer...

And being a relative noob at this OS, I thought of you guys first.

First thing I did was install AVG free, the second was bookmark this site, and the 3rd was connect to my printer on my so called Server (file server, BBS, printer server) on an old 200Mhz K6/2 system.

I haven't given up Win98SE, since I use removable HD bays I just built up a new 500Gig HD bay and installed XP Pro on it. I couldn't really afford the 500 Gig disk, but Fry's had them on sale for $119, and plastic isn't real money, is it? The XP install disk was a Christmas gift I had kicking around, and I was saving it for a large disk. Win98SE 137Gig limitation rankles a bit, although I like the OS OK.

I still need to install my sound drivers and AIW drivers for the Radeon 8500 I'm using. This I am pretty confident in being able to do, this is not the first XP OS I've installed.

Oh yeah, I switched from FAT32 to NTFS. I have no real clue why this is desirable, but noteing that Win2000 does this automatically and hanging around here I gather this was a Good Thing to do. Any answers why?

I also discovered the fans I thought I had installed on the older drive bays were a figment of my imagination, so I'll do that this weekend.

My real question is, what's next? I turned off the automatic update, not being a fan of WPA, and the installation CD says it includes SP2 (so was that part of the install?). I've seen several posts how to disable WPA and leave the automatic updates, if someone could leave a link I'd appriciate it.

This computer is sitting behind a pretty decent router, that is both wired and wireless. Since XP kinda passes for a modern setup I guess I need to install a decent firewall. Again, a link is fine.

Actually, the first thing I did was move my screen to the classic modes, so things are where I'm comfortable with them. For a while I'll be moving back and forth between my XP and 98SE disks, I suspect I'll eventually move into this new environement (with an occasional bout of cussing).

 

Thanks!

I've a paid subscription to Webroots Spy Scanner, so after I get settle in a bit more comfortable I'll install it. I learned a long time ago to turn off fastfind in Win98, guess some things never change.

 

The only two I can answer Bill are:-

Firewall - I reccomend Zone Alarm its free get it from here(dunno why the links so long!)
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US〈=en

Also i reccomend leaving updates on, or do it manually every few days at the MS web site.

Im sure one of the real pros will answer you better and the rest I couldnt.

 

Sorry about that, I have had SS longer than I've been active here. Have I mentioned my boy?!? He has educated me in ways I never wanted to learn. I am not a malware expert, but I am definately in the advanced catagories.

You guys have a donate here link? The way I use this site is as a real resource, and I've been pushing it to anyone who'll listen.