David wrote:
> Thank you both for your replies. It is not the XP computer I am considering
> replacing that is my machine which currently goes away with me It is the home
> computer (Win 98) however I may make my machine the home computer and get a
> new laptop for me.
>
> Does Vista not have any sort of emulator programme embedded which allows it
> to run older applications? Unfortunately quicken I cannot upgrade ( which is
> a major problem) as there is not a UK version anymore.
Yes, I understood that you were retiring the Win98 box. Yes, Vista does
have a compatibility feature but there is no guarantee that your
particular software or hardware (such as a printer) will work. You have
a few choices:
1. Purchase a new computer running XP after making sure that all your
stuff works with XP (don't assume this!). This is the easiest solution.
2. Purchase a new computer running Vista and either dual-boot with XP or
use virtual software (Virtual PC 2007 or VMWare) to create a virtual
machine running XP.
a. The dual-boot is tricksier - you need to make sure there are drivers
for XP for your new machine; also XP will destroy Vista's System Restore
points if the two operating systems can see each other so you need to
use a third-party boot manager.
b. Virtual computing gets around the drivers issue, although you may
have difficulties with older hardware peripherals (printers, scanners).
With either a. or b., you must own a retail version of XP, so you
increase your cost of the new computer by around $200 (or the UK
equivalent).
3. If Quicken is your only issue, then you could see if MS Money (or
another consumer-level accounting program) can import your old Quicken
files. I just looked on Amazon UK and to my amazement, I don't see
either Quicken or MS Money 2008 so I don't know what you
Across-the-Ponders would normally use.
Hope this has helped somewhat.
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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