OS Help

[mrsgkr]

Hi Everyone,
I have a puter I aqcuired from a friend. It has Windows 98SE installed, but some of the files are missing. I wanted to switch to ME or XP (have legal copy of both), but the puter states that with ME, the processor needs to be atleast 150MHz, and with XP it states that RAM needs to be atleast 64MB (currently has 48MB). Which one would be less expensive to do: upgrade the processor or add more memory? And how would I know if it is a SIMM or a DIMM? Or would it be best just to take it to a shop? I am trying to learn as I go!! (Didn't know puter were so frustrating to understand!)
Thanks for any info given.
mrsgkr

[This message has been edited by mrsgkr (edited 03-05-2002).]

[sea69]

don't take it to a shop just yet- see if you can learn something on this machine before you go and get a more up to date one.


1st off, is it a "name brand" computer??

do you have a copy (or can you get one) of win98se??

if so I would stick with that!

increasing your RAM is the easiest way to go.

go to http://www.crucial.com/

and use the index to see what type RAM you need.

I would suggest at least 128MBs for any operating system.

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[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 03-05-2002).]

[mrsgkr]

sea69,
Thanks for your reply. The puter was built in 1999 by a local company. I do not have a copy of 98SE. The guy that gave me the puter still has his copy, but I thought I had to purchase my own since that copy is his. If I upgrade to 128MB RAM, how do I find out if this thing takes SIMMs or DIMMs?
Thanks for the info
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[sea69]

for one thing if he sold you the computer, and it came with win98se installed, he should have included a copy of the OS along with the pc!@~!


how many slots for RAM do you have??

are they all filled??

take one out and take it to Staple, Compusa, or whereever you have there and match it up.


or go here (http://www.simpletech.com/memory/dimmsimm.html)

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[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 03-05-2002).]

[mrsgkr]

Got the puter free. But, I'll ask him for the CD. On the puter: There are 3 slots left. One is black and 2 are white. The black one is about an inch longer than the white ones. Thanks for the web address, it has helped with my new puter, too. Atleast I know I got a good buy on this one (256MB RAM & 4GB HD). I think I have plenty of room on this. Now just to get the other one up and running. I will take your advice and take BOTH types of boards to one of the stores mentioned. That way I'm covered.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[Jumby]

If it was built in '99, it probably has a Pentium III processor in it. That would be fine for what you want. That is, if it was built with current parts. XP won't allow you to install it on that computer if that copy has been installed on another computer. Those slots you're talking about sound like they are PCI and ISA slots, not memory slots. Like "sea" said, take them out and get more like it. They are most likely DIMMS if the computer is that new.

[Jumby]

By the way, if you want a good price on Win98se full version, go here. It's an OEM, so you don't get any support from Microsoft. But it's a damn good price.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/eastoutletcomputers/micwin98sece.html

[sea69]

WoW, if that's a "good price"............

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[mrsgkr]

Jumby & Sea,
Thanks for both your replies.

There is a computer shop across the street from me that is an authorized repair shop for Dell (my new puter). I talked to them and they said they would take a look at it for free and tell me how many mem slots I have and what kind of mem boards I need.

I will be talking to the guy today that gave me the puter and I'll find out if he still has the disk.

I didn't know OS disks were so expensive!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif
You'd think the price would be a little cheaper since newer OS's are out. I guess Microsoft just can't get out of the habit of trying to make a killing off their stuff (no matter how old it is).

I appreciate y'alls advice on this thing. I'll let ya know what the puter shop says. Since I don't know a whole lot, he might try to snow me (me being female). I'll post again and see if what they say is correct.

mrsgkr

[kayofcircles]

Personally, I think they're still charging more for 98SE cuz is better than subsequent versions...but Sea, iisbob, and others are saying that XP is good too. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Wouldn't hurt to wait until they get the bugs out of XP though.

[mrsgkr]

I was unable to get puter to shop. After researching (a lot) and opening up the puter, I found out the it has 4 SIMM slots (says SIMM 1, SIMM2, etc.). All are full. Does this mean it can not be upgraded?
Thanks

[sea69]

kay- me thinks that the only "bugs" in winXP are the ones that their owners put in.

hehe


mrsgkr

go get wcpuid (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.tecchannel.de/freeshareware_neu/tools/diagnose/848/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwcpuid%26hl%3Den), this will tell you what you have.

free

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