Computer Trouble

gws · Mar 20, 2002

Ok, First off how much ram do you have, You said 256k. If that is true then for GET MORE RAM. you need at least 64mb to run win95. If thats really 256mb then you have enough ram. Your machine is a bit slow by todays standard, but is fine. Your 3/4 full disk is an issue. defragmenting a full disk becomes harder and harder. You can get a USB card for under $39 at most stores. You might look into a Motherboard swap, many computer stores have ~$100-$200 motherboard memory swaps. The rest of what you have is still usable. with the swap you get the USB included .

The big kiicker is for $300, at least around here I can get a 900mhz machine, 128mb ram, 30gb disk, video,speakers,keyboard, cdrom, mouse for $295. Check around. Find the little mom and pop shops for the best deals.

Rowski · Mar 22, 2002

Many thanks for all the information from everyone. I think I'm going to go with windows 98se as scruffy mentioned. I do like mike's idea about windows2000 because I don't run any games. It's all going to get driven by price. I found a new (not upgrade) w98se for $99. The only problem is I don't remember where, I swore I bookmarked/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. I looked a little and found w2000 new for around $200. So well see. I hope to do the switch over next week if work isn't to busy.

Thanks for the memory explanation wingnut.

Anything important I need to save or do other than saving important files before formatting the hard drive?

RoyJackson · Mar 22, 2002

Anything important I need to save or do other than saving important files before formatting the hard drive?

Save any pictures, your bookmarks (from IE or Netscape Navigator, old e-mail if you think you need them. All files you've created (such as Excel, Word, Access). Not the applications...you should have a CD-ROM to reload them. Just keep the data files you have made.
Really think about what you want or need to keep.
If there are any applications (utilities, for example) you downoaded from the Internet, save them or know where you can download them again.
Once you format, they're gone for good.

BTW, I think you can beat the Win 98SE price on eBay. Just make sure it's the full install and not the upgrade disk.

Alan L. · Mar 23, 2002

First of all, forget about XP. It needs a newer, faster machine, plus most of your old stuff won't have XP drivers anyway.

If you did nothing but a wipe and clean install of your OS you would get some improvement - at least back to original speed.

256M RAM should be fine for most uses.

To use USB you will need to go to Windows 98. I had much better luck with the Second Edition in terms of stability.

You will have to download Windows 98 drivers for the various components, but they will probably be available.

Bottom line, I'd wipe the hard drive (or better still, get a newer, bigger one) and install Windows 98SE on it, add the USB board, and your good to go.

billboe · Mar 24, 2002

I've found the only sure way to avoid bad things is to close all the apps, and shut down completely - a cold boot. (leave the swicth off for 10 seconds or so).

If you're just trying to clean up software issues (memory leaks, etc.), I can't see what leaving the system off for 10 seconds will do... When I do a cold reboot (very rarely with Windows 2000 /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif), I'll keep it off for a couple seconds but that is just to let the power supply "settle"... Not sure if this is necessary, but, hey, I'm a software guy! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

billboe · Mar 24, 2002

I looked a little and found w2000 new for around $200.

I'm sure you can beat this... pricewatch or <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=217635/ut=9c99fff3262dc0ed/>pricegrabber</A>. They had new versions from vendors for about $118 and $137 respectively.

Wingnut · Mar 24, 2002

cold boot is a cold boot is a cold boot ... turning off the power for long enough to make sure everything actally powered down. 2 seconds is usually "considered" to be too short and my experience with turning off and on sh0ows that to be true. Most folks say 5 seconds ... but since I'm concervative I make it 10. Why? Well ... I don't time it by a stop watch so at least I'm pretty sure it was long enough.
You don't know how it would solve a software problem like a memory leak? ... ok, ok I'll not make any snide comments but I think that in a cold boot, the software problem (since software only runs when the machine is on) goes away ... and memory will definietly be starting from scratch.
I'm happy for you that your WinNT (2k) system never needs to be rebooted. I wish I could say the same for all the NT servers we run ... Cycling them is the only way of ensuring that they perform their one and only task (file servers) all week long.
On the other hand, my 98SE machine runs 20-30 differnt programs every day and, since I only have 128mb of RAM (twice what the company bought - but I'm a "rebel"), and have to open and close programs constantly ... I get to reboot a lot.
The day they retire this eCommerce program that is java-based and runs on MS's browsers on an NT servers ... will be the day you'll hear me cheering whereever you happen to be!!!

billboe · Mar 24, 2002

You don't know how it would solve a software problem like a memory leak? ... ok, ok I'll not make any snide comments but I think that in a cold boot, the software problem (since software only runs when the machine is on) goes away ... and memory will definietly be starting from scratch.

I didn't say that a cold boot wouldn't solve memory problems, I said a cold boot with a 10 second delay wouldn't help solve memory problems any more than a cold boot with a few second delay...

I'm concervative

Ya think? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

scruffy · Mar 24, 2002

Personally, I would throw my hat in the 5-10 no power ring. Longer, if I have the patience. I have found (on a consistant basis) that the longer time with the power off, the better the results on bootup. Many times, I will power it down, walk off and get a cup of coffee, etc, come back and it will work as it should on bootup, but the short powerdown, and back up, just does not give time for things to clear.
Remember, in just powering down, you should wait a minimum of 5 seconds after the shutdown before turning the power off....another 10 seconds after power off, is definately beneficial. IMHO