very simple computer (CD, RAM, hard drive, operating system)

[nocoldiron]

I am a computer illiterate,all I do online is get email and some research.My very old IBM 500 is developing problems with Windows 98(DDL error?) and Explorer is a frequent crasher.Should I just get my computer wiped and reinstalled or buy a new desktop? They all seem to have a lot of bells and whistles that I don't want or need and prefer not to pay for.Who sells a cheap,simple computer? The only thing I have ever replaced in this computer is a video card,makes the modem 8? years old.

[Radek]

I'd buy a new pc.

Go to Dell, Toshiba or HP's websites and order one.

Only thing I'd recommend you have is at least 1GB of RAM to run Windows Vista... preferably 2GB.


If you're up for learning a new operating system, I'd recommend trying Ubuntu Linux, or buy a mac (which will be more expensive).

If you use Linux, you can conceivably get $100 or so off the price of a PC. But, its not the easiest thing to learn.

[Bowie]

Maybe you're a good candidate for MSN TV, instead of a computer? My mother-in-law uses the Internet in the ways you described. She has used a Web TV box, and more recently and MSN TV 2 for years and she loves it. She doesn't want the hassle of owning and maintaining a computer, so it's perfect for her.

[Brian.Pearson]

Yeah, probably a new machine is best, but he might be able to fix this dll problem if we knew the exact error message.

[Tek_Freek]

Dig out the Windows '98 CD.

Go into Windows and insert the CD. When it starts (or browse to it if it doesn't and look for and run setup.exe) Install Windows.

W98 will completely reinstall all the system files (missing dll and Explorer crashing) and not touch your documents, pictures, etc.

I've done this countless times and never had any problems unless I added new hardware. If you have it will ask for the drivers (video card).

All this assumes you have the CD (diskettes?) for W98 and the drivers for the video card and perhaps the modem.

As I tell many of my clients: if it works for what you need, and installing Windows fixes the problem, why buy a new PC? That is, of course, unless you want a new one?

[harry chickpea]

Tek-freek nailed it. Just be sure to do a backup of your data files before re-installing. There is a possibility that the hard drive could just be starting to go a little wonky.

The full instructions can be found here. I used to have a link to Leo Laport's simple step-by-step guide, but didn't run across it just now. This link is even more long-winded than I am sometimes.

Smart Computing Article - Reinstall Windows 98

[Nomander]

Avoid Vista as it will require more powerful hardware to run appropriately. For what you need it for, the cheapest machine will be fine. Just make sure it has Windows XP and not Vista. It will run considerably faster and without as many issues.

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Tek-freek nailed it. Just be sure to do a backup of your data files before re-installing. There is a possibility that the hard drive could just be starting to go a little wonky.

The full instructions can be found here. I used to have a link to Leo Laport's simple step-by-step guide, but didn't run across it just now. This link is even more long-winded than I am sometimes.

Smart Computing Article - Reinstall Windows 98

Absolutely! Good catch harry!

[Brian.Pearson]

I might consider Xubuntu if I were in his place.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Radek

I'd buy a new pc.

Go to Dell, Toshiba or HP's websites and order one.

Only thing I'd recommend you have is at least 1GB of RAM to run Windows Vista... preferably 2GB.


If you're up for learning a new operating system, I'd recommend trying Ubuntu Linux, or buy a mac (which will be more expensive).

If you use Linux, you can conceivably get $100 or so off the price of a PC. But, its not the easiest thing to learn.

I would say 2 gigs minimum with vista, 3 if you can afford it.

Linux is definatly not an OS for new users, I have been fighting with ubuntu all night to mount my darn second hard drive that it does NOT want to do.