What browser is safest to use with ME?

Kris Wharton · 12-25-2008, 04:05 PM

Does FF or Opera support ME?

If so what version?

Can anyone recommend a firewall and antivirus solution for ME? (seperate programs okay).

**OldGrayGary** · 12-26-2008, 01:17 AM

Hi Kris

Firefox 2 supports WinMe. Firefox 3 requires Win2000 or newer. I'm not sure about Opera.

I can't say I recommend visiting the Internet from the Win9x/Me environment anymore -- I generally suggest using Linux for Internet access on older machines, since Win9x/Me is hard to secure. A dual-boot can let the old Windows programs run while booted into WinMe, while safe Internet access can be done while booted into Linux.

I imagine that some of our techs and members might know of a few WinMe antimalware recommendations . . . unfortunately, most of my favorite antimalware vendors no longer support Win9x/Me.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

Cleffer · 12-26-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris Wharton

Does FF or Opera support ME?
What browser is safest to use with ME?

A Windows XP installation disc?

Just kidding.

Move along.

Kris Wharton · 12-26-2008, 01:05 PM

Thanks for the reply Gary,

The machine that I put ME on, was purchased as a Linspire 5.0 system, but it seems like the simplest things like accessing a floppy drive or getting java to work properly was just too much hassle. I took that off and ran ME on it for a while, then put Freespire on it just for a try, if anything it was worse than Linspire. So after trying to put the newest version of Ubuntu on and not even getting as far as getting it installed, I returned back to ME since I don't have another XP license available. I am considering a Vista upgrade for one of my XP systems so I can free up an XP CD to install, but am open to a decent version of Linux that can easily tolerate someone that know nothing but Dos/Windows.

This system is going to be for basic internet access only, I'm not even going to setup a printer or anything else.

Just basic, any Linux or other OS suggestions?

Thanks again...

**OldGrayGary** · 12-26-2008, 02:20 PM

Hi again

Ubuntu is a very user-friendly Linux (I think it might be better than Linspire, though I haven't personally tried Linspire), but I think it's most recent 'full' versions run better on newer machines. Why not give their "Xbuntu" a try - (it's meant for older machines)? I think you have a good chance of it installing without any problems --- http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/xubuntu

Another choice that is usually easy to use is the utility-filled Knoppix distribution of Linux. It's usually used on "Live CD"s (which run entirely from the CD - no hard drive necessary) -- but it can also be installed onto the hard drive --- the basics of installing Knoppix to a hard drive are here --- http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Hard_Drive_Install_FAQ --- and the LiveCD can be downloaded from here --- http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html ---
_______________

Windows 2000 is also a good choice for older systems, as is Windows XP --- with the caveat that once the latest Service Packs for those operating systems are installed (which they should be, for the best security) they will normally consume around 250mb-to-300mb of system memory (assuming a real-time antivirus & firewall are installed - which they should be). So - for comfortable performance, it's best to have between 384mb and 512mb (or more) of system memory.
_______________

Best of luck
. . . Gary

**blah789** · 12-26-2008, 03:58 PM

Link to Firefox 2 if you still want it...
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

12-25-2008, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kris Wharton Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central Indiana Posts: 6 OS: WINXP SP3, Win ME, Freespire, Win 98 SE	What browser is safest to use with ME? Does FF or Opera support ME? If so what version? Can anyone recommend a firewall and antivirus solution for ME? (seperate programs okay).

12-26-2008, 01:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: What browser is safest to use with ME? Hi Kris Firefox 2 supports WinMe. Firefox 3 requires Win2000 or newer. I'm not sure about Opera. I can't say I recommend visiting the Internet from the Win9x/Me environment anymore -- I generally suggest using Linux for Internet access on older machines, since Win9x/Me is hard to secure. A dual-boot can let the old Windows programs run while booted into WinMe, while safe Internet access can be done while booted into Linux. I imagine that some of our techs and members might know of a few WinMe antimalware recommendations . . . unfortunately, most of my favorite antimalware vendors no longer support Win9x/Me. Best of luck . . . Gary __________________

12-26-2008, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kris Wharton Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Central Indiana Posts: 6 OS: WINXP SP3, Win ME, Freespire, Win 98 SE	Re: What browser is safest to use with ME? Thanks for the reply Gary, The machine that I put ME on, was purchased as a Linspire 5.0 system, but it seems like the simplest things like accessing a floppy drive or getting java to work properly was just too much hassle. I took that off and ran ME on it for a while, then put Freespire on it just for a try, if anything it was worse than Linspire. So after trying to put the newest version of Ubuntu on and not even getting as far as getting it installed, I returned back to ME since I don't have another XP license available. I am considering a Vista upgrade for one of my XP systems so I can free up an XP CD to install, but am open to a decent version of Linux that can easily tolerate someone that know nothing but Dos/Windows. This system is going to be for basic internet access only, I'm not even going to setup a printer or anything else. Just basic, any Linux or other OS suggestions? Thanks again...

12-26-2008, 02:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: What browser is safest to use with ME? Hi again Ubuntu is a very user-friendly Linux (I think it might be better than Linspire, though I haven't personally tried Linspire), but I think it's most recent 'full' versions run better on newer machines. Why not give their "Xbuntu" a try - (it's meant for older machines)? I think you have a good chance of it installing without any problems --- http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/xubuntu Another choice that is usually easy to use is the utility-filled Knoppix distribution of Linux. It's usually used on "Live CD"s (which run entirely from the CD - no hard drive necessary) -- but it can also be installed onto the hard drive --- the basics of installing Knoppix to a hard drive are here --- http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Hard_Drive_Install_FAQ --- and the LiveCD can be downloaded from here --- http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html --- _______________ Windows 2000 is also a good choice for older systems, as is Windows XP --- with the caveat that once the latest Service Packs for those operating systems are installed (which they should be, for the best security) they will normally consume around 250mb-to-300mb of system memory (assuming a real-time antivirus & firewall are installed - which they should be). So - for comfortable performance, it's best to have between 384mb and 512mb (or more) of system memory. _______________ Best of luck . . . Gary __________________ Last edited by OldGrayGary; 12-26-2008 at 02:22 PM.

12-26-2008, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,294 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: What browser is safest to use with ME? Link to Firefox 2 if you still want it... http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html