Updating to Windows XP & TalkTalk Broadband problems

musey

Hi All

As usual when in doubt I come to the MSE forums as someone on here always knows the answer.

A friend of mine has asked me for some help with her computer. I am no technical whiz, I can use a computer reasonably well but I am the sort of user that has no idea how it works just trusts that it does work if you get my meaning.

In essence my friend (God Love her) is still on dial up & wanted to get onto broadband so she took TalkTalk up on their offer of free broadband but cannot get online with broadband as she is running Windows 98 (this is the explanation she was given by TalkTalk for the inability to connect, they said she needed to update to either Windows XP or Vista..........so this may be incorrect before we start.) Anyway she duly went out & purchased Windows XP (she got the professional version with 3 cds) and tells me she has loaded it but it appears as if it hasn't loaded correctly as when she boots up the computer she is still welcomed to Windows 98.

I gave her a spare (Tiscali) broadband modem that I had as TalkTalk wanted to charge her £25 for 1 of their modems.

She also wants to somehow limit the access her 11yr son has to "certain" areas of the internet

1. Should she have somehow uninstalled Windows 98 before trying to install Windows XP? If so, how would she do that?

2. Is there any reason why the Tiscali modem wouldn't work for TalkTalk broadband? (I can't think there would be as I use an old Tesco supplied modem & am on Tiscali)

3. Can you recommend a way of limiting the access her son has to certain areas (preferably free stuff?)

4. Can anyone give me any helpful suggestions as I am going to see her tomorrow to try & help her get sorted out, I know she is hoping I will come with magic wand & fix it so any ideas will be gratefully received.

Thanks

Musey

Browntoa

she needs to do a Format and install, I suspect it's installed itelf in another partition

put the Xp Cd in and let it format before installing (making sure they have taken off all their documents/picture etc)

she can limits her sons access on the Pc by setting up his profile as a "limited" user as opposed to a Administrator , she will need to put a passsword on hers to stop him changing it....someone may point out some free software

The Tiscali Modem is probably "locked" so you cannot use another ISP on it, most of them do that

opportunity_cost

Here's a recent thread with advice on how to block naughty sites.

musey

Thanks for that, I will probably be back for more advice after I've been over to see her.

Donnie

I hope the computer is actually able to take the XP Pro installation. I can only imagine the specification of the computer.
Sometimes the BIOS may need updating. Hope not.

Mizz_Pink

I would suggest that your friend takes her pc to a friendly pc repair shop (like us) and gets her pc sorted properly. Talk Talk router should be able to be configured on windows 98 but not necessarily the Talk Talk cd. If she was provided with a router, she would also need to make sure she has an ethernet port on her pc.

Beware though that Talk Talk customers are having lots of problems getting connected at the moment, we are inundated at the shop with Talk Talk customers

Also a good repairer can install windows xp and service packs/updates for her while they have her pc. We would charge £40 to configure the router and install xp with free anti virus, patches, updates etc etc

Mizz_Pink

Donnie wrote: »

I hope the computer is actually able to take the XP Pro installation. I can only imagine the specification of the computer.
Sometimes the BIOS may need updating. Hope not.

Yes if her pc is good enough to take XP min 256 ram to run it reasonably.

Donnie

Mizz_Pink wrote: »

I would suggest that your friend takes her pc to a friendly pc repair shop (like us) and gets her pc sorted properly. Talk Talk router should be able to be configured on windows 98 but not necessarily the Talk Talk cd. If she was provided with a router, she would also need to make sure she has an ethernet port on her pc.

Beware though that Talk Talk customers are having lots of problems getting connected at the moment, we are inundated at the shop with Talk Talk customers

Also a good repairer can install windows xp and service packs/updates for her while they have her pc. We would charge £40 to configure the router and install xp with free anti virus, patches, updates etc etc

If, of course, she can't do it with a little help from her friends.

The Ethernet port is a valid point.

I have been unable to install XP on an old machine, which formerly ran 98SE and had to update the BIOS when I wanted to re-install XP Pro on a machine formerly running XP SP1 with updates.

Sometimes it's worth persevering on one's own in order to learn.

Mizz_Pink

Donnie wrote: »

If, of course, she can't do it with a little help from her friends.

The Ethernet port is a valid point.

I have been unable to install XP on an old machine, which formerly ran 98SE and had to update the BIOS when I wanted to re-install XP Pro on a machine formerly running XP SP1 with updates.

Sometimes it's worth persevering on one's own in order to learn.

Definately and we much prefer people to have a go themselves instead of just being lazy. It sounds like the freind has a bit of working out to do and it doesnt sound so straightforward, plus the problems she will get with talk talk too !