Microsoft support for win98 queries

Lady_K

Microsoft are ending support early in July but I cant afford to get a new pc yet so I still have to use this win 98 one. I thought, should reformat before the end of support so I can update everything?

Is there any way of saving these updates to use if I ever need to reformat this again? I wanted to let my grandchildren use this one when I do get a new pc anyway (prob next year now when vista is out)

Also zone alarm have followed microsoft and already withdrawn support so what I wondered is... If I reformat now when I put zone alarm back on will I be in a worse position because it wont update the old updates like the updates I had before they withdrew support or will that update to the cut off date? Just trying to work out f its worth reformatting

Lady_K

Oh heck that sounds a bit complicated I'll have to try and look into that later when I can take it in more. I dont have Norton Ghost or True image but I will look into it but in the meantime is it best to reformat now and will the zone alarm update the old updates?

albertross_2

why do you want to reformat it?

Ghost isn't complicated. You install it, click on backup, it shuts down and restarts in Dos mode. Then it writes a complete backup of your hard disk to CD's, including windows, patches, zonealarm, and all your data.

If your hard disk dies, you get a virus, or you just want to restore it to an earlier state, you just put the first CD in the drive, and boot the PC, and it will restore the whole system to the state it was previously. £30 though.. but worth it IMO.

Lady_K

So I can just update everything on win update before it stops support. I havent reformatted for about 4 years, I never really bothered to but I thought if it has to last me till next year I should do it

Little_John

Yeah there is no need to reformat, all that Microsoft are saying when they removes support is that comming July if there are any bugs left in the software they will no longer dedicate time to fixing them. so your stuck with them.
same with zone alarm the version you have installed now will still work with it forever.

Windows update should sill work, after they remove support. just there will be no more updates added.

Leave it as it is.

Lady_K

That Ghost sounds good though yes its worth thinking about

albertross_2

If it aint broke, don't fix it.. just run windowsupdate.

Lady_K

Ok I wont reformat it then, that saves me a job Thanx

Browntoa

just make sure anything important you have on the PC is backed up to CDR, more likely to be a component failure on an older PC that is the Kiss of death, not a problem with Win 98