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| Thread ID: 56577 | 2005-04-09 02:49:00 | Operating System help | bestie (6891) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 343055 | 2005-04-09 02:49:00 | Hi I have an old PC the kids use for games, it has a 400mhz processor and 3G HD, so games are basic - Zoo tycoon is the limit. The set up is about 10 years old. Problem is it has XP installed which hogs the wee HD, to change games I have to uninstall what is there to create enough space for the next one. It also had the CD RW in there which I use to back-up my laptop which is my work PC. Q. What is my best option too maximise the HD - can I ditch XP and get some other OS (for free or very cheap) that will still play Zoo tycoon and windows based games? Q. If I change the HDD aren't there some limits to do with the generation of the processor? Q. Is it time to head to the red shed, DSE or trade me for a new set up - which even at budget rates seems excessive for a couple of under 8's. Cheers |
bestie (6891) | ||
| 343056 | 2005-04-09 02:59:00 | OK, theres a couple of ways this can be approached: 1, you can set up another harddrive as slave to your existing master harddrive. However the BIOS may not pick up the full capacity if you buy something like a 20GB harddrive, it may only see 10GB. 2, Linux I believe is smaller than XP, but with an emulator that can run Windows software I'm not 100% sure it will still be smaller; and whether it will play the game. The Linux people in here will know better than I about that. 3, For the time being, I would forget a new setup, unless you really wanted to. 4, I'm not 100% sure any other Win O/S will be able to run Zoo Tycoon (as I'm unfamiliar with the spec requirements of the game). If they will, go with another Windows O/S ... Win 98 less than a gig |
Myth (110) | ||
| 343057 | 2005-04-09 03:06:00 | Hi I have an old PC the kids use for games, it has a 400mhz processor and 3G HD, so games are basic - Zoo tycoon is the limit . The set up is about 10 years old . Problem is it has XP installed which hogs the wee HD, to change games I have to uninstall what is there to create enough space for the next one . It also had the CD RW in there which I use to back-up my laptop which is my work PC . Q . What is my best option too maximise the HD - can I ditch XP and get some other OS (for free or very cheap) that will still play Zoo tycoon and windows based games? Q . If I change the HDD aren't there some limits to do with the generation of the processor? Q . Is it time to head to the red shed, DSE or trade me for a new set up - which even at budget rates seems excessive for a couple of under 8's . Cheers Is it your only pc, i . e . if you got another one, you would keep this for the kids and the "power machine" for you . . . or would you stick with one pc? |
dolby digital (5073) | ||
| 343058 | 2005-04-09 03:16:00 | The old PC is just for the kids games and I use the CD writer to back up my laptop over the home network. Kids also use it to surf a little - googling for dinosaur pictures etc. | bestie (6891) | ||
| 343059 | 2005-04-09 03:24:00 | Go for Windows 98SE. Or just W98, or even W95. ;) All you want is a programme loader, not an OS. (I'd suggest DOS, but some of the later games seem to insist on Windows.) Linux emulation would probably be fast enough for simple games, but if you are familiar with Windows, it's probably too much trouble and strife learning a different OS. |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 343060 | 2005-04-09 03:53:00 | I have an old PC the kids use for games, it has a 400mhz processor and 3G HD, so games are basic - Zoo tycoon is the limit . The set up is about 10 years old . Are you sure the computer is ten years old? If it is a Pentium II 400MHz it would be younger than that, maybe seven years old and would probably have originally had Windows 98 on it . I agree with Graham L, get hold of a copy of Windows 98, reformat and install that . Windows XP is far too heavy for it . |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 343061 | 2005-04-09 04:01:00 | Go for Win98. I have such a machine sitting alongside my "flash" unit, using the same keyboard and screen. :cool: | Scouse (83) | ||
| 343062 | 2005-04-09 06:06:00 | have you thought about going to your local cash converters and buy a playstation 1 for your children they are dirt cheap need no maintanance and plenty of games for them | plod (107) | ||
| 343063 | 2005-04-09 07:49:00 | have you thought about going to your local cash converters and buy a playstation 1 for your children they are dirt cheap need no maintanance and plenty of games for them Brilliant suggestion. They can't look at porn on the net with a PS1. They can't mess up the operating system. They can't crash it. They can't delete things. Much better idea. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 343064 | 2005-04-09 08:04:00 | In reply to the question. As far as HD space, XP takes up about 1.2 to 1.7 GB of the HD, Win98 takes about 172mb on a clean install with a few components unselected... So right their is a huge benifit alredy. Performance wise the system will race along with Win98,yet barely even move its own weight under XP.. So there is your 2nd major benifit. You should be able to borrow 98 off someone,its near worthless nowadays,and many many 98 machines are making their way to the dump.... |
Metla (12) | ||
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