I am trying to restore an old computer?

Question

I am restoring my old, windows 98 computer. A few years back, it became too slow and unresponsive to work, so we got a laptop, which then broke. Now, I want to restore the old computer, but primarily, the case doesn't come off, and secondly, is it viable to restore a computer this old

The chipset is M1543...I believe the processor to be a pentium II, although I can't boot it up to find out. I'll admit to not knowing very much about computers, but which would be more reasonable - getting a new computer to help with my work, or to try and upgrade this one?

Answer 1

If it's a Windows 98 computer, see if you can find the model number. You can probably find the same computer online (eg. eBay) for really cheap.

Answer 2

You have not post the spec of the coomputer so any answer would be very limited in related to resolving your problem.

Are you going to 're-use' win 98 or are you going for xp or at least win 2000 ?

First, can you boot up the machine at all? if not, there are so many possibilities and how much time you have. If you would afford in time wise, carry on trouble shoot other wise look for one in ebay or nowaday people give away their old pc for free.

If the harddisk is fine but just run slow, If you want to stick to win 98, upgrade it to a bigger disk, use a free program, e.g. snapshot, to make a image copy of your current harddisk and 'remap' it on the new bigger disk and you will be running again.

review your motherboard, what comes with it, any usb port(s). How many free pci - assuming here. what kind of ram it take, what is the max it would take etc.

Review how much ram currently have and need any upgrade etc.

BTW, you mentioned it was slow when you 'abandon' it, if it would bootup, consider using open source - unix/linex rather then windows.

Good luck

Answer 3

The case doesn't come off? That makes no sense, somebody had to get the parts in somehow.

It really depends on what you're doing with it, and how good the parts are in it now. If you want nothing more than Internet and email access, and maybe doing some documents, then it's possible to do some upgrades on this one.

If you plan on doing any more than that, turf it and buy a new one.

Honestly, for the amount you're looking at after upgrades and labour, you may as well buy a new system.

Answer 4

What brand is the computer? What is the processor speed? You must be able to take the cover off. You could get it working with just what you already have. Does it boot up?

Win 98 is just the operating sys. You can still operate the computer with it. The hard drive could be upgraded as well as the motherboard.

If you can't do it yourself it wouldn't be worth it. What is wrong with the laptop?

Answer 5

if its an old win 98 pc it stands a chance the motherboard wont support most of the upgrades your going to want , so its a new mother board............buy a new pc !!!

then again ...i spose it depends entirely on what you expect out of it when its done ?

oh , and you can get into all computers one way or another , might just be a sat night puzzle for ya lol .you need to access the motherboard to see what upgrades may be supported


good luck , be fun to play with even if you do get a new one , you can learn loads an if ya kill it its not the end of the world!

Answer 6

You will always have a hard time running recent programs on this computer. New programs require much more resources than the one your PC used to run. Make a list of what you need to make it run, including devices drivers and software. See how much the restoration will cost and how long you intend to use it for.
Personally, I would buy a new one. computers aren't that expensive anymore and think of it as a long term investment rather than trying to wake up the dead.

Answer 7

that's accessible that's the CMOS. circulate into the BIOS and examine that it shows the main suitable hard stress. If that's the incorrect one, and the parameters are off, it won't come across the main suitable boot up section. additionally, while you're confident the hard stress is actual, you won't have an working gadget which contain domicile windows or Linux on there (I doubt you utilize linux, often in basic terms the techies do, the GUI needs in basic terms slightly artwork to make it tender, IMHO. Humble, yet maximum suitable!) or you may desire to place in domicile windows XP, do no longer use Vista, that's a %. Ubuntu and different ameliorations of Linux are loose, in case you circulate that direction you will would desire to desert all the utility you have paid for, like workplace, Photoshop, Illustrator, maximum video games, and so on. loose would not advise it won't fee you something!

Answer 8

i throw away old working PCs every week (well recycle them lol) there just not worth the effort, but in their defence Ive had a 486 with no fan on running for about 10 years and its never faulted once that i can remember (in one of the machines at work).
i grantee if you get it working the first thing you do will be to complain about it and trash it.
new PCs are SO cheap nowadays, specially from supermarkets, some cost less than the operating system on them!!!
splash out for Xmas and get one!!!

Answer 9

the case has 4 or more screws in the back. when you take these out, the case will side off the "insides" of the pc. To be honest with you, if the computer is that old, you wont get much out of it. It probably has an old 386 motherboard and there isnt much for them anymore.

Answer 10

1. It's not necessary to remove the case
2. It IS viable to restore a PC this old

New programs DON'T invariably need more resources.
It is environmental to continue to use PC's such as yours.

Please try "Puppy Linux", "Damn Small Linux Not", "ReactOS" or "TinyXP". All you have to do is put the CD in when you turn your PC on. These will automatically boot to a usable desktop without installing to the hard disk drive (unless you later choose to do so).

Let me know if you have any further questions and how you get on.