Upgrading a computer

[Lil' Dave]

This may not be the group to ask the following question, but I am open
to any suggestions of a suitable one.

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower). It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded to XP
I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure about the
video or sound cards - but they are not expensive to deal with I
think.

The HDD capacity is not as important as speed.
We are short of USB ports as well. The only accessories currenly in
use are the keyboard, mouse and printer. Can someone please advise
what components I should be looking for, and could I do this myself?
I'm quite handy with electronic things.

Thanks

Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!
Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!

If speed is at the top of the list, installing XP is two steps back compared
to your current OS.

 

[Daisy]

This may not be the group to ask the following question, but I am open
to any suggestions of a suitable one.

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower). It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded to XP
I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure about the
video or sound cards - but they are not expensive to deal with I
think.

The HDD capacity is not as important as speed.
We are short of USB ports as well. The only accessories currenly in
use are the keyboard, mouse and printer. Can someone please advise
what components I should be looking for, and could I do this myself?
I'm quite handy with electronic things.

Thanks

Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!
Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!

 

[FML]

This may not be the group to ask the following question, but I am open
to any suggestions of a suitable one.

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower). It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded to XP
I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure about the
video or sound cards - but they are not expensive to deal with I
think.

The HDD capacity is not as important as speed.
We are short of USB ports as well. The only accessories currenly in
use are the keyboard, mouse and printer. Can someone please advise
what components I should be looking for, and could I do this myself?
I'm quite handy with electronic things.

Thanks

Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!
Daisy

Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!

Without knowing what kind of CPU you have, how much and what type of
RAM, how big and what type of Hard drive, it is hard to give specific
recommendations.

You can usually count on reusing the monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem and
CD burner and maybe the hard drive. You will more than likely need a new
case/power supply, motherboard, ram, and probably a video card. So much
depends on what you currently have and what your planned use for the
computer is.

Doing it yourself is not very difficult and can be very rewarding.
Don't expect to save much money doing it yourself but you will know
exactly what quality of components are in your machine.

Check this web site for practically everything you always wanted to know
about building your own computer:

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/index.htm

 

[NotMe]

The best/cheapest upgrade would be to add more RAM.
Get out your owners manual, or go to Dell's website and see what the
capacity of your motherboard is.
Personally, I think W98SE is still a good OS, your old machine may not even
be compatible with XP.
There is not a faster modem available unless you go to cable or DSL, then
you would need a NIC not a modem.
If you have an open PCI slot, you can get a 5 port USB 2 card many places
(including WalMart) for about $25.
Clean up your startup to make sure only necessary programs run.
[start>run>msconfig>startup tab]
Unnecessary programs running in the background is the worst offender I find
on almost every system I am called on to 'fix'.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

This may not be the group to ask the following question, but I
am open
to any suggestions of a suitable one.

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower).
It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded
to XP

"Should be"? Why "should be."

I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure
about the
video or sound cards - but they are not expensive to deal with
I
think.

The HDD capacity is not as important as speed.
We are short of USB ports as well. The only accessories
currenly in
use are the keyboard, mouse and printer. Can someone please
advise
what components I should be looking for, and could I do this
myself?
I'm quite handy with electronic things.

You've told us next to nothing about what components it has, but
chances are to run XP you'd need at least a new motherboard,
processor, RAM, and hard drive. Add the cost of XP to that. and
it probably makes no economic sense to upgrade it. You can
instead buy a whole new starter computer from Dell for $400;
although that would not be a speed demon, it would almost
cetrainly be much better than anything you could upgrade to, and
for less money.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

In


"Should be"? Why "should be."




You've told us next to nothing about what components it has, but
chances are to run XP you'd need at least a new motherboard,
processor, RAM, and hard drive. Add the cost of XP to that. and
it probably makes no economic sense to upgrade it. You can
instead buy a whole new starter computer from Dell for $400;
although that would not be a speed demon, it would almost
cetrainly be much better than anything you could upgrade to, and
for less money.

I completely agree with Ken. Add a network card to the old system and
network it with the new one.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Ron Martell]

This may not be the group to ask the following question, but I am open
to any suggestions of a suitable one.

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower). It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded to XP
I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure about the
video or sound cards - but they are not expensive to deal with I
think.

The HDD capacity is not as important as speed.
We are short of USB ports as well. The only accessories currenly in
use are the keyboard, mouse and printer. Can someone please advise
what components I should be looking for, and could I do this myself?
I'm quite handy with electronic things.

Thanks

If the computer is terribly slow running Windows 98 SE then it is
going to be woefully inadequate for running Windows XP.

You would have to upgrade so many components that it will undoubtedly
be cheaper and better to purchase a complete new computer.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Plato]

I have a second older computer (Dell) in a box (not a tower). It
needs an upgrade because it is terribly slow.

It is currently set up with Winows 98SE, but should be upgraded to XP
I think. It has a 56x modem and CD burner. I'm not sure about the

Why should it be upgraded to XP?