Moderately ignorant CF 28'er needs upgrade advice

Two things,

1. USB 2.0. I couldn't find anything on this when searching the forums: is there a way to add one or more USB 2.0 ports? I had a PCMCIA bluetooth adapter that also had a USB 2.0 slot, but I always got the message "this device can run faster using a USB 2.0 connection" (or something like that) what would I have to upgrade?

2. total newbie question: My COA has XP Pro and Win 2000. I've heard that a machine can be dual bootable. What does that mean, and why would I want two operating systems on my computer?

Thanks,

Bernie

 

Welcome newb!

1. USB 2.0. I couldn't find anything on this when searching the forums: is there a way to add one or more USB 2.0 ports? I had a PCMCIA bluetooth adapter that also had a USB 2.0 slot, but I always got the message "this device can run faster using a USB 2.0 connection" (or something like that) what would I have to upgrade?

A - I would recommend a normal PCMCIA USB 2.0 card - This should work.


2. total newbie question: My COA has XP Pro and Win 2000. I've heard that a machine can be dual bootable. What does that mean, and why would I want two operating systems on my computer?

A - For all practical purposes, XP should do it for you. If one would want to do a dual boot then then oldest OS has to go on first then the next oldest, then the next etc... (so you would load 2000 first then XP 2nd (in a different directory of coarse)). Back in the day a lot of people had a dual boot Windoze 98 and Windoze 2000 for compatibility of older software. Nowadays pretty much all software will work fine with XP.

 

Some cf-28 mk-2 units came with restore media that restored to either w2000 or xp pro

You have the option when restoring, of choosing one only of the two windows versions when you first load

Some early software applications did not work right with xp pro and the ability to downgrade to w2000 was a benefit for compatibility

They were designed to run one operating system at a time, not in a duel boot arrangement that we sometimes talk about here

The newest Toughbooks now come with two restore dvd’s
Xp pro for compatibility, and Vista

Rob is correct on windows xp being very compatable, so just load that


Alex

 

Thanks guys.

I coudln't imagine why one would want both operating systems installed. The backwards compatability makes sense. I'll just ignore the Win 2000. My machine came with the OEM XP discs. Never had a problem.

I have an open slot. I'll just get a USB 2.0 card and try it.

Bernie

 

I was going to say... They also use the dual boot so that you can run Win2K then upgrade to XP for free... In reality anyway... Both COAs are good!

 

Most of the dual-booting that you'll hear about in this forum involves two of either XP, Vista, or Linux. You could load all three, if you felt like it.

I'm not sure you'll find much benefit in dual-booting Win2k and WinXP, though.

Just out of curiosity, does your dual COA say something like "One-time choice only"? I have an 800 MHz CF-28 with a COA sticker like that, and I never knew what to make of that little notice.