building computers

[Weird Harold]

I know freaky, but there's so much crap I want to keep.. it would take me dozens and dozens of floppies to save

Add another hard-drive if you don't have one -- copy everything you need to the second drive and reformat the original. Then copy it all back.

Reformatting is probbly more than you need. Reinstalling windows should be enough.

 

[Guru]

 

[Guru]

 

[lickerish]

Thanks WH.. like I said before, I'm being stubborn.. but I can't help it.

The computers that I used at work were converted to Windows 2000, and my dad, sister and friend computers all use XP, and they run so slowly! Don't ask me why, but I get more frustrated with their systems than my own (and they all have brand new computers).

Plus alot of people on here complain about how much they hate XP, it just kind of sealed it's own fate, ya know?



Kiwiwolf.. he's tried, he can't fix it! tho he hasn't tried the hammer resolution yet

 

[kiwiwolf]

Kiwiwolf.. he's tried, he can't fix it! tho he hasn't tried the hammer resolution yet

Then the man ought to get onto it! Tell him to get in touch with me. I have hammers of all shapes and sizes and nothing around here is broken... apart from the microwave... and the car... the fridge is playing up a bit...


Actually tell Juspar he can get his own hammers. Good luck.

 

[lickerish]

Thank you Guru

And thank you Weird Harold.. Juspar and I will devote a weekend in an attempt to fix this


He doesn't need too.. he can borrow mine, I have a pretty hefty one in the kitchen But then again, if he buys one.. he can have one set here, and one set there just like his underwear

 

[freakygirl]

Thank you Guru

And thank you Weird Harold.. Juspar and I will devote a weekend in an attempt to fix this


He doesn't need too.. he can borrow mine, I have a pretty hefty one in the kitchen But then again, if he buys one.. he can have one set here, and one set there just like his underwear

Two questions:

1. When you totally distroy your computer.. can I still have it?

2. Speaking of Juspars underwear.. Did he leave some pink with green polka dotted thongs here? I found a pair and no one in my house recognizes them. I found them under Winnie the Pooh

 

[lickerish]

1. I'd say yes freak.. but I promised it to the kids to destroy with their game CD's.

2. Maybe Post a pic on this thread.. I wanna see. They could be mine (not that I remember having pink with green polka dotted thongs )

 

[freakygirl]

I was joking about the thongs..

but I did find a tank top that is yours

 

[lickerish]

Which one?!

 

[freakygirl]

Which one?!

A grey one.. Tommy Hilfigger (sp?)

 

[lickerish]

Oy. *slaps forehead*.. don't tell me I left that one under your bed



Don't tell me I have to drive 250 miles to come and get it Just hold on to it for me please

 

[freakygirl]

Oy. *slaps forehead*.. don't tell me I left that one under your bed



Don't tell me I have to drive 250 miles to come and get it Just hold on to it for me please

It was hanging from the ceiling fan.

I washed it.. and put it away.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I just don't like the version XP or 2000.. it's frustrating to me after using windows '98 for so long.. i'm just stubborn like that. It's tried and true.

I don't have a problem with '98 on the current computer.

I don't think the problem is the OS, it seems to me that it would be something else altogether. I know you say you have one computer with XP and one with 98 and that the 98 computer works fine and the XP doesn't, but I have worked with probably hundreds of computers with all versions of Windoze, and the NT versions (NT 3.51 to XP) have always been the most stable and trouble free. My only bitch has been plug and play and laptops. After W2000 things got a lot easier and when possible I now install W2K on everything. I haven't gone to XP yet because it doesn't have enough to offset the registration hassle or the cost to upgrade from W2K, but I would use it if I were to get a new computer.

My mother has had nothing but problems with Win98 on her computer - but I believe that is not as much due to W98 as it is that she got a virus. It took me a week to back up her laptop and reinstall W98 because the computer just wouldn't boot from the external CD. I got lucky once and it let me - just before I was ready to throw the thing out the window.

It would just be simpler to get a new computer..

It would be quite a bit more costly, and I don't think any simpler - you would still have to install the OS, which it sounds like would be the remedy for your current problems.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

It was hanging from the ceiling fan.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when that happened!

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Thanks WH.. like I said before, I'm being stubborn.. but I can't help it.

The computers that I used at work were converted to Windows 2000, and my dad, sister and friend computers all use XP, and they run so slowly! Don't ask me why, but I get more frustrated with their systems than my own (and they all have brand new computers).

W2K and XP require more memory than Win98/95 - at least 128 MB, preferably 512MB. I have 896 MB in mine. Memory is very cheap right now - 512 MB is about $90. The more memory NT has the faster it runs (with diminishing returns) - if you have too little then it runs slow.

Plus alot of people on here complain about how much they hate XP, it just kind of sealed it's own fate, ya know?

I think most have complained about the registration - but that is mostly a matter of principle, and I believe there is now a hack to get around it. XP is actually very stable, and it has some cool features.

 

[lickerish]

Well, just for an example.. my dad and sis just both got Dells.. both with XP.. but hugely upgraded systems from mine.. but both run super slow, and (not that this is related) but it won't let them view websites.. it'll say 'website not found' or someting, for sites that I can view on my system.. like it won't let my sister go to Yahoo.com I've tried checking all the settings and they all seem correct.

At work we upgraded from '98 to 2000 and those computers went from decent.. to horribly slow.. it was very hard to do our job when the computers weren't acting right.

OK, just so that I have a better understanding.. what is the purpose of Windows?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Well, just for an example.. my dad and sis just both got Dells.. both with XP.. but hugely upgraded systems from mine.. but both run super slow, and (not that this is related) but it won't let them view websites.. it'll say 'website not found' or someting, for sites that I can view on my system.. like it won't let my sister go to Yahoo.com I've tried checking all the settings and they all seem correct.

At work we upgraded from '98 to 2000 and those computers went from decent.. to horribly slow.. it was very hard to do our job when the computers weren't acting right.

Strange - in general I have had just the opposite response as long as the computer had enough memory and CPU resources. NT does take more resources, but given enough it generally does better with them. I had it work just fine on a 450 mHz machine with 128 MB, better with 256 MB. My current machine is a 1 gHz machine with almost 900 MB, and it works just fine - most machines nowadays are 1.2 gHz or better and have at least 128 MB of RAM - maybe the people who set it up scrwed something up.

Another thing is that novices tend to load all kinds of things onto their computers - I know people who have three different kinds of anti-virus protection going at the same time, a firewall, something to roll back software installs, IRC, ICQ, AIM, MIM, at least one P2P file sharing program, and a dozen other things going - and they wonder why they have problems.

OK, just so that I have a better understanding.. what is the purpose of Windows?

I don't understand what you are asking.

Windows is an OS, a user interface, and a platform to support programs written for it.

 

[lickerish]

Meaning, what is it's purpose, function.. what does it do? If I removed Windows, just for the sake of this question, what would happen?

I mean, I know computers need to have it.. but why?

And I think you answered my question.. "and a platform to support programs written for it." like which programs for example?

 

[sexy-girl]

lickerish i would reconsider XP ... it boots very very fast and programs open very quickly it does need a newish computer to be fair though

also if something crashes in windows XP you can close the programme down without having to reset the whole computer

the most stable operatating system microsoft did was win NT/2000 and XP works a lot like that at its core but its easier to use and more user friendly

like you i didnt really like the idea of win XP but having used it on my own computer and got it setup how i like i am pretty much converted


if you removed windows you'd need a startup floppy disk to start your computer and that would put you into a DOS shell where you can install a new operating system but you wouldnt beable to run any programs without windows

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Meaning, what is it's purpose, function.. what does it do? If I removed Windows, just for the sake of this question, what would happen?

I mean, I know computers need to have it.. but why?

And I think you answered my question.. "and a platform to support programs written for it." like which programs for example?

Okay, first, if you removed Windows completely, you would also remove the underlying Operating System. With pre-NT versions of Windoze this OS is DOS, with NT versions the OS is NT itself.

You could install other OSes; such as DOS by itself, or some flavor of Linux, or a couple of other less heard of alternative OSes, the only one of which I would recommend is Linux. But Linux is not really for neophytes. It is a leaner meaner system, but it is nowhere near as plug and play as Windoze, and can require quite a bit of tweaking.

An OS gives you a layer of software that allows you to run user programs/applications such as word processors, email programs, internet browsers, and games. It also allows you to run programs that connect up to the internet and/or to other networks, disk maintenance programs, etc.

In short, unless you are a programmer, and even then, you are not going to be doing much with a computer without and Operating System, and Windows is the most popular OS. In short, you need Windows to run any and all programs - if you want to run anything written for Windows.

You could go back to DOS, but I don't think you would be happy with the experience - command lines, incompatible programs, only being able to run one program at a time. Only being able to run small programs, maybe a few larger p-mode programs.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

if you removed windows you'd need a startup floppy disk to start your computer and that would put you into a DOS shell where you can install a new operating system but you wouldnt beable to run any programs without windows

You could run DOS programs, you could install Linux and run Linux programs, etc.

None of which I think are desireable for Licky, but I am just being anal about it.

 

[FdiskIt]

Building ones own system.

I have been building systems from parts for the last 10 years. I would not recommend building a new system and loading win98. Your best bet will be XP. XP can be configured to look like older versions of Windows. I agree with STG that the more memory you put in the computer the better w2k or Xp will run. Make sure you do research before you begin to buy parts. You need to check into how each part is rated, before you buy it.

I was wondering what the specs of you current computer are.
If it is only 2 years old you maybe able to just upgrade parts of it. You can PM me if you have questions or want parts advice.

Fdiskit.

 

[Weird Harold]

An OS gives you a layer of software that allows you to run user programs/applications such as word processors, email programs, internet browsers, and games. It also allows you to run programs that connect up to the internet and/or to other networks, disk maintenance programs, etc.

An alternative and maybe simpler(?) definition of an Operating System:

The operating system is the program than manages the hardware of your computer so that "appliction programs" don't have to. It's what translates keystrokes into characters and passes them to the program, move the cursor when you move the mouse, keeps track of where things are stored on your hard-frive, and all of the other basic functions programs need to communicate with you and the computer's hardware.

Without an Operating System, a computer is an expensive paperweight.

 

[Weird Harold]

... like which programs for example?

There are basically two types of programs -- operating systems and applications (Yes, all you techy types, I know there are drivers and utilities and such but they're all either operating extensions or applictions for the purposes of this explanation.)

Application programs are the programs that actually "do something" -- Word processes, spreadsheets, databases, games, Media players, etc. Essentially any program that you use is an application.