For the Operating System (OS), I will have to admit that I haven't tried anything other than Microsoft's Windows (see below). I don't know anyone who doesn't use it either. My Experiences extend from Windows 3.1 to XP - I am currently running 98SE on my PC (mainly due to the SoundCard), haven't used ME (Millenium).

So far I haven't changed any of the Hardware that the Computer came with, although I have added a few things (click Here for more). I'm sure this will change in the near future (for more look Here). The Software will undoubtedly change over time with upgrades, fault fixes & the like. I'll get these Pages updated as often as is practical.

A lot of Newer Games do not require use of the Start Menu so there is no real need to have everything in one place. Also having loads of Shortcuts on the Desktop is often unnecessary as a lot of Games will Run from the ROM Disc Drive. It leaves more space to look at the nice, pretty Background Pictures (Wallpapers) that I keep putting there!

Revision B (& 98, see below) also has DMA (Direct Memory Access) which allows the Hard Disc & ROM Drives to Run Faster.

Windows Explorer is a reasonably convenient to find your way around, with a little Practice. A few Files have been Moved around or accidentally Deleted in the past, so always check your Recycle Bin before shutting down!

Although it took me a while to find it, there is a USB Supplement for OSR2 Program. This also enables the AGP Interface on the MainBoard to work properly. Earlier (Retail) Versions of Windows 95 will not work with this file. 95B, Build 1111, does not have it Installed, later versions, e.g. Build 1212, onwards & Windows 98 come with it supplied.

If the Supplement is installed then Windows will be registered as Build 1212. DirectX 7 (see below) will then have the AGP Support listed as a Disable / Enable option in the Diagnostic Program's Display Tab.

Windows 95 (see above) tends to Defragment in an Alphabetical Folder & File Basis which means some travelling may still be needed, e.g. A Program using File DDD.dfl, for example, needing to use LLL.dfl would have a slower Run Time than when it needed to use FFF.dfl - it is possible that some Programs could actually Run Faster through Fragmentation (remember the things about the Chimpanzees & a typewriter? ;-) Windows 98 would put the LLL nearer to DDD if it was used more often & would move FFF further away if it was only Accessed occasionally.

The main Obstacle in putting Windows 98 on the Computer is Internet Explorer 4 (IE4, see Here for further Details).

Version 7 comes with a Diagnostic Program which lists all the various Elements that it interfaces with. It will list the relevant Drivers & let you know which are 'certified' & which are not. There are tests for the Video & Sound Components to see how everything is getting on.

DirectX works in a way that means once it's on your System you're stuck with it, officially, & older Versions will not replace later ones. I did find a Program at www.windrivers.com which Uninstalls DirectX although it should only be used if you have major problems. With Version 7 it didn't manage to completely remove all the elements.

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS VERY CAREFULLY!

As soon as the Computer arrived I created a BackUp of the Original C Drive onto the Second Partition (D Drive) just in case - this is an easier Option that using Loads of Standard Floppies Discs. Unfortunately this was lost when the Hard Drive Failed & needed Replacing (see Here for more).

As with other Microsoft Products Media Player 6, in its eagerness to be a Jack of All Trades, has this annoying habit of being a bit of a Cowboy, especially when using Netscape (Microsoft just don't like competition do they?). Periodically I have to go into Netscape Applications Menu & Remove the Extra Program Associations that Media Player keeps putting there - this causes the Files that are Played Online to crash. Most Annoying!

Note: when Version 6 is Installed it doesn't go and Uninstall Version 2, well not on my System anyway. Although it does override Version 2 it may go some way to explain some of the problem(s) mentioned above.

There is now Media Player 7 which covers even more File Formats, unfortunately it can only be used on Windows 98 (see above), I haven't tried in on 95, as yet, Microsoft do have a habit of saying this, sometimes when it's not true... No? Oh Yes (see the bit on AGP & USB in Windows 95 - above)!

It takes a bit of getting used to the how it works, I'm still not sure that I know how to use it properly yet! The Restoring of Files didn't go well at all as I was unable to Isolate the Files that I wanted. It seems to work Backwards, e.g. Disc 3 First??? If, as I experienced, the Restore Function wasn't Stopped in the Right Place it tries to Restore Everything. It did however put a Copy of the C Drive (600 MB +) onto just 3 LS 120 Discs, which can't be all that bad.

Compact Disc Player as with a Stereo System

Midi or Mid (Definitions not known) Files.

Wav Files (as in Sound Waves I suppose)

Also has Wave Studio for Recording & Editing Wav Files. Takes a little bit of getting used to, I've been Experimenting (again!) & will add more here later, you'll find some of my Experiments within this Site (I'll not tell you which, that would not be much fun now, would it? ;-).

This & Voyetra (below) on the Surface seem to be quite Technical, & Difficult, Programs to Operate & no one has had the time to fully Investigate them.

A Midi Editor which allows a fair bit of Sound Manipulation, will even write the Score (Musical Notes, etc.) for any Instrument Channel(s) selected via it's Mixing Desk.

As with Cubasis (above) I've not done a lot of Investigating this Program & having little, well, NO, Experience with any other Systems it's not possible for me to Write anything of any Significance.

An Image Program, similar to others of the type. Installed along with the PageManager Software (see below) although it turned out to be unnecessary & not as good as some other 'Limited Edition' Programs.

It took some time to Remove it, because there is an "Aware" file that needs to be Disabled . If Deleted before this is done then a message appears which says, "The specified file(s) are being used by Windows." Unfortunately I only discovered this by accident - there's nothing in the Program itself, or its Read Me File, etc. to indicate this - there isn't an Uninstall Option in the Program.  

The Caere Support Site didn't offer any real Help either, all it wanted was for Visitors to Register & I had no inclination to do so considering the it was on loan & the hassle the Program has put me through with very little reward in return. Trial Programs that don't allow someone to easily Uninstall it, if it's not wanted, isn't the sort that I would Recommend.

It uses an Inbox to receive Scans or Files you can then move them elsewhere with its own Folders or to other Programs. Unfortunately this disappeared after being emptied of its Contents which made Loading New Images Impossible - not a good Result for a Image Managing Program! It was sorted out via their Support Department.

It must be stated that this seems to be a Useful Program and you can Add other Programs (Applications) to its List & then send Scanned Pictures directly to It. It must also be Stated that These Programs Usually come with their own means of Acquiring Scans anyway. It is still a useful Starting Point regardless. A note of caution; some Programs are allowed to Modify the Original one in PageManager so it's worth Checking Out which ones can & disabling the Option - you can always Import the Modified Image later on if you wish.  

To remove the Modify Option:

Open File Menu, go to Applications Settings -> Application Properties.

This will give you a List of Programs some of which will have Check Box for the Modify Original Option, Click on the Box to Disable or Enable.

I'm not sure whether an Upgrade is likely yet as the Scanner Stuff all belong to someone else - it will probably be kept for this Function Alone. It may have been a 'Dead Cert.' if the Rugrat's Print Shop hadn't arrived.

I haven't actually used this as yet, I don't really have a need for them so it's unlikely that I will add anything else here for some time.

A useful feature is the Browser Files which can be placed in any Folder that contains Images so that you can access them (& update the List) more quickly through Paint Shop. 

Although it is only supposed to last 4 weeks or so, it will continue to Run after that time (just don't tell them ;-)

Unfortunately Versions 5 & 6 do not, although 6 gives you another 30 days to make up your mind! The Full Working Version can be Downloaded Cheaper Online, although the Manual, that comes with the Boxed Set, may be worth the Extra, it's quite difficult to find where things are - if you don't know what you're doing.

I had just started to get to grips with the Animation Tools when it packed up & went on a Sabbatical. As this was the First Program of this type I have used, other than the Extremely Limited msPaint I decided to leave Buying the Full Version until other things had been tried (see ImageFolio, above & Rugrat's Print Shop).