Some help from you computer wizards please!

**j13hdb** · 17th August 2007, 12:53

Well everyone it's time to admit to my total incompetence of computers and I need your advice please!

I have an old computer-4 to 5 years old that does its job but the kids have filled it up to 2% of full memory. After umpteen threats of "empty your rubbish off it or I will" I DID! Taking off most of windows, word and the dvd drive!

3 questions for you-

1 the only thing I want to save are my photos but how can I when the dvd doesn't work-the tray wont even come out!!

2 Can anyone recommend a good new computer for £500 max. It needs to play some games and I need to email but really that's it

3 Would it be better to take this to a computer shop(not PC world but a local one) and get them to totally rebuild it, find my photos out and increae the memory etc etc?

Help please!!

**wardy** · 17th August 2007, 13:21

No computer expert but you could:

1 buy one of those usb storage devices thingys (look like a key fob) or even an external hard drive, then plug it into your new machine.
2 I always stick will Dell. Very good quality & support. If you're happy with the monitor you could just buy a new PC, and upgrade the monitor in a year or two (that's what I did last time)
3 wouldn't bother. If it's that old it'll be worthless and not worth throwing any more money at.

**cookie** · 17th August 2007, 13:23

Heres a link to some very cheap PC's:-

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/5/cat/Home-PCs

**VauxVeteran** · 17th August 2007, 13:31

1 - I'll get to that at the bottom

2 - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pcranges.html

3 - No

To answer #1, get another computer, take out the hard drive of the old one, set it to slave jumper setting, jumper is on rear of HD, boot the new computer up, go to My Computer and open the old HD up if it's listed and drag the picture folders over to the new compter, if you get stuck PM me. hth.

**BlueRob** · 17th August 2007, 17:00

1- VV aswer or Wardy`s solutions work well, the USB storage device is the quick option.
2-Depends on what games you intend to play, most of the new games will only run well on mean powerfull PC`s I know cause I`m a heavy gamer

3- Nop don`t upgrade that one, that does not work well, better to invest you money on a new rig

I have always built my computers from A to Z, I have found that at the end you`ll end up with a better machine and at a better price.
If you need some hardware advice just let me know

**stickshift** · 17th August 2007, 17:12

Originally Posted by j13hdb

1 the only thing I want to save are my photos but how can I when the dvd doesn't work-the tray wont even come out!!

Help please!!

There is a tiny hole on the front of the drive in which you put a paper clip or similar and the draw should open.

**MalcGSI** · 17th August 2007, 17:44

Depending how much of Windows you have removed VV's option may be the only way

**j13hdb** · 18th August 2007, 17:42

Moaral of the story is don't mess with what you know nothing about!!!!

Thanks for all your help. Think I'll try the memory stick first and buy another!

Cheers

Hugh

**cameraman** · 18th August 2007, 17:57

Originally Posted by stickshift

There is a tiny hole on the front of the drive in which you put a paper clip or similar and the draw should open.

What I don't understand is how deleting stuff off the hard drive stops the DVD from ejecting

, what have you done

. I'd go with fitting your hard disc into another PC & copying off the valuable stuff then putting it back into the original & rebuilding it from scratch

**masmit** · 18th August 2007, 18:10

j13hdb - I see you are in Nottingham. One of the best places for advice and new cheap PC's are in Bulwell. A place called Web Systems. If you go towards Bulwell by coming off the gateway hotel before you get to the mini roundabout there is a small industrial estate behind a fence and Websystems is in there. Last timeI was in they provide their new PC's with 5yr warranty. They also have a website if you want to check it out www.web-systems.co.uk

HTH - Mark