Where can I get a new operating system for my computer for free ?

[JDarvall]

I'm not going to muck about !..... thats what I want.

I've got an old computer setup, that I got for $300. It came with windows 98. This operating system( thats what it is right?) has shut down problems, which forces me to switch off at that wall a lot........hangs a fair bit too,,,,, annoyingly when I try to submit a long post !.....

The broadband bloke I spoke to on the phone said , that windows 98's like that. Some people have no problems, but others the complete opposite. Guess, I'm in the latter.

Considering that 98's very old, I was thinking that maybe I can get a latter version...like 2000 ? or whatever for free somewhere. Legally prefered, but I don't mind being a little shifty as long as its certain I won't get nicked :eek: ....scrub that last bit...has to be definetly Legal. absolutely !

I've tried the updates for windows 98. It seemed to help for a while, then for no apparent reason the shut down and hanging problems started again.

I've been lead to believe that new operating systems are pricey....

Thanks
Jake

[keith53]

G'day Jake,

Trouble with the later OS software is that it requires later model processors, more memory etc to run. You should be able to upgrade for around $5/600 - box only. Use your existing monitor to save $$$.

The RRP on Windows is pretty high but you can usually get an OS bundled with a box for a lot less. Having said all that, if your existing machine can run a later OS, the other place to look for a reasonably priced OS would be a University Bookshop. I bought one here for SWMBO's PC for a little over $100. Good luck,

Cheers,
Keith

[craigb]

The only free and legal operating system I know of is Linux.

Buy a PC magazine, the CD on the front will probably have one of the distributions on it.

Word of warning, be prepared for a lot of dicking around if you decide to go for it. It's not as bad as it used to be but it still has a fair bit of a learning curve.

Also if you have an old machine it might have priblems too.

A licence for XP costs around $250 I think. Or you could just buy a new PC that comes bundled with it.

[bennylaird]

I would guess that it's not a software issue but more hardware. A reinstallation of 98 might fix the problems but I would be hesitant to try and put something like XP on an old machine. Can you work out what processor, memory, hard drive etc you have?

[JDarvall]

Thanks everyone.....still not sure really what to do....sounds like there's no getting around it....I'll have to spend some money.

I've got a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 6511

AMD K6 500Mhz processer
123 mb ram
4mb shared video memory
8gb hard drive
40x cd-rom drive
Iomega Zip Drive 100mb
Windows 98 SE

[Iain]

I had a pavillion and the hard drive slowed down, physically, the bearings were shot, could be a pavillion problem.
I went XP Pro with now 600gig hard drive and 1 gig RAM.
The hard drives are now fairly cheap compared to what they used to be.
Find a computer geek (like I did) who has a passion for single malt (or, insert flavour of choice) and XP will be no problem.

[craigb]

Thanks everyone.....still not sure really what to do....sounds like there's no getting around it....I'll have to spend some money.

I've got a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 6511

AMD K6 500Mhz processer
123 mb ram
4mb shared video memory
8gb hard drive
40x cd-rom drive
Iomega Zip Drive 100mb
Windows 98 SE

You have a very underspeced machine for what is available now. I don't think that XP would run very well in only 128mb of RAM.

I think you probably need to upgrade your hardware.

The good news is that PC's are pretty cheap theses days and you'll get a copy of XP thrown in with a new one anyway.

[Shedhand]

G'day mate I just love single malt
Go out and buy 2 things:

1. RAM - (Boost it to minimum 512mb) (its cheap as chips at the moment) You'll need to know what type of RAM you aready have.
2. A bigger hard drive. 40gig minimum.

This should solve your problems hanging problems. The 'puter is trying to do too much with too little resources.

(Unless you a bit of a geek, I'd leave Linux OS's alone for the moment. It still has a pretty steep learning curve and the time is better spent in the SHED )

Turn everything off and unplug. (Ground yourself before you touch the gizzards of the PC).
Install the new RAM and Hard Drive.
Turn it back on.
The PC will take a bit of time to self test the RAM and mount the HD.
Reinstall Win98SE (this OS is fine for what you're doing.
After re-installing OS go to Windows Web Site and download and install updates and patches to the 98SE OS.
Re-install your applications
And Bob should be your uncle.

Cheers

[Barry_White]

There is one major problem with running 98SE and that is You may find that your ISP may not give you any support because Microsoft will no longer give any support to ISP's on the Win 98 platform. I know that Telstra wont even connect you now if you are running 98. I know this because they sent an email out outlining this.

What shedhand says that the specs are pretty low but perhaps just taking it up to 512 meg of ram will make an incredible difference in performance.

I was running a Pentium 3, 1.2mhz 128meg ram Laptop and it was struggling especially when multitasking and I put 512meg of ram in it and the difference was incredible.

I can now have 10 programs open multitasking and it doesn't even hiccup running XP Pro. and I use all Office programs as well as Photoshop and Dreamweaver which are high memory hungry programs.

[Ashore]

ADM 500meg processer I would have doubts on it running XP and the trouble is your mother board may not be suitable to upgrade to a 1.3

Upgrade the ram however if you have slots available.

However for a little help now try a disk clean and a defrag, cause if you haven't been doing this your machine will slow and can cause drop out etc...

If you look in programs.....Accessories ......system tools ..... disk clean

then go programs......accessories ... system tools ... Defragment

If you haven't done this before or for a while put it on overnight and let it go , If you have problems with the defrag let us know you may need to do it in safe mode but won't complicate the issue on how to do that now.

Rgds

[JDarvall]

Sounds like good advice on adding RAM... Sort of makes sense as well.

uno how the computer 'thinks'... how it grunts away, with that little red light that flashes when the hard drives working () . Well, I've noticed that when I'm patient, and wait until its finished 'thinking', before I click on anything else, then....no problems. Rarely does the system hang.

But, if I flick from one page to the next, as you do, clicking away quickly, not waiting for the thing to stop thinking, then problems start....

Sort of impleys it just hasn't got enough grey matter.

What I've just written should show how little I know about these things

Anyway, I'll try that disk clean, and defrag........Thanks to all.

[bennylaird]

If you haven't cleaned up the spyware then you may be suffering form it.
Have fixed systems with tens of thousands of infections. Amazing how they speed up afterwards.

[keith53]

I've got a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 6511

AMD K6 500Mhz processer
123 mb ram
4mb shared video memory
8gb hard drive
40x cd-rom drive
Iomega Zip Drive 100mb
Windows 98 SE

Solution:

1. Feed chain into computer case - let it hang out about 1m.
2. Fill case with concrete.
3. Attach 4m of rope & a float to the chain.
4. Send to bitingmidge for use as an anchor for his rapidly-finishing canoe.

Good luck with it all..

[Auld Bassoon]

I'm not going to muck about !..... thats what I want.

I've got an old computer setup, that I got for $300. It came with windows 98. This operating system( thats what it is right?) has shut down problems, which forces me to switch off at that wall a lot........hangs a fair bit too,,,,, annoyingly when I try to submit a long post !.....

The broadband bloke I spoke to on the phone said , that windows 98's like that. Some people have no problems, but others the complete opposite. Guess, I'm in the latter.

Considering that 98's very old, I was thinking that maybe I can get a latter version...like 2000 ? or whatever for free somewhere. Legally prefered, but I don't mind being a little shifty as long as its certain I won't get nicked :eek: ....scrub that last bit...has to be definetly Legal. absolutely !

I've tried the updates for windows 98. It seemed to help for a while, then for no apparent reason the shut down and hanging problems started again.

I've been lead to believe that new operating systems are pricey....

Thanks
Jake

G'day Jake,

I'm pretty sure that I have a copy of Windows 2000 at home. If so, I'll send you a PM. I know that I have a copy of NT4.

However, both (and especialy so with Win2000) need at least 128Mb RAM (preferably 256Mb or more) and Pentium-class CPU.

As others have mentioned, Linux can be obtained for 0$ - but, even with something like Xandros (which is about as user-friendly as Linux gets), it can be a pretty stepp learning curve to get it set up and running, especially if you want to run apps lime e-mail or office productivity tools.

If you're game, I'm happy to send you a Xandros install CD.

Cheers!

PS just read the later posts, and I'm afraid that a PC of that level spec probably wouldn't handle eith Win2000 or NT4 - a Linux (whichever distibution) would likely have issues in identifying the CPU, M/board, drives, video controller, etc.

[bennylaird]

Even an old clunker has it's uses. Set it up to drive your cnc router in the shed!!!!!!