Old DELLWin XP

[henry222]

System Background:
My Dell Optiplex GX150 is quite old and after updating to XP,SP3 (which appears to be a continuous On-Line friend)..the Dell hardware monitor says the HDD controller is faulty. I've checked the internal leads, but suspect it may be wearing out and/or a component failure in the HDD. I don't have the expertise/time to attempt a fix and risk total failure. There is no history of knocks, lightning etc. the only "change" is a fairly lengthy update. The computer appears quite cool and the fan is workinig OK.

At start-up it tells me about the controller-fault, but I can continue with WinXP and the PC works, more-or-less as you'd expect. I can't say the SP3 update is successful, merely that I have MS messing about inside my PC - presumably the updated version is better able to be defended against Viruses, etc. etc.

However, knowing there is a pending failure, makes me want to save those data-files. I've tidied up my files, and copied them to an external USB HDD - these copies are quite few, as I normally Save to an external device.

My problem:
I find it is not possible to make external copies of my received emails.
((I presume the same applies to my "sent emails". ))
I can copy them:- Select All, Copy to new Folder...but that is still within Outlook Express - I tried to "find" the named "Copee"-folder but its location is hidden (from me).
What I want to know is 1) Why does MS think I don't have the right to copy my own emails, (for example) to an external storage?

Anyone reading this might like to answer another issue I have with "History" in Internet Explorer....
If I mistype a website, as soon as I press "Enter" that mistyped address is permanently in the system. True, I can delete the lot and start clean. But I wonder what logic makes editing the "history" such a no-no?

Of course it would help if the web-address was written twice the size it is presently - that would help to make a mistake easier to spot.....but what's up with the inability to edit the addresses in "history"...?

Perhaps:
Are the alternative browsers (eg Firefox) similar with their "history"
Oddly I'm not aware of a rush of "Alternative" email-programs....but am willing to learn...

((I have tried Ubuntu, but I still have issues with printing and scanning. So I guess Win7 will be far easier to keep sorted. In the past I've plugged-in a separate HDD for Linux, so there is Zero-connection between the two systems.))

I did spend 20-minutes on the phone to Dell, hoping I might buy an expensive HDD to replace the 20G/IDE (which is where the controller fault could be???), but it reinforced my view that as soon as you give these big-boys your money they will take it - and - the concept of Service is way down their list.....

Thanks folks.

Next:
I plan to buy a new PC from a local store, using the bits I need - this is cheaper than putting them together myself (odd, that). I will be using Win7 as I believe it is the best long-term option as of now.
I surf, do very few emails, a few letters/prints and edit/sort/print photos - these files are stored via USB and I make a CD/DVD copy of pictures and the indexes. I plan to buy a camcorder, so expect to run with 4G of RAM. I don't play Games but expect a 500MB videocard will help with editing/showing hi def video. (I don't have the camcorder, yet...I'm waiting for Still Cameras / camcorders to merge)
Anyone like to suggest any items to watch out for?

 

[Ghostman 1]

Will this computer load all the way ? If not can you get into safe mode ? You know you can fix the errors on the hard drive with scan disk.. Also NEVER deal with DELL, They will just Screw you over..
As for another hard drive, You can get those cheap if you look in the right place..

 

[Big B]

As far as History is concerned, the only reason I can think of history being deleted that would be a negative is if you're trying to monitor someones internet history---like if you want to see if someone is visiting a porn or illegal software site. Deleting it will not harm the system in anyway, and if you're not sure, you can install software to monitor/block certain internet traffic or block certain sites at the router level (assuming you have one under your control).

 

[henry222]

Thanks folks, may I up-date you all?
Old Dell:- Changing the HDD and reloading XP has cleared the Dell warning....I tried the original HDD on Ubuntu (Linux) "Live CD" - which only uses the CD ROM - this reported the HDD was inimminent risk of failure. (I'm sure I've examined the Disc-cleanup utility in XP, but haven't found anything that "fixes the problem" - it could be in the Controller -as Dell msg suggessts (ie it's not the magnetic surface), it might be a leaky semiconductor, failing capacitor, etc...something that is well-nigh impossible to check unless you have another "idential" HDD and can compare meter-readings, IMHO).

On expecting agro with WinXP I've upped the 20G HDD to 160G IDE(=before they become obsolete) also a new IDE CD/DVD R/W with lightscribe (OK I suspect it's not "that" good but it was cheap at £17 ($25 say) previously the Dell was read-only....the dealer sells mostly SATA.

The situation is that having found the XP discs that came with the PC (but sadly not the same as originally on the Dell-case....(I presume the owner updated at some point, or Dell gave out the wrong disc...dunno.). I appear to have a working Dell, with two mechanical drives "new".
Whilst this doesn't revive the motherboard, it does mean the mechanicary is new and should last maybe another 5-years (if MS updates don't wreck it!).

Now the Bad news:
Before I found the XP-discs, I've bought a new PC ...(Ha! I hear.)...with LPT1 parallel-port, IDE connector, many SATA, USB etc....it's an AsusM4N78 - also having (5-sec internet connection,,"Express Gate", but I've yet to understand how I achieve it.). Also 4 DIMM slots (2x2G installed) +A dedicated Video-card of 500Mb and SATA HDD=500G all reasonably high-spec but nothing expensive. A quiet 500W PSU and 8" slow-fan tops it out.

The bad news...? I bought Win7. a disapointment. The software will only address 4G (why isn't this made clear on the packing?) - and MS is unable to run the printer-driver that works with XP (both 32bit syatems). so I now have the daft scheme where the Win7 PC is 7x faster (than the Dell), because of the extra memory and dual-core processor speed...then I have to "save" photos to USB-stick . . . in order to print them on the revived Dell.
As far as printing is concerned, it's v.slow compared with the processor, so "printing" really is the limiting feature....not exactly helped by the inability to run a simple print-driver.
PS I've spoken to Lexmark (printer is Z51), and they confirmed this situation; since MS writes the drivers, they only write for current printers, it seems. What I fail to understand is why the XP driver cannot be persuaded to drive a relatively slow printer. ((Note: All printers are very slow, compared with processors)).

Frankly, this situation (over drivers) is enough to make me switch to Ubuntu.....if only I can find a printer that is able to be driven. Lexmark claims one model is Linux-capable, but it's far from clear....and I have a rough-fix, using the USB-stick trickery. It's just a nuisance and inconvenience....but then I don't print that many pictures. It hardly justifies a new printer, esp as modern ones cannot be re-inked with their protective "chips"...to rook the customer, I say.

Thanks all for yr surggestions, the issue was "fixed" once I found the XP discs, sadly this was a week after the new Win7 PC was built.
-Still, I needed to update Dell's Mechanicals and the new Asus board is probably good enough to support my needs for many years. 4G-RAM is probably plenty for my anticipated needs.