Author Topic: HA's PC Hardware Tech Support & Finds (Read 5498 times)

HurricaneAndrew · « **on:** July 19, 2012, 12:40:52 PM »

I have acquired quite a bit of knowledge of computer hardware and components due to my tendency of piecing my computers together with parts that I find in secondhand shops and the trash.

Since I've been bored, I am going to start this for members in need of advice or assistance with such.

I may also use this as a thread to show off my latest finds.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2012, 02:38:26 PM »

Well my laptop has it's control.exe missing among other things that I can't remember. Do you know how to fix that?

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2012, 02:46:05 PM »

That would be more of an OS issue, but meh... Reinstalling the operating system would be your best bet.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2012, 03:47:23 PM »

I don't have the disk for re-installing it.

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2012, 04:06:25 PM »

Quote from: courthousedoc on July 19, 2012, 03:47:23 PM

I don't have the disk for re-installing it.

Any one that does work on computers as a business or on the side would probably have one. Otherwise, I don't know what to tell you.

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2012, 12:22:27 PM »

Found this dinosaur at a thrift shop for five bucks... I figured it would possibly be worth it for the parts. I'm about to begin tear-down on it. I will post my findings in a while.

Now, let's just hope the hard drive isn't full of CP.

Jack Daniels · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2012, 03:04:58 PM »

Hahah the old Compaqs. <3 I actually liked how the front face opens up like a fishmouth so you can store your CD's in the front of the computer.

If that old best boots up and runs 98 or xp just fine... you have a nice retro machine to play old games that totally don't work on newer computers. *cough*comandandconquor 1*cough*

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2012, 02:44:36 AM »

Quote from: Jack Daniels on July 20, 2012, 03:04:58 PM

If that old best boots up and runs 98 or xp just fine... you have a nice retro machine to play old games that totally don't work on newer computers. *cough*comandandconquor 1*cough*

My main PC does run XP...

Just waiting to have the cash for the motherboard I want so I can get it up and running again. For now I have to deal with this laptop running Vista...

Anyway...

I finished tear-down and I can say that I didn't find much to be proud of in the guts of the fossil, but here's a short list.

- 64MB stick of PC133 RAM
- 750MHz AMD Duron processor
- 20GB IDE Seagate hard drive
- 8GB Nvidia TNT2 graphics card
- 10/100 ethernet card
- 56KB/s modem
- IDE CD-ROM drive
- IDE CD-RW drive
- Floppy drive
- 2 IDE cables
- Floppy cable

It's amazing that a PC could even boot-up with only 64MB of RAM at one point. It's also been a while since 20GB of storage was anywhere near sufficient.

The case had clearly never been opened. It's specs were entirely stock to the case. What is funny is that it had a sticker on the side of the case that said XP was the OEM operating system, but in the disc storage compartment it has another one that says it came with Windows ME and it has the "Designed for Windows ME" sticker on the front... I'm pretty sure ME isn't compatible with the XP upgrade, as I once made the attempt to do so. This ended in just getting a computer with XP, because of the amount of failure. Plus, I'm pretty sure XP won't boot with only 64MB of RAM... Seems pretty fishy.

Mr. AS · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2012, 11:00:27 AM »

lel windows me

seriously who coded that unstable peice of crap

Enigm@ · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2012, 03:01:05 PM »

Quote from: HurricaneAndrew on July 22, 2012, 02:44:36 AM

Quote from: Jack Daniels on July 20, 2012, 03:04:58 PM
If that old best boots up and runs 98 or xp just fine... you have a nice retro machine to play old games that totally don't work on newer computers. *cough*comandandconquor 1*cough*

My main PC does run XP...

Just waiting to have the cash for the motherboard I want so I can get it up and running again. For now I have to deal with this laptop running Vista...

Anyway...

I finished tear-down and I can say that I didn't find much to be proud of in the guts of the fossil, but here's a short list.

- 64MB stick of PC133 RAM
- 750MHz AMD Duron processor
- 20GB IDE Seagate hard drive
- 8GB Nvidia TNT2 graphics card
- 10/100 ethernet card
- 56KB/s modem
- IDE CD-ROM drive
- IDE CD-RW drive
- Floppy drive
- 2 IDE cables
- Floppy cable

It's amazing that a PC could even boot-up with only 64MB of RAM at one point. It's also been a while since 20GB of storage was anywhere near sufficient.

The case had clearly never been opened. It's specs were entirely stock to the case. What is funny is that it had a sticker on the side of the case that said XP was the OEM operating system, but in the disc storage compartment it has another one that says it came with Windows ME and it has the "Designed for Windows ME" sticker on the front... I'm pretty sure ME isn't compatible with the XP upgrade, as I once made the attempt to do so. This ended in just getting a computer with XP, because of the amount of failure. Plus, I'm pretty sure XP won't boot with only 64MB of RAM... Seems pretty fishy.

Jesus. The first compooter I owned had about the same specs.

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2012, 03:36:02 PM »

Oh... I forgot to mention that thing had the hardest, most complicated case to open and get the front panel off of that I have ever seen. It was a total pain in the ass.

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2012, 09:38:17 PM »

Double post.

Just read the system requirements on my RA2 box.... Apparently RA2 requires 64MB of RAM... Irony.

Mr. AS · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2012, 09:42:37 PM »

Quote from: HurricaneAndrew on July 23, 2012, 09:38:17 PM

Double post.

Just read the system requirements on my RA2 box.... Apparently RA2 requires 64MB of RAM... Irony.

weird.... ive have ra2 hog up to 150 mb before unless task manager be boosheet-ing me

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2012, 09:55:39 PM »

Quote from: Mr. AwesumSauce on July 23, 2012, 09:42:37 PM

Quote from: HurricaneAndrew on July 23, 2012, 09:38:17 PM
Double post.

Just read the system requirements on my RA2 box.... Apparently RA2 requires 64MB of RAM... Irony.

weird.... ive have ra2 hog up to 150 mb before unless task manager be boosheet-ing me

If you're running Vista or 7, it will require more because of the OS. Vista and 7 are pretty heavy compared to XP.

Gropaga · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2012, 10:00:56 PM »

Quote from: HurricaneAndrew on July 23, 2012, 09:55:39 PM

Quote from: Mr. AwesumSauce on July 23, 2012, 09:42:37 PM
Quote from: HurricaneAndrew on July 23, 2012, 09:38:17 PM
Double post.

Just read the system requirements on my RA2 box.... Apparently RA2 requires 64MB of RAM... Irony.

weird.... ive have ra2 hog up to 150 mb before unless task manager be boosheet-ing me

If you're running Vista or 7, it will require more because of the OS. Vista and 7 are pretty heavy compared to XP.

I run ~~Windom VISTA~~ Windows VII

Badger · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:34:19 PM »

Can you help with software?

HurricaneAndrew · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2012, 04:10:42 PM »

Possibly. What is the question?

Badger · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2012, 05:59:05 PM »

https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php/topic,1675.msg525484.html#msg525484

I CBA to re-post.

Enigm@ · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2012, 06:16:09 PM »

The reason why the modern games won't work on your XP machine is because you probably don't have a good enough graphics card. Assuming you have a desktop, you can get a good one for about 80 - 100 pounds. On the old games, windows 7 is really weird to where it won't run old games, probably because Microsoft made whatever software or build that is used to run them, they've rendered obsolete and is why they don't run on W7.

Badger · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2012, 06:18:08 PM »

I don't have an XP machine, just that if I put XP on my current gaming PC, DX11 games and many future games will not support XP. When I was buying my PC, I was going to get XP, and probably would have if BF3 supported it. (On a side note, if I played BF3 before, I would be on XP now. I really don't like BF3. -_-)

I'm only interested in getting CMR2k5 running on my W7 machine. I know it's a stretch, but I also know it's possible.