Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : How much can i sell this PC for a.s.a.p?

[Frosty]

I have a compaq which is only about 2 years old. Below are the specs:

- 800 MHZ celeron
- 128 RAM
- 20 GB harddrive
- Win ME

It looks brand new, it even still has the protective plastic on it which i never peeled off so it looks fresh out of the box.

But something is wrong with its hardware or something because it freezes literally every 3 minutes! I can't use it anymore, its awful. I'm buying a new PC today thanks to this compaq rubish which broke down after just 2 years.

If i take this compaq to a dealer somewhere how much do you think i could sell it to them for... maybe $100 bucks? I know they could fix it, just wondering how much they would want to buy it for?

[The Prohacker]

Taking a none working PC thats only 800Mhz to a dealer will get you maybe $40-50 bucks

[NewtSys]

EDIT: ProHacker beat me to it.

[IGobyTerry]

have you tried reformatting it yet?

If they problems are truely a hard ware issue, the value decreases a lot. The system in perfect working condition would probably only be worth 150-200. with that problem, you're looking at double digit figures.

[Frosty]

I see, yeah this thing is worthless. But i don't think it's freezing because of ME. It worked just fine for 2 years... these past 2 months it's been really screwed up.

I have to go buy another computer today because i can't use this one anymore. I don't want to spend more than $600 for a PC right now.

Do you think i should buy a cheapie crap from CompUSA or BestBuy... or maybe i could get a better PC from one of those little PC shops. I dont trust those little places they probably sell you some used crap which they built themseleves with crap insides and pass it off as new or something.

[FHDave]

Why don't you try to get one from Dell?

[Xshare]

i'm telling you it's ME... just reformat.

[Frosty]

I see, but for the past month it also always freezes when i'm usng my IE browser. When i'm browsing sites in IE everything is in slow motion. This only happens when using IE. I already re-installed IE and checked for viruses. I have to use another browser, which sucks. But now starting last week it freezes every 3 minutes no matter what i'm doing or what browser i'm using.

So i should just reformat, i'll try that. I have my recovery CD whichs i think wipes everything out and re-installs... that sould do the trick, right?

[websterworld]

Format everything and install XP.
If it still works bad, don't sell it because you will only be able to sell if for ~50$ like prohacker said.


Instead, use the good parts, buy replacments for the bad once and built your PC. Saves money.

If I were you I'd get an AMD Athalon 2000 since they only cost ~120$ and a new mobo for 100$.

[Frosty]

If i tried to build a PC myself it would not only not work but probably blow up.

I don't have XP, i don't want to spend money to buy it now. I'd have to re-install that ME.

But if i put my recovery CD in, i think that wipes everything out and re-installs ME... that should do the reformating e.t.c, right?

[madmouser]

Originally posted by Frosty
I see, yeah this thing is worthless. But i don't think it's freezing because of ME. It worked just fine for 2 years... these past 2 months it's been really screwed up.

I have to go buy another computer today because i can't use this one anymore. I don't want to spend more than $600 for a PC right now.

Do you think i should buy a cheapie crap from CompUSA or BestBuy... or maybe i could get a better PC from one of those little PC shops. I dont trust those little places they probably sell you some used crap which they built themseleves with crap insides and pass it off as new or something.

I've been very happy with a refurbished e-machines I got from Compgeeks. All they've got now, though, are compaqs and HPs and I wouldn't recommend either of those.
The basic e-machines hardware seems to be solid. It came without an operating system so I installed everything which may be why it works good. Best Buy, I believe, sells the e-machines. Get one with WinXP.
Look for a good deal on a Sony at Best Buy or similar store. I had one before this one and it was a good machine. Sony uses quality components.
Or get a full copy of Win XP Pro here for $141. Cheaper than a new computer.
http://www.viosoftware.com/micwinxpprof.html
Vio delivers as promised. I've used them for several things, including XP Pro, and would highly recommend them.

[Frosty]

Yeah i see that BestBuy has an E-Machine for only $400 and it has XP. Maybe i'll snatch one of those, i don't want to send money on PC now otherwsie i'd probably get a Dell or something.

Last i remebered those E-Machines have tiny little gray towers. They are weird looking.

[websterworld]

Originally posted by Frosty
If i tried to build a PC myself it would not only not work but probably blow up.

I don't have XP, i don't want to spend money to buy it now. I'd have to re-install that ME.

But if i put my recovery CD in, i think that wipes everything out and re-installs ME... that should do the reformating e.t.c, right?

Its not that hard, your just afraid to tuch a computer.
My grandma wanted to learn to use the internet, so I tought her how the mouse works and what is a browser.

Do you know what she did?
She sat in front of the computer, waited around 15 sec's and then...

Asked the computer to show her something about books.

True story.


If you want to be like her, fine.
But all it takes really is to screw some bolts. didn't you ever play with LEGO when you were a kid?


Go to: My Computer>>Right Click on: D drive>>Format.

Reboot.

Go to: My Computer>>Right Click on: C drive(windows drive)>>Format.

Now you don't have anything on your computer.

Put in a windows disk, and install windows. your done.


BTW - if you are not a gamer but use your CP for stuff like word only. and the internet. download and install linux. its way better then windows.

[Frosty]

I'm not afraid to touch this lousy PC. I'm about to take an axe to it for ticking me off. I'm backing up my stuff now first.

I was just asking because i thought my recovery CD would have reformatted the thing without me having to do that. I'll do both.

[The Prohacker]

Originally posted by Frosty
if i put my recovery CD

Restore CDs.. Are evil without the orignal OS cd

I see people get slammed here all the time for not wanting to either build their own PC or fix it themselves.. Not everyone wants to work on their computer, sometimes the hassle isn't worth it..

Just because I can rebuild engines for a car doesn't mean I'm going too... I hate working on cars.. But if I have to I will...

I'm very sure people are the same with computers.. If you haven't ever worked on the insides of a computer its not really such a good idea to crack the top.. You can do many things to that PC if you don't know what your doing.. If you don't apply thermal grease to the new AMD procs correctly they will over heat, you must also seat the heatsink a certain way or the grease just pushes out...

I can have a new PC put togather in less than 30 minutes.. Someone with less experince it might take several hours.. But I have friends that can put a transmission in around 30 minutes when it takes me a couple hours to drop one in

Also new PCs will come with warrenties on the entire machine.. If you build it yourself warrenties will vary based on each part, and the labor isn't covered.. If you screw it up, normally you must bite the bullet and pay for the cost of replacement