How do I save and update drivers for pc with no disk prior to reformatting?

Lady_K

I'll checkout freecycle

Also those barebones am I right in thinking they dont have the hardrive, cdrom drive or cd or dvd writers? I could reuse the ones already have in the condemed pc but god knows UI hope they would be easy to instal

culpepper

The newer barebones computer set ups will probably just have one IDE connector but could connect 1 hard drive and one CD/DVD drive to that.
It is very simple to install CD drives and IDE hard drives. If you had 2 IDE hard drives,you could get an external case for the second one which would plug in via USB,I have one like that for my old computer so I can use an old IDE drive externally.
The first one shown in the link above is motherboard,memory,processor and fan and case with integrated graphics and audio on the motherboard.
You would need an operating system disc and a CD/DVD drive and harddrive ,and ofcourse a monitor,keyboard and mouse.
Clicking on more info and then specification brings up all the relevant stuff.
That looks like quite a good price to me. Cheaper than the half an old computer from your repair man Lady_K.

jje_2

Barebones means often but not always Case PSU CPU and Ram.
Base Unit means always complete unit case cd/dvd hard drive ram motherboard cpu etc just needs connecting to existing moniter keyboard and mouse and OS and software installing .

jje

BritBrat

culpepper wrote: »

Clicking on more info and then specification brings up all the relevant stuff.
That looks like quite a good price to me. Cheaper than the half an old computer from your repair man Lady_K.

They even had a download PDF to show you how to build it.

http://www.e-weekly.co.uk/Catalogue/BareboneBundleGuide(Blue).pdf

I have used Novatech and they are quite good on price and service.

Lady_K

Collected the pc from shop they charged me £20 for looking at it.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to put that barebones together I did have a quick read but I don't want to go and mess that up. I could use my drives from this old one I suppose mind you they might not even fit it as they are fitting on the old type motherboard that is now phased out.

I will look at it though and try and work out a final price for everything I'd need + delivery cost

I forgot to say someone asked earlier, I live in the Nottingham area

jje_2

Post a price you are willing to spend and we can have a look whats around .Plus what options you have .

jje

ABH_3

Lots of barebone examples here: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/barebones.html that should give you an example at least of what constitutes a 'barebones' system. Novatech.co.uk are quite a highly regarded, reliable company.

Though depending upon timing, you maybe able to get a reasonably priced dell system prebuilt and with an operating system for an equivalent price.

Or you maybe interested in some of these: http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/cat.php?search=Base+Units&lang=&session=5db7399b52eb89f76f0c135c818961e2

HTH

Lady_K

Looking on the novatech site I notice they do base units aswell do you think they are ok? http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pcranges.html or should I look on dell or for a hp one?

I'm wondering whether for me it might be easier just to get a base unit maybe even without an xp disk to keep the price down but how does that work if they dont come pre installed? is it just a matter of installing xp onto it and then it would work? or would there be a problem with the drivers again and dvd etc?

I want to spend as little as possible to get a reasonable pc with the following kind of spec

min 160gb hardrive
dual core (if im going to get new i may aswell have dual)
2mb memory (dont know the difference in the types but pref the better one)
dvd rw
graphics (do not want on board)

I dont know much about what else I would need, I don't know what firewire is or anything

we do have the crt kind of monitor at the mo and wired speakers and mouse they should fit?

I do need a printer actually as mine has broken too so I suppose if a bundle was reasonable I'd think about it

I was hoping to go through a cashback site too if possible either quidco or topcashback but it looks like novotech arent on there. Dell are

jje_2

PC World refurb
Dual Core AMD 4000 1GB ram 250GB HD plus windows vista home premium .
£229.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/756885

Dell Inspiron 531
Customize with NO monitor = £209 including VAT and Shipping .
AMD dual core 4400 Vista Home Premium 1GB ram DVd/RW 160GB hard drive
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=d045106&c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&kc=productdetails~inspndt_531


Unless you are playing games on board graphics is fine , most low priced systems have onboard graphics ( you can always add a graphics card later )

jje

Lady_K

I am just concerned because of windows vista as that takes so much more memory thats why I don't want to go below 2gb at least. The old pc was 1gb windows xp and seperate graphics so I thought at 1gb vista it would be slower from what people have said about it.