Jody Thornton

Good Morning hotnuma My thinking is, who cares how much RAM is used during a boot session? I close unnecessary services and processes too. but once I've booted, I'm using nearly a gigabyte of memory. On Windows 8, I have 7 GB of RAM, and while running Pale Moon (with seven tabs) and Windows Mail (brought over from Vista), I'm suing 1.9 GB of RAM. But that's OK. Some of that is Prefetch, some of that are services, some of that are svchost takss running for each process. A robust system will use more RAM and CPU. What good is all of the extra hardware if it's not put to use? And count on it, Windows 8 is definitely more stable than XP (though I have to say that the x64 build was exemplary). Even Vista, once all of my video issues were dealt with, was QUITE stable. Much more than XP. Even all of the space taken up with the component store; I've come to realize that it's a necessary evil. I have never had a BSOD on Windows 8 - ever. Even on Vista x64 SP2, the only BSOD was when I was experimenting with display adapters. After that was fixed - no more. There's more to discuss there on your post, but I'll need to do it later. Good points you've made.

Thank you bphlpt (yours is the sort of on-screen name I wonder for the life of me how to pronounce it ....lol)

Well yes, 8 is dead too. In fact, I use 8 in the same manner you use XP. It is also unsupported. And I also use patches from another source, just the way XP folks do. But let's face it, Windows 8 can still run most current software, and is good deal more stable on current hardware (and takes more advantage of it). Even Vista was in the Windows NT 6x class, though I admit it's aging. You and I both agree on Windows 10 at present. I do not like the product at all. But look at all of the cool things NoelC is doing with Windows 8.1 - he is using it as a productive, supported workstation. We have until October 2023 by the way Dibya. That's six years of patches.

Wow! Lots to read here. And I don't think bringing Linux alternatives into the discussion is a bad thing, because it should be possible route onwards. See, just because Dibya (with all due respect) fights everyday against the death of XP, the wish to express the opposite side should be allowed as well - even on MSFN. And that viewpoint is - the only reason that XP should EVER be discussed in 2017 is to decide how you're going to get off of it. To some people, that is a completely valid opinion. So I hope this thread allows for it. I will admit, I'm impressed by the projects such as New Moon and what not (does it work as an x64 build by chance?). But it's like me admiring a Garrard 1960's record changer. I love watching them play, but I'd never use my best vinyl on it. See what I mean? Not meant to be argumentative - it's just a different viewpoint. So I'm looking forward to engage with you guys on this. Disagreements don't have to mean fighting - but I find I learn more from those I disagree with, than those who just echo my same sentiments.

Hi Folks: I hadn't been by to visit it in quite some time, but I see that Vista Heads forum (vistaheads.com) has bit the dust. How long ago was this? Has it been archived anywhere?

See I'm with you on that one. I actually REALLY like Photon. But the icons are different than you show. That looks more like Vivaldi. I used some userChrome.css code to place the tab bar underneath the address bar. I was running Nightly 58 that way until a few days ago. I really like it.

I never really hated ME at the time, whilst many did. I find that if it was tweaked, it ran well. But I did prefer Windows 98 SE. The look of ME made long for Windows 2000 at the time.

@Burd: Thank you for chiming in. I didn't want a negative view of Vista to be the standing complete one. Yes initially there were major display diver and disk I/O problems But those were fixed, and by SP2, was a dream to run. Jaclaz does say this in fact, but it's kinda buried under the criticism. Vista and 7 aren't resource hogs in the modern sense of the word. It is no longer (in my mind) unreasonable to need 4 GB of RAM and a good CPU to run a modern-day OS. They do more under the hood to make a single task more stable and secure (when everything is setup correctly). I've come to realize that the component store, while not efficient is ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA, pretty much ridding of DLL Hell. And I've come to realize that it's OK that a modern-day OS take up 10 to 15 GB to do its job properly. Comparing to XP is not valid because (again in my mind) it should be in the retirement home resting. It is NOT a modern OS, whereas Vista, even though it's a decade old, does represent a modern OS.

Doh! Something to install this evening. Thanks GHM

Appears to be just the Server Core and IE 10 updates for October. No .NET or Flash. Anyone yield any different results?

I believe so. It has always worked for me without detriment. Now if I turn off Classic Shell, I still get the charms and the start screen, but the apps are gone (besides in the Administrator account [which I rename], you can't run Metro apps anyway.)

As an Administrator account, I have removed the Apps and Packages folder (I think they were in \Windows, but it might've been in \ProgramData). I'm trying out this fxxmetro app, but it doesn't appear to actually speed up anything. Although the Metro engine ain't running.

Does it run slower without Aero? First to clarify - Windows 8 does INDEED have Aero, just not transparency or glass effect. So without those video rendering enhancements, do you find it slower? I used a hack three years ago that allowed me to run Windows 8.1 with a classic desktop too. But I ran it in a VM, so I'm unsure of performance was impaired at all.

Just saw that. Thank you.

Appears the K-Meleon site is down. Could it be game over?

Oh no I realize that. I just wanted to see if I could clean it completely. To me, even though 1.46 GB is perhaps piddly, I still think like the rich millionaire who still realizes the worth of a dollar. Every gigabyte counts.

It's been good, though I have noticed the last couple of moths security-only rollups; they required me to run SFC first, to be able to install the updates. I guess they don't like the Windows Mail files from Vista.

Well I wouldn't be able to answer that because I sign into Windows 8 using a local account, not a Microsoft one (and if I'm not mistaken, such an issue wouldn't affect Vista or XP)

Oh OK. I'm simplifying the process a lot, so this is how I understand it: Let's say the component "shell32.dll" is initially released in October 2012. There are three updates for colour rendering problems, and two for security holes (I'm making this up of course ...lol). The way Windows 8 removes components, is that it keeps the original version, the newest colour-fixed one, and the newest security-fixed one. Then Windows 8 uses hardlinks to point to the correctly matched version to support whatever program you run. In the Windows 8.1 /resetbase option will remove all but the newest version, and JUST use that. I hope I have that correct. It appears that DISM++ calculates that (if I were able to use /resetbase) I could rid of an additional 1.46 GB.

It does. It sets the currently installed components as the new "base" components, and removes everything else. The Start Component Cleanup command will delete older updates but not replace older components that came with the system initially that have been replaced. Thanks for helping me though.

Hey Folks: On Windows 8.1, there is the /resetbase switch that was designed to remove all older replaced components in the WinSxS folder. Windows 8 cannot do this. Now I tried DISM++ (sorta like Ccleaner) which can do this for the component store, but only if you have Windows 8.1 or higher. Does anyone know of a tool or method that CAN reset the base components to the latest installed? on Windows 8?

Oh I have no problem with that. Jaclaz's comment were very complete mind you. And I suppose I'd have more to say, but yes in a thoughtful manner.

When I wanted to change mine, I just put in a PM to xper (pretty sure it was xper) and they got 'er done.

And I respect that. Again, no ill will meant. But I think being able to disagree (and to express why) is a good thing too. Anyway, no more on this from me, I promise.

Yes, I know accountability can be equated to corporate blame. Still you want to be able to pick up a phone a call your vendor right? I do have to ask something though (and this isn't starting a fight - just hear me out). Why is my negativity expressed towards XP frowned upon, yet we have ENTIRE threads called "Windows 10 is the worst crap ever"? Now I agree, I hate Windows 10 too, but Dibya would have you believe that even Windows 7 and 8 have "crap-wares" submitting info to the government. But me expressing that XP in a corporate environment is ..... er, a bad idea? See what I mean? I really think we should be able to openly discuss, argue (politely) and even disagree with our points and beliefs. No personal vendetta is ever meant. If there is real offense taken, then we are taking this all too seriously. I find I learn best when sides disagree, because you hear other points of view. When we all agree, nothing new is exchanged, right?