Dell boy Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 Hi guys. I couldn't figure out exactly where to put this saga but will try here. I picked up a Dell OptiPlex GX270 PC for not a big outlay. It had windows xp sticker on the side and was said to be "going". When I booted it up it said " your copy of windows is not genuine etc. so I ran a repair with a genuine disk and validated it over the phone. Still said, not genuine etc and would not download any updates etc and crawled along. So brainy me thinks, just wipe everything and start with a genuine copy of xp, which is what I did. Formatted the disk, took the battery out for a few minutes, to hopefully get rid of any nasties lurking, and reinstalled xp. But it still won't update and still goes at a snails pace. Any help greatfully recieved. Quote
KenB Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 Hi, When you installed XP - which service pack have you installed ? Start > right click on My Computer > Properties It will tell you there ( SP1 / SP2 / SP3 ) How much RAM do you have ? (should be on the same screen) Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Dell boy Posted January 10, 2013 Author Posted January 10, 2013 Hi, When you installed XP - which service pack have you installed ? Start > right click on My Computer > Properties It will tell you there ( SP1 / SP2 / SP3 ) How much RAM do you have ? (should be on the same screen) Hl SP1 512 ram Quote
KenB Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 XP is now using SP3. You need to up-grade. SP2 and SP3 are huge updates. Get SP3 from here click here You can by-pass SP2 512 MB RAM is probably the reason why your system is so slow. XP will run ok with this but is better with 1 GB ( motherboard restrictions permitting ) Let us know if you still have updating problems after this. Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Dell boy Posted January 10, 2013 Author Posted January 10, 2013 XP is now using SP3. You need to up-grade.SP2 and SP3 are huge updates.Get SP3 from hereclick hereYou can by-pass SP2512 MB RAM is probably the reason why your system is so slow.XP will run ok with this but is better with 1 GB( motherboard restrictions permitting )Let us know if you still have updating problems after this.Tried that but it hung after a while. I tried updating explorer so I could get to the other download page but got this message. "The procedure entry point SHRegGetValueW could not be located in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll" Quote
KenB Posted January 10, 2013 Posted January 10, 2013 Try SP2 click here If this installs try SP3 again. Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Dell boy Posted January 11, 2013 Author Posted January 11, 2013 SP3 is in, went in smooth on the second try. Downloaded chrome and am now updating drivers from the Dell site. Downloads are being automatically downloaded so lookin' good.Try SP2 click here If this installs try SP3 again. Quote
KenB Posted January 11, 2013 Posted January 11, 2013 Downloads are being automatically downloaded so lookin' good. One problem solved - hopefully :) After a clean install your machine should be running as well as it is going to. It could be RAM related as to why it is running slow. on a clean install 512MB should run OK - not brilliant - but OK. If it is really slow try taking one of the RAM modules out and run on the other. If it speeds up you have found your problem. Test on both modules by themselves. Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Dell boy Posted January 12, 2013 Author Posted January 12, 2013 I've been playing with it between times today. PC Pitstop says it's ok, needs a audio driver update, which I can't find. and I don't expect it will make much if any difference. Ran it through the full Dell diagnostic and it passed everything. It also passed the windows genuine advantage thingy. Ran memtest and no errors, so I think maybe it' as good as it's going to be without upping the memory. I really only wanted it for a spare and it's well worth what it cost me. I tried earlier to boot it with a linux disk but got an error wonder why that wont work. Quote
Plastic Nev Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 It should be able to boot off the disk if it is a correct ISO image, don't let it install though or it will wipe that hard won XP off. Nev. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
KenB Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 If it passed Memtest it must be down to the 512MB. If you do decide to upgrade at a later date there is a limit that the motherboard can support. Also - 32 bit systems have a 4GB max. Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Dell boy Posted January 12, 2013 Author Posted January 12, 2013 If it passed Memtest it must be down to the 512MB. . Sorry I don't get that bit, do you mean if it passed memtest the 512 must be ok. Quote
Dell boy Posted January 12, 2013 Author Posted January 12, 2013 It should be able to boot off the disk if it is a correct ISO image, don't let it install though or it will wipe that hard won XP off. Nev. It's a proper iso image I have used it many times before. It boots and gives the option of running Ubuntu 10.10 in memory or installing it. I have used it a few times to get online in an emergency. I also wanted this computer spare so that I could reimage old tivo disks which a modern pc won't do Quote
Plastic Nev Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 Hi, OK the ISO Ubuntu disk works, then something odd why it won't work on that system. One maybe for the Linux forums as though I have looked at both Ubuntu and Mint, that is about all I have done, so no expert with them. As for Kens comment, I think he means that any slowness in operation is now down to the low amount of RAM at 512MB. I originally had as little as 256MB in my first XP machine, in those days crawling along was more acceptable though, so when I eventually fitted 1GB it went like a rocket in comparison. Nev. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
KenB Posted January 12, 2013 Posted January 12, 2013 As for Kens comment, I think he means that any slowness in operation is now down to the low amount of RAM at 512MB Thanks Nev. That is exactly what I meant. :) Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
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