Author Topic: Need help, not urgent, not really important (Read 10321 times)

KnowsNothing · « **on:** July 08, 2003, 06:14:42 AM »

Okay, I finally recieved a computer for my room. It's a crappy piece of crap, but at least I got one. So, was all set to go out and buy The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind when I thought "Well, this computer's crappy, let's see if this piece of crap can handle the game"

So I got the system requiremets off amazon.com and i go to check my piece of crap and....I don't know how.

This is what I need...
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP (Windows 2000 users must have Service Pack 2 installed.)
500mhz Intel Pentium III, Celeron, or AMD Athlon processor (800mhz recommended)
128MB RAM for Windows Me/98, 256MB RAM for Windows XP/2000
8x CD/DVD-ROM Drive
1 GB free hard disk space
32MB Direct3D Compatible Video card and DirectX 8.1 compatible driver
DirectX 8.1 Compatible Sound Card
Windows compatible Keyboard and Mouse

...and all I know is that I have Windows Me, half as much RAM as needed (we'll ignore that for now) and I have a keybord and a mouse.

Can anybody please tell me where on my computer (not any manuals) I can find this info? I've looked everywhere.

EDIT: If this was at all confusing, I meant is there a place in the control panel or somewhere where I can access this info for my computer.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2003, 10:57:22 PM »

The RAM is a biggie. You CAN run the game with half as much as it requires, but it will run like crap, regardless of whether the rest of your computer is a cray mainframe or not.

Anyways, the information can be found like so:

CPU type and speed:
Download this and view the stuff it shows you. It should show CPU frequency, and type.

CD-ROM
You should have a minimum of 8x regardless of your computer's age.

HDD Space
Double click on "My Computer", and right click on your C drive (or whatever other HDD drives you may have), and click properties. You will see a pie chart showing your free space.

Video Card
Right click on an empty spot on your desktop. Click on the "properties" button at the bottom of the popup menu, and then click on the "settings" tab at the top of the window that pops up. In the box that shows up, it should say "your monitor name" on "your video card name". Look up your video card on google, and see if you can find the specs on it. Or just ask me, and I will probably know.

Sound Card
Don't worry about this. Even the crappiest sound card in the world will handle this game.

Keyboard and mouse
I am assuming you have these.

GCNMasterX · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2003, 06:34:49 AM »

To solve for your RAM, buy one of those 64 MB RAM chips at your local computer store (such as CompUSA or STAPLES.) It should only cost about maybe $9-20, depending on the store. Then, after you buy your RAM, you go right home and open your PC, now, if you dont know how to open your PC..then I might be able to help. What kind of PC do you have?

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2003, 07:06:00 AM »

yeah, I was planning on getting sone of them RAM chips anyway, so that's why I said we'll ignore that.

But hey, thanks for your help Grey and GCNMasterX. The only problem is I have no internet access on my new (but old) computer, so I can't do that download thingie.

Y'know, I doubt my PC can handle that big of a game. I might just try to find a new one anyway, got this one for free.

But thanks anyway guys, really appreciate it.

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2003, 07:20:12 AM »

I like your avatar, knowsnothing.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2003, 11:41:02 AM »

Hostile Creation another Invader Zim fan? Of course, who isn't?

Sorry to bother you Grey Ninja, but I might just have a chance of my computer being up to snuff. I've searched the internet for info bout my Video Card, but to no avail. So I figured i could just ask someone smarter than the internet, my friendly forum neighbor, Grey Ninja.

This is what I got-

Intel 82810 Graphics Controller 4.12.01.2576

Is that a 32MB DirectX compatible Video card? (I'm sorry, I don't exactly know what that means)

it seems that my Grandmother (who I got this PC from) didn't use it very often and had almost nothing on it, plus I did some disk cleanup so now I have plenty of free space.

Must...get...game...

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2003, 02:38:06 PM »

Invader Zim is awesome. Have you ever read any of Jhonnen Vasquez's comics? Some of them are hilarious.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2003, 02:45:47 PM »

no. no I haven't. but I heard they were gosh darn funny. got a link?

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2003, 02:57:54 PM »

http://home.xyzz.org/media/Jhonen_Vasquez/

That's a fan page. If you want to see the whole comic, you'll have to buy one of them. They sell them at Hot Topic, and probably comic stores. I suggest I Feel Sick in particular, thought JTHM is very good, as is Squee. Heck, they're all good. They have more mature content (much much more) than Zim, but they're still really funny.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2003, 04:46:38 PM »

Meh. That link wasn't so good, but I did a google search to find sites with his works on it (in it?). Every site had just tidbits of each comic, and the print was usually teensy weensy itty bitty small. Oh well. That's life. No good comic stores round here. Hopfully, I can waste my time playing Morrowind

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2003, 04:47:46 PM »

NOT MY SQUEEZING ARM! WHY, OH, WHY MY SQUEEZING ARM?!?

AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

An overdose of double posting could be hazardous to your health

*explodes*

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2003, 04:57:07 PM »

Sorry, I clicked on the first thing that came up on Google.

Are you sure those tidbits aren't thumbnails? If they aren't, try saving them to your computer; they should be bigger there. I couldn't read PIAC's birthday comic for Infernal Monkey, so I just saved it and opened it up in paint or something.

I do suggest you look at, if not buy, one of the actual comic, though.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2003, 05:51:25 PM »

Knows Nothing, that actually tells me a fair bit about your computer. What you have is integrated graphics. It's not the most powerful thing in the world, but it should get the job done. But here's the problem.

Your video "card" has no memory of its own. It must use system memory to display pretty pictures. That's all fine and dandy, but it causes two problems for you. If you set your video card to use 32MB of system memory, that only leaves 32MB for your computer, which appears to be aging as well.

If you buy yourself a 128MB stick of SDRAM, (or better yet... a 256MB stick), you should be able to run the game at the lowest detail. Judging from your chipset. (intel 810), you have either a Celeron or a Pentium III. That should meet the system requirements of the game. I have never played Morrowind, so I am not sure how demanding the game is, but if it relies heavily on your graphics card, you might be in trouble. It should be playable regardless though.

Your computer was not built to play games. That seems clear. But you should be able to run games on it if you tweak it out enough. I managed to run Final Fantasy VII on a Pentium 120 with software acceleration back in the day. (requirements were a Pentium 233 for software mode).

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2003, 04:17:33 AM »

Wow Grey Ninja, you smart. So I could pick up a new video card with memory of it's own, right? I'll do that. Have any reccomendations?

Yeah, my computer is not meant to play games, but if I get morrowind, it will probably be the only game on there besides hearts and solitaire. And Minesweeper.

Awww crap. This game is very demanding for computers. But I heard if you shut the shadows off, it it makes it much easier for your PC, video card, whatever. Plus, I could run it at lowest detail. Or get a new graphics card. You see, I must have this game. Must. I've been wanting it all year, and my parents don't want games on the good computer. And finally, I get my own. A piece of junk. And I must make this game work.

Oh yeah, I'm defidently getting much more than 64 more MB of RAM. I was thinking 128, but I could do 256 too.

EDIT: I have a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion XE783 with an Intel Celeron processor, just in case you cared. My other computer is a HP pavilion mx90 with a Pentium IV with so much room in it i could install 50 morrwinds [exaggeration of course, it's more like 49

] too bad my parents are paranoid, huh?

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2003, 06:53:50 AM »

Word of advice. When you get your next computer, make sure that it does not say Dell, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, or any other name brand on it. Name brand computers tend to be built with the specific purpose of destroying any chance of upgrading you might have. You often find that they are small and cramped, with like 2 useable PCI slots, and no AGP slot. Before buying hardware for your computer, make sure that someone who knows stuff about computers looks it over.

Since you are buying memory, I will tell you this. Your computer takes PC-66 SDRAM. PC-100 SDRAM will likely work as well. But whatever you buy, make sure that it is backwards compatable to PC-66. Some memory manufacturers make memory that craps out if it runs too slow. Your computer can have a maximum of 512MB of memory, but you only have two memory slots. You can put a maximum of 256MB of memory in one slot. If you buy a 256MB stick, it should work alongside your existing 64MB stick, giving you a total of 320MB of memory. That should be a good chunk of memory for any computer. (my computer is about twice as fast as yours and only has 256MB, but I am thinking of upgrading soon, as memory is cheap, and I need more memory for programming purposes)

If you decide to buy a new video card, take note that you CANNOT use an AGP video card. This seriously limits your options, and I don't know how many modern video cards (if any) actually support PCI. Make sure that you ask the clerk about their PCI cards, and not their AGP cards when you go in. Make it clear to them that you do not have an AGP slot. When you install your video card, you will have to disable your onboard card. To do that, follow these instructions.

Oh, and for god's sakes, get rid of that blasted ME. Your computer has enough problems without using that crap. Find someone with a copy of Windows 95 or something. Your best option would be Windows 98 SE.

EDIT: I did some checking, and a Radeon 7500 LE seems to be available in PCI. I would advise getting that card, as it is about the best performer that you are likely to find that's available in PCI. It's not a powerhouse, but it should get the job done, and can be had for a fairly cheap price. It's about equivalent to a GeForce 2 in power.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2003, 08:44:17 AM »

Thanks for your advice! I currently have a Windows 98 on a disk somewhere in my room, but I have a question, what's wrong with Windows Me? I heard it was filled with bugs and stuff, but i have encountered no problems with it. Plus, i have some valuable pictures of my grandmother on my computer right now, and i really don't want to lose them, so will installing windows 98 put them in any kind of risk? I know i can save the pictures to a floppy disk or a CD-RW but still...

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #16 on:** July 12, 2003, 06:07:27 AM »

Back up the files you want to keep to a CDRW, and then remove ME at all costs. That OS is simply horrible. It drains resources like the federal government drains money, and offers less stability and lower performance than Windows 98. Basically, it's Windows 98 with the Windows 2000 icons, and some particularly nice memory leaks added.

Seriously. Get rid of it. At any cost. If you only take one piece of advice I gave you in this thread, take that piece.

I would advise saving everything that you need, making a Windows boot disk with CD-ROM support, and then rebooting your computer. Keep pressing F8 until you get to the windows startup menu. Select "command prompt only" from the list of options, and when it finishes loading, you will see this:

C:\

Type "format c:" without the quotes. Answer "yes".

Put your boot disk in the drive, and reboot.

Start up with CD-ROM support, and put the Windows 98 CD in your drive.

When you get back to the command prompt, type "d:\setup" If that doesn't work, type "e:\setup", or "f:\setup".

Follow the instructions on your screen to install Windows 98. It's pretty straightforward.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2003, 01:33:21 PM »

Lucky for me, my parents will pay for everything but the game itself, which is about 26 bucks. That leaves me with enough money for eternal darkness and a pretty good headstart on mario golf.

x3

Ahhhh, it's so great to live with at home with my two loving parents. Not a care in the world...

This is one very happy person.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2003, 02:22:55 PM »

Well I'm glad it turned out ok for you.

I should probably also mention that a GeForce4 MX is also available in PCI. It's about at the same level of performance as a Radeon 7500 though, so it's really up to you whether you want an nVidia or an ATI card.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2003, 03:57:05 AM »

Once again, since you brought this thread back, I must thank you for being a very nice ninja. I must say, good luck over at AA (alcohol is bad for you

), just, please refrain from shooting any more of those people, they're there to help you know, and it's not very polite.

What am I saying?! It's AMERICA'S ARMY! Shoot enemies, shoot friends, shoot yourself! Shoot to your heart's content!

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2003, 08:06:19 AM »

Glad to know I'm not alone in my forgetfulness. You really shouldn't drink, Ninja- it's not good for your liver.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #21 on:** July 20, 2003, 12:39:27 PM »

What's wrong with drinking? I have 3 empty bottles of Sake right here, and I am only a little more sane for having drank it.

I just finished watching Half Baked again though... damn do I ever love that movie. Have you ever played Nintendo... ON WEED? LMFAO! That's so awesome. It makes me want to go out and buy a dime bag.

I LOVE YOU MARY-JANE!

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2003, 01:15:58 PM »

New avatar? Liked your old one, but to each his own as mouse-clicker (?) would always say. Anyway, I changed my sig to make absolutley no sense at all, so it matches my avatar and most of my profile.

Yeah, so I heard Sake is really disgusting. Yep, that's what I heard. Uh huh. Heard it.
Well, umm, you a fan of Sake?

(just trying some cheep shot at conversation)

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2003, 01:34:38 PM »

Heh. I had to use some tricks to upload the avatar, as I don't have access to any hosting of my own right now, and I wanted to use it. I might be making it smaller in size and bigger in dimensions one of these days when I get around to it. Or I might just make a completely new one. But I like Kenshin.

And Sake is definately an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, it goes down real easy. I might actually buy a traditional Japanese Sake set one of these days. It's like $65 in the local Oriental section of town.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2003, 03:38:14 PM »

Quote
New avatar? Liked your old one, but to each his own as mouse-clicker (?) would always say.

Sounds like something IanSane would say, but go ahead and attribute it to me if you'd like.

Anyway, Half Baked, while being incredibly hilarious, did have a different intention than to make you WANT to do weed, Ninja.

News:

Author Topic: Need help, not urgent, not really important (Read 10321 times)