Computer Crash

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:06 am

Originally posted by Minerva:
Thanks, Mr Sleep. PM would be helpful.

Why should I run Fdisk on the old one first? I mean, the new one will be the master drive, so deal with it first. Or both together...

The PM will be a mo

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:06 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Minerva, I would recommend you do your reformatting and install windows from your start up disk with your old CDRom in place. Once this is done, replace your CDRW and use the add new hardware option in control panel

That is a very good suggestion, actually. I really don't know what's wrong with it, but maybe it's safer to use the old one which came with the system.

I might keep the CDRW out of this machine, so I can use it when I build a new machine.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:11 am

Actually the Startup disk creates something called RAMDRIVE in place of C: so you might not be able to Re-install Windows from that. You would need a boot disk not a startup disk

Actually you should be able to change your boot sequence to CD first, then it will boot windows from your CD, hopefully giving you the option to set it up

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:13 am

@Mr Sleep: Thank you for the PM.

I have another question.

What should I do if I decide to upgrade my motherboard and CPU? Providing I'll keep everything else, is it easier if I wait them to arrive, or I should go ahead with the reformat, then upgrade?

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:13 am

LOL! Minerva

I don't believe I would have perservered as you have without taking a hammer to the old machine and building a new one

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:17 am

@Mr Sleep - maybe we are mixng up terms. My disk labelled 'start-up' enables me to start up from the A drive and gives me the option to reformat and reinstall windows...

@Minerva - sort your drive out now - that is ok

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:22 am

Originally posted by Minerva:
@Mr Sleep: Thank you for the PM.

I have another question. What should I do if I decide to upgrade my motherboard and CPU? Providing I'll keep everything else, is it easier if I wait them to arrive, or I should go ahead with the reformat, then upgrade?

Actually it would be easier if you just get a seperate case and start building it all in there, although that will take time and a certain amount of skill (no offence

) it might be easier to buy in a pre-built motherboard and case combo, then install the chip and other bits to that.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:23 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Mr Sleep - maybe we are mixng up terms. My disk labelled 'start-up' enables me to start up from the A drive and gives me the option to reformat and reinstall windows...

@Minerva - sort your drive out now - that is ok

Hey i might be wrong

Was this a disk that came with your machine or one you created yourself in windows? It is easier to use the windows CDs inbuilt boot like i pointed to earlier (ergo change boot option) because it doesn't effect the rest of the system

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:38 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
LOL! Minerva I don't believe I would have perservered as you have without taking a hammer to the old machine and building a new one

LOL

I was thinking about upgrading, even before this happened.

Actually, I thought of building one myself, to have two machine running two different Windows.

Then, realised, I will go home at the end of January. Japanese technology is usually 6 months ahead of UK (the US is further 3 months ahead, I think

), so I can get better deal there. And, of course, the small matter of VAT: I don't have to pay it if I buy things in Japan in order to take them out from the country!!

That's why I am thinking to buy a motherboard and CPU (Athlon!) to upgrade this current machine to make it a bit cleverer, and build another one a few months later. I believe Memory and CPU will be even cheaper then.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:45 am

Originally posted by Minerva:
That's why I am thinking to buy a motherboard and CPU (Athlon!) to upgrade this current machine to make it a bit cleverer, and build another one a few months later. I believe Memory and CPU will be even cheaper then.

DDR ram has recently gone up, but it might come back down again

CPUs will definately be cheaper then, but 1.2s and such will probably not be sold anymore, just try getting your hands on anything below 800Mhz, it is quite difficult.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:47 am

@Mr Sleep - the start up disk you can create in add/remove programmes is a boot disk that gives you the options of starting in DOS/starting in safe mode/reformatting and reinstalling windows.

You do need to change your BIOS settings to get your pc to boot from floppy first though - just as you suggested re CDRom...

@Mineva - when upgrading I would go for a midi casing and not mini. So many shop sold pcs are in mini casing - no room to add on....

I would heed Mr Sleep re installing CPU (suitable fan) and motherboard though. All my other upgrades I hae done myself - this I had someone who knows do

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:47 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
DDR ram has recently gone up, but it might come back down again CPUs will definately be cheaper then, but 1.2s and such will probably not be sold anymore, just try getting your hands on anything below 800Mhz, it is quite difficult.

By then, I can buy faster one with the same price for current 1.2GHz.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:50 am

Posted by Mr Sleep -

just try getting your hands on anything below 800Mhz, it is quite difficult.

Well I have a spare AMD K6 233 if you are interested - one careful lady owner

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 7:51 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
I would heed Mr Sleep re installing CPU (suitable fan) and motherboard though. All my other upgrades I hae done myself - this I had someone who knows do

I will probably bring them in to the computer centre here to help me, then.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 8:13 am

Mmm, the SYM is suddenly running slow...

I'm off to knock my Windows down.

Hopefully, I can talk to you soon.

Thank you for advice.

Have a lovely weekend.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 11:00 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
Well I have a spare AMD K6 233 if you are interested - one careful lady owner

K6-2 400 mHz to spare

(excpet I can't seem to get the stuff working - damned, seeing I'm studying computers

)

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 11:10 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
K6-2 400 mHz to spare (excpet I can't seem to get the stuff working - damned, seeing I'm studying computers )

I actually meant retail

LOL @Xan, the best way to learn computers is to mess with them IMO, as long as you have the cash.....and the life insurance

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 11:16 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
I actually meant retail

LOL @Xan, the best way to learn computers is to mess with them IMO, as long as you have the cash.....and the life insurance

Well it seems the power won't run through the system correctly - need to test it properly.

And BTW K6-2 can still be found retail