Hello. Please bare with me as I am totally new to this and have actually only had a computer for a few years. It's a very basic computer that has been used for really just surfing the net and burning cd's. I would really, really appreciate any help to what some of you may laugh at as I am going real basic here! LOL! Ok. I have been looking and reading here and there, but still a bit lost and it would appear that this is the place to be asking. First. My computer is at least Windows 98se, but I am afraid that may be the only good news. It's a e-machine, 566mhz, with 124 ram, 15 gb hd. Genuinelntl is what is says when I look at my system info, but on the computer is says-intel inside celeron. 56k. I have a cdrw drive, but I have no dvd drive or burner. I tend to move a bit slow on technology, but I am ready to start trading more and they need to be PC sourced burned and not standalone copied. OK. Basically, with what I have. Should I even be looking at getting an external dvd burner that will hook up via my usb, or am I just way to outdated or slow for this? I understand that I need to make sure that the specs say for 98se, but when they say you need like a Pentium III processor, is this really what you MUST have or just recommened to get the burn write speed it will do what it says it can? Also, what about the MHZ like when it says your processor must like something over 800? Again, mine will do , but slow? OK. For the really dumb question. Is a dvd burner also my rom dvd drive? I am thinking it's not because if I chose to have a internal one installed-where would I put the disc? Or, with the external one is dvd burner/writer you rom drive too. All I have right now is the cd rom that came in the front of the machine. Is a dvd burner/writer everything you need? How do I know if my usb port is 1.0 or 2.0. Hope this made some sense and someone can figure out what I am getting. I really want a dvd burner, but want to make sure I can use it! Also, why are there cases being sole for the external ones? Aren't these already complete? I guess basically, with my system, can I even do this and do I need a dvd drive AND a burner. I have read where someone says 'I added a dvd burner to my dvd drive.' Is this because they only had a dvd drive-that wasn't a burner too. Is a dvd burner both? I should also not get oem-get brand new so I get all the drive/software etc? Any way to use a internal one on the outside since they are cheaper. I thank all of you ahead of time very much!
Seriously you're going to need more memory RAM, at least another 512MB RAM + your old 124MB RAM. You'll definitely need to upgrade to P4 with at least anything from 2GHz - 3GHz speed, plus you'll need another 80GB hard drive or at least 60GB for available space. Again, honestly if you can, then I think you'll be better off getting a new computer. A lot of new Computer now-a-days come with P4 or AMD, at least 512MB RAM with a CD/DVD burner. So it's really up to you if you want to upgrade or just get a new Computer.
Your 566 processor may work but expect several hrs to do 1 dvd backup. You total ram needs to be around 512 and FREE HD space 10 to 15 gig after loading your programs. With your setup upgraded I would still stay away from a USB burner. Go with an internal burner and a bigger internal HD or second HD. Depending on your motherboard you may be able to upgrade the processor somewhat but is it worth all those upgrades. Like Alcohol stated it may just be better to save the money towards a newer PC. Used PCs are cheap to get into something with all the upgrades already in there. Jerry
Thank you very much. You confirmed what I already felt. This place rocks! I have had so many more questions, but with just taking the time to do a little reading here, many got answered. Back to this post. It can be deceiving for those of us who are not computer savy. I have looked at the back of many boxes at stores for the external burners and they basically make it sound like that if you have at least windows 98se you will ok, and then they 'recommend' the speed and ram to be this for 'best' results, but it still obviously didn't feel right to me. Believe it or not, I still have 12GB of my 15 left. My computer was 64 ram and I did at least long ago upgrade-did it myself, I was so proud-to a 128 ram. I just also found out though that my usb is 1.1 not 2.0 anyway, so even if I didn't care how long it took, without some card usb card upgrade or something??? I couldn't do external anyway. OK guys, a few more questions just to make sure where I am at. If I didn't care how long it took and I did get an internal, with my ram and processor, I still cannot do it? I would only do one dvd at a time and then get rid of it so I would have enough GB with my 12 left? I knew when everyone told me that burners were cheap that it wouldn't be that simple for me. I learn quick and am anal. Is it tough to put an internal one in? I have heard it really pulls your 'power' supply. What does this mean? The processor, just means I would be really slow right? But could do it? Bottom line, even if I put an internal one in and didn't care how long it took, it sounds like my RAM would still be a problem? What does the 'RAM' do? From reading both your post, you both agree that no matter what I pull off, my RAM is still a problem. I think I could add more..can't rememeber, it was so long ago I added the extra. Money is tight, so I wanted to see if I could just do the burner add one before the whole new computer bit. I really appreciate it again. This area of the forum fits me to a T!
You will need more rame #1 to use dvd shrink which compresses the movie like the guys told ya 512mb I run 1gig. 512 is max for windows 98. Now your processor is going to kill ya when you rip the movie and compress the movies with shrink It's just going to take a long time. If you must use your pc get a dvd burner cd combo drive internal most all new drives will burn dvd and cd's. Plextor, pioneer, LG, Sony, Lite-on there all good. The answere to your question what does ram do? every program that is running on your machine is using ram memory. Turning some of these programs off at start up will help. Left click start click RUN type in msconfig then startup look in there and turn everything off(uncheck) accept your antivirus and firewall Reboot. If you don't have usb 2.0 you do not want an external dvd burner. It's going to take a long time with that 566 celeron processor, it may be more like 2 to 3 hours to do one disk. Look at it like this this is a good excuse to upgrade PC Good Luck Spacedust
