Reformatting. Try a new OS?

Because of a number of problems with my computer I no longer wish to solve (such as losing my audio), I'm going to reformat and start brand new.  With that, should I try a new OS?  I'm currently on Windows XP, the standard version that comes with every Dell Dimension (yes, Dell sucks.. I learned the hard way).

A friend recommended Windows 2000.  He doesn't seem to be experiencing any random crashes anymore.  However, another says 2000 doesn't juice the most out of your PC.  Another recommended various flavors of Linux.  However, I don't think certain games will run on Linux, or even certain programs such as Photoshop and Premiere.  I was also recommended to run a dual-OS with XP and Linux, but wouldn't that create more problems?

I'm pretty new to the OS world.  What do you guys recommend?

Dual boot Windows XP with Ubuntu Linux

stick with Windows XP and learn how to use it properly

BeOS.

Is there something disgustingly wrong with Windows 2000?

Not really. Windows 2000 is basically XP without the pretty interface bloat. Save on about 60 mb of ram. I had problems running CS:S with it tho, so I put XP back on and disabled theme support :)

Of course, I haven't booted windows in about two months. gentoo linux over here, I recommend Ubuntu for novices.

I don't play any games, aside from Warcraft III once every few months.  I'm mostly interested in running Photoshop and Premiere.  But for future reference... how do I disable theme support on XP?

I might go Dual boot with Windows 2000 and Ubuntu Linux

>>7
Above post was me

Gentoo Linux ^^

CFLAGS JUST KICKED IN, YO!

>>1
Unless you want 64 bit support, get Windows 2000, it's the same as Windows XP without the bloat. It's probably the OS you need.

Been talking with someone about Ubuntu.  I'm nearly convinced to go straight for Linux.  He says I can run Windows-based programs on Linux with WineX and Cedega, and there's plenty of open-source apps that can do a decent Photoshop and Premiere-level job.  As for drivers, he says that the options are specific... but there's lots of communities on IRC that are quick to help.

But, I may just dual boot with 2000 just to be safe.  He says I should partition 5 gigs for Win2000... or something.  I'm pretty dumb to this reformatting business, hopefully I'll figure it out.

Windows 2000 is not XP without interface bloat. XP is a better OS all told. Good luck runnning old 16-bit programs in 2000.

My suggestion: get a pirated version of XP Pro

>>12
and make sure it's corporate so you don't have to fuck around with the WPA

>>11
Sorry to inform you sir that you are misinformed. You can't run anything on WineX or Cedega (more often than not you won't be able to run the exact application you want to run), and there are no open source apps that can do a decent Photoshop or 3DS Max job, at least not with a decent interface. As for drivers, you usually have no problems as long as you have a nVidia graphics card, not certain integrated sound chipsets, and no weird stuff.

I'd give a much larger space to Windows 2000, considering you can read NTFS and read/write FAT32 from Linux but you can't read ReiserFS from Windows NT.

>>12
Care to explain why is XP a better OS all told? P.S.: Nobody cares about 16 bit programs, and all Win16 programs work. As for old DOS games, you should be using an emulator at this point, it'll run them better than Windows 2000+VDMSound or Windows XP.

I really hope you didn't say Windows XP is a better OS all told because it runs DOS games better.

I have been looking into reformatting as well (get major keyboard/mouse lags with the HL2 engine and a mystery program appears, then disapperas ~every half hour), and I've found a small revision of XP online called "TinyXP". I've torrented the premium build and the latest revision (search for TinyXP on piratebay if interested), I like the idea that it's been cleaned and redistributed as a smaller, lighter version of WinXP, but I'm having my doubts. I generally doubt anything I pirate (DOESN'T KEEP ME FROM TORRENTING IT HUR HURR *instantly retarded post*), however, the pages of positive comments and the promising (and lengthy) description are a little reassuring. (PLUS IT REPLACES ALL THE STANDARD XP TOOLS WITH PIRATED SOFTWARE WHICH IS LOL) On the plus side, it's free XP, and it's supposedly lighter. On the downside, I don't have a *real* XP disc of my own to fall back on if this reformat doesn't work, I'm generally a nervous faggot about reformatting in the first place, and I don't trust torrents. I've asked around and have heard mixed reviews about TinyXP, so I guess I should ask /comp/: Better? Worse? Opinions at all?? I might decide whether or not to use this build based on the (snide) remarks you all have towards it.

I guess I'll dual boot then.  I'll boot Ubuntu when I'm gonna do internet, and I'll restart and load up Windows for video editing or games or stuff.

So the new question is.. Windows 2000, XP Pro, or this TinyXP that >>15 is speaking of?

TinyXP is just an XP iso that's been stripped using a program called nLite (google it).  My suggestion: download nLite, and strip a copy of XP yourself, so that you have all the parts you want, and none of what you don't.