Win XP

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Hi, its dumbell again.
I know eventually I will have to buy another pc. As win/me, well its been as fickle as can be from the start, but it doesnt have what I want anymore either. Alot of things I would like to have doesnt support win/me anymore.

So, XP, I am hearing it eats up alot of resources. HUH?
Im just an older woman here..
please dont laugh too hard...but
How am I to know what to buy if all the computers have xp on them? (or did when it first came out) no matter what it had like its ram and things like that.

I am so lost in this computer world, there IS no catching up.

thanks,
Dummy

 

[MustISO]

What's your hardware like? XP will run on most everything but if your PC is from the Windows ME days, then it's probably pretty darn old.

 

[Harvey]

If you don't need anything more than a basic machine for office progs, etc., decent Atholn 32 bit CPU, 1 - 2 GB of RAM and an IDE hard drive will run your basic system very well. If you don't need a monitor, you can probably find enough good parts, new and used to do it for less than $200.

 

[Blazer]

could you give us your budget, you would get good help here, XP handles its resorces and hardware well, stay with XP.

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

XP will run in a pretty wimpy system, I still use XP SP3 on a P3 Coppermine 1.13 Ghz with 640 megs PC133 RAM, 160 gig ATA 133 7200 drive with 8 meg buffer..runs Office 2007 Pro (and Open Office 2.4), GIMP, some other oddball stuff. Goes pretty good actually. you do wind up with some waits but its workable for day to day light duty stuff.

So bottom line is anything you can buy today will run fine with XP. Main thing is RAM. Goes OK with a gig, really loves two gigs though.

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Wow.. nice people here.
Well, I have an older e machine.
With 255 ram.
20 gigs of memory I think.

I would like to take this one down it really is messing up.
I was going to put ME back on, but maybe I would like to try Win/98 I
do have a cd with key #. I just dont know how LOL

But, a friend of mine is sending me her computer that has XP on it.
I just had to pay for shipping.
Does everyone like XP? I am so curious about this one.

Laymans terms k, I am not a programer.. haha
But, I surely did tear my computer apart, screw by screw and put it all back together,
just to see if I could LOL

And I am hearing about Vista and the resources it asks for.. I dont seem to be too thrilled about it.

What I like to do online is research mostly. I dont get into much else these days.
My earlier days, I was known as the download queen lol

To the one that asked if I needed a monitor. Well, I pick them up at yard sales, goodwill.. keyboards too.. why should I keep paying over and over for something I dont need?
So basically I have always only bought the computer itself.

But now I will get the monitor included with this xp computer.

Im so far behind times now, to catch up would be a fulltime job haha

I do enjoy burning cd's tho.
Havent had any experience with the dvd's tho and I am soooooo curious.
I do love music.
And software that will teach me new things.

Thank each of you for your responses, I feel like such a dinasaur...

But, a new computer and a bottle of hair dye and babe, I just might come back to life haha

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

XP is a very good OS, its mature, stable, runs pretty much everything out there (including old printers, sound cards, stuff you can find on the cheap), no compatibility issues with most everything you throw at it. doesnt need much in the way of hardware to run well.

stick with it. vista is OK if you have a modern system with all new hardware and gobs of RAM, but for an older system, XP is the way to go. it should burn CD, crank through internet research, run Office type stuff, all that with ease.

burning DVDs may be an issue, older DVD burners sometimes have issues with modern media, and you need lots of free HD space (like 10 gigs or so for temp files and the image) so it depends on the systems burner and HD size as to how that will go.

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Hi,
I dont even have a dvd burner. My hubby has turned me into an old lady haha

But this other pc I am getting will have a burner with it.
I cant wait for it to get here. Im bout ready to meet FEDX half way haha

I think I will listen to the advice I am receiving here and put win/98se on here, as I have an orignal cd + key.

I am glad to hear about the stability of XP.

Im really sick of the blue screen of death. haha

This ME is so bad that I had to partition my harddrive, so I could keep stuff on the partition, so I could get the 'fickle' out of my computer without having to add everything back in. lol
I got very spoiled to win/98 I think.

Everyone here is so informative.. I am glad I found this site.

thanks

 

[law9933]

I use XP, plan to skip Vista, & wait to see if the next OS is better. I'm not a gamer & 516MB of memory serves me fine. (has played game demos fine)

Give them the specs of (But, a friend of mine is sending me her computer that has XP on it.) They can give suggestions. Often times it is what is auto running on a PC that creates problems.

Free Everest can give a list of it all.

If you are getting a clean running PC you should like/love the update. Enjoy Les

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Hi,
My friend had done a data transfer and has removed all the stuff she has ever put on the pc. (xp)
I am drooling like a puppy here.
I will see what it all has and come tell you all what I found and maybe you can tell me just where I am in the computer world lol
Its being shipped from CO to OH.. dont they have turbo FEDX vans? lol

One thing about this lil e machine and its low resources, I never have a problem online with dsl. This computer has got to be at least 7 years old.

I would like to learn to convert win into that ummmm unix you all talk about. But, dont ya have to type commands like in the day of DOS? I used to know all those commands, but outta sight outta mind.

Just dont even command it to *del* hahaha
Since this one still goes online and all, I would like to give it to someone who doesnt have one. I was thinking of my brother. He said he is 'reverse stupid' when it comes to computers and well, what could he possibly do to this one that would break a heart ya know?
So maybe one of you would point me to a site that shows me how to dump win/me and install using my win/98se cd.

You know when I first bought my computer (this isnt the first), we used to get the original Win CD not some copy on the computer companies cd's.. why did they do that?

Another question.
When you purchase a computer it shows the maximum amount of upgrades on ram and things like that, is there a way to boost that further?
And if things are on the motherboard, well, its not interchangable?
Its odd.. this is a cheap e-machine, its not the machine I have had troubles with.

Ok I am rambling here...
thanks again u all.
Im a wanna be geek LOL

 

[EagleKeeper]

Depending on the age of the system, you should be able to put in at least 1GB or RAM - that should take care of your needs unless you plan on stressing the system with games.

When a system POSTs, it will usually show you the amount of RAM installed, not the max that can be installed.

I would expect that the system will have at least a 60GB hard drive - that will handle most of your needs unless youi are a video & audio junky. If so, get a cheap 300-500GB drive and at it as a second drive.

It may not come with a DVD burner - again they are not real expensive and easily added.

From experience, FedEx Ground from Colorado (Denver) to Ohio (Dayton) takes 3 business days.

Manufacturers like to put their own branding on the OS and stuff it full of promos. They get a kickback on the promos.

If you want to play with multiple OSs, install the nx one first and then the Windows.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

DON'T GO ME. lol- don't even think about it. And if you're used to xp installing drivers and what not, 98 will be a pain. easiet thing to do is add more ram and stick w/ xp

 

[Blazer]

"I am drooling like a puppy here" you dont know how much drooling you will be doing, an XP system with "Fair" hardware is like night and day compared to win 98, you cant compare it to ME [ME is the worst of worst], if it wasnt fresh loaded you should download all the drivers for the system, download sp3 for xp, virus software [avg free], cpuid [to identify some system components] in prep for a fresh install.

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Hello everyone!
I got the computer in the mail today.

This is the info i have so far.

Dell Dimention 2350
Intell 4 pentuim
cpu 1.80gh
1.79 gh2
128 ram

win xp home version 2002 service pack 2
OEM

Samsung cr-r/rw

This is what I have found out.

System INF
Chip Intel 845gl
DMA channel 7
Bio chip 2 mb (256 kb)
Sys clock 400 mhz data rate

Expansion Bus PCI
Speed 33 mhz
PCI connections 3
PCI size 120 pins
PCI 32 bit

Memory
DDR SDRAM
MEM Connectors 2
Capacity 128, 256, 512
Max 1 gb
Mem type Pc2100 (266 mhz) Non ECC

Power 200 watts
Heat dissipation 682 btu

I dont know what all these things mean, but it seems to me that I would be able to buy 1 gig of ram. in two sticks?

This system runs very veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy slow. opening windows and things like that, but yahoo games go fast.

It doesnt fit my monitor screen, too much room on the sides haha no knobs on the monitor to adjust that either.
task bar letters are too little.

I think she did a data transfere to her laptop, but I am seeing many things that belonged to her but are unopenable.

I feel very lost with this.. like ctrl/alt/del doesnt work LOL
Or..
When I used msconfig , YIKES what IS all that stuff in there and when I try to delete it it tells me that I just put myself in the safe mode to go back and put myself in the normal mode.

Another thing, when something is opened when it closes it kind of slowly disappears???
It doesnt just go POOF!

oH I AM SO LOST HERE HAHAHA
Should I take this computer down?

 

[Lvis]

You really need more ram for that machine. 512mb would be enough. A fresh install of windows would probably be a good idea too.

 

[Blazer]

get a 512mb stick to use with whats in there and THEN reinstall windows.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

128 mb of ram is low.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: dumbellwkeyboard

I would like to learn to convert win into that ummmm unix you all talk about. But, dont ya have to type commands like in the day of DOS? I used to know all those commands, but outta sight outta mind.

lets not get carried away.

live with the xp install, patch it, use it to access the web, read up on sites to educate yourself on computing, there are probably many out there. and theres always wikipedia to explain whatever terminology you don't understand. after you figure out what xp is and can do then perhaps go to linux.

jumping into linux without a clue or your own personal tech support is a BAD idea.

as said, xp is mature, and patched with all the latest service packs is very stable.
that being said, dodgy hardware will make a pc crash regardless of os, so don't always blame the os.

xp requires atleast 512mb. best with 1-2gb.
vista 2-4gb.
and yes your old me pc is useless.

your new one is pretty badly setup as well. 128mb is ridiculous for an xp machine.
you need to upgrade it if it is to be used.

second is the harddrive, old drives are slow. upgrading that would take more technical skill though as you'd either need to reinstall the o/s to make an image of the drive and copy it to the new one.

 

[VeryCharBroiled]

yeah, you definitely need more RAM, at least one 512 MB stick. I think its saying that 512 MB sticks are the biggest it supports.

PC2100 (sometimes called DDR266) PC 2700 (DDR333) or PC 3200 (DDR400) sticks should all work. you can sometimes find those 512 sticks at circuit city etc on sale for like $25 (dont pay more), or get them from newegg @ $16 each, click me - newegg 512 mb PC 2100 ram stick.

get two for 1 gig total and XP will be very happy.

once its got some memory room to work with we can tweak the system for you, sounds like a lot of left over junk is on it.

Im running XP on two P4s (a 2.8 w/ 2 gigs RAM and a 3.06 w/ 1 gig) and theyre very snappy in day to day stuff. its not really the CPU speed thats giving the snappiness, its the RAM. your P4 1.8 although should be fine for what your needs.

EDIT: I didnt see a DVD burner, here is a newegg link for a $24 DVD burner, so for about $60 ish bucks (2x512 RAM and the burner) you can have a nice little stable machine that will be a pleasure to work with.

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

This is too all...
you are just simply ROCK..

oK this is what I was told by some techy at a shop.

Dell only honors pc2700 or pc3200
It also speaks of pins

I dont know how many pins are IN my stick of ram at the moment haha
but
it does say that my PCI size is 120 pins, does that matter?

And also, I must buy mem type that is nonEcc

As far as adding another hard drive, isnt that easy?

Soon I will have a dvd burner (Yum) more intrigue in my life haha

I can 'operate' on my pc's with no fear because my thought is, if its already broken or running shitty... what have I got to lose, cept my mind haha

Surprizingly tho, my lil win/me goes much faster than the dell w/xp
and my ram was only upgraded to 256 on this lil ME.

 

[Blazer]

on Dell computers you will have a label somewhere that has "Service Tag #, that # will give you your system spec's [as built] on dells website, thoses specs will identify what speed, type and the max supported memory that can be used, get that info first, or post your service tag #, and someone will help you.

 

[Blazer]

most likely these will work just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134592

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134173

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

Ok I contacted Dell with my service tag number.

Now keep in mind on the front of my computer it reads diminsions 2350

But he is saying that tag number means my pc is a diminsion 4550 LOL

sigh

 

[MrChad]

http://www.crucial.com/store/l...ension%202300%20Series

Guaranteed compatible RAM. Crucial is a reliable supplier.

 

[dumbellwkeyboard]

To all,
Thanks so much for caring.

Ok.. here goes.
I had a fuss with Dell. One guy ended my chat session.
Due to the fact that the front of the tower says deminsion 2350
but the service number indicates it to be a deminsion 4500

He was telling me I had a dvd-rw. I said no I dont.
He said I had 514 ram. I said no I dont.
He hung up on me haha

So, I opened another one and got a guy that would be nice.

It is indeed a dimension 2350
the service tag was wrong.
He found that out by using the express service code.

YUM progress!

So, this is what I MUST have according to dell.
PC2100 ddr sdram Non-ECC with 184 pins

He also told me that yes I can have a DVD-RW, any brand, any speed as long as its
an IDE and not a SATA

I asked him if i wanted to go higher in GIGs, what must I do? Change out the motherboard?
He said yes, and also the processor, but you would be better off buying a new computer, because this will be expensive.

(and I am thinking, in the hands of Dell it might be expensive, but what if I did it myself?)

Question:
Do I need to make a recovery disc for this Win/XP, for my Win/ME I had to make a reboot disc because it was missing a few things needed to 'take it down'..

I am going to put win/98se on this ole e-machine I have instead of that wacky Win/Me.

Have you all noticed, or it seems to me anyways..
Every other OS sold is wack.
98 was stable
ME sucks
XP seems popular enough
but now..
Dell is offering (by demand) that if you buy a computer with Vista on it, they will give you what you need to put xp on it.

As we bought XP, Vista was sitting on the shelves just waiting to come out AFTER they got the proceeds from sales of XP.