pet disappeared

[john walker's workshop]

oh,oh, i installed windows xp yesterday, and the pet program won't work. crap! a window comes up saying it's not properly registered when i click on the old icon. has anyone successfully used pet (unauthorized version) on XP? kinda wish i had left windows 98.

[Doug Zielke]

John,
I'm not a 'puter man at all, but the last couple of evenings I've been trying to help my neighbor with his XP. Mainly, it's been a real pain getting the drivers going.

But...the system is also giving him the same kind of warnings about some of his "borrowed" programs (non-Microsoft) that you got with the PET. I'm going to try loading my PET copy on his machine to-night and see what happens. (I think I'm starting to dislike Billy Gates.)

[Joeaksa]

John,

I have heard of a lot of people who are having XP problems. Many of them have to "reset" the computer by calling Seattle and sitting on hold for hours before some tech weenie tells them the code.

If you look on the internet you will find several places where you can download a "crack" for XP that may help you. I am not sure if this is the problem but it would be a good idea to get this anyway. After all, you paid for the program and its legal (right?) so you are only eliminating the wait time on the phone. Let me know if you want to find out where to download this.

Drivers are always a problem on any new OS (operating system) as our worthless friend Billy Gates refuses to turn loose with the code in time for the suppliers to work out drivers in time for the programs sale. This happened with 2000 as well and one of the reasons why I am still using W98SE!

Let the computer techies "debug" the new OS when it comes out, and buy it after the first SP (service pack) comes out and corrects most of the bugs that MS should have corrected in the first place!

You might want to try to re-install PET and see if it works, otherwise you have been trapped. XP is a brand new OS and lots of programs may not work, forever on some, and after patches have been done on others, so its worth letting someone else debug them first.

[emcon5]

I am a computer geek, and I completely agree with Joeaksa. We do not support either Windows XP or Office XP where I work. Let other business be the guinea pigs. In 6 months, when there are a few hot fixes, and maybe a service pack, plus a decent knowledge base to deal with problems, we will take another look. I have 98SE at home, and it has been pretty stable, and all my devices and software works.

That being said, I have read some stuff on Win XP, and a reinstall may make it work. As I understand it, WinXP looks to see if software or device drivers are "signed", or certified to work with XP. I think when you install it, it should warn you that it is not signed, and ask if you want to install anyway.

As to the "not registered" thing, I doubt it means registered as in licensed. It probably means an entry in the Windows Registry, which is sort of a database of how programs are supposed to work. Reinstalling may fix this.

Someone with more XP experience may be able to help more.

Tom

[Doug Zielke]

OH, OH....the dreaded "Moved" topic has hit us!
Lot's of busy Moderators doing their "thing".

Anyway....
John, I just tried to install my PET CD on the neighbors xp-equipped box.
NO GO!
Tried it twice..same result.
Think I'll be stickin' with my ol' WIN-95

[Ron,K]

John,

I've installed XP and Pet CD is working fine. You might try reinstalling Pet and see if that helps. You also might try installing XP as a new installation vs. an upgrade. Just be sure to backup any files, pcitures, software, etc. that you want to keep because it will be deleted during the install.

Good Luck
Ron

[patalive]

I would advise those of you seeking a more stable platform to find a copy of Windows 2000 Professional - It is based on Windows NT. As you know, WinXP is essentially Win2k but with jazzed up interface and incorporates other features(?) that lock you to MS and lets them know more about you. XP is also a memory HOG. -

Win2000 has been around for several years and has two service packs out now. I have had no driver nor software compatibility problems. And besides, you don't have XP's new restriction of one program/one machine. I have my one version of Win2k running on three boxes. Screw Gates!
Chuck

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

XP is able to install on a new partition and then you have a dual boot system.

Yet wait for the first service pack for XP as it has to much bugs right now.
( I made some installations and Network under XP is very interessting )

I hope windows will keep the windows 2000 supportet. I still need some drivers for things only runing under 98SE ( Forget ME it is worser then runing win 98 or 95a ).


To install non microsoft approved software you have to work with the MMC ( Microsoft Managment Console ). They have a tool to migrate "old" software.


John the best is to backup all data and deinstall XP or just make format C: setup.exe. Hope you have more then one drive.
If you want Contact me for band aid fixes.

Grüsse

[Doug Zielke]

Hey John,
I'll drive down to shoot the $hit, have a couple of beers with ya....and then we can go over to Redmond and kick lil' Billy's arse!

[john walker's workshop]

OK doug, i know where he lives. good news is that a friend re-installed pet and it works. yippee! after you get used to using that program, you can't live without it. also downloaded a driver to get the camera card reader working again, although an error message comes up when i boot. also had to delete the old AOL folders for 5.0 and 6.0 before the 7.0 would stay in the system and not default back to 5.0 when reactivating AOL. i'm sure other pitfalls await. thanks for the help.

[Bill Verburg]

My PET is running perfectly with XP

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

I think the whole world knows where BG lives. Just a small hut on a hill.

( Hey there is a Beatles song )
We also know that he knows, likes, loves ? Porsche and owns several.
Maybe John can push him into a secound Seinfeld position.
BG loves art ( and owns nearly all picture rights worldwide personaly ).

Just call and try to trade a 959 Oil Service into the oportunity for him to have real world XP expierieance. No filter, real life, direct contact.

( This is what he once told in a interview in gemany asked for the thing he is missing most in his position )

I also remeber that Microsoft and AOL have some little "fights" and SB said AOL isn´t a enemy, just a other company with overlaping interessts.

You will not find any AOL support on MS Operationsystems and some hooks for non MS programs as well.

Keeps many informatic people in buisness.

Grüsse

[Doug Zielke]

Update....

Late last night, we finally managed to get the PET CD loaded and operational. Not being 'puter types, we don't actually know what we did to get it going. Mostly, we just kept trying and trying until something gave in (or up).

As for myself, I have no need for the latest, greatest of anything! I'll be sticking to my completely de-bugged Win-95 for the forseeable future. Thanks, but no thanks, Bill!

[patalive]

I give up. What is this PET thing. Something only for you AOL users?
-
Chuck