old computer!

well I'm getting a new computer in my room(well new in my room but it is a used computer, i think windows 98)
i am getting it this weekend and have a few questions-

1.i think it is windows 98, can i install windows xp on it?
2.if i can't install windows xp on it can i get updates from Microsoft .com for windows 98?
3.it does not have a Ethernet port can i install it my self, if so then how.
4.when i get it I'm only getting the tower(no monitor, mouse, and maybe a keyboard), can i set it up to my windows xp, screen,mouse and keyboard, will i get any problems, it won't blow up right?(only for a little while, until i get a monitor and other stuff for it)
5.i have some extra ram can i install it on this computer my self, if so how?


Chris thanks

 

1.Yes you can but unless it has 512mb of memory and a 1ghz cpu its very sluggish,I have installed XP on 450mhz \500mhz systems with 256mb memory and they surf the web 'ok' with all the windows eye candy turned down but arnt much good at anything else

2.Microsoft stopped supporting win 98 many moons ago so if you go online you will be vulnerable

3.Yes buy a pci ethernet card for $5 from newegg ect. install it into an extra pci slot most dont need software to work, windows will find it and install the correct driver

4.No your peripherals should work fine with the new tower

5.Run this memory test on the computer you want to install the extra memory into;

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/index.aspx

It will tell you what memory you need,then read the side of your extra ram sticks to see if they are compatible if your unsure post both the memory you have installed and the memory you want to install here and I or another member will tell you if its compatible

Dont hesitate to post back if your unsure of anything

 

Yes, I've run older computers on XP, even ones which were sold with W98 / ME installed. I had a couple of AMD 500s, and they did work on the internet, albeit slowly. In fact, the first PC I ever used on the internet was an AMD with a slightly smaller processor than that. I can't remember exactly, but something like 450 I think. And it was on a free trial of AOL on dialup. Sheer torture waiting for pages to load, but it worked.

I did put XP Pro on a pentium 2 machine once, just to see what it was like, and it was terrible. It only had a 2 Gb hard drive, so there was hardly any space left for things like the temporary files needed to copy CDs.

 

Regarding question 3: as Rikky stated above, you can buy an ethernet card and put in any available PCI slot, but Windows 98 probably will NOT auto-install the drivers (XP probably will). Win98 will detect the card and it will prompt you for the drivers, at which point you'll insert the driver CD or floppy disk that came with the card.... no problem

hd2k

 

1.ok well it's either a 2000 or me, i'm not shore because when its starts up in very beginning its says 2000 but in the loading screen it says me also ccleaner says me, so i'm confused, are there updates for these versions?

2.lol i think I'm going to install the extra ram i have, will it make the computer faster?

3.i have 2 gbs on my harddrive should i get a new harddrive?

4.if i install windows xp will it be slower than it is now, also how do i go apon installing windows xp, yes i have the xp cds, from my other computer?

5.anything else i can do to make it faster lol,other than programs?

Chris thanks

 

You might try installing EVEREST from
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html
if you have room on your hard drive. 2gig Hard drives are certainly not suitable for much nowadays.

Click on "Computer" on the left hand side menu, then click on "Summary"

Let us know what it says for "Operating system", "CPU type", "System Memory" and "Disk drive" (underneath the heading "Field"), and we will be able to give you better advice.

I have attached a thumbnail (click on it) as an example of the info you should be looking for (as per above). Bazza

 

The memory requirements are no joke, I've had several XP machines with 128Meg RAM that we thought were broken. They started out OK, but as soon as you add anything the computer chokes.

I'm still a fan of Win98SE, but you do have to learn how to install drivers. This sounds scarey, but isn't once you get the hang of it.

I have bought used 10Gig hard drives for $10, sometimes $5. Keep your eyes out for bargins, they're out there.

It's been said already, but don't be afraid to ask questions. This group likes helping people come up to speed, and old computers that are being used aren't filling the landfill somewhere...

 

Here it is:
computer-
operating system- Microsoft Windows ME
OS Service Pack- -
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name -
User Name -


Motherboard
CPU Type- Intel Pentium MMX, 200 MHz
Motherboard Name Intel Lonetree LT430TX (3 ISA, 4 PCI, 2 DIMM)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Triton 82430TX
System Memory 96 MB (SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (12/15/97)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM4)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter ATI Rage II+ PCI(ati_m64) (2 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI 3D-Rage II+


Multimedia
Audio Adapter Advance Logic ALS4000 Audio Device


Storage
IDE Controller Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
IDE Controller Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
IDE Controller Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Floppy Drive GENERIC NEC PLOPPY DISK
Disk Drive GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE40
Optical Drive MITSUMI CD-ROM FX3205 !B (32x CD-ROM)
SMART Dard Disks Status OK


Partitions
C: (FAT32) 2010 MB (248 MB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port

Network
Network Adapter Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter (192.168.1.115)
Network Adapter PPP Adapter .
Network Adapter PPP Adapter .
Modem Lucent Win Modem


Peripherals
Printer CAPTURE FAX BVRP
USB1 Controller Intel 82371AB/EB PIIX4 - USB HOST Controller
USB Device Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter


I am going to start looking on ebay for a new harddrive, because i'm planning on downloading lots of things on this computer.
After all the things i did(ccleaner,spyware doctor, wise regristy cleaner,etc)it got a lot faster, in fact its prity fast.

chris

 

Here's the critical bits, extracted from your specs.

Operating system- Microsoft Windows ME
CPU Type- Intel Pentium MMX, 200 MHz
System Memory 96 MB (SDRAM).
Display Video Adapter ATI Rage II+ PCI(ati_m64) (2 MB).
Disk Drive GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE40
C: (FAT32) 2010 MB (248 MB free).

I'd be tempted to leave it alone, except for a bigger capacity hard drive, you are looking for already. Beware there is probably a maximum limit on hard drive capacity that the mobo and BIOS will accept. 20/40/60 gigs would probably suffice, anyhow.

Maybe increase the RAM to the maximum that the motherboard / BIOS will accept.

Some would recommend going back to Windows 98SE, rather than using ME. I haven't used ME so won't comment on that. You could probably pick up a genuine copy of MS W98SE from e-bay, or computer repair shop very cheap. Bazza

 

I would tend to agree with the above assessment, ME is a close relative of Win98, but a bit bugier. Having said that, if it does what you want then don't worry about it.

More RAM is optional, graphical software always like as much memory as you can give it, but the OS doesn't really need it. If you have applications you think need the extra RAM then you want to add it.

More hard drive space is ALWAYs nice. The motherboard will be limited in what it will take, as Bazza said.

Truthfully, this is a very old machine, as you already knew. I would not spend any real money on things like the OS, you could probably get a newer machine for the price the OS would cost, XP being around $90 or so if you went out and bought it.

If you have trouble finding parts leave me a PM, or post in the trade forum at Major Geeks. A lot of us here have been doing this a while, and will likely be able to help you out for less than a store could sell the used parts.