Baghead asks silly question

[NickMu]

Hi All,

Total newbie and hence bag over head to hide embarrassment. My question will seem very naive to many but if you could be just a little kind and quit laughing long enough to type a reply.

I'm currrently running Windows ME on an AMD Duron 700mhz. I want to upgrade M'board, and processor into the Athlon XP2000+ range. I'm on a tight budget and so my question is, can I upgrade the hardware and still use Windows ME until I can get a bit more cash. I know its unlikely to be optimal performance but will it at least run??

Thanks in anticipation.

Nick

ps Hold your breath when you type a reply, it cuts down the laughing quite a lot.

 

[corkyg]

Sure - but changing the motherboard will require the changing of a whole lot of system drivers. It is often best, after a motherboard replacement, to do a complete clean install - even ME.

 

[Bleep]

Well it is a difficult question actually. If this is a name brand machine and all you have is the restore disk for ME that came with your machine it may be difficult to get it up and running with a motherboard changeout. due to the drivers on the restore disk not compatable with the new chipset and some other issues. Have you ever given any thought to Linux? ME is a little unstable and if you are not a gamer Linux is a lot better OS than ME and the best thing is that it is FREE. I am not a Linux fanatic but it is better than ME.

Bleep

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: Bleep
Well it is a difficult question actually. If this is a name brand machine and all you have is the restore disk for ME that came with your machine it may be difficult to get it up and running with a motherboard changeout. due to the drivers on the restore disk not compatable with the new chipset and some other issues. Have you ever given any thought to Linux? ME is a little unstable and if you are not a gamer Linux is a lot better OS than ME and the best thing is that it is FREE. I am not a Linux fanatic but it is better than ME.

Bleep

That's the understatement of the century. Judging by the fact that he's a noob, I think that Linux might be a little out of his league. Heck, I can't even use Linux. You can easily do what you're talking about for under $200 (you'd need RAM too), however the prebuilt question still stands. Also, a lot of prebuilt manufacturers will use proprietary hardware (especially power supplies) that won't necessarily work with a different MB. Could we get a few more details about what you are planning on upgrading (specifically the brand)?

 

[Bleep]

I think that Linux might be a little out of his league.

Well not to argue but Linux can be extremely easy to use, Mandrake -Fedora.-suse are so much like windows it is pretty easy to make the switch. I built a new machine and took it over to my neighbor's house with the Mandrake install disks and he got it going without any problems just a little worry about the video configuration, he only has had a computer for about 6 months and is a real noob.

Bleep

 

[sswingle]

I think anything is better than ME. I would rather run Windows 98 if thats the only choices I had.

 

[Psych]

Go 3.1.