53 replies to this topic

[PeggyB]

Few weeks ago I was given a computer for my daughter Cheryl. It was a computer that my neice had that came from a bank where she works, they got new ones. I played around with it today, but not sure where to begin.

I installed Avast AV.......clean.
I installed Everest, but not sure what info ya'll would need to help me. I do have the basics: OS: Windows 2000/Professional
Service Pack 3
CPU: Intel Pentium II 4.50 MHz (4.5x100)
MoBo name: Compaq Deskpro EP/SB series
System Memory: 128 MB

I did come across something, don't remember where that said NO Modem???? Not sure if that is true or not.

Guess what I need to know is what info ya'll need to get things squared away for Cheryl.

Next question is: I have a phone jack in her room that is the same phone number that the whole house uses.........can she and I connect at the same time?

[JohnT]

You may have to network them Peggy. I will let the more proficient persons like Smokey give you detailed info, but from my memory on dialup there was a program in Microsoft called ICS which could be used to set them up. Maybe there is a more modern way to do it now.

http://www.homenethelp.com/ics/
http://www.homenethe...aring/modem.asp

[PeggyB]

Oh My JT.........that is all over my head....

Hope that Smokey or someone with step-by-step instructions can post here. I just can't think right now, Ron (hubby) and I have been very busy today updating my dining room....long over due. I'm so tired right now I can't hardly see straight.
Think I'm off to bed.........nite, nite.

[Berton]

Next question is: I have a phone jack in her room that is the same phone number that the whole house uses.........can she and I connect at the same time?

No, but that's where having the 2 computers Networked comes in. After getting them networked you can install Internet Connection Sharing where one has the modem and phone line and the other can cause the first to do the dialing/connecting.

[PeggyB]

That sounds great Berton, but this is really all new to me. How do I go about doing this and I need step-by-step instructions.

Now a few questions about Windows 2000/pro......

Where is system restore, if there is such a thing?
How do I pin things to the start menu?
How do I make the words bigger on things I open, example below? As you can see my words are large, on Windows 2000 they are very tiny.

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[Berton]

PeggyB, on Aug 17 2005, 01:46 AM, said:

That sounds great Berton, but this is really all new to me. How do I go about doing this and I need step-by-step instructions.

Now a few questions about Windows 2000/pro......

Where is system restore, if there is such a thing?
How do I pin things to the start menu?
How do I make the words bigger on things I open, example below? As you can see my words are large, on Windows 2000 they are very tiny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try this for the Internet Connection Sharing:
http://www.annoyance...g/exec/show/ics
You'll first need to have a Network between both computers, do you have that?

Win2000 doesn't have System Restore, I use VCOM SystemSuite with its Recover feature with RestoreCheckpoint.

Pinning to the Start menu is new with WinXP. You can drag items from the Start, Programs menu to the list on the left above the Programs entry.
The font part may be dependent upon your screen resolution.

[Smokey]

Hi Peggy, I would just like to add to Berton's excellent recommendations.

On the font size, you can click start >> settings >> control panel and select Display. Go to the "Appearance Tab" >> click the drop down arrow under Scheme and select "Windows Classic (Large)" then click OK. This will give you much larger font.



About your question on memory for this new computer that I recieved in your email yesterday. This computer has a very slow processor and I don't think it's worth spending money on memory. Memory won't help the speed very much. If you still want to install more memory just let me know and I will help you find the right memory for it.

Edited at 6:07 eastern

One more request Peggy..... when you have time... go into your control panel and open "System Properties" >> Device Manager, if you see modem and/or network adaptors, expand them by clicking on the plus mark and post a screenshot like this:

[PeggyB]

Here is what I found: In Device Mgr....there is no modem listed. Also Network Adapters wasn't listed there either.

Just to let you know under Device Mgr it listed nothing, but I have Everest installed and that tells me everything about the computer. I found lots of other things listed under each of those WAN Miniports..

Under Network Adapters I found this;
Direct Parallet
WAN Miniport (ATW)
WAN Miniport (IP)
WAN Miniport (L2TP)
WAN Miniport (PPTP)


Sorry couldn't take a snapshot, since it isn't connected to the internet or anything else.

[Smokey]

Peggy, Everest and Belarc are programs that find components based on software and drivers installed. If you have a network card or adapter it should have be seen in device manager even if it has no driver installed.

I'm not so sure networking these 2 computers together is such a good idea with a dialup connection anyway. I think it would be a better idea to install a new modem in the compaq and take turns dialing up. That way your connection will be a little faster. I thought you would have DSL's available in your area by now. Is DP still going to have to dialup in her new home?

[PeggyB]

Thank you........I think that is very good idea. Will order and let you know when it arrives and hope you have instructions for installing.

I thought I would have DSL too, but they only installed lines out on the hard road, not down my 2 miles of red clay road. They did say it was coming and in the plans, but couldn't tell me exact date.

Yes, DP will have dial-up. She's not to happy, but sure is better than nothing.

[PeggyB]

I was thinking of installing Windows XP/SP2, since Cheryl and I are more familar with that version and I really don't see anything impressive in Windows 2000.

What do you think about that? There seems to be alot of stuff on 2000 that is strange to me and I surely don't like the way it is setup. The start menu is crazy.

[Berton]

If I may, WinXP Pro is just a furtherance of Win2000 Pro [which was a furtherance of WinNT 4 Workstation] with WinXP Home Edition being offered for replacing WinME.

If folks like the Win2000/Win98 visual appearance they can use the Classic menu. And it might let them feel 'more at home' with something familiar.

WinXP is easier to use in many areas than Win2000, particularly in setting up home/Peer-to-Peer Networks and setting up high-speed 'net service.

Where Win98/Win2000 had at least 3 ways of doing the same thing WinXP may have 4 or 5 ways. The right mouse button has never had as much functionality as with WinXP. I see where Apple now has a mouse with a scroll function.

[JohnT]

I think it is always smart to use software you are comfortable with, sounds like a plan.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windo...g_2kupgrade.asp

[PeggyB]

Thanks for the info..............I have decided to install Windows XP/Pro. I do have a few questions before I do this major tasks.

I will be using Smokey's tutorial here:
http://www.smartestc...?showtopic=6742

But 1 thing isn't clear to me: In picture #4 it doesn't say what to click on?

[Larry(ne)]

Peggy in pix #4 you will hit ESC.

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[Smokey]

Peggy, The processer in that Compaq is very slow. With all the effects in XP it will seem very sluggish, not at first but after you install some software. This will help speed it up; go to your control panel and choose "system properties" >> advanced tab >> system performance >> settings and make the changes like in my screenshot below:



Show window contents while dragging should be the only box checked.

[PeggyB]

Thank You.........will do before the install on Monday.
Thank You Larry will write that down. Will be going over the instructions again just to make sure I have everything clear..........don't won't to mess anything up....

[PeggyB]

Smokey........what you posted above with the screen shot doesn't match with this Windows 2000. Here is what I have with the best I can explain it.

I have.........Control Panel/System Properties/Advance Tab/System Performance/Performance Options......(not settings).

Under that I have 2 choices: Application or Background and there is green tick next to Application.
Under that it says: Virtual Memory.....
Total paging file for all drives 192 MB....Change.
When you click on change you see: Drive C: highlighted & it looks like this:
Drive (volume label)..................Paging file size (MB)
C: 192-384
*******************************************************************
Paging file size for selected drive:
Drive............................................C:
Space available 8496 MB
Initial size (MB) 192..........I can change that number.
Maximum size 384..........I can change that number.

SET
**********************************************************************
Total paging file size for all drives:
Minimum.......................2MB
Recommended..............190MB
Currently allocated........192MB
*********************************************************************
Registry size:
Current registry size.......13MB Maximum size.....35MB....I can change.
**********************************************************************

Hope this makes sense to you.........cause it doesn't to me....

[Larry(ne)]

Peggy what he is saying after you get xp pro installed you can go there and change that setting...hth

[Berton]

PeggyB, on Aug 21 2005, 12:55 PM, said:

Smokey........what you posted above with the screen shot doesn't match with this Windows 2000. Here is what I have with the best I can explain it.

I have.........Control Panel/System Properties/Advance Tab/System Performance/Performance Options......(not settings).

Under that I have 2 choices: Application or Background and there is green tick next to Application.
Under that it says: Virtual Memory.....
Total paging file for all drives 192 MB....Change.
When you click on change you see: Drive C: highlighted & it looks like this:
Drive (volume label)..................Paging file size (MB)
      C:                                              192-384
*******************************************************************
Paging file size for selected drive:
Drive............................................C:
Space available                              8496 MB
Initial size (MB)                                192..........I can change that number.
Maximum size                                  384..........I can change that number.

                                                                                                          SET
**********************************************************************
Total paging file size for all drives:
Minimum.......................2MB
Recommended..............190MB
Currently allocated........192MB
*********************************************************************
Registry size:
Current registry size.......13MB                    Maximum size.....35MB....I can change.
**********************************************************************

Hope this makes sense to you.........cause it doesn't to me....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Peggy, just so you'll know about the Paging File/Virtual Memory size, put either name in Win2000's Help [or WinXP's Help and Support] and you'll find the programmers' [developers of Windows] recommendation that it be 1.5 times the physical RAM. 128MB x 1.5 = 192MB, same as the allocated size you already have. There are folks who disagree with that recommendation but I find it to be valid.

If the hard drive is short on space you can make both numbers the same so the file won't grow any larger.

I've had success on computers with 128MB and more RAM in disabling the Paging File/Swapfile, running DEFRAG then re-enabling Virtual Memory at a fixed size. Keeps the file in one contiguous chunk on the hard drive instead of scattered about in bits and pieces.

On my WinXP I gained a noticeable improvement in operation when I put the Paging File on a different hard drive [NOT on a different partition on the same drive as the OS], haven't got around to putting the second hard drive on Win2000 yet. Since the same read/write heads have to access all partitions on the same drive putting the Paging File/Swapfile on a different partition would serve only to balance space used between the partitions.