Another Bastered Techy Thread

This is the spec of my Dad's hp pavillion 433.uk pc:

2GHz Intel Celeron 256MB DDR SDRAM 60GB Hard Drive

It's running XP service pack 2 and the HD is virtually empty. It's not the version that shipped with the box though, that came on the hard drive and it wouldn't install so I got an OEM disk and installed it from scratch when it all got virused and wrecked last year. I've had AVG and a spyware thing on there since re-installation and I run full scans and ccleaner about once a month.

It's currently installing service pack 3.

It's always connected to the interweb via a wireless dongle and the reception is good.

So why does it run so slowly? Everything, not just web browsing, takes forever. Is the spec too low, is there something wrong with that machine or is it, as my Dad says, just a bastard thing that should be in the bin?

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer.

RAM More of it. How to test if I am right.........does the hard drive light wink a lot even when you are not launching a new program/loading a file?

DDR1 can be hard to find and expensive, but overclockers.co.uk still have a selection I think.

Also defragging the drive may help...but not with the windows defragger, something like PerfectDisk would be better, as it can defrag the swap file, which is a part of disc used to augment the physical memory, if this is fragmented and spread across the drive, it will crawl. Also, windows will often re-size the bugger which cases load of disc activity and a period of major stroppiness.

Nail. Head. The hard drive is always working like fuck. I'd forgotten to mention that.

Right, now before I start pulling everything to pieces - I've got a Dell which I don't mind sacrificing. Can I just rip the memory out of there and throw it into the hp? Both are boxes, not laptops?

If it's DDR1, yes. DDR2 will not fit in a DDR1 socket, same with DDR3 (apparently I'm the only bugger using that, £100/GB not surprised).

Things to note: It works better in pairs (if the motherboard supports it). All sticks will run at the speed of the slowest.....if your machine donates 133MHz RAM, and the existing 256MB is 100MHZ, all the sticks will run at 100MHz....so if you are donating a pair of 512's, you would just hurl the 256 in the bin.

Static+RAM is bad, but wriststraps are for tinfoil hatters. when removing, touch the PC case/chassis with left hand and then remove RAM with right. When installing, hold RAM in right hand, THEN touch PC case/chassis, then install at yourrrrrr leisure. By doing this, any potential deiffernce is resolved via the hand and not via the contacts on the RAM (which is how static usually kills it).

It just says DDR on the front of the machine - the sticks themselves will say whether it's 1, 2 or 3 will it?

Diamond 383 wrote: It just says DDR on the front of the machine - the sticks themselves will say whether it's 1, 2 or 3 will it?

If it just says DDR, it's probably DDR1. But you will be able to tell if it's the same stuff basically by where the "slot" in the socket is. You will not damage anything trying to put the wrong one in as long as you do not use a hammer.

I've got the old stuff out. I did notice that it's matrix-ised. There's only one stick.

What could go wrong?

Diamond 383 wrote: I've got the old stuff out. I did notice that it's matrix-ised.

What could go wrong?

Short of rubbing it on a nylon nighty, not much.

Worst that'll happen is that the machine will go beep beep beep..........beep beep beep....beep beep beep, which means the memory is pissed off about something.

Nah, it's the wrong stuff. I took a picture of the one I want, I'll go and find a shop tomorrow.

Cheers Doc

Doctor? wrote:

Worst that'll happen is that the machine will go beep beep beep..........beep beep beep....beep beep beep, which means the memory is pissed off about something.

It's doing it as we speak

(not really, it all seems quite calm, considering it's just had all of my fingers inside it)

Diamond 383 wrote: Nah, it's the wrong stuff. I took a picture of the one I want, I'll go and find a shop tomorrow.

Cheers Doc

Is no problem, always pleased to help when a bastered techy is required.

256 is not enought memory. a 512 mb stick (get 2) is under 20$

whoops, wrong thread, Thought this was the TETCHY thread, people giving up cigs for the noo year, moaning about shit etc

sorry

As you were

GaryMac wrote: whoops, wrong thread, Thought this was the TETCHY thread, people giving up cigs for the noo year, moaning about shit etc

sorry

As you were

You're looking for the one on hangever induced dyslexia I believe.

Carry on.

Col, the easiest descriptor of the memory is the number after the letters PC printed on it somewhere if you are lucky. It's really a speed indicator, (clock speed x4 I think) BUT there are no overlaps twixed DDR DDR2 and DDRCAMBOSATHICKCUNTWHOSPENTTOOFUCKINGMUCHONRAM. For the love of the flying spagmonst, sniff some prices out online.....or you will wander into PurpleWorld, fresh faced and innocent and leave looking like that chap at goatse.cz, feeling wronged and a few tens of quid the unnecessarily lighter. Assuming, if it IS DDR (ie DDR1....it's never called that officially, in the way there is no "superman 1" ), that you can find the stuff in a high street shop.

Right the guy in the shop talked me out of putting two in so I just got a 1gb stick and it's in there now. How can I confirm it's working okay?

EDIT: It's clearly working. The things like a little rocket now. Thanks everyone, appreciate the assistance.

Diamond 383 wrote: Right the guy in the shop talked me out of putting two in so I just got a 1gb stick and it's in there now. How can I confirm it's working okay?

EDIT: It's clearly working. The things like a little rocket now. Thanks everyone, appreciate the assistance.

I did the same with my first comp,it only had 128 mem on it so i banged a gig in,cost £50 back in the day,when i got a new comp put the mem on Ebay and got £72 for the mem,must have been ddr1 mem!

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