Upgrade from Win XP to Win2k...

[Peccavi]

At last...
I upgarded my os from Win XP SP2 to Win2k SP4 Prof.
What are your recommendations (especially Fed)

[Fed]

Welcome back Peccavi.

Get the rest of the Windows updates.
Sygate Firewall Version 5.5 Build 2710.
AVG + 2 antispyware programs all running in real time.
I like to mix this up a bit, right now I'm using Spybot Resident and Prevex as an Intrusion Prevention System.
Real Alternative instead of the Realplayer virus.
Foxit PDF Reader instead of the Adobe Acrobat virus.
Ccleaner & Everest.
I use the Google Toolbar in IE for the quick search function.

My current IE setup is below, it looks involved but it's really very simple.

1. Start
2. Settings
3. Control Panel
4. Internet Options
5. Security tab
6. Reset all 4 security zones to Default
 
1. Start
2. Settings
3. Control Panel
4. Internet Options
5. Privacy
6. Advanced
7. Restore 1 Default button
 
1. Start
2. Settings
3. Control Panel
4. Internet Options
5. Advanced
6. Restore 1 Default button

You may need to do the following as well
  
1. Start
2. Settings
3. Control Panel
4. Internet Options
5. General tab
6. Remove cookies, temporary files and history

Then the good part...

IE>Tools>Internet Options>Security>Internet>Custom Level

ActiveX controls & plug-ins
Download signed ActiveX controls
Download unsigned ActiveX controls
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins
Initialize and run ActiveX controls and plug-ins not
marked as safe
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting
Set these to Disable
 
 
Microsoft VM
Java permissions
Set this to High Safety
 

Miscellaneous
Access data sources across domains
Allow META REFRESH
Display Mixed Content
Installation of desktop items
Launching programs and files in an IFRAME
Navigate sub-frames across different domains
Userdata persistence
Set these to Disable


Scripting
Active scripting
Scripting of Java programs
Allow paste operations via script
Set these to Disable
 
 
User Authentication
Logon
Set this to Prompt for user name and password
 
    
EI>Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced
Tick 'Overide automatic cookie handling'
Block to suit your needs (I block 1st & 3rd)
Tick Session Cookies


IE>Tools>Internet Options>Security>Trusted Sites>Sites
Untick the 'Server Verification' box
Type in your trusted address as below
  *.computerhope.com
Press the Add button
Do this for trusted sites to enjoy the IE experience.

[Peccavi]

Just Wunderbar! Nothing else...
thanks.

[Fed]

Disable all unnecessary services and startup programs then you will have a Ferrari.
If you wish to further increase the speed of your new Ferrari, disable Spybot & Prevex and replace them with Winpatrol for realtime spyware protection.

[GX1_Man]

The best upgrade possible. Right, Fed?  

[Fed]

Microsoft are yet to improve on W2K so I'm keeping it until they do.
A question GX1_Man, do you think Peccavi should create a lowly guest/user account for normal use, along the lines of Linux?
I don't bother but I'm a thrillseeker.

[GX1_Man]

No, I don't either on the W2K box, but I  use all the usual protective measures required for safe computing.  

[Peccavi]

Disable all unnecessary services and startup programs then you will have a Ferrari.

Right, I forgot it. It's already fast. How have I been so long on XP ?

Linux also will be with me too. I am on the way towards Linux. I am afraid to get hooked by Linux and forget W2K. What do you think GX, is it  addictive?

[Fed]

The real downside of Linux is the lack of games.

[Computer Hope Admin]

Nice post Fed.  

There is still a lot of support that Linux needs, but it is getting better every day. Wine (http://www.winehq.com/) is getting a lot of support and does allow for a lot of games to work, but often it seems a lot of the newest games either have no support or require lots of tweaking to get to work. Especially after a game patch.

I'm also running 2k as my primary work machine. But have no complaints with XP either, which is running on this computer I'm on now.

[GX1_Man]

Yes, if you're a gamer Windows is best for wIndows games (generally). For anything else you do not need Windows. That's why i usually recommennd at leastg a dual boot for everyone. It gives you time to learn but if you relapse, Bill's OS is there.

There is a learning curve, but there was one to Windows as well. Most of us have forgotten that part.  ::)You do no need to be a command line specialist, but you can be with linux. Some people like that, some not, so distributions have a graphical interface as well. Linspire requires NO command line to ever function and is the most Windows-like, while Slackware is much more manual, and is a learninng experience.

[Computer Hope Admin]

Often dual booting is to much for users, especially if they already have Windows installed and don't want to have to erase their data or have a potential data corruption. A great recommendation for users wanting to play and learn about Linux is getting KNOPPIX, it's a bootable CD (or can be a 2GB DVD) with a linux distro and is a great learning tool and does nothing to your hard disk drive.

http://www.knoppix.org/

Easier to find download:

Linux distro ISO downloads:
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/knoppix/

[GX1_Man]

I recommend them all the time.

The downside is that people think that Linux is "slow" without taking into account that is running from a CD rather than a fast hard drive, missing the fact that Windows could not do it at all at any speed!