I do digital video editing but the software I use works around the 2 GB problem. I don't rip DVDs or anything this is good old-fashioned video restoration and wedding video stuff which usually means a maximum of 45 minutes a pop.
I, of course, would only have a 2 to 4 GB FAT 32 partition to install the games and leave the rest. It was a laptop from a colleague and I just didn't want to reformat or anything.
I know this will shock you all but I primarily use WinDOwS98SE since I have to see anything come to Windows after that that I needed...
I am not online 24 hours a day, unlike a lot of people I actually shut the computer off when I am not using it, I have an external modem that I turn on and off (takes care of any dialer software!).
Maybe I'm extremely weird (OK it has been documented that I am) but I like to have an on/off switch on just about everything if possible.
I even have 2 Voodoo 2s in SLI mode !
For what I do (DOS, Windows, GLide, VERY basic web and video editing/restoration) I have yet to see a software or operating system out there that can do better "because it is newer".
I remember when my brother-in-law install Windows NT 3.51 on my old Penitum 75Mhz (!) with 16 (!) MB of RAM "because it was new" and the damn thing took an hour, I am NOT kidding you a whole HOUR to boot.
Format C: Win95 OSR2 and about 2 hours later that was again a "screaming" machine! 😀
I realize that within a year or two no hardware will work on my system and that I will have to take in the wallet to appease Microsoft but I have survived so far!
In case someone misreads this: I am not cirticizing ANY of the feedback here! It has all confirmed exactly what I was thinking and I appreciate it! It is only that I have not had enough coffee and the cat ate my showlaces (AGAIN!).