How do I wipe a computer clean and get it ready for MAME?

[javeryh]

I have an old computer that is running Windows 98 that was purchased in 2000.  It's a PIII with 256MB of RAM and a 40GB hard drive.  It used to be the old family computer but ever since we bought a laptop and got the wireless up and running we no longer use it.  There is still a ton of stuff on it though (pictures and music mostly) that I want to be able to keep.  I have an extra copy of Windows XP as well and I would like to wipe the computer clean and do a fresh install of Windows XP.  How do I go about doing this?  Is it easy to do?

Any help would be great.  Thanks!

[Howard_Casto]

Make sure there's nothing you want on it and boot the pc up with the xp disc.  Somewhere during the setup it'll ask if you want to format the disc that you are installing windows to.  Be sure to choose yes and all is well.

[Kaytrim]

I'd get a USB hard drive and move the pics and music onto that.  Then you are free to format the drive on the computer when you install XP.

[javeryh]

Wow - that's it?  I'm going to be using my PSP and a couple of 2GB cards to transfer everything to an external hard drive (which my old computer will not recognize when plugged in).  Once I do that I'll burn back-up DVDs of the data and I guess all is well.  Am I missing anything else?  Can XP be installed on that old of a computer?

[shardian]

Can XP be installed on that old of a computer?

Yes, but '98 or 2000 would be better.

[Kaytrim]

You might be able to but it will be dogged slow.  With a PIII processor I would up the ram if possible and stick with Win 98 or go to DOS.  You will be able to hide windows and have your favorite FE startup.  GameEx might not work here because it needs the .NET framework which is not supported on Win 98.

[javeryh]

Hmm... I was hoping to run MaLa somehow.  I have a UltraStik and I really like the idea of the maps loading automatically when a game is launched from the front end.  Maybe I'll look into upping the RAM to 1GB or something... I don't know - I'm not a computer guy by any stretch.

[Kaytrim]

It could get expensive to find the ram sticks for that old of a computer.  I am not an expert anymore but if I remember right the ram sticks need to be paired to work right.  Though that might be for the PII instead.  Another option is to get a newer computer.  Here is a site that sells refurbished computer equipment. http://www.intechraoutlet.com/rbwww/home/  You can get a P4 for less than $400.  The only thing is that the RAM is bare minimum for most of these.  You'd be in the same boat as your are now but at least it would run XP rather well.  They have good prices on used LCD and CRT monitors too.

[horseboy]

This thread should really help if you want to run XP.

[KDOG]

If you have a wireless router then there should be ports on the back where you could hook up your old computer through the network. That you don't have to use the slow  memory sticks.

[Encryptor]

GameEx might not work here because it needs the .NET framework which is not supported on Win 98.

I'm running .Net 2.0 on a Win 98 machine right now. In order to use the latest version of the WinIPAC software you have to install .Net.

Encryptor