Novice has upgrade question

My brother-in-law gave me his old computer. It is a Dell desktop running Windows 95 with a Pentium I processor. According to setup, the processor speed is 200 MHz. Inasmuch as many programs these days require at least Windows 98, is it worth it to drop $100 and get the Windows 98 upgrade for this machine? (BTW, if it matters, this machine has three hard drives with a toal of 2 GB between them.) Thanks for helping a "newbie."

 

Think of computers like a car. Can be built for emphasis in particular area. Hey, a Yugo has gas motor, 4 wheels, steering wheel, brakes, lights and you can even put in AM/FM radio..... but does not make it comfortable for momma to haul 3 kids to school in. LOL

What are you planning on using it for? (Sorry if this sounds sarcastic.)

Racing the Daytona 500 (play lastest and greatest PC games, photo editing or video production),,,, no - that old PC ain't gonna cut it.

Get on the Internet; browse a bit and check email? Doing letter writing, spreadsheets or creating something for the office? Maybe upgrade RAM to 64 or 128MB and should be OK.

Setting this up for 'Roger Reader' (young children's learning software)? Probably will work.... gotta check system requirements of software.

Sorry to answer with broad generalizations, but the question is also vague.

Bluecanary25 (taking break from 'the computer thingy is broke')

 

No. The system, itself, is worth maybe $50.00. Keep it. Add larger hard drives and use it for backup storage and emergency use.

 

Smokey says:

The upgrade to Windows 98 is worth the effort. I ran an old 200 for a number of years and was satisfied with the upgrade. It made things a little faster, was easier to navigate, etc. Definitely do the upgrade.

Of course, I'm running a 1.8 Gig Dell now with 512 megs of RAM using Windows-XP and I am hopelessly spoiled. The 170 Meg transfer rate on the cable modem doesn't hurt, either. LOL!


Smokey

 

Well, so far we don't have a consensus, but I wanted to add that this computer has 64 megs of RAM. Would it be worth upgrading that to 128, in addition to or instead of the OS upgrade?

 

That old of a system is probably going to use Simms and they are expensive to say the least if you can even find them. If they are Dimm’s then cram as much memory as you can into it, the hard drive may not be able to be increased. Older computers were not ready for LBA or large block access drives. I would most certainly investigate this thru Dell and find out if it can handle a larger drive than what’s in it. It will run 98 but don’t expect miracles!

 

I hate to be a picky little ****, but.......LBA is actually Logical Block Addressing.

 

True but it actually comes down to the fact it’s designed to access drives over 502 Megs instead of assigning the BIOS to do the job. When you have been a component grade bench tech for 20 plus years you have a tendency to rename things the way they should be instead of the way engineers with no real world experience name them. Kind of like people that have only been using computers for a short time tend to correct people that have been around them for 10 or so years. Should you want the exact definition here is the link http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q122052
But for conversations sake I called it what it does and not the technical term that the person asking the question may not have understood. Those of us that know the system knew what I was saying and left it as it was meant. We here that answer these questions do so on the “KISS” theory, “Keep it Simple Stupid” so as not to confuse folks already frustrated and confused by a system that seems to defy all common sense. I would appreciate it if you kept your comments to yourself, when I feel that the person I am trying to help can understand the exact terminology I use it. You may if you wish, look up the 700 some odd posts I have done as a moderator of this and the stereo forums as well as others to see this. I do not mind constructive criticism but this is the second time you have attempted undermined what I was trying to explain to a novice. Your comments are welcome anytime and I can assure you before I post anything it is researched. I do sometimes answer question on the fly and since I am not perfect I make mistakes but my main objective to get across the answer in a manner the does not demean or further confuse whether or not I use the exact by the book nomenclature is up to my discretion and whether or not I think the person can understand or even wants to know that the blue peg can only go into the purple hole instead of just saying to put it in the purple hole. I am a teacher, like all teachers I use whatever I have at my disposal to teach and be understood in an efficient a manner as possible. Mike…

 

I want throw some wood on the fire, too!

If memory serves me, the BIOS may be limited to 8.4GB per partition (similar to Win95 before OSR2, he did state Pentium @200MHz).............
So If purchase a large drive, please partition in 8GB portions, or you lose lotsa space..

Bluecanary25

 

Yes mam you are exactly right!

 

Thank you so much for following the KISS theory for people like me.

Now, off to read the installation instructions on this new CDRW I just purchased...hope my computer doesn't look like Smokey's under his name on the posts!

Kay

 

Well thanks for the vote. I sounded pretty rough in that post but I am not used to being questioned. I never do anything on these forums unless I have researched it, been through it and if I don’t know I make a call to my partner that does know. So sorry to all here for sounding like a jerk but… Y’all have a good day now hear…

 

Eclipse.

We confuse you? Do not dispair. Do not panic!

IF there is no important data on this older PC, go for it!!!!

From your post, nothing seriously invested into the PC,,,,,,,

Experiment -- Learn -- have some fun and ask questions --

This is how many of use learned. It is a great bonus when you have a PC you can freely experiment with.

Bluecanary25

 

Hey BigMike
Many of us here at DIY, have been helped by you. If Jones can only sit on the sidelines, and throw stones. Who cares, look at the source. You don't owe him/her the courtesy of a reply.

Thank's for all your great help BigMike
Marturo

 

Thanks dude, appreciate the comment! Happy Easter. Getting ready to see how much of a 20 lb ham we can eat