Following my article on retro PC's, please post all things retro related in here please.
Having built a couple of Windows 98 machines recently, I came across a very useful source for the mass storage drivers:
http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php
I've used the drivers and can confirm they work and the source is safe.
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The nusb33e.exe got my usb to work. Can now use my usb Logitech mouse the old track and ball mouse was a pain to use. Can even open my thumb drives. This machine has a Celeron processor, I have another one just like this one but it has a Pentium 2 processor. Is the socket configuration different between the two? Thanks Daniel.
Daniel, the Pentium II will be a Slot 1 or cartridge socket, which I think look particularly nice in an old PC.
AMD made a similar socket set up, called the Slot A.
An early Celeron could be either Slot 1 or socket 370.
Fitting a heatsink/fan to a 370 can be a pain in the rear to be honest.
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Hi Marc
I know this isn't about retro computers but I need your opinion. Would you upgrade a Intel socket 775 dual core 3.2GHZ pentium to a refurbished Core 2 Duo or a Core 2 Quad. The refurbished prices are at least within reach. Daniel.
It's still retro Daniel....
Is that a 3.2Ghz Pentium D?
Either way, the Core 2 Quad is is still a damn good CPU and if you can find one at a decent price, it's a great upgrade, particularly for gaming.
They run hot mind you, so a good cooler is a must.
I was lucky enough to acquire a Core 2 Quad QX6850 a few months ago and the stock Intel cooler really wasn't up to the job, where even at idle, readings were 55c.
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It is a E6700 Pentium R. This CPU is in my wife's machine running Windows 8.1 64bit. It just seems like the system needs a little more at times. I ran across a refurbished Core 2 Quad for $159.00 at Newegg and a Core 2 Duo for around $50.00. I looked at the Core 2 Quad when I built this machine a few years ago but they were way to expensive then. Can I still run an air cool with an non oem heat sink and fan? Never have tried water cool. This machine just has a few casual games installed, nothing really demanding, just really looking for a way to perk it up a little. It is also running 4GB of ram. Daniel.
I'd go for the Quad, if you feel happy with the price and then cool it with an Evo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
Not too expensive at $35 and water cooling may be a little ott, unless you really, really want to of course.
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Hi Marc
Had to RMA my Asus Motherboard and just got it back yesterday. Had to do a clean install of windows, even though Windows 8.1 was on the hard drive it just would not boot up. I do finally have 8.1 back on the computer but I also did a Custom Refresh Image through the command prompt. Hopefully this will let me use the windows 8 refresh tool if I ever need too. Have a good day! Daniel.
Did you go for the Quad Daniel?
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Hi Marc
I really haven't had time to get back on that project, but yes I will probably go with the Quad when I do. Is their web browser that still supports windows 98? Sure would like to get that old machine on the net and see if I could find some much needed updates. Enjoyed reading part 2 of retro computers. Daniel.
Daniel
On one of my Win 98 boxes I'm using K-Meleon and Firefox 2.0.0.20.
Naturally, it's slow going like walking through treacle, but they both work.
Frankly I don't connect my retro boxes to the net really ( I now have four and a half) as I only use them for retro gaming.
I'm very glad you liked the article, maybe I should work on a part 3?
Cheers
Marc
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Thought I would post this in your forum here. I have a ?. I need to pull a hard drive from a friends HP laptop and try to retrieve their data. Will this hard drive hook up to one of my desktop computers or will I need an adapter? At this point I'm not sure the hard drive will even spin up. Daniel.
Daniel
Much depends on the age of the laptop: ie, is the HDD sata or ide?
If it's sata, I usually hook it up directly to a pc using the cables from that pc.
If it's ide, I use an adaptor kit ide/usb.
Most of these kits have ide/sata/usb, a switching (5v/12v) power adpator and the necessary cables.
I found this on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1PU0ME2826&cm_re=USB_2.0_to_IDE_SATA_2.5_3.5_Hard_Drive_kit-_-9SIA1PU0ME2826-_-Product
Oh, and I once made the mistake of lending my kit to someone.
Essential in the toolkit!
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