Anyone ever built a PC?

[tyred]

I'm not sure if this works in XP but in all previous versions of Windows, you can read the product code from the registry of the PC. Select run, type regedit, when regedit opens, select hkey_local_machine, then software, then Microsoft, then Windows, then current version and you should be able to find all the codes you need.

 

[johnnyh]

download Belarc Advisor, that will give you the keys.

 

[swee'pea99]

I'm not sure if this works in XP but in all previous versions of Windows, you can read the product code from the registry of the PC. Select run, type regedit, when regedit opens, select hkey_local_machine, then software, then Microsoft, then Windows, then current version and you should be able to find all the codes you need.

Does that tell you anything more than you can get from Control panel>System>General tab?

 

[tyred]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Does that tell you anything more than you can get from Control panel>System>General tab?[/quote]

It gives a load of other codes too if you need them (I doubt it). I must admit I'd never noticed you could get the Windows product code from the general tab

 

[gratts]

Once you've factored in hassle, time and potential problems against the tiny, if any, saving you'll make, it'd be much better to just opt for something cheap but resonably powerful like THIS.
Whats that, £100 more? But a lot better than what you're proposing spec wise, and more future-proof.

 

[Bollo]

I build my 'so called' PC using instructions from the Daily Mail. It went mad.



Coat's already on.

 

[hackbike 666]

I have built about 4 PC`s and found it a valuable learning experience.The first one I built (my main computer) has been working for well over five years.

 

[vernon]

At the bottom end of the performance spectrum , it really isn't worth buying in the bits to build a base unit. Like others have said, there's no guarantee that the motherboard will fit your current case and there's the hassle of stripping and rebuilding configuring and re-configuring the set up. Unless you have lots of time on your hands it is much easier to purchase a ready assembled base unit.

If you are only using basic activities like word processing, and the like then a clean installation of Ubuntu and OpenOffice will probably meet your needs. You could use the time saved by purchasing a ready built base unit to familiarise yourself with a Linux system. You could even have a dual boot system where you can choose between the Linux and Windows when you switch the computer on.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Good advice, thanks eveyone.

I may well go for a clean base unit and get a copy of XP. I do not want Vista as I use Quicken for my accounts and it probably wont work.

 

[peanut]

Joe if you want to reuse your existing windoze XP you can get your serial/license number using this tiny bit of IT techy software free to download and use.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

just download it and run it and it will give you all the serial numbers of all ythe software on the PC also it will detail all the settings drivers and hardware etc .
You can use anyone's WinXP install CD and simply enter your license No

 

[Smokin Joe]

Cheers Peanut,

Very useful link.