XP using just the bare minimum of

Post by **floodhound2** » 08 Jan 2007, 20:05

Any suggestions on how I can run windows XP using just the bare minimum of resources. I plan to put this 100MHZ Compaq in a new robot I am working on.
*80 gig hard drive.
*448 Meg ram

Here is the general list of things I will or will not be using
I will not be using a monitor
I will uninstall explorer.exe in hopes to save memory/ram
Only 1 serial port to communicate to electronics I install
802.11 wireless card will be used for connection to server
1 USB port for web cam so I will need to keep this driver
No keyboard – no driver?
No mouse – same here?
No need for updates from Microsoft
Security might be an issue due to web interface letting people driving the thing around
Please give me some input on this
No internet explorer

Tell me what you think and if I am on the right track

PEACE

Post by **pseudo_opcode** » 09 Jan 2007, 02:56

Why do you wanna torture your bot by running XP on poor 100mhz thing.
Use a linux distro, i suggest using linux from scratch, so you only keep the essentials. It will run 100 time better than windows. But ofcourse you'll miss dancing paperclips and "Send report to microsoft,dont send" errors

Post by **bad_brain** » 09 Jan 2007, 04:13

right, I also recommend to use Linux. there is no modularity in XP, you always have to install the whole monolithic block....in Linux you can pick the stuff you really want to install and so keep the OS lightweight and fast.
but well, if you really want a MS OS you should use Windows 2000, it's not a resource hog like XP, I already used it on my old 233MHz/48MB RAM lappy.

Post by **floodhound2** » 09 Jan 2007, 08:26

Yes fellas you are right. I am a windows brat and I need to get away from the beast. I planed to use visual basic to interface this robot with my server. Record all the outside world in VB to me is so easy. Also most of the old hardware drivers are written for windows. I already developed modules in VB like vector calculations for location, speech, voice commands. I think you are all right though; perhaps it is time for me to ride a new horse. BASH right bad_brain?

Windows 2000 might be the one. Any other ideas?

Peace and Thanks

Post by **bad_brain** » 09 Jan 2007, 08:43

yeup...Bash is heaven...

but if you really want a desktop environment there are enough lightweight ones available, like Fluxbox....