have a look at this old crook

Hi,

here's the deal... our computer is a couple of years old and my dad uses it for his work and my sister wants to play the sims 2 on it. It's not reliable anymore as it randomly freezes up. It's been through numerous malware assaults and there is a lot of rubbish on it. It's also damn slow sometimes.

What we want to do is format and reinstall everything on it, and we also have a bit of money to maybe buy a new processor, memory and video card.

My question: What are the steps I must follow in order to get a good clean reinstallation of windows and let it work with all the new hardware (processor etc.. if we buy them)? and, what is the cheapest way to improve the computer's performance?

Specifications now:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Processor - AMD Athlon XP 3000+
Video Adapter - ATI RADEON 9200 (RV280) 128MB
Primary Storage - 512 MB DDR-SDRAM at 166.7 MHz
Secondary Storage - 120GB 7200 rpm

Everything is especially looking slow because we just bought a new computer.


Thanks for having a look and for your help,
Marco


PS. If any questions just ask them

 

First question is the most obvious, do you have a valid Windows CD. As long as you have that most of the rest is gravy.

The second thing to verify BEFORE blanking it is, do you have all your drivers?

The only two things that jump out at me is RAM and hard drive. I just bought a new 500 Gig PATA for around $78, and RAM is pretty cheap. Check your motherboard specs, if it can use faster RAM that's the ticket, as RAM and CPU dictate basic speeds.

The video card is a bit old, but meets the minimum specs for VISTA if I'm not mistaken, so I would leave it alone.

When you have this machine open look around. Are all the fans performing the way they should? Is there any dust buildups that could use blown out or vacuumed up. Never spin a fan with air or vacuum, as that is a good way to burn them out. If a fan blade can move back and forth on its hub it is probably going out or dead.

 

We moved from Holland to Australia just over 2 years ago, and many boxes have gotten lost and we've never found them again. I can't find any drivers and a genuine Windows CD. But we're going to buy a new genuine windows one (should we buy Windows XP or Vista?). Drivers can be downloaded though? So I can download them onto our new computer and transfer them somehow?

How about buying a new motherboard??

Is there a program that can show me the hardware (motherboard) specs and allows me to make a report about it? (freeware)

Ok, but will my sister be able to play the Sims? And anyway to check on that Vista part incase we buy Vista for this computer?

I've vacuumed up inside the computer, and i'm guilty of spinning the fan with the vacuum cleaner .. I checked the temperature of the computer though and it was not over average so I guess that's still good. (there is only one fan)

 

Be prepared for sticker shock if you buy a new motherboard, the new generation of CPUs are pretty expensive. This has been discussed here at MG before, it is probably cheaper to buy a finished machine than build one from scratch.

You'll have to consult the games to see if the video card will work. I believe it will do the Sims, but the box specs rule on this one. One of my kids is into those games, so far the Radeon 8500 is holding up OK, we had to get that used just for your reason. Again, video cards are among the more expensive components you can buy nowdays, unless you shop and get used. In building a power game machine they are one of the major factors to consider.

You might ask some of our Australian compatriots where some of the better sources for parts are and start shopping and comparing of prices.


About the malware damage, have you gone through the full procedures recommended at MG? Their quite good, might even fix your unstabilities. That and the technical help is top notch. Not having a XP CD will be a pain though. If you decide to keep this machine you'll probably have to get one eventually.

 

We want to get started buying new stuff for our computer, but the problems are:
1. Vista or XP?
2. Will the Motherboard support new RAM and CPU? (what does and doesn't the Motherboard support)

What do you say about Vista or XP??
And do you know how I can check what the Motherboard supports?

With an answer to those two questions I can start having a look around (ebay looks good).


And yes, i've been through the full malware check at MG.


Oh yeah.. and the drivers.. is that a YES on 'I can download them onto our new computer and transfer them somehow?'.

Thank you very much for the help so far Bill



EDIT: what do you think of these 2 upgrade kits from Ebay?
- more expensive ($280 US)
- cheap ($120 US)

 

First of all get this software and install in your comp:http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181
Put the info here,cos I want to see the spec from your comp e.g:Mobo,RAM.

 

Here is a system summary.

Thank you,
Marco



Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name PABELL-DESKTOP (PB-Desktop)
User Name XXXXXXXXX

Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon XP, 2166 MHz (13 x 167) 3000+
Motherboard Name MSI KT4M (MS-6596) / MS-6716 (3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DDR DIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset VIA VT8377 Apollo KT400
System Memory 512 MB (PC2700 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (05/21/03)
Communication Port Communicatiepoort (COM1)
Communication Port Communicatiepoort (COM2)
Communication Port ECP-printerpoort (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter GIGABYTE RADEON 9200 - Secondary (128 MB)
Video Adapter GIGABYTE RADEON 9200 (128 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9200 (RV280)
Monitor NEC SlimView 517 [15" LCD] (240358493028)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller

Storage:
IDE Controller VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller SCSI/RAID Host Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Floppy Drive Diskettestation
Disk Drive Maxtor 6Y120L0 (120 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive EG1134C CEJ043F SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive EG1134C CEJ043F SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive EG1134C CEJ043F SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive EG1134C CEJ043F SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive HI0242L COS263P SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive JLMS XJ-HD166S (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
Optical Drive SONY DVD RW DW-U10A (DVD+RW:2.4x/2.4x, DVD-RW:4x/2x, DVD-ROM:8x, CD:24x/10x/32x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 17233 MB (1969 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 60000 MB (20549 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 39997 MB (11452 MB free)
Total Size 114.5 GB (33.2 GB free)

 

if it was me (and it's just a suggestion), i'd stay with xp pro, or xp home (as a vista disk is gonna be costly, and it might barely run if you upgrade your ram, and maybe video card). if you can find someone that has a xp pro disk, you can use it, and use your key (if it's legit), you can use magical jelly bean finder (link below) to get your current key. if things were ok prior to your malware incidents, i'd just add more ram, and maybe upgrade the video card if needed. this way you can save some cash for other things (other upgrades, or another comp).

http://majorgeeks.com/Magical_Jelly_Bean_Keyfinder_d2612.html <-- Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder 2.0 Beta 5

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx <-- Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

what brand is your comp (ie - dell, compaq, etc)?

i bought a copy of xp home, from pricegrabber.com. the only problem, i had was i had to call microsoft to validate the software, but it was no biggie, it was legit (they just asked me where i bought it).

http://software.pricegrabber.com/wi...indows xp/st=sort/qlty=o/sort_type=bottomline

anyway, should you go this route, i'd read all sellers reviews, etc, and make a decision.

as i mentioned earlier, this is only a personal opinion, and i'm sure you will get other comments. g/l, sos

edit - if it's a dell, compaq, etc, then drivers won't be a problem (just go look up your model, and get them from there). if it's a home built comp, then you can hit the m/b site for drivers. also, if it's a brand name comp, then you might be able to get a copy of your os, from them (i've seen people get them for like $20-30 usd with shipping and handling).

 

I agree with sosaman about staying with XP PRO,cos you wont be able to find any drivers for Vista(mobo is to old).uYou should upgrade your graphic card with one of the ATI's 1650 version(now you can find it for 45$).I can't see how much RAm do you have,but you can buy 2gb ddr 400(this is the top for your mobo).This is only my sugestion,so ..go for it!!!

 

So you reckon:

• XP PRO
• 2*512MB DDR 400 (isn't 512mb max supported, and 2 slots??)
• 512MB ATI Radeon X1650 Pro PCI-E Express
• what about processor??

 

You are hitting the point of diminishing returns on this computer. You might find a faster processor, but not that much faster, and it will be more expensive than the return I suspect. For what it's worth, you're 3 gig processor is faster than my 2.5 Gig unit.

The RAM and the video card will show immediate improvments, and you can't live without a XP CD, not long term at least. If you go through the threads you will see there is some disagreement about VISTA vs XP, mostly in the drivers and compatibility with all the stuff written for XPs. Over time it will change, but VISTA does have some trouble with older programs from what I've heard, but I will freely admit I'm no expert on this issue.

 

From what I can see on MSI site Athlon XP +3000 is top for your mobo.
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?...od_no=509&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&cat3_no=#menu

 

if goran's link is correct, then this is the manual page for your m/b. both m/b versions say up to 2 gbyte ram is supported.

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=manual&maincat_no=1&prod_no=509


1) - at this point i'd compare the prices of new ram (ddr, up to 2 gbyte), a video card, and an os (xp home, pro, or maybe a vista upgrade - if possible?). i'd still stay with xp on this one, but that's my personal preference. your ddr ram is probably gonna cost more than ddr2 ram (what the newer m/b uses - in your links below).

- your 1st link (maybe it went up?), is $299.99 + 30 shipping to aus.
- your 2nd link is $120 + 45.99 shipping to aus.
- and you still have to buy an os

i don't know if there is tax included in those links?

i don't know of any places that are in australia, but have you compared prices (remember to add tax, s&h, etc) -

http://www.compusa.com/ <-- online only now (i think)
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.tigerdirect.com/
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp

i'm no expert, just trying to get you thinking (exactly what you want out of this comp). if you post what your looking for (ie - a specific m/b combo, video card, etc), you might get more opinions (from others).

i'd compare prices, reputation (of the companies), warranty, etc. anyway, g/l - sos

 

hmmm.. thank you very much for your help guys. I'm gonna contact a cousin of mine who has a friend who can probably get some cheap stuff for me.

Cheers,
Marco