What's an operating system in a computer -- is that your applications, like Word, PowerPoint, Internet????

:shrug: I can get a computer free but it doesn't have an "operating system" and its...

a Dell Optiplex GX1 400MHz Pentium II-series PCs that will soon be disposed of 6 GB drives and 384Mb of installed memory... is this worth it? I have Windows 2000 I can install and my other computer is only a 333MHz (?) or a 300(MHz) - it was top of the line back in 1997 but I definately need to get with the times... is this a step up?

:shrug:

Operating system would be like ....XP

98
2000 pro
XP home
XP pro
is an operating system

CLICK on Start and look to the left and you will see what operating system you have

The OS (operating system) is the primary software that resides on the hard drive, like Windows XP, 2000, etc. that Bill Gates would have liked for everyone to LEASE from him thus drawing income from them and YOU forever :lol: ...
those other things are software packages (applications) that you use to do what you want to do. P II's are fairly outdated... Win 2000 is HUGE...but will fit on a P II, it is a step up from what you have....but you probably won't be real happy if you do graphics work. a 6 gig HD (hard drive) is small too.

It's worth it....

Why does the cup holder on my PC close and open by itself when I turn on the computer. It makes my beer fall off when the little drawer goes in if I don't catch it in time
:shrug:
:shrug:

98
2000 pro
XP home
XP pro
is an operating system

CLICK on Start and look to the left and you will see what operating system you have


Thanks for your help... Found out they aren't giving them away but selling for $80.00 with no software. I have windows 2000 at home... can't I just install that into the computer if I get one here?

:shrug:
:lmao:

The OS (operating system) is the primary software that resides on the hard drive, like Windows XP, 2000, etc. that Bill Gates would have liked for everyone to LEASE from him thus drawing income from them and YOU forever :lol: ...
those other things are software packages (applications) that you use to do what you want to do. P II's are fairly outdated... Win 2000 is HUGE...but will fit on a P II, it is a step up from what you have....but you probably won't be real happy if you do graphics work. a 6 gig HD (hard drive) is small too.


I don't do many graphics at home... but I do play games on it -- will this be affected? also, it doesn't come with a monitor, mouse or keyboard. I do need to add more RAM to my current computer -- this I've actually done before -- is all RAM bars compatible?

Thanks for your help... Found out they aren't giving them away but selling for $80.00 with no software. I have windows 2000 at home... can't I just install that into the computer if I get one here?

IF you have the complete Win 2000 CD (not updates), you should be able to install the OS, do you know how?
http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/win/osonpartition_win.html

IF you have the complete Win 2000 CD (not updates), you should be able to install the OS, do you know how?
http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/win/osonpartition_win.html


Well I have Windows 95 and then upgrades for 98 and 2000, so I'd have to install the Windows 95 first.... is $80.00 a good pricE?

Why does the cup holder on my PC close and open by itself when I turn on the computer. It makes my beer fall off when the little drawer goes in if I don't catch it in time
:shrug:Pete, I keep telling you there's two drawers in most computers. You have to open both of them for your cup holder.:shrug:

I don't do many graphics at home... but I do play games on it -- will this be affected? also, it doesn't come with a monitor, mouse or keyboard. I do need to add more RAM to my current computer -- this I've actually done before -- is all RAM bars compatible?

depends on the graphics card. some games require extreme graphics cards, but if you can play what you have on the 333 you have you should be OK.
NO RAM is not all the same. You need to find out what it already has, but you should have enough in it with the current config. RAM (Random Access Memory) is so you can have multiple applications open at one time, and not really feel the effects in any application. On this machine you'll probably have enough. Hey, maybe I'll buy one!! do they have enough? mine at home is a gateway 266 :dead:

Thanks for your help... Found out they aren't giving them away but selling for $80.00 with no software. I have windows 2000 at home... can't I just install that into the computer if I get one here?

I'd say they should pay you to dispose of it.. if the box is nice might be worth it to gut it and upgrade..
but basically.. 400MhZ 6 GB HD.. not worth the trouble of carrying it to your car..

What size hard drive do you have now?

Well I have Windows 95 and then upgrades for 98 and 2000, so I'd have to install the Windows 95 first.... is $80.00 a good pricE?

absolutely correct... time consuming, but correct :lol:

I know nothing about computers but $80 for a cpu only seems like a lot when I see specails on tv all the time for new complete systems for under $500,

depends on the graphics card. some games require extreme graphics cards, but if you can play what you have on the 333 you have you should be OK.
NO RAM is not all the same. You need to find out what it already has, but you should have enough in it with the current config. RAM (Random Access Memory) is so you can have multiple applications open at one time, and not really feel the effects in any application. On this machine you'll probably have enough. Hey, maybe I'll buy one!! do they have enough? mine at home is a gateway 266 :dead:


Good - that gets me off the hook, I had already asked them to reserve one and I'm friends with the IT manager so he said he'd save me the best they got. You can have it.

ITBOB -- I don't know how much memory I have on computer at home -- I just know I can't download alot of things because it says it's 96% used up.

Thanks for your help... Found out they aren't giving them away but selling for $80.00 with no software. I have windows 2000 at home... can't I just install that into the computer if I get one here?
Sure you can, it will be illegal but you can do it. I assume the 2000 disc you have at home has already been installed n a computer. A CD key is supposed to be for ONE computer only. But I would not worry about the cop’s commin down to your house and busting down the door if you did it.

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I'd say they should pay you to dispose of it.. if the box is nice might be worth it to gut it and upgrade..
but basically.. 400MhZ 6 GB HD.. not worth the trouble of carrying it to your car..
What size hard drive do you have now?

It's bigger than she already has...and for 80 bucks...she could buy a second 20g HD and mirror the OS, so she'd be working from the secondary HD...
I'd buy one just to have around, considering my primary HD @ home is about to go kaflooey...i'll just rip out the CDR's and the second HD and put them into it....the kids jump on mine and kick start it anyway :lol:

Sure you can, it will be illegal but you can do it. I assume the 2000 disc you have at home has already been installed n a computer. A CD key is supposed to be for ONE computer only. But I would not worry about the cop’s commin down to your house and busting down the door if you did it.

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WELL...if i BUY software, i'm gonna install it on ANY computer I use....but hey, that's me.... :lmao:

Good - that gets me off the hook, I had already asked them to reserve one and I'm friends with the IT manager so he said he'd save me the best they got. You can have it.


Let me look at the specs again... :twitch: I'm on the fence about buying a new one or not....but then again, Oct 1 is Friday and i may not have a job..... :frown: the life of a federal contractor....

Dems, I bought a similar computer last year. I remember that it kept trying to boot off a network rather than the hard drive, and I had to change a setting in the BIOS to fix that.

ItsBob is right about the OptiPlex being way behind the times. But it is upgradable, unlike the P.O.S. Compaq we bought in 1997 that had the graphics and modem integrated into the motherboard. I think the OptiPlex can handle 768MB of memory. I intend to use ours as the kids' first computer.

Dems, I bought a similar computer last year. I remember that it kept trying to boot off a network rather than the hard drive, and I had to change a setting in the BIOS to fix that.
ItsBob is right about the OptiPlex being way behind the times. But it is upgradable, unlike the P.O.S. Compaq we bought in 1997 that had the graphics and modem integrated into the motherboard. I think the OptiPlex can handle 768MB of memory. I intend to use ours as the kids' first computer.

Compaq/hp=:dead:
:lol:
:razz:

absolutely correct... time consuming, but correct :lol:
Trying to remember.. but if remember correctly the WIN 98 update actually had the full version on it, and there is a shortcut to take to do a full install with it.. but it's been a LONG time since I've done it.. I'll do it, but I'm expensive! Might cost ya a coors light or sumpin..

Dems, I bought a similar computer last year. I remember that it kept trying to boot off a network rather than the hard drive, and I had to change a setting in the BIOS to fix that.

ItsBob is right about the OptiPlex being way behind the times. But it is upgradable, unlike the P.O.S. Compaq we bought in 1997 that had the graphics and modem integrated into the motherboard. I think the OptiPlex can handle 768MB of memory. I intend to use ours as the kids' first computer.

Niece showed up with a Dell that belonged to her sister.. wanted me to help her upgrade it.. opened the box.. ONE PCI slot, no AGP, sound and video integrated into the MB.. and ONE expansion slot for the CD drive..

Went online bought her a new Enlight Case, new Abit MB, Memory.. etc etc... Even the CD Drive was crap, couldn't gt drivers for it ANYWHERE.. dug through my warehouse of spare parts and pieced together a NICE computer for her for $300

Dems, I bought a similar computer last year. I remember that it kept trying to boot off a network rather than the hard drive, and I had to change a setting in the BIOS to fix that.

You have to make sure your BIOS is set to read your floppy drive first for the boot up sequence.

I know nothing about computers but $80 for a cpu only seems like a lot when I see specails on tv all the time for new complete systems for under $500,


BINGO.. specially since it doesn't come with an OS.. or application software of any kind.. Looking at spending a few hundred more just on software..

Trying to remember.. but if remember correctly the WIN 98 update actually had the full version on it, and there is a shortcut to take to do a full install with it.. but it's been a LONG time since I've done it.. I'll do it, but I'm expensive! Might cost ya a coors light or sumpin..

I'm FREE (us girls gotta stick togetha..)

http://www.learnthat.com/courses/computer/buildpc/install.shtml

BINGO.. specially since it doesn't come with an OS.. or application software of any kind.. Looking at spending a few hundred more just on software..

Unless you are a computer geek like moi...and have it already. :angel:

Compaq/hp=:dead:
:lol:
:razz:

I have a Compaq Presario that I've had for just over 3 years now and have had no problems with it (aside from virus-related stuff, which Compaq has no control over). It still works like a champ and is fast as heck. It has held its own in terms of performance, too (P4, 512 mg ram, 80 gig hd, WinXP) ... I've had this computer longer than any of the 4 I've ever owned. :yay:

dug through my warehouse of spare parts and pieced together a NICE computer for her for $300


I'M TELLIN' YOUR OFFICE SUPPLIES MANAGER!!
:razz:

I know nothing about computers but $80 for a cpu only seems like a lot when I see specails on tv all the time for new complete systems for under $500,
And that's the problem. The low-end computers have integrated graphics and sound rather than graphics cards and sound cards, so forget about serious gaming or graphic design. And they have fewer (or none) slots for additional memory. Even Dell takes that approach.

Dems, I bought a similar computer last year. I remember that it kept trying to boot off a network rather than the hard drive, and I had to change a setting in the BIOS to fix that.

ItsBob is right about the OptiPlex being way behind the times. But it is upgradable, unlike the P.O.S. Compaq we bought in 1997 that had the graphics and modem integrated into the motherboard. I think the OptiPlex can handle 768MB of memory. I intend to use ours as the kids' first computer.


my computer IS the P.O.S Compaq I bought in 1997 -- we have the same computer... :lol:

I'M TELLIN' YOUR OFFICE SUPPLIES MANAGER!!
:razz:
MY spare parts warehouse.. the one that was in my basement, and living room, and bedroom, and attic!! Boy, I can FEEL the love in here!! :killingme

Unless you are a computer geek like moi...and have it already. :angel:
BABY!! You've just met the SUPER GEEK.. I've got it ALL!!

MY spare parts warehouse.. the one that was in my basement, and living room, and bedroom, and attic!! Boy, I can FEEL the love in here!! :killingme

Then i'm tellin' MY office supplies manager!! :lol:



you keep spare parts in your bedroom?????? :dead:

Then i'm tellin' MY office supplies manager!! :lol:



you keep spare parts in your bedroom?????? :dead:


I can free up some space if you have a monitor, a modem, a mouse and a keyboard..

by the way this cpu in question also has a network card... does that mean anything :shrug: I won't need a network system set up. :shrug:

I can free up some space if you have a monitor, a modem, a mouse and a keyboard..

by the way this cpu in question also has a network card... does that mean anything :shrug: I won't need a network system set up. :shrug:
Which network NBC, ABC or CBS?

Which network NBC, ABC or CBS?

judging from her username, probably CNN. :ohwell:

Which network NBC, ABC or CBS?


:ohwell:

Pete, I keep telling you there's two drawers in most computers. You have to open both of them for your cup holder.:shrug:
Silly man, the lower one is for 16oz tall boys.

Hey,

I work with computers for a living and also love upgrading mine when I get the chance. However, in you situation it would appear to be better to simply go to wally world and buy a Compaq or something such as that for about 5 bills. It just simply isnt worth the time, effort, and trouble of upgrading the afformentioned computer. Furthermore, the results will surely not outweigh the money or the lack of performance gain for your efforts.

The fact that anyone would consider buying a 400Mhz computer with a 6G HD and 384Mb RAM, for any price, is scary. Additionally, without an installed operating system, you'd better be pretty savvy with computers before attempting to load one. I guarantee that you'll spend your $80 and you'll never get it to work.

Dell is offering it's Dimension 3000 P4, with 2.8Ghz CPU, 40Gb drive, monitor, XP, DVD, 512 MB SDRAM, etc. for $529. The SDRAM alone is runnnig at 400Mhz, or as fast as that $80 machine of yours. Don't buy it...

Steve, our Optiplex is working OK. As I said, we got it as a second computer for our kids. Mommy and Daddy use a Dimension 8100. When the kids start school in a couple of years, then we might buy them something with more horsepower, or even get a new one for us and give the 8100 to the kids. But you're right that Dems probably needs a Pentium 4 machine.