Hello All,
Have been doing some electrical work for my neice, who I have not seen for some time, (stuff the EU directive). She is complaining about her new PC from PC World (£499).
I tried it - P4 Celeron 2.8GHz, 40Gb HD, 256MB RAM. It took an age to boot XP Home, and System showed 232MB of RAM. She has Broadband but the little yellow strips come up like on dial-up. PC World have offered an additional 256 MB of RAM for £15.
I don't think this rig is fit for purpose and have advised her to try to get a refund.
Any advice welcome.
Thanks in advance,
peahouse05

I doubt she'll get a refund, but throwing another 256mb ram into the mix should help no end as trying to boot xp with 256mb is just dire...should have 512mb as standard....


Why didn't she ask for advice on here before buying, we could of saved her a lot of hassle and time....Never mind..

They keep doing that, and they ain't alone ... just enough memory to make the thing work.
A 40gig HD where the hell did they get them from.

When I first started installing XP on my 'customers' PCs, 6years ago, I always put 1gig ram in there.


The min is 512, in my book, if they are "cheating" even further and the PC has an intrigrated graphics card, you need more, 1gig min. The "sweet spot" for XP is 1.5gig ram, 2gig is easier as you need to use two slots these days. Most of us do fine with 1gig.

The Celeron is not a racehorse, it's a donkey and should be avoided.

Sorry to say, but they are well within the statute of the law to sell you a PC in that "state" as it err, does work eventually. It is £250 overpriced.

Thanks Mucks,
Needless to say she didn't ask, just wandered into PC World and got tempted by the pretty colours on the case and 'advice' from a salesperson.
Cheers,
peahouse05

No problem peahouse...Glad i could help...

Must tell my boss to jazz up the colours of the laptops we supply

... your explanation was too short

Thanks crazylegs,
Got the full story today - neice had gone to PC World for a cheap laptop and at least the salesperson advised her that a PC was better value. She did ask for a 'basic' setup for internet and the kids homework (I hope there isn't a piece of software somewhere which does the homework but you can buy a thesis so why not?).
She is also paying 5.99 a month for something, so advised her to cancel that since there must be a 12 month guarantee. Oh I remember you take the PC 34 miles to Barnstaple to be serviced every 12 months.
Cheers,
peahouse05

Hi All,
As a last postscript to this sorry episode can anyone tell me why 256MB RAM should show in System as 232MB. I am obviously desparate to see PC World as guilty of some error here.
Thanks in advance,
peahouse05

On-board video, if it is, is 'sharing' the ram? ... but strange to be only 24mb

Is there a 'brand' name to this PC?