System just freezes... help

[Barb]

Hi there,

Okay - I'm not that techy when it comes to PCs so any help here would be
very appreciated.

I have an 2nd older PC that I let my kids use since I got my new PC.

Setup (homebuilt by friend in 1999):
Windows 2k (service pack 2)
Pentium II - 350 Mhz
ASUS mobo (P2B) with AGP
256k memory
60 GB HD
ATI All-In-Wonder Pro video card
Soundblaster 16 Sound card
(pc is not connected to internet)

For the most part it works fine for their games. I just bought them a new
Spiderman game that requires 3D T&L and my ATI video card doesn't support
that.

I thought it would be a simple thing to just yank the ATI card and replace
it with the nVidia GeForce MX 200. (note: got the video card off of ebay -
no software/drivers included)

Once I downloaded & installed the geforce drivers my PC would just freeze.
It would vary also... sometimes it would freeze when I went to click on an
icon, entering my windows password, just moving the mouse or even when I
hadn't even touched it. It was never consistent. If I uninstall the
drivers, it doesn't freeze.

I finally just put everything back the way it was so at least they could
play on the PC while I figured out what to do next.

I'm wondering if it is worth it to purchase another graphics card off the
shelf so that I can make sure I have the drivers/software. This all started
because of the single new Spiderman game and now that I've reread the sys.
requirements it also calls for a Pentium III. Would this even work on my
PII if I did have a working upgraded video card?

I didn't want to be dumping a lot of money into this PC, but if games are
becoming more relient on the 3D cards with transform and lighting then I
want a PC that is compatible, yet practical. (My kids are 5 & 7) I would
also hate to spend $100 on a card only to find that my processor speed is
too slow or out-dated.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which direction I should go with
this? Thanks so much!

....bo

 

[Atle]

Hi there,

Okay - I'm not that techy when it comes to PCs so any help here would be
very appreciated.

I have an 2nd older PC that I let my kids use since I got my new PC.

Setup (homebuilt by friend in 1999):
Windows 2k (service pack 2)
Pentium II - 350 Mhz
ASUS mobo (P2B) with AGP
256k memory
60 GB HD
ATI All-In-Wonder Pro video card
Soundblaster 16 Sound card
(pc is not connected to internet)

For the most part it works fine for their games. I just bought them a new
Spiderman game that requires 3D T&L and my ATI video card doesn't support
that.

I thought it would be a simple thing to just yank the ATI card and replace
it with the nVidia GeForce MX 200. (note: got the video card off of ebay -
no software/drivers included)

Once I downloaded & installed the geforce drivers my PC would just freeze.
It would vary also... sometimes it would freeze when I went to click on an
icon, entering my windows password, just moving the mouse or even when I
hadn't even touched it. It was never consistent. If I uninstall the
drivers, it doesn't freeze.

I finally just put everything back the way it was so at least they could
play on the PC while I figured out what to do next.

I'm wondering if it is worth it to purchase another graphics card off the
shelf so that I can make sure I have the drivers/software. This all started
because of the single new Spiderman game and now that I've reread the sys.
requirements it also calls for a Pentium III. Would this even work on my
PII if I did have a working upgraded video card?

I didn't want to be dumping a lot of money into this PC, but if games are
becoming more relient on the 3D cards with transform and lighting then I
want a PC that is compatible, yet practical. (My kids are 5 & 7) I would
also hate to spend $100 on a card only to find that my processor speed is
too slow or out-dated.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which direction I should go with
this? Thanks so much!

...bo

Have you un.installed the old ati-drivers?

 

[Barb]

I uninstalled the old ATI drivers after I put the geforce2 card in...
Should I have uninstalled the drivers *prior* to putting the geforce card
in?

As of today.. the ATI drivers are re-installed along with the ATI card. The
Geforce drivers and card are uninstalled.

 

[DaveW]

I'm sorry to say that you really need to think about get a new (or used)
more modern system for your kids if they are going to be playing games.
Your CPU will not be adequate (meet the minimum requirements) for most of
today's games. And your motherboard is extremely limited as to what video
card it's older design can use. I would not recommend putting anymore money
into this system.

 

[Barb]

Thank you!

I'm sorry to say that you really need to think about get a new (or used)
more modern system for your kids if they are going to be playing games.
Your CPU will not be adequate (meet the minimum requirements) for most of
today's games. And your motherboard is extremely limited as to what video
card it's older design can use. I would not recommend putting anymore money
into this system.