ChatterBank8 mins ago
Will This Help My Computer?
Hoping someone may be able to advise me with this one please. Have a 14 yr old HP Pavilion desktop, OS Win 98 SE. It it NOT connected to the internet as I only use it for artwork and writing/printing.
I know it's past its sell-by date as it's playing up big time here even though I replaced the CMOS battery a couple of months ago which did help another problem it had at the time. Now it is doing weird and wonderful things, doesn't always boot up, crashing lots, doing strange things on certain programmes, graphics breaking down etc etc. I think the hardrive is going down to be honest. However, it on occasions boots up fine and I can use it.
What I would like to try and I'm not at all computer literate, is to take programs off to free it up a bit in the hope it may last a little while longer. So I'm asking if it might help to uninstall IE, outlook express, and the usual type things that uses the internet which as I said I don't have anymore. If someone could advise me the sort of things to uninstall that may help the situation I would be most grateful, many thanks.
I know it's past its sell-by date as it's playing up big time here even though I replaced the CMOS battery a couple of months ago which did help another problem it had at the time. Now it is doing weird and wonderful things, doesn't always boot up, crashing lots, doing strange things on certain programmes, graphics breaking down etc etc. I think the hardrive is going down to be honest. However, it on occasions boots up fine and I can use it.
What I would like to try and I'm not at all computer literate, is to take programs off to free it up a bit in the hope it may last a little while longer. So I'm asking if it might help to uninstall IE, outlook express, and the usual type things that uses the internet which as I said I don't have anymore. If someone could advise me the sort of things to uninstall that may help the situation I would be most grateful, many thanks.
Answers
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Firstly I don't think your plan to uninstall programs is going to do any good. Taking a couple of programs off your computer is not going to make it magically start working properly again.
Secondly I seem to remember back in the days of Windows 98 that Internet Explorer and Outlook Express were tied very tightly in with Windows and could not be uninstalled on their own.
I guess you have a very small hard disk, and it could be almost full, which can cause problems (Windows does not like it when a hard disk is full up and it has no room for temporary files).
Try to remove / delete as many of you own personal files as you can, or back them up onto another device like a CD.
To be honest 14 years is a long time ago in computer terms and this is very old technology so I am not sure there is much you can do to save it. It may have just reached the end of its life.
Secondly I seem to remember back in the days of Windows 98 that Internet Explorer and Outlook Express were tied very tightly in with Windows and could not be uninstalled on their own.
I guess you have a very small hard disk, and it could be almost full, which can cause problems (Windows does not like it when a hard disk is full up and it has no room for temporary files).
Try to remove / delete as many of you own personal files as you can, or back them up onto another device like a CD.
To be honest 14 years is a long time ago in computer terms and this is very old technology so I am not sure there is much you can do to save it. It may have just reached the end of its life.
I don't know how to do it on Win 98 (or even if you can) but checking the hard disc would be worthwhile.
On Windows Vista and Windows 7, Start > Computer to display all the hard drives.
Right-click drive C > properties > error checking > check now
Tick both boxes > now
It won't let you because drive C is in use but it will ask if you would like to do it at next start-up - agree to that.
Next time you boot it will go into the check sequence, so the boot will be a lengthy one. All sectors on the disc will be checked and any iffy ones taken out of service thus making your disc more reliable.
I can't say that it will cure your problem but it's worth a try.
On Windows Vista and Windows 7, Start > Computer to display all the hard drives.
Right-click drive C > properties > error checking > check now
Tick both boxes > now
It won't let you because drive C is in use but it will ask if you would like to do it at next start-up - agree to that.
Next time you boot it will go into the check sequence, so the boot will be a lengthy one. All sectors on the disc will be checked and any iffy ones taken out of service thus making your disc more reliable.
I can't say that it will cure your problem but it's worth a try.
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Thanks for all the helpful information, not that I can see me doing a lot of the techy stuff that I don't understand but I will have a look at it all.
VHG - re IE and Outlook Express, it has both of those in the add/remove programs in the control panel that's why I wondered if taking them off might just help, but reticent anyway in case it makes the PC any more unstable, so may well leave those alone. I am not holding out much hope for my computer as it certainly is ancient in computer life, so realise it's on its last legs. I have started getting rid of a lot of my files to try and help and living in hope lol.
Yes methyl I certainly do need a friendly techy person but don't know anyone in that capacity which is a shame! This computer has a CD Writer drive plus a Re-writable drive and one floppy disk drive. Used them in the past but long forgotten how to "do things" on them. As for what software I have for my" artwork", it's Microsoft Home Publishing 2000 and I do have a lot of files on there which again I've started clearing out with more to go. The WP came in with the Works 2000 Suite (Spreadsheet etc) but all separate items, only really use the WP. There is MS Money on there, could I uninstall that without other things messing up? As for MS Home Publishing, that has had a glitch on it from day one. At that time one had free help on the phone with this software and had to take advantage of it several times in the early days and they talked me through uninstalling and reinstalling it but it has never stopped crashing the computer! I live with it because I want to use the program so I just take a chance but it's doing it more lately so I guess with the HD going into fail...it will obviously make the program worse!
I know I'm flogging a dead horse here trying to hang on to the PC but I would like to try to get some things made up for at least 12 milestone birthdays and anniversaries I need to send to next year tho it's not "life-threatening" if I don't lol. Me in silly mode wonders if it knew I needed it specifically for 2015 - ahem! Thanks for all the help though I will keep deleting stuff and try to use until it gives up the ghost!
VHG - re IE and Outlook Express, it has both of those in the add/remove programs in the control panel that's why I wondered if taking them off might just help, but reticent anyway in case it makes the PC any more unstable, so may well leave those alone. I am not holding out much hope for my computer as it certainly is ancient in computer life, so realise it's on its last legs. I have started getting rid of a lot of my files to try and help and living in hope lol.
Yes methyl I certainly do need a friendly techy person but don't know anyone in that capacity which is a shame! This computer has a CD Writer drive plus a Re-writable drive and one floppy disk drive. Used them in the past but long forgotten how to "do things" on them. As for what software I have for my" artwork", it's Microsoft Home Publishing 2000 and I do have a lot of files on there which again I've started clearing out with more to go. The WP came in with the Works 2000 Suite (Spreadsheet etc) but all separate items, only really use the WP. There is MS Money on there, could I uninstall that without other things messing up? As for MS Home Publishing, that has had a glitch on it from day one. At that time one had free help on the phone with this software and had to take advantage of it several times in the early days and they talked me through uninstalling and reinstalling it but it has never stopped crashing the computer! I live with it because I want to use the program so I just take a chance but it's doing it more lately so I guess with the HD going into fail...it will obviously make the program worse!
I know I'm flogging a dead horse here trying to hang on to the PC but I would like to try to get some things made up for at least 12 milestone birthdays and anniversaries I need to send to next year tho it's not "life-threatening" if I don't lol. Me in silly mode wonders if it knew I needed it specifically for 2015 - ahem! Thanks for all the help though I will keep deleting stuff and try to use until it gives up the ghost!
My thoughts (whilst not having read what I suspect are fine advice below given the monikers of the posters).
Win 98 is so old now I think it is time you opted to treat yourself to a neer model. My apologies though, Windows has changed, and not always for the better, since then. You will take time to learn to put up with all the new annoyances they have delighted in adding. but with 7 and 8 now old hat, the latest may be a brave new world anyway.
I suspect you can remove programmes but the description of your issue doesn't suggest to me a lack of resource, either drive space nor memory. Maybe more likely a failure of either memory or hard drive. There are programmes that can test these things but if you are not on the Internet you need to find a way to obtain and install them.
Aside from that there could be hardware faults, power faults maybe. There comes a time when the gain from patching a fault is outweighed by the short time it takes for another issue to appear. At which point cutting one's losses and starting again is a wise move.
Win 98 is so old now I think it is time you opted to treat yourself to a neer model. My apologies though, Windows has changed, and not always for the better, since then. You will take time to learn to put up with all the new annoyances they have delighted in adding. but with 7 and 8 now old hat, the latest may be a brave new world anyway.
I suspect you can remove programmes but the description of your issue doesn't suggest to me a lack of resource, either drive space nor memory. Maybe more likely a failure of either memory or hard drive. There are programmes that can test these things but if you are not on the Internet you need to find a way to obtain and install them.
Aside from that there could be hardware faults, power faults maybe. There comes a time when the gain from patching a fault is outweighed by the short time it takes for another issue to appear. At which point cutting one's losses and starting again is a wise move.
If your PC is dying, deleting/uninstalling programs will make very little difference.
You could try re-installing windows 98 but you really need to think about moving on and getting another PC before you permanently lose everything on your PC, keep everything backed up just in case.
You could pick up a second hand PC for less than £100 with windows 7 and a far faster bit of kit!!
You could try re-installing windows 98 but you really need to think about moving on and getting another PC before you permanently lose everything on your PC, keep everything backed up just in case.
You could pick up a second hand PC for less than £100 with windows 7 and a far faster bit of kit!!
Hi RATTER, thanks for that, yes I know I'm grasping at straws trying to hang on lol... I do have a new PC which I'm using now (Win 8 with 7 shell), the oldie was just for bits n bobs that has the progs I like on it. I don't have the Win 98 installation discs so no chance there sadly. I must admit I prefer the old Windows especially XP which I had before this new one so it would take a lot for me getting used to using new software on this one plus I have a brill old printer HP 940c on the oldie which is so economical it's unbelievable and I doubt it will work with the new PC. I think the technical term for me ATM is saddo lol.
Might be time to back-up everything you need (i.e. your personal files) and then go shopping for a new PC.
Here's some refurbished towers to replace yours:
http://
Here's some refurbished towers to replace yours:
http://
OG sorry I didn't see your post and Tambo you were posting as I typed. Totally understand what you're saying OG, I know it's coming...I will have to give up lol. I personally think is the HD that's failing for what I know (which is not a lot). Tambo the computer isn't online and hasn't been for several years now and have done all temp files etc...no games on it but thanks for your help.
Aye I have an old game (possibly more) that I could not get to run after I upgraded (from Win98 I think). Pity because it's was easy enough to beat, and there are times one can amuse oneself by making progress without too much of a challenge and bursting a blood vessel every five minutes :-) The fact that is was a DOS one probably didn't help. Losing wanted games/utilities, when it is supposed to be an upgrade, is a bit of a 'downer'.
I've tended to find spinrite a good disk recovery programme, if that is what is happening. I assume it's still sold. Not cheap though.
I've tended to find spinrite a good disk recovery programme, if that is what is happening. I assume it's still sold. Not cheap though.
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