Computer help needed please.

Strider590

gjchester wrote: »

Not relevant, this is a OEM copy, NOT a retail copy. It lives and dies with the PC. You can only sell it if you sell the PC with the license.

Actually you only have to sell a random piece of PC hardware with the license, I've bought unused OEM discs+licence online (recently windows 7 pro for £25), they legally have to sell you a random piece of PC hardware with the disc.

These discs are perfectly ok, they're from PCs sold to companies who use their own licensed copy of Windows, instead of the one that came with the PC, the licence is therefore valid and can be use legally on any PC.

gjchester

Strider590 wrote: »

Windows 10 will be free for personal use, I really don't think they give a flying one about a 10+ year old product that they no longer support (although they do still supply security updates).

Be careful what you wish for.

Gartner have suggested W10 may be free (or at least a free upgrade to W8 users) but they could go the Apple route.

Future software may be free but tied to system requirements, so like IOS you need a idevice that less than 4 years old, or OSX where you need a 2008 (i think) or newer model.


The fact the OP had a 10 plus year old machine shows how well XP lasted, very few other companies have supported software for as long (almost 14 years) as MS have supported XP.

Strider590

gjchester wrote: »

The fact the OP had a 10 plus year old machine shows how well XP lasted, very few other companies have supported software for as long (almost 14 years) as MS have supported XP.

PC technology has gotten faster, but the basic architecture has not changed.
It's a miracle that PCs work at all, with all the different parts and manufacturers, but they do.

Unlike with Apple (who have complete hardware control), Microsoft do not and cannot contol the PC hardware manufacturers. SO building in a hardware self destruct date, would not be possible.

If they tried, then they'd Alienate the "PC enthusiast" community and have to go down the Apple route of there own hardware and own OS, which would be a complete disaster without the support of the wider community. Just look at what happened with Windows mobile and Windows RT......

Strider590

This is the PSU, it typically bolts in place via 3-4 screws at the back, replacement is the entire assembly. Including new leads and cables, which have to be reconnected to all the components.

maas

The PSUs are often screwed into the cages. You'll probably find 4 screws keeping it in place.

It just sounds like output from the PSU isnt strong enough to boot up the motherboard but maybe after being powered for a while it might have acquired the required amps.

You could take it to a local computer shop who could test the PSU for you and confirm if it is fauly (or a different component) and replace the PSU if necessary. But that would cost you around £80+ for a £20 PSU and then I'm back to thinking about buying a whole new tower for £150

gjchester

Strider590 wrote: »

Actually you only have to sell a random piece of PC hardware with the license, I've bought unused OEM discs+licence online (recently windows 7 pro for £25), they legally have to sell you a random piece of PC hardware with the disc.

These discs are perfectly ok, they're from PCs sold to companies who use their own licensed copy of Windows, instead of the one that came with the PC, the licence is therefore valid and can be use legally on any PC.

The hardware requirement changed when Vista was launched. you don't need to buy any hardware al all with a OEM install disk set now.

However to stay within the rules once the copy is installed then its licence is considered tied to the motherboard.

Even if it comes from a company who has a company wide licence, the OS was still installed on the individual PC by the system maker, and the chances are any such disk will be from a "Royalty" OEM such as Dell, HP, IBM and so on, and as such the software comes pre-activated when on the PC's hard drive. Yes the company may then wipe it and install their own build before the OEM copy is even turned on, but its still pre-activated so considered tied to that PC's mobo.

The only way to legally sell on OEM disks is if a company bought them AS OEM disks, (say they were planning a big upgrade and bout the packs) but NOT if they came with a computer.

To complicate matters further with W8 you if you buy the OEM version / pack ( now called system builder) of W8 then you can legally move it to another PC you own, as you are the system builder, but you cannot then sell it on as a OEM pack. The only requirement now is it can only ever be installed (installed not running) on one PC at a time including VM's.

However the stipulation remain if you buy a computer that has the OS pre-installed on the PC then the licence is always then to that PC's mobo.

Don't get me wrong OEM disk sold legally or otherwise will almost always work, but that does not mean you have a valid licence.

gjchester

tom. wrote: »

Thanks Strider. I'll take another look inside when I log-off for the day. Being a complete amateur I need to be careful.

It should be simple to remove it, and all the connectors can't be connected wrongly, but take photos as you do to help with assembly. Take the PSU into local PC store, they should be able to compare it to what they have and get you going.

I've worked on enough of the big 5 makers PC's to tell you there is no guarantee it will be a standard fit.

As Strider says typically they use four screws to be held in place but that's not always true. I've seen non standard sized PSU's to fit in specific ways or cases, wires that are specific lengths for the PC layout. Others use a sliding rail and clip mechanism to hold the PSU in place, you even get standard sized PSU's with non standard screw holes layouts, sometimes you can replace them but only use half the screws, it depends on the PC's layout, so its not always a big problem.

If HP/Dell/IBM etc. can shave a few pence off the unit cost by using a non standard PSU then they will. If they can get away with making it non standard so you need to buy a replacement from them (at full price obviously) they will. When you order PSU's by the tens of thousands you can specify what you want.


However as others have said if the PC's from 2003 you may want to think about replacing it, you could fix the PSU today and something else die next week, and before you know it its as cheap to just replace the lot..

gjchester

tom. wrote: »

Thanks guys for all your replies and suggestions. The concensus seems to involve power supply problems with rider that correcting this may not be cost productive. As such I think I will just ride it out until the computer dies at which point I can look at getting a new model. I've had this since 2003 with XP Home Edition and it has served me extremely well for eleven years so no complaints there. I have all my personal stuff saved externally just in case so all should be fine. You've put my mind to rest as to what is most likely at fault and so I think I'll leave it at that. Thanks again guys. Tom.

Even if the PSU dies you can probably move the hard drive to another PC. 2003 vintage PC's may have different internal connection to current ones (IDE Vs Sata) but worst case is you have to buy a external caddy to put your drive in to get your data, less than a tenner.


I'd also suggest you look at your local Freecycle group, someone may have a dead PC with a working power supply, or parts on offer.