My computer needs help :(

[Super Mulletman]

I've been trying to get a decent PC for a while (keep in mind the computer I'm using is just a Mac OS9, but I'm not going to count it in with anything I say here), and as of right now I have 3 relativley old, beat up, broken, and/or component-missing computers. One is an old Windows 95 that I've just given up on completely(trust me, it's old and none of the parts work on anything else I have), and another has some kind of problem with just booting up (though I'm sure others also), but I think I can get some use out of some of its parts. The last computer runs alright, but there are a few problems after booting up (programs trying to run and not working, mainly), and I just want to reformat it. All three computers I got from people who didn't want them, and I didn't get them all at once.

Now, of all the questions I could ask, I just want to have 2 answered:

1. How do I reformat a Windows 2000 (pro.) PC?
and 2. What parts would I be able to use from another computer? I already put a stick of ram from the second computer into the working one, and the CD drive as well, but I don't know else I should transplant (or fit in, as the working computer has a rather compact case).

[jaytee]

buy a mac!

[Jeff]

Mac-Mini yourself .

[Super Mulletman]

Never! I need something that can play the good emulators and run media players. In my own opinion, Mac OSX sucks, and I say this using a Mac OS9.

Also I'm broke, so I gotta go with what I got.

[bicostp]

1. How do I reformat a Windows 2000 (pro.) PC?

Step-by-step:

Get a Windows 98 bootdisk off of www.bootdisk.com .
Then, back up everything you want off of that computer.
After backing up, boot off of the Windows 98 floppy.
Type "disk" at the command prompt.
Select "delete partitions", and select the C partition. Delete it.
Now go to the fdisk main menu, create a new partition using all the avalible space.
Exit fdisk and reboot off of the Windows 98 bootdisk.
At the command prompt type "format C:" to format.
Go watch TV or something. (this takes awhile if you have a big hard disk. )
When it's done, insert the Windows 2000 CD and type R:\Setup (substitute R for the proper drive letter ofd course. )

When you install Windows 2000, if it asks you if you want to change the drive to NTFS file system, I recommend you do. It gets less fragmented than FAT32 and FAT16.

2. What parts would I be able to use from another computer? I already put a stick of ram from the second computer into the working one, and the CD drive as well, but I don't know else I should transplant (or fit in, as the working computer has a rather compact case).

If it fits, it will work. Hard drives and CD drives are interchangeable. Just make sure you set the jumpers on the back of the drive so there's no conflicts.

As long as memory will fit the slot, it should work. But since memory is relatively inexpensive, I recommend you buy some new memory rathger than reuse old stuff.

Floppy drives are the easiest to swap. Just connect the cables for data and power, and you have a B:\ drive.

Hope this helps.

[Super Mulletman]

Awesome, bicostp. That does help.

Still, I need to ask though (remember I've been using an old Mac for most of my life), how do I back up stuff, and in general, what should I back up(I don't want any saved files or unneeded programs)?

Also, at bootdisk.com, there are 6 different Windows 2000 downloads (disk1, 2, etc., and makeboot.exe and makeboot32.exe). Which should I get?

This should be all I need to know.

[bicostp]

download the Win98 bootdisk. Windows 2000 needs about 4 floppies for a floppy boot. I just find it easier to use a win98 boot. (win2k unpacks the contents of the floppies to a RAMdisk.

Oh, btw, I recommend you download the "custom no ramdrive" version of the 98 disk. It has fdisk, it has cd support, and it doesn't take as long to boot.

[cennar]

here is what i would do. hit bicostp for stating the obvouis, then hit all the other people who replied with no help, then hit you for rejecting mac, then hit me for hitting people, then get high and eat some things.

also some places you download 98 for ilegal there have some times a great 98/me self boot CD, its great if like me you reject floppys (did you know girls wont have sex with you if you have a floppy?)

[Super Mulletman]

(did you know girls wont have sex with you if you have a floppy?)

Yes, thank you cennar, for your brilliant insight.

And bicostp, I think you or I missed something. I don't have a Windows 2000 CD at all (I got the computer from a friend who had it for a while and apparently lost the disc), so I'm probably going to have to stick the OS on floppies, unless I can put on a USB flash drive.

[cennar]

ok if you lost the CD some ware just download the rom image some wares (note: such things are iligal but microsucks makes way to much bling as it is, and if you are true of hart and all that good junk they wont notice any ways)

[bicostp]

You have any other OS install discs?

Try typing in "msconfig" in the start menu's RUN command. Then, under the "startup" tab, disable things that obviously don't belong there. (don't worry about royally screwing anything up, this just disables things without deleting them.) Maybe that's why it starts up broken shortcuts.

[Super Mulletman]

Yeah, that last idea sound best. I'll just go with that, and if that doesn't work, I'll try to find a Windows 2000 disc and do the whole reformatting thing, and if that doesn't work, I'll just say screw it and go with cennar's idea. Perfect!

Thanks for the help, bicostp (and cennar)!

[Black Six]

Never! I need something that can play the good emulators and run media players. In my own opinion, Mac OSX sucks, and I say this using a Mac OS9.

Also I'm broke, so I gotta go with what I got.

Macs have plenty of fully functional emulators. As far as media-players, Quicktime and iTunes were designed for Macs, and they are very popular apps that are widely used. And there are still all the same options, Windows Media Player, Real Player, DivX; as well as somoe others like VLC. I like OS9 too, and was very reluctant to switch, but once I did, there was no going back, I loved it so much.