justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Hi, I hope that I'm posting this on the right forum - If not apologies!!!! :blink: We recently changed our pc and have moved the old one to the playroom for the kids to play games etc on. I would like them to have limited access to the internet at some stage (they are only 4) Problem is that when we changed pc's I used 'Transfer my pc' to transfer settings etc and then tried manually removing all the software they wouldn't need . There still seemed to be some stuff left over and the 3D game was freezing alot so I then wiped the old pc to get rid of all the bits left over. - Big mistake as I'm sure that I've removed software I'd previously downloaded that let the games work in the first place.Some will play ok but the 3D driving game (which is a favourite!) now won't work - It starts to load and than just clicks and the screen goes black.The old machine is a Tiny 128mb Pentium II running Windows 98 with SB AudioPCI 64V Legacy Device and SoundBlaster AudioPCI 64V Hardware Version code 006. I don't know whether I've deleted upgrades to these, I've tried to look around on the web (on the new pc) but do not really know what I'm looking for when it comes to Drivers and upgrades (am not really clear even as to which bit's a driver) :unsure: Also I can't seem to connect to the net on the old one now! Have tried to set up a new dial up account for the kids but no luck - have not got a router yet but they will be able to use our ADSL connection when we get one.I don't really know what is useful info here (if any!) but was hoping that someone may understand my ramblings :blush: Thankyou for reading this - hopefully someone may be able to help - maybe I need to start from scratch again!!!!!!Cheersjustlearning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Hi.My view is that if you are intending to make widespread changes to a machine (such as you are doing) it is far better, and easier, to forget what's on there already and start afresh. You appear to have done that to some extent but then you are using old settings to make it work.Can I suggest that you collect together ALL of the relevant disks (including the operating system, whether that be a recovery disk or a full copy) and start all over again. For an initial Internet connection, you can use an existing modem but the important thing is to forget about all the old setup. Even with old drivers, you should be able to get the system going again and you worry about driver updates later (if at all).Do you have a full copy of Windows 98 and relevant disks for an initial setting up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Hi, Thanks for that! :) I have the Windows 98 disc and the Windows 98 Restore Pack that came with the pc - also have disc for Norton Internet Security and relevant ones for games etc.When I cleared it before, I used the Restore Pack - Is this the best way to do it??I didn't know I was using old settings - how can you tell??Thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements (recomended is better) for the games you are installing. If not, don't bother installing them as they will probably not work.As for the kids on the net, you could try something like NetNanny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Thanks Scarecrow ManThe system meets the recommended requirements for the games, I think I may need to update a driver for the 3D part of one of them as it was freezing before I interfered with the pc but I put that down to too much on an old machine and possibly some residual spyware as I had had big problems in the past! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Then perhaps as -pops- says, a format would be a good option.As long as there is no important data on there, just wipe it off and install again.Remember to stay offline (unplug if you have DSL or Cable) while installing, and make sure the first thing you do when you go online is go to http://update.microsoft.com and download ALL critical updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Is the Restore Pack the best way or is there another/better way of doing it?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 I assume the "restore pack" is a disk supplied by the manufacturer? This may be the best way as it probably contains all your drivers. For a more customized and advanced install, just use a plain windows disk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Yes. The Restore Pack is the disc that came with the pc - it is what I originally used and when all my problems started. I downloaded all the critical updates from microsoft and then loaded the games. It was when the 3D part did not work that I started fishing around in the dark to try and load stuff that might help!!!!!!Should have come here first!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Perhaps you need an update video driver, or if it is onboard video, you may need a Video Card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Also, make sure you have the latest version of DirectX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Perhaps you need an update video driver, or if it is onboard video, you may need a Video Card.Sorry to sound thick but how do I get one of those? and how do I know what to get?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 First off download and run Everest Home diagnostic tool open the main window and look at Display / GPU this will identify what you've got and probably also give you a link at the bottom of the page to the manufacturers website where they should have downloadable drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Perhaps you need an update video driver, or if it is onboard video, you may need a Video Card.Sorry to sound thick but how do I get one of those? and how do I know what to get??Those are both very reasonable questions. How will you ever know if you don't ask?A video driver is a piece of software, also called a device driver, which tells hardware how to interpret commands and input from a user or other hardware, and decide on the appropriate output.A video card is a card you can insert, usually AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) but can also be PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) but is not used as often.But, there are also different kinds of AGP. 2X, 4X, 8X all depending on what your motherboard can support.Check Everest from Belatucadrus' post, and it should give you some more information.You may want to check out the two big video card companies, ATI and Nvidia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Thankyou both! I'll try and make a start on things over the weekend and let you know how I get on - I'm sure I'll be back soon with some more questions!!! Thanks a lot for taking the time to help :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Well...........I've done the System Restore thing with the discs from the manufacturers, got plugged in to the internet (eventually!) and got all the critical updates. Have got Norton installed and then downloaded and ran Everest as Belatucadrus suggested. The trouble is that I do not really know where to start. I've looked on the intel site but haven't an idea what I need!!!!!!!1I think this may be beyond me!!!1There is a bit on the "Debug - Video BIOS" that says "WARNING: Graphics accelerator cooling fan failed... Please contaxct supplier etc etc...." Don't know how significant or not this is.Bamboozled! :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Could be causing overheating issues. If you video is overheating, your computer will get a blue screen, reboot or freeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Thanks Scarecrow ManMaybe that was what the original problem was!!!!!!!The game was playing and loading so I obviously had the capability for the 3 D but it was freezing quite a lot!Now it starts to load the 3D part and just cuts out - Maybe I need a new Video Card?If I do need one, How do I choose the right one and is it something I could install myself?Thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Swapping the graphics card is usually the first upgrade a PC user makes and is really quite easy, however it may be possible to replace the fan on your existing card The Cooling shop do a good range of card fans. Do have a look at your existing fan first, some are clipped in place and are a doddle to replace, others are fixed with thermal cement and they are a complete pig to remove.When you use Everest in the Display / GPU section, what shows in the top "Device Description" section. Should be something like AGP 4x: MSI G4MX420 (MS-8873). Tell us what you have installed at the moment, as this will confirm what fitting it is and the games experts can then give you chapter and verse on what to fit if you do decide to replace the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 With graphics card fans, you can often get replacements from the makers of the card. A couple of times I've replaced these fans. After sending a nominal amount of money to the makers UK agent the fan is sent by return.The one's I've fixed have all been clip or screw fitting and, as Belatucadrus says, a doddle to fit. I've not had an awkward one.Make certain that you plug the fan into the card when you've done the replacing. Once I put a new fan in only to discover it didn't appear to make any difference - I hadn't connected it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Thanks Guys! :D I'll have a look and come back with some more info (kids permitting!! :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 I've not had an awkward one. Clearly never had to fix an old Voodoo PCI card, that was fun, freeze the card to denature the glue, prize off the old fan then spend ages scraping layered crud off the chip without scratching it. Next try and fit the new one. Only to discover the clip holes in the card board weren't standard and didn't line up with the fan mountings . Fortunately the fan came with double sided thermal tape. :blink: The operation was a success and the card is still working hapily in my original PC. Well I say original, when I first had it, it was a Cyrix 200 with 64Mb RAM a 16Mb Black flag GPU and W95. It's now got a 233 Pentium, 96 Mb a Voodoo 32Mb and W98 , The case is the same though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justlearning Posted August 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 .When you use Everest in the Display / GPU section, what shows in the top "Device Description" section. Should be something like AGP 4x: MSI G4MX420 (MS-8873). Tell us what you have installed at the moment, as this will confirm what fitting it is and the games experts can then give you chapter and verse on what to fit if you do decide to replace the card.I'm back - I've looked at the Everest Report and I think the info you asked for is [AGP 2x:Intel i740 [A-2]] That was at the top, The Video Adaptor Properties are Intel740 Win9x PC3.OW 3.1.2029-980829Is that what you wanted?Thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 This is your video cards official web page You will notice it is no longer supported.You may be better off with A Fan like this I am currently using one for my Radeon 9600 which I have overclocked to 9900 and it is running cooler than ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted August 8, 2005 Report Share Posted August 8, 2005 Anybody know if a current AGP 8X card will fit in an old 2X slot ? I know they'll fit in a 4X and are compatible with a slight speed penalty, but I'm not convinced the current cards will physically fit in the old 2X board slot.Seeing as it's such an old card, I'd do what I did when fixing up my old Voodoo card and that's fit the cheapest replacement fan I could find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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