Would like a new desktop can you help

katies_mum

Hi
As you may have gathered my computer has been playing silly devils this weekend, its on just - no internet - frightened to turn off incase it won`t come on again.

I have decided rather than to mess with it and try and get it repaired, just incase it costs ££££ then breaks again.

I have a dell dimensions 5150 - think its about 3-4 years old. I would like one a bit faster, that does not sound like concorde taking off (this is so noisy) with a wireless card or whatever it called, cd/dvd thingie and whatever else is important.... not sure really what I need - can you offer any advice please - also would like the tower to be smaller this one is huge and I see there are small ones around. Our laptop is HP and this seems to be quite good (its daughters really). It also has to be easy to work :rotfl:

Many thanks.

katies_mum

Thanks, how do I reinstall XP? was on computer when I got it

aliEnRIK

Going of whats already been said yesterday ~
The 'noise' is either a fan (5 quid or so)
Or the hard drive (30 quid say, AND XP needs installing, which you dont have and could possibly cost 60 quid + to put right if taken to a shop)
You also need a power supply (20 quid) and either a wireless card or USB wireless dongle (tenner)

katies_mum

Thanks - so could be about £120`ish, if I decide to mend it - would have to be a shop as don`t know a man who can (and after the last `computer engineer` who came to the house I wouldn`t trust any of the ones who advertise locally with a bage pole.

katies_mum

When it was working properly it sounded like an aircraft taking off (and this is all the time) its been like this since I got it!
It has got a sticker on the casing which says windows XP home edition and a long number, is that what you meant?
The 3 pin prong thingie at the back which plugs into mains is I think suspect, thought it was the connection but have my neighbours and its still the same so think its the bit the connection plugs into.
Its all so complicated, especially when you are like me and `know nothing`about computers.
You all make it sound so easy

DCFC79

katies_mum wrote: »

When it was working properly it sounded like an aircraft taking off (and this is all the time) its been like this since I got it!
It has got a sticker on the casing which says windows XP home edition and a long number, is that what you meant?
The 3 pin prong thingie at the back which plugs into mains is I think suspect, thought it was the connection but have my neighbours and its still the same so think its the bit the connection plugs into.
Its all so complicated, especially when you are like me and `know nothing`about computers.
You all make it sound so easy

honest its easy to sort it out if you do it yourself, you just need a screwdriver and away you go, theres videos online where you can watch how its done and do it yourself

Rock_Bottom

DCFC79 wrote: »

honest its easy to sort it out if you do it yourself, you just need a screwdriver and away you go, theres videos online where you can watch how its done and do it yourself

BOOM.!! :eek:

DCFC79

Rock_Bottom wrote: »

BOOM.!! :eek:

lol, you trying to say i missed something or just emphasising it could go BOOM

katies_mum

Do you mean just replacing the power connection on the back of the case? not really sure what other bit actually are broken. Also want wireless on it, can that be done? OMG thing BOOM is the least of my worries!

DCFC79

katies_mum wrote: »

Do you mean just replacing the power connection on the back of the case? not really sure what other bit actually are broken. Also want wireless on it, can that be done? OMG thing BOOM is the least of my worries!

theres 2 ways you can go for getting wireless, theres the usb wireless option so something like this or you can buy a card which you insert into a spare slot in your tower but you will ahve to find out which type of slot is free eg PCI or PCIe but i guess its PCI but i maybe wrong so something like this would do, it all depends on how much you would liek to spend

Conor_3

katies_mum wrote: »

OMG thing BOOM is the least of my worries!

A trained monkey could put together a PC which is why so many of them advertise their services in the llocal newspaper.. It's not possible to put anything in the wrong slot or in the wrong way around unless you really really shove it in with all your might at which point, you're more likely to break it than anything. The only exception to that being the connectors for the lights on the front of the case but even then, the worst that happens is they don't light up.

The reason people think it's complicated is because there's lots of microchips on the cards and the motherboard, there's wires all over the place and it all looks a bit complicated. Ignore that and all you've basically got is what you did as a toddler - put the right shape in the matching shaped hole.