Split threads - JohnR

side question?

is windows 7 worth it? to have... opinions?

i feel like i'm in the dark ages...kinda...

side question?

is windows 7 worth it? to have... opinions?

i feel like i'm in the dark ages...kinda...

Worth it compared to what: Vista, XP?

As with all these new OS, if you don't have gigabytes and gigabytes of RAM don't even think about upgrading. I was running VistaX64 w/6GB RAM and upgraded to Win7X64. Did a clean installation eventhough in theory you cna just upgrade. From XP you have to reformat the HD and do a fresh installation either X32/X64.

XP doesn't recognize anything above 2GB RAM (I think).

I'm now running mostly Win7 at home (but still have one PC on XP not upgradable due to RAM limits) and XP at work.

side question?

is windows 7 worth it? to have... opinions?

i feel like i'm in the dark ages...kinda...

You have XP, W7 requires more resources so is not worth the upgrade for you.

Worth it compared to what: Vista, XP?

As with all these new OS, if you don't have gigabytes and gigabytes of RAM don't even think about upgrading. I was running VistaX64 w/6GB RAM and upgraded to Win7X64. Did a clean installation eventhough in theory you cna just upgrade. From XP you have to reformat the HD and do a fresh installation either X32/X64.

XP doesn't recognize anything above 2GB RAM (I think).

I'm now running mostly Win7 at home (but still have one PC on XP not upgradable due to RAM limits) and XP at work.

With V64 and 6GBRAM, Win7 would smoke Vista. Many older XP machines are not going to smoke with 7

XP 32bit will see about 3.5GB of ram - depending on video card (the way memory addressing is handled, the more video card memory you have the less system ram XP will see - strange, I know).

thanks for the info JOHN

i have a gig of ram ....

and "may" have a terabyte external drive soon on loan

was "why" i was askin... about it

VB said he could HOOK me up with the software was why i was wondering.
Maybe SANTA will put another gig of ram in my stocking :chased:


sorry , not trying to derail the thread...

i have a gig of ram ....

and "may" have a terabyte external drive soon on loan

was "why" i was askin... about it

VB said he could HOOK me up with the software was why i was wondering.
Maybe SANTA will put another gig of ram in my stocking :chased:


sorry , not trying to derail the thread...


What do you have for a processor? What kind of computer / mobo?

I would say stick with XP - you want a decent processor, chipset, 2GB of faster memory (for example you may be running DDR and not DDR2 or better), and a faster SATA drive (your 40GB is likely a PATA) for W7 to be tolerable. Your machine will probably be faster with XP than if you installed 7 on it. There is no eureka moment to having Win7 unless you have suffered through Vista.

My biggest issue I had with Vista was: "Sorry can't install software, you require Administrator privledges".:wall:

I was the only user registered on the system as ADMINISTRATOR!:smash:

I couldn't even instally Microsoft software for their own hardward (keyboard & mouse). Now that is really BAD.:rotf2: Talked to tech support (in India) several times, their response: VISTA issue!

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States) Dell Inc. OptiPlex GX280
System Service Tag: H402W61 (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: H402W61
Enclosure Type: Mini-Tower
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded Board: Dell Inc. 0X7967
Serial Number: ..CN137404BJ0027.
Board: Dell Inc. 0X7967
Serial Number: ..CN137404BJ0027.
Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A08 03/03/2006

Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A08 03/03/2006
Drives Memory Modules c,d
39.99 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
11.50 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST CD-ROM GCR-8483B [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST340014AS [Hard drive] (40.00 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 5MQ10P3L, rev 8.12, SMART Status: Healthy 1528 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM1' has 1024 MB (serial number 430C2C83)
Slot 'DIMM2' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM4' is Empty
Local Drive Vo

it's still playing the
surprise your keyboard and mouse no longer work game

but i think it's a result of playing a pc game robbing the resources

With different support topics - start a new thread - gets kinda confusing ;)

aye !

I split the tread - use this one.

ok fine....

so what do i need to do JOHN ?

upgrade the d2 memory?

it's just an Office BOX nothin fancy obviously

OK, your system is really a borderline system (and I think below) to be capable enough for Win7

You have a HT Processor, not a real dual core
memory is DDR2
HDD is early SATA (PATA in wolf's clothing)
No discrete video card.
Somewhat slower chipset.
Coming up on 6th birthday in Feb 2011

Not worth upgrading to Win7 IMO and if it was, Win7 is not going to give you much more (while running slower). A clean install of XP or even creating a new user profile, defrag. and Malwarebytes sweep might do more for that machine for free than dropping $100+ hardware into that rig, only to get mediocre performance.

I wouldn't try to upgrade. Don't get me wrong - this is a decent XP computer. If you were one of my work clients and asked me to spend $400 on it to get to W7 I would have you sign an "Against Geek Advise" consent form.

yeah lack of a decent video card with internal memory is
probably a big part of the problem with this cheesy unit

i did the defrag already

i'll run the malware ..... next

over the winter i'll try and resurrect the expensive box
i have in the basement but i have a nasty bios issue
and may need to
replace the mobo .... before i can proceed

need recommendations there (later on tho)

my old house got hit by lightning see... or a power surge
and it did something weird to the old monitor
and so... trying to figure it out
i botched things up looking in all the wrong places
when it was just a setting right on the monitor adjustments itself
that i completely over looked.... a tough lesson learned.

thanks for the diagnostic advice Bossman :wave:

RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com/?gclid=CMKb_8Sw26UCFWRx5QodYTyOyw&cpe=pd_google_us&ef_id=TFQJ2wqoEGMAAEV7DgIAAEHr:20101208001633:s)

Go to crucial.com , run the free scan , it will tell you what you have and how much to upgrade your memery..lol I will not touch that !!!!

I have the software, We have computers with 2 gig running fine on 7 ...
I have XP, Vista , windows 7
Memory is the key ,,,,, and Malwarebytes.org :rotf2:
Boy now I need a Bluemoon :uhuh:

1528 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM1' has 1024 MB (serial number 430C2C83)
Slot 'DIMM2' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM4' is Empty


Fill all those empty slots with (cheap) memory, if 1G each then you'll have more than enough for Win7. Replace the 512 in #2, also.

been busy today
makin hay while the sun shined
out back in the tubular environment

Quote JOHNR:

I would have you sign an "Against Geek Advise" consent form.


HAHAHAH gee maybe we should have some similar forms for the casting contest at the ice fishing event....

contestant assumes all responsibility for injuries to casting shoulder, wrists, elbo's and back .... sign here.... on the X :grins:

RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com/?gclid=CMKb_8Sw26UCFWRx5QodYTyOyw&cpe=pd_google_us&ef_id=TFQJ2wqoEGMAAEV7DgIAAEHr:20101208001633:s)

Go to crucial.com , run the free scan , it will tell you what you have and how much to upgrade your memery..lol I will not touch that !!!!

I have the software, We have computers with 2 gig running fine on 7 ...
I have XP, Vista , windows 7
Memory is the key ,,,,, and Malwarebytes.org :rotf2:
Boy now I need a Bluemoon :uhuh:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _

went there but they did not have the 280 in the drop down menu
unfortunately , but i essentially already know what to purchase

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _

went there but they did not have the 280 in the drop down menu
unfortunately , but i essentially already know what to purchase


Its there under Optiplex GX280 ;)

You need DDR2 - but starting with 1.5GB of RAM will not see much improvement going to more - say 2GB or 2.5GB. If you only had 512 to start, you would see significant improvement.

A dedicated video card would help - this will help a lot after rebate - about $5 plus tax / shipping: GeForce 9500GT 512MB DDR2 PCIe 2.0 x16 Graphics Card @ microcenter for $4.99 AR and Savings - Slickdeals.net (http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=177120&t=2456211) (thous *should* work in your PC)

If I had an extra I'd give it to you but I don't have a spare PCI-e

I like Windows 7 Professional as it has more user friendly features than XP.