ACER ASPIRE T180-I97Z

ID: PCD01

HISTORY

This Acer desktop PC was given to me after I setup the owner's new machine running Windows 10. Aimed at the budget market, the Aspire T180 series was once very popular. Although not known for great performance, these machines were still in common use until a couple of years ago, their downfall being the drop in support for Windows XP.


SPECIFICATIONS

Machine Type: Desktop Tower

Model: ACER ASPIRE T180-I97Z
Year of Manufacturer: 2006
Motherboard: ECS MCP61SM-AM REV 1.0
Chipset: NVIDIA GEFORCE 6100S
Processor: AMD SEMPRON 3200+ 1.8GHz 64-Bit (Socket AM2)
RAM: 1.5GB DDR2 (1x 512MB, 1x 1GB 240-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 250GB SATA 3.5"
Optical Drive(s): DVD-RW PATA 5.25"
Graphics: Integrated (Nvidia)
Audio: Integrated (Realtek)
Network: Integrated (1Gbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (3 Front, 4 Rear)
Power Supply: Delta Electronics 250W
Other Features: Card Reader, Dial-Up Modem
COA: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005


INITIAL INSPECTION

There didn't appear to be too much wrong with this system, but a quick look inside the power supply revealed a blown capacitor. Elsewhere the system was in relatively good shape for it's age, although would be much too old to run Windows 10 reliably.

Blown capacitor inside power supply

REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• The failed capacitor inside the power supply was replaced (2200uF/6.3v).
• 512MB of RAM was added, bringing the total to 2GB.
• The DVD drive was replaced, as it would not read disks reliably, even after cleaning the lens.

After replacing the failed capacitor in the power supply

PREPARATION

With the repair on the power supply completed, I put some fresh thermal compound on the processor and heat-sink and put the system back together. There were no problems with diagnostics, but I made a silly mistake by updating the BIOS to the latest revision without checking to make sure that write protection was turned off in BIOS setup. The result was a completely un-bootable machine, sticking at a 'Verifying DMI Pool Data...' message on each attempt. Fortunately, a replacement BIOS chip could be obtained from eBay for a few pounds, and I was able to successfully flash this to the latest version with no problems. With the computer back to a bootable state I was ready to move onto the next stage of installing an operating system.

SETUP

I made Ubuntu 14 my first choice of operating system for this ageing computer. However, try as I might, I could not get it to work stably. After a few minutes, the system would lock up with distorted graphics. I initially thought this must be a hardware problem, but thorough burn-in tests run in Windows discounted this possibility. Eventually, I abandoned Linux and returned to tried and true Windows XP. This may not be a completely secure computer, but it should be fast enough for Google and other non-critical tasks.


CONCLUSION

This was the first old computer that I decided to bring up to speed, but due to the problem with the BIOS update it has only just been finished. With testing complete, it's ready for it's new owner. As with many of the computers recycled so far, the processor limits it's usefulness in the real world. However, it's still more than capable for word processing, storing photographs or music and for looking up information on Google with the Opera web browser.

PACKARD BELL IMEDIA B2217

ID: PCD7

HISTORY

The owner of this computer was experiencing stability problems and decided to replace the tower with a new model. This is a very typical desktop system of the later Windows Vista era, when multiple gigabytes of RAM and dual core processors became common. In some respects little has changed since, with many new models only coming with 4GB of RAM as standard. However, the processor is weak in comparison to modern machines, but it may still provide adequate performance for general use.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Machine Type: Desktop Tower
Model: PACKARD BELL IMEDIA B2217
Year of Manufacturer: 2009
Motherboard: ECS MCP73VT-PM (V1.0)
Chipset: NVIDIA NFORCE 610I
Processor: INTEL CELERON E1400 2.00GHz 64-BIT Dual Core (Socket 775)
RAM: 3GB DDR2 (1x 1GB, 1x 2GB 240-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 250GB SATA 3.5"
Optical Drive(s): DVD-RW SATA 5.25"
Graphics: Integrated (Nvidia)
Audio: Integrated (Realtek)
Network: Integrated (100Mbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Power Supply: FSP 250W
Other Features: None
COA: Windows Vista Home Basic


INITIAL INSPECTION
The motherboard looked in good condition, but some bad capacitors were found in the power supply. These would have likely been the cause of the stability problems.

Bad capacitors inside PSU

PSU following recap

REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• 1000uF PSU capacitors replaced

PREPARATION

Once the repair on the power supply was completed, fans cleaned and CMOS battery replaced, the system fired up and completed diagnostics successfully.

SETUP

The system had been previously running Windows Vista Basic, but Microsoft and Google support has ended for this operating system. Unlike Windows XP, Vista was not well liked and is no longer widely used. Therefore, the options were Windows 10 or a variant of Linux. The loophole that allowed users of Windows XP and Vista to upgrade to Windows 10 for free has now been closed, but a working, valid key can be purchased from eBay for just a couple of pounds! Just how this works I am not sure, as Microsoft sells the same thing for about 50x the price. However, these cheap keys do work, and having used a few, both for Freecycle and to upgrade customer's machines, have so far not run into any problems with activation. With this in mind, I opted for Windows 10, which installed OK. Initially there was no graphics driver available, and performance was dreadful. However, the Windows 7/8 driver from the Nvidia website worked, and appears to be stable.

CONCLUSION

Performance is adequate, but not the greatest, mainly due to the slower Celeron processor. It's a good example of what a system needs to be to run Windows 10 properly, as minimum and even recommended system requirements are usually not realistic in the real world. The problem is that computers are often doing more than one thing at a time, even if the operator is only working on one task. A slower system might run OK most of the time but then slow to a crawl when Windows starts to check for updates, for example.

EMACHINES 3220

ID: PCD5

HISTORY

This computer was given to me because it was getting old and slow and being replaced by a laptop. Originally complete with CRT monitor, it certainly didn't look very new, but I wondered if anything could be done to improve it. This machine was part of a very popular series sold by PC World - well known for it's 'Bestec' power supply that often failed taking the motherboard with it.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Machine Type: Desktop Tower
Model: EMACHINES 3220
Year of Manufacturer: 2004
Motherboard: FOXCONN 946GZ7MA-8KS2H
Chipset: INTEL 946GZ
Processor: INTEL PENTIUM E2180 2.00GHZ 64-BIT Dual Core (Socket 775)
RAM: 1GB DDR2 (1x 240-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 80GB 3.5" PATA
Optical Drive(s): DVD-ROM 5.25" PATA, CD-RW 5.25" PATA
Graphics: Integrated (Intel)
Audio: Integrated (Realtek)
Network: Integrated (1Gbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Power Supply: DELL 350W
Other Features: 1.44MB Floppy Drive, Dial-Up Modem
COA: Windows XP Home


INITIAL INSPECTION
The tower felt heavier than expected, but upon opening up the case I was not surprised to find that the motherboard and power supply had been changed. In fact, it was a much more up-to-date system than the initial appearance led to believe. However, I was disappointed to find several bad capacitors around the processor, so some serious repair work would be needed to bring the system up to scratch.

REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• 1000uF, 1500uF and 3000uF Motherboard capacitors replaced
• Extra 1GB memory module added, bringing the total to 2GB
• 80GB PATA HDD replaced with 60GB SATA SSD
• Power button secured with fixings to the front of case added

PREPARATION

After the repairs on the motherboard were completed, diagnostics and a test installation of Windows XP ran without a hitch. However, I realised that the hard drive was old (it was making a whining sound) and would not be up to running Windows 10 with reasonable performance, which otherwise this system would be fully capable of. I got a very cheap 60GB SSD from Hong Kong combined with a product key for Windows 10, and everything was set.

SETUP

Windows 10 installed and activated with no problems, and I loaded the usual combination of LibreOffice, Google Chrome, VLC Player and K-Lite Codec Pack.

CONCLUSION

Had this system still been fitted with it's original power supply and motherboard, it would have been living on borrowed time and stuck in the dark ages with Windows XP. However, with the upgrade that had previously completed combined with a little more RAM, some new capacitors and an SSD it has been turned into a viable computer, fit for some serious use. It won't be powerful enough to play games, but Google, Facebook, music, videos and the like are all on the cards. The original CRT monitor failed during the process of fixing this system up, but I expect you would agree this is probably no bad thing.

COLOSSUS 362-50-163

ID: PCD13

HISTORY

This is an ancient computer that was given to me for data retrieval. Of course, once the data was retrieved, the owner had no further interest in it. It is much too old to even think about installing Windows XP on it, and it would definitely not be fit for use in the modern, online world. What, then is the point in restoring this to a working condition? There are a few possibilities: It could be used to play old DOS based games, it could be used to run mission-critical, legacy software that will not run on modern operating systems, or it could be used as a word processor. I had not heard of Colossus before but believe they were related in some way to the famous 'Time Computers' brand.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Machine Type: Desktop Tower
Model: COLOSSUS 362-50-163
Year of Manufacturer: 1998
Motherboard: ECS P5ST-A REV 1.0A
Chipset: SIS 5598
Processor: IBM 6X86MX PR233 166MHz (Socket 7)
RAM: 64MB EDO (2x 32MB 72-PIN SIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 6GB 3.5" PATA
Optical Drive(s): CD-ROM 5.25" PATA
Graphics: Integrated (SIS)
Audio: Integrated (ESS)
Network: None
USB: 1.1 (2 Rear)
Power Supply: FSP 300W (Replaced Power Win 250W)
Other Features: 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive, Dial-Up Modem
COA: None


INITIAL INSPECTION
Due to the age of this PC, I was not surprised that a number of issues cropped up during testing. The power supply and hard drive both failed diagnostic tests and had to be replaced. Fortunately, I have a large stock of hard drives and was able to find one with the same capacity with no bad sectors. The CPU fan was also noisy, and lubricating it did not help. I got a cheap replacement from eBay which did the job nicely.


REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• Power supply replaced
• Hard drive replaced
• CPU fan replaced
• CD-ROM lens cleaned

PREPARATION

After the repairs were completed and the system cleaned and re-assembled, diagnostics on the memory and replacement hard drive completed successfully, so I was ready to install an operating system.

SETUP

Although no COA was present, I was able to extract a valid license key from the faulty hard drive for the original version of Windows 98, so this was the obvious choice here. With no updates to install, installation was very straightforward, and I was able to find drivers for the graphics and sound with relative ease. I did come up against a problem with a blue screen crash on startup after installing the graphics driver. It turns out that 597v113.exe (part of the driver package) needs to be added the 'Autoexec.bat' file in the root of drive C: to avoid this.

CONCLUSION

Whilst this will definitely be an offline PC, I still think it could have some value, somewhere. I was amazed at how fast Windows 98 was, even on such basic hardware, which is a reminder of how bloated modern software has become. Combined with a printer, this could make a great word processor system for somebody who has very limited computing needs. Fortunately, I also have a printer and monitor to give away with this system, so hopefully it will be put to good use.

ZOOSTORM 7872-0460/A

ID: PCD12

HISTORY

Unusually, this computer was given to me because the owner was moving and would not have room for it in her new home. It's a system that I've worked on a few times in the past and remember fitting new RAM modules and a new power supply at different times. It is not old, even by modern standards, and the specifications should be more than adequate for Windows 10.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Machine Type: Desktop Tower
Model: ZOOSTORM 7872-0460/A
Year of Manufacturer: 2013
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H61M-DS2 DVI
Chipset: INTEL H61 EXPRESS
Processor: INTEL CELERON G1610 2.6GHz 64-BIT (Socket 1155)
RAM: 4GB DDR3 (2x 2GB 240-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 320GB 2.5" SATA
Optical Drive(s): DVD-RW 5.25" SATA
Graphics: Integrated (Intel)
Audio: Integrated (Realtek)
Network: Integrated (1Gbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Power Supply: Antec 350W
Other Features: N/A
COA: Windows 7 Home Premium


INITIAL INSPECTION
The computer is in excellent condition and shows little sign of use, inside and out. Unsurprisingly, a visual inspection of the power supply and motherboard did not uncover any problems.


REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• None required

PREPARATION

After the processor cooler was cleaned and reseated, diagnostic tests were run on the main components to verify stability. No faults were found, so it was time to setup the software.

SETUP

Fortunately, Windows 7 keys still work to activate fresh installations of Windows 10, so I was able to set this system up with the very latest 'anniversary edition'. After installing all available updates and some office and media playback software, the computer was ready for it's new owner.

CONCLUSION

This can't be considered a 'powerful' computer, but for general purpose use, I don't think there would be much difference in performance between this system and a brand new one. The processor isn't up to gaming or 3D graphics work, but for website access / apps, office work, music, video etc there would be little reason to have anything more, so I'm hoping the new owner will find it enjoyable to use. The customer who have me the computer also provided a screen and printer, so this should make a great complete setup for a worthy cause.

Generic PC (AMD SEMPRON 2400+ 1.6GHZ)

ID: PCD09

HISTORY

This is a PC that has been in use for a over a decade, and so is way behind in technological advancements. It belonged to a customer that I have helped for a number of years who has now upgraded to a more modern system. Naturally, there was no use for this old relic once the new Dell tower complete with Windows 10 and an SSD was up and running, so it was given to me.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: None (Generic Desktop PC)
Year of Manufacturer: 2005 (Estimate)
Motherboard: ASROCK K7S41GX (REV 1.03)
Chipset: SIS 741GX
Processor: AMD SEMPRON 2400+ 1.6GHZ (Socket A)
RAM: 2GB DDR (2x 1GB 184-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 40GB 3.5" PATA
Optical Drive(s): DVD-ROM 5.25" PATA
Graphics: Integrated (SIS)
Audio: Integrated (C-Media)
Network: Integrated (100Mbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Power Supply: Generic 400W
Other Features: 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive, 56K Dial-Up Modem
COA: Windows XP Home


INITIAL INSPECTION

Although the computer is old, it's in really good condition and shows little signs of use. I was pleasantly surprised to find the inside the computer relatively clean with no bad capacitors on either the power supply or motherboard PCBs. When tested, the fan in the power supply was a little noisy, but this should be easy to rectify. Although plenty of RAM is present, the processor is very out of date and isn't up to modern Internet use, never mind Windows 10. In fact, it probably won't run Linux that well either, so this will be another system to stretch the workable life of Windows XP even further.


REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• The bearings in the power supply fan were lubricated.

PREPARATION

With the fan in the power supply now running sweetly, I cleaned out the case, applied some fresh thermal paste to the processor cooler and put the system back together. The owner of the computer had been experiencing stability issues, but diagnostic tests on the RAM and hard drive showed everything to be working correctly.

SETUP

Windows XP was the only real option for this system, because everything else would have run far too slowly. With all drivers and updates installed, it booted up in no time and felt responsive in use. After the usual burn-in tests, I installed some office and media player software, but was stuck for a browser that could be reliably used on such old equipment. Google Chrome no longer supports XP, and both Firefox and Opera require processors with the SSE2 instruction set, which sadly all socket A processors lack. However, I came across a little known browser called QTWeb, which works surprisingly well on older hardware. It wasn't fast, but browsing popular sites such as BBC and Amazon was at least practical, and I was able to complete my weekly Ebuyer order without much difficulty.

CONCLUSION

Limited as the specifications are, I'm hoping this computer will find a new home and a new use. It still works fine for most general purpose offline activities, and would work well for someone who just wanted to send a few E-Mails and print off some documents, or someone who still needed Windows XP to run legacy software. The lack of processing power and instruction sets limits it's practical use online, but the QTWeb browser should provide enough functionality for basic use of Google and the Internet.

Generic PC (INTEL CELERON D 331 2.66GHZ)

ID: PCD04

HISTORY

This desktop PC was probably supplied by a local firm, as it does not seem to bear any manufacturer markings. It's built in a typical black computer case and doesn't look like anything particularly special. I took it away for recycling after setting up it's replacement (a refurbished Windows 10 unit). It was in a working condition, but was very slow.


INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: None (Generic Desktop PC)
Year of Manufacturer: 2007 (Estimate)
Motherboard: ASROCK 775I65G (REV G/A 2.04)
Chipset: INTEL 865G
Processor: INTEL CELERON D 331 2.66GHz 64-Bit (Socket 775)
RAM: 2GB DDR (2x 1GB 184-Pin DIMM)
Hard Drive(s): 160GB SATA
Optical Drive(s): DVD-RW
Graphics: Integrated (Intel)
Audio: Integrated (C-Media)
Network: Integrated (100Mbps Ethernet)
USB: 2.0 (2 Front, 6 Rear)
Power Supply: Colorsit 400W
Other Features: None
COA: None


INITIAL INSPECTION

The outside of the computer didn't show anything a miss but removing the side panel revealed some bad capacitors on the motherboard that would need replacing. In addition, the power supply fan had completely seized up. With a single core processor and original DDR RAM, this would probably run Linux better than Windows 10.


REPAIRS & MODIFICATIONS

• 1000uF and 1500uF motherboard capacitors were replaced.
• The bearings in the power supply fan were lubricated.
• The DVD drive would not read disks reliably. I tried cleaning the lens in the drive several times (both via disassembly and cleaning disks) but in the end it had to be replaced.

PREPARATION

The recap was a success and the computer started up first time. Further diagnostics on RAM and hard drive did not reveal any further problems, so I was ready to proceed with the setup.

SETUP

I thought Linux would be ideal for this system. With an older but 64-Bit capable processor and plenty of RAM, I expected Ubuntu to work fine. However, I was proved completely wrong - performance was terrible. I'm not sure if this was down to the integrated Intel graphics or just inadequate processing power, but it certainly was not usable. I tried an older version of Ubuntu and even the special 'Lubuntu' lightweight build, but graphics was still unacceptably 'laggy'. In the end I gave up and installed Windows XP using a key I extracted from the registry before wiping the hard drive. This worked much better, especially when the 'Color quality' setting was lowered to 16-Bit, and the 'Classic' theme was enabled. Opera still has a version of their browser that works on XP, and this proved to be the best option in this case.

CONCLUSION

I don't have any peripherals to give away with this system, so it will be offered as a 'tower only' computer for somebody to use with their existing monitor, keyboard and mouse. It would certainly be of use for word processing, E-Mail (through a client such as Outlook Express), basic use of Google, listening to music offline or photo storage, but I think modern web apps like Facebook or Outlook.com would be probably be too slow for regular use.