Old Dell, old problems, and new computer

[dudeigothadbydell]

Hello all you computer Gods,

Long Story short, I have a Dell Dimension 4300, this thing has been with me for about 6 years. Originally had Windows ME, buddy of mine installed XP, it has never really operated very well since. It is starting to have new issues:

Outlook has started to launch itself anytime it wants to, and without warning.

My C drive is starting to run low on disk space, I have gone through and removed just about everything that I thought was useless. I can't even defrag the drive.

There is now a Browser Back icon that pops up on the lower right right hand edge of the screen and then begins to cycle through my web pages. it does this randomly

I have no virus protection currently.

I have a 40G D drive, I store a lot of pictures and music there. I don't really use the PC for gaming.

Ok now you know the symptoms, here is what I am asking:

I don't know how to format my C drive, I am computer ignorant so please forgive me. I would like to format it and start over.

Would it be better to go back to Win ME since it is the OS that was originally on here?

How can I save everything I want (pics, music, etc, etc...) before I format?

Regarding the low disk volume, would it be easier to install a new C drive, with more space?

This computer is also going to be in use for a while, its only for music downloads, pics, and some minor gaming. its a home PC.

If I were to have the formatting done and a hard drive installed, all my crap saved and then re-installed, what is a normal range for the fees?

And finally, I am going to buy a new home PC, the Dell is going to be passed along to my Daughter, I am looking at either HP or emachines computers. any recommendations?

Sorry this was so long? I am trying to learn about this stuff.

the Dude

 

[Lax]

Please read QUESTIONS 101 and post the rest of your specs (memory amount, mobo type, cpu and whatnot).

I have no virus protection currently.

Get some after you reformat the HDD.

I have a 40G D drive, I store a lot of pictures and music there. I don't really use the PC for gaming.

Turn the 40Gb into the C drive (after all the formatting) and buy another HDD if you think you'll fill that one up pretty quick. Prices for big HDD's are dirt cheap now so you can get a 160Gb drive for ~80$

I don't know how to format my C drive, I am computer ignorant so please forgive me. I would like to format it and start over.

You need to find the Windows ME disk that came with the machine OR whatever operating system disk for the OS you plan to put on it. After you get the disk if you insert it and have it boot to the CD (usually will say "press any key if you want to boot from CD") and follow the on screen prompts. This site explains how to upgrade to XP and the on screen prompts it shows are fairly close to WinME and Win2000.

Would it be better to go back to Win ME since it is the OS that was originally on here?

ME was a horrible OS. If you want to downgrade to a different OS I suggest Win98SE (old but fine for what you'd be doing) or Win2000, also good for what you'd be doing. You could also stick with WinXP if you want, it should run fine on the machine.

How can I save everything I want (pics, music, etc, etc...) before I format?

For that you'd need a CD burner or you would have to stick all the stuff you want to save on another HDD by putting the first drive (drive with all the stuff on it) into another comp (as a slave) and transfer the files over to another HDD. OR you could just transfer all the stuff you want to save onto the 40Gb drive and then format the C drive and leave the 6GB in for a bit (if you planned on getting a new HDD) and transfer the files BACK over to the 6GB, format the 40Gb, and THEN transfer them back over to that. (Short answer - get a CD or a DVD burner and backup all your stuff that way).

Regarding the low disk volume, would it be easier to install a new C drive, with more space?

You could but you might just wanna keep the 6Gb as the OS hard drive and the 40Gb as the storage HDD. Unless you think you'll fill up the 6Gb with tons of programs and the 40Gb with tons of images/music/whatever. In that case you may want to buy a new HDD (www.zipzoomfly.com and www.newegg.com are 2 of the most popular for the US) and make the 40Gb your OS disk and the NEW HDD the storage disk.

If I were to have the formatting done and a hard drive installed, all my crap saved and then re-installed, what is a normal range for the fees?

Just the cost of a new HDD, you can do everything else yourself If you give it to a company (best buy, Compusa) or some other small computer tech group they will usually just burn the files to a CD/DVD, wipe the drive, re-install windows, and give it back to you. All stuff you can do yourself with a bit of reading.

And finally, I am going to buy a new home PC, the Dell is going to be passed along to my Daughter, I am looking at either HP or emachines computers. any recommendations?

HP and eMachines are both fairly good machines for the prices they offer. If you don't plan on doing any sort of gaming on the machine then either one would be fine for you. You would still want to get the best bang for your buck however so just post back which ones you were looking at and the prices of them and we can help.

 

[dudeigothadbydell]

Thanks for the help, I will probably be asking quite a bit more questions.
Nice RATM quote, I was listening to RATM when we crossed the border into Iraq.

the Dude abides

 

[Lax]

Thanks for the help, I will probably be asking quite a bit more questions.
Nice RATM quote, I was listening to RATM when we crossed the border into Iraq.

the Dude abides

I have never listened to Rage Against The Machine. So I have no idea where I quoted them

By all means though ask as many questions as you need to, we're all here to help