Im up S%!& Creek with out a paddle!!!

H

haggle

New Member
Sooo parents computer of 6 years or so basically died, so me and all my infinite knowledge decided to delete everything on the computer and just reinstall windows xp and everything would be better... problems ensued shortly after and not just with the computer.

First problem is I cannot get the internet to work. Now if I look like someone who hasnt searched under every url and forum for the solution then let me stop you there... I have spent hours upon hours downloading drivers and my lack of hair is all i have to show for it. If anybody could help me with my first problem I would greatly appreciate it.
 
So have you re-installed with Windows XP? Have you checked under your device manager for any unknown or corrupt devices?
 
Where did you download the drivers from? You should download them from the manufacturers website.
 
Could you give us a detailed list of what you have already tried so we're not flooding you with worthless ideas?
 
If the computer is 6 years old then it is most likely junk. Tell them to chuck it in a bin and I will draw you up new specs for a decent one for under £500
 
yeah, computer parts are so damn cheap to make good now. The lowest end I3 is sufficient for pretty much all low-mid range computing
 
Sox_ said:
If the computer is 6 years old then it is most likely junk. Tell them to chuck it in a bin and I will draw you up new specs for a decent one for under £500
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If the computer is still able to perform the tasks required of it, regardless of age, it isn't junk. Outdated hardware and software is not bad hardware and software. Soem people don't just have money to hand any time of any day, and even if they do, why would they want to drop half a grand on a system when the one they have already does what they want, they just need it fixed?

What are the specs of the system?
 
Aastii said:
If the computer is still able to perform the tasks required of it, regardless of age, it isn't junk. Outdated hardware and software is not bad hardware and software. Soem people don't just have money to hand any time of any day, and even if they do, why would they want to drop half a grand on a system when the one they have already does what they want, they just need it fixed?

What are the specs of the system?
Click to expand...

Because it will be old, slow and crap, is the simple answer to your question, rhetorical or not.
 
Holy crap thanks for all the replies. So its a Dell Dimension 4600, I know what yall are thinking "OH GOD kill it with fire" but we are talking about 50+yearolds using this machine, so they just need it to: run, have sound, and have the internet and get them where they are going in a manageable time, ohhh and microsoft word. The only way they would buy another one is if i staged a burglary but it wouldnt make sense to steal the piece of crap dimension 4600 and run away.

Things I have done or tried:
-Reinstalled XP successfully
-Unsuccessfully setting up an internet connection
-Unsuccessfully downloading drivers and failing at installing them ( i used a usb
to transfer them, is that a problem?)
- I have most of the cds that came with the computer

I really think that if i get the internet going then I will be set but I dont have the disc for microsoft word and even if i find it i doubt the product key will be laying next to it... THANKS again for all of your help!!!
 
I see no need for a new computer. Aastii is right. If it does what is needed by the user there is no reason to get a new one. Even if you can't get the Ethernet port working you could always get an add on PCI Ethernet card for cheap. Problem solved.

On to your origional problem...Just so I know what you are looking at, what does your Ethernet port look like under device manager? Are you getting a question mark? is it disabled?

Oh and for your office software problem. If the people that are using the computer can handle the change you can use open office. Free and compatible with quite a bit of MS Office

http://www.openoffice.org/
 
You may want to consider downloading and installing Ubuntu 11.04 instead of Win XP on that machine. Most likely it will load the correct driver and get you connected to the internet during install. Ubuntu also comes with LibreOffice (used to be OpenOffice) which can read and write Microsoft compatible files. You can try it before you install it by booting from the CD, it will boot and be a fully functioning OS without making any changes to your HDD. If you decide you like it, you can then install it.

If your parents just want to use the internet and use Word then it will be fine for them and will perform better on that hardware than XP.
 
Sox_ said:
Because it will be old, slow and crap, is the simple answer to your question, rhetorical or not.
Click to expand...

Old, yes, slow, compared to today's machine, yes, crap, no. All the time it is doing what is required of it, it is fine. In the big scheme of things, your computer is already outdated, has very, very little power and has depreciated so damn much already, it too fulfils those three things you said, even though you may have only bought it recently. It still performs the tasks that you want it to, and so it is just old and slow, because it is more than fit for purpose
 
Aastii said:
Old, yes, slow, compared to today's machine, yes, crap, no. All the time it is doing what is required of it, it is fine. In the big scheme of things, your computer is already outdated, has very, very little power and has depreciated so damn much already, it too fulfils those three things you said, even though you may have only bought it recently. It still performs the tasks that you want it to, and so it is just old and slow, because it is more than fit for purpose
Click to expand...

The clue is in the first post

'Sooo parents computer of 6 years or so basically died'

Not fit for purpose, not fit one bit. ;)
 
Sox_ said:
The clue is in the first post

'Sooo parents computer of 6 years or so basically died'

Not fit for purpose, not fit one bit. ;)
Click to expand...

And then you read the rest of the post and the rest of the replies and realise everything works, it is just lacking the correct drivers it would seem. Why just bin hardware, regardless of age. Once it has the correct software it will be fit for purpose
 
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