Ok, need some computer help

[Wind_Danzer]

Not for me mind you when you read this. I find it to be pretty fawking stupid to be honest but here goes.

I need to locate a place that will sell something like a 6 to 10 gig hard drive for an older computer that my parents want to fix up for my grandfather.

Now if you know anything about my parents, they always call me for help. So the first thing I did was tell them to buy him a brand new computer for 350 bucks. Mom doesn't want to do that because "This one runs Win98 and that's what we run and that means I can help him out if her has issues." :eek:

Ok.....

Then they go on to say that the modem doesn't work and the CD drive doesn't work (or they believe it doesn't work), the keyboard doesn't work and the mouse is on it's last legs. The hard drive might be "broken" and that's why some of those things might not be working correctly. But getting a huge hard drive for a man that is only going to use the internet every once in a while and really only plans to do spreadsheets on the computer doens't need that much space.

Ugh..... But try explaining what to do for an hour and a 1/2 saying the same things over and also explaining to them that if they take it to a computer repair shop that they will probably be charged with the cost of a new computer to get that one running would be pointless. Now they are begging me to come home for the day to get this thing running cause my "Computer Savvy" Aunt has failed.....

Anyone got a gun I can borrow so I can blast a hole in this thing and make them get a new computer. Shiznet, maybe I'll just buy him a new computer....

[TRobertsRN]

This reminds me of someone attempting to restore a Yugo.

In other words you can't polish a turd.

For the money they would spend they could both get a new computer with a warranty, then they would both have windows XP or whatever.

[elevate]

Get him a palm pilot, with a big screen and call it good. Or "break" into your parents house and make their historic computer disappear, conviently right after making them get a back up drive. I think thats the only method that works with stubborn parents. Good luck.

[Wind_Danzer]

Heh.....

I've already told my parents to buy a new computer as that one was from 1999 and 366 MHz. :eek: :eek:

Then again, even if they finally did buy new for themselves, they have dial up as they are technologically impaired and don't want cable or DSL.

I'm just going to sit back and watch or hear about the fireworks and how much money they have spend to polish that turd.

[rwhitbeck]

Try Fry's Electronics out at Baseline and I10...you can pretty much buy an entire computer one piece at a time there and piece it together yourself...the salespeople there should be able to help you out with whatever you need!

You can try out their website too if you already know exactly what you need...here it is:

www.outpost.com

[Cave Gimp]

Anyone got a gun I can borrow so I can blast a hole in this thing and make them get a new computer. Shiznet, maybe I'll just buy him a new computer....

Easier than a gun, go over to help, and bring a screwdriver that is magnetized. Make sure you touch just about everything you can with the screwdriver. That should finish off the computer. Or put on some big fuzzy socks, rub your feet on the carpet, then touch the processor. Again that should finish it off. :)

I ran into the same issue with my Grandmothers computer. Finally after several months of "fixing" it my uncle broke down and bought a new one. Then my wife canceled her dial up service and had DSL installed, behind her back. The computer runs great, and she can forward chain e-mails at lightning fast speeds.

Good luck to you.

[joedokes28]

You should be able to find a small HD for free. The smallest I have on hand are about 20gigs but would be happy to give you one.

It's time to junk the PC. It's not worth the time and effort to rebild a win98 machine.

[Wind_Danzer]

See this is the messed up thing joe. If I even came to them with a free 20gig hard drive, they wouldn't want it as it would have too much "space".

This is how backwards my mom is thinking.

And I'm not flying home 4+ hours just to try and "fix" a computer like that.

[joedokes28]

Tell them that when they are ready for your help and a real solution, then they can call you.

I know all about stubborn parents :D

[Wind_Danzer]

Did that yesterday after the 2 hour phone call. :D

[weasel_ugs]

You should be able to find a small HD for free. The smallest I have on hand are about 20gigs but would be happy to give you one.

It's time to junk the PC. It's not worth the time and effort to rebild a win98 machine.
Like he mentioned not worth it.There is a prob with loading win 98 now,Microsoft doesnt support it so you cant update it after you reload it.I was going to build an old machine for some of my old dos based games,went to update it and screen says we dont support 98 anymore. Don

[hharvey]

I have an old PC that has a small drive in it Its running win98- I can put some mem in it and a modem this week end. I live in Casa Grande but I will be in Phx next monday and tuesday and I can give it to you if you want it but I would have to meet you some were after 5:30 around Camelback and Hi-way 51 area

[FrenchChili]

Pay a kid to throw a baseball through the window into the computer....

Then they'll get a nice computer with tinted windows to prevent glare:D:D:D