OLD Gateway - I'm stuck woking on it- suggestions?

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 10:00 AM

I really wasn't sure where to post this question, but here is as good as anywhere.

My girlfriend's Boss's wife's computer is OLD- I went over to their house today for dinner and to "fix" their old PC. So far I cleaned it up a bit- nothing major. I'm going to take it home with me next week and really work on it- (wipe HD - install ethernet, ram, etc...)

It is a Gateway G6300 LPMINI-TOWER MFG date 9/01/98

Its a very slow PII 300mhz, 64mb pc66 ram (i think), 5gig hard drive. Win 98 (no "se") [color=yellow]Which has been installed SINCE 1998!!!! No kidding![/color]

This thing is like most peoples' PC's, it was loaded up with all kinds of spyware and junk programs, including AOL- which they use- But they are going to get Powerlink- (cable modem ISP)

Here's my question. Where can I get info on what you can, and can't modify on these OLD things- (proprietary PC's) - Like, can I upgrade OS? MB? Stuff like that? What about the bios? I haven't even started to research this online- I haven't ever had the misfortune of having to work on a Gateway, but I know Dells are miserable to upgrade/ make adjustments to bios.. etc...

My goal is to put in some in more memory and install XP- install an ethernet and get them going with faster cable ISP...
I installed XP on a celeron 333 once and it worked fine, so I know it can be done. I just don't know if the proprietary software/hardware will let me successfully.

It has some old printer and a scanner hooked up through the serial port too- I don't know if there is software (for XP) for those either.
I'm off to go search around and see what I can see- But this is going to be rough.

It's only going to be used for e-mail and stuff like that- and if you were going to say- upgrade, bla bla bla, don't bother- they want to get by with this for the time being, (why, I don't know- the guy makes $90,000 a year and she probably makes at least 30 to 40k- but they want to keep it!

)- so I'm stuck trying to make this as good as it can be for them- and it will serve it's purpose well with a clean install and configured properly.

Plus- I'm on workman's comp for 3 back surgeries and don't have a job- and they will give me some cash to clean it up and get it working better. So obviously I'm gonna try to help them out.

Any help, or comment from someone experienced -or not so experienced- in working with Gateways or similar appreciated, thanks.

digitalwanderer · Jul 23, 2003, 02:15 PM

You do NOT want to have the 'fun' of trying to hunt down XP drivers for antique hardware...trust me! Back up the HD, install 98se, install the intel inf update, install the IE 5.5 update, and tweak it in from there. If you just upgrade the memory it should be easy, but some of them old PCs can be DAMNED PICKY about what type of memory to throw in 'em.

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 04:11 PM

I was wondering about that (xp installation) - The problem is that it is just 98, not 98se. But I guess they are used to it anyway. They will be happy with a nice clean (working) 98 machine probably. My ram is pc100 and the ram in there is pc66 - but it should default back to the pc66.

I found out it is a pII 300- but there is a jumper on the MB that will allow you to run it at 333- I wonder if it can handle it? Right now it has a HUGE PASSIVE heat sink on the cpu- I'm thinking 92mm and permanently OC the thing w/ the jumpers. every mhz counts when you have that few.

"With J26-J28, the speed of the CPU can be set accordingly. The jumper settings for a 333 megahertz (MHz) processor is shown"

I wonder.

Thanks for help.

Matth · Jul 23, 2003, 04:22 PM

A scanner through serial port ??? - wouldn't be fast enough!

Parallel, SCSI, USB or own cards (and scanners using their own card would probably be IMPOSSIBLE to get XP drivers for)

Can you still download the XP upgrade checker?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...ng/advisor.asp
Looks like it!

PS. Intel P-II multipliers were usually fixed.
If it has BIOS support, you may be able to run a Celeron in a slocket converter - I think they used 66 FSB until the 800

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 04:39 PM

Cool thanks, I think it was the printer on that bus must be---
And nope- I don't think there is ANYTHING worth while in the bios- it looked prett slim- unless there was some kind of "magic" key combo that I don't know about like there is on some Gigabyte boards.

Matth · Jul 23, 2003, 04:49 PM

Looks like it has onboard MPACT 2 video - and there is no XP driver for that - so if XP ran it, it would be as generic VGA / SVGA.

Also looks like if the video were to be upgraded, it's limited to a PCI card (though a PCI Radeon 9x00 would blow away the onboard - which also lies in the "unsupported" category of many current games).

It's really not worth doing more than a clean and trim-up - and maybe getting hold of a surplus 98SE

Serial PRINTERS ... The old Deskjet models had both, then they went Parallel only, and serial was an option on a lot of dot matrix models - are we talking dot matrix here?

digitalwanderer · Jul 23, 2003, 05:06 PM

NOT 98, 98se patched and tweaked...there is a WORLD of difference!

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 05:08 PM

I think it' san inkjet, (not sure) but the thing does have a 2x DVD in it from factory, and a zip drive. It was kind-of top o the line in the BEGINNING of 98- I mean, a DVD drive in 98? Yes, it does look like the poor thing isn't going to do well with XP- just too old. If I did ALLOT of sniffing I may be able to narrow down what those components are and see if anyone has drivers for them.

has allot of info here-
http://www.support.gateway.com/suppo...info/index.asp

That is where I found out most of what I know about it-

Nothing about printer though. It looks like 98se might be the best thing for it- I don't know if it is worth the money (100 dollars or so) to upgrade from 98 to 98se. Everything on the up n' up, ya know.

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matth

Can you still download the XP upgrade checker?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...ng/advisor.asp
Looks like it!

Thanks! I did not know about that.

edit-- man- I'm trying to download that and it won't get over 21Kb/sec! The slow server is on their side-

I got 2.23MB a second yesterday- I took a screenshot of the amazing speed too.

__________________

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by digitalwanderer
NOT 98, 98se patched and tweaked...there is a WORLD of difference!

Yeah, I bet there is- I am very familiar with se, but not to much experience with 98. I thought 98 was incompatable with USB- but this thing has usb ports, and I imagine they work (although nothing was hooked up to them)..

What are the major differences? I know there are a few cosmetic differences, but what about major ones? What is the cheapest you can get away with for upgrading from 98 to 98se? I found an original 98 cd w/ key that came with it- besides the gateway restore- so that is a plus!

Keep in mind- I found out it has 5GB HD not 6.

I keep thinking I should just build them a cheap used MB/CPU/RAMVidea/sound - maybe a Athlon 1.3 or something- Maybe next year.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 23, 2003, 05:25 PM

lol that sucks i hate gatways lol ... any propritary system for that matter... theres not a whole alot you can with it...

BWX · Jul 23, 2003, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Neon_Cowboy
lol that sucks i hate gatways lol ... any propritary system for that matter... theres not a whole alot you can with it...

You aren't kidding, but for me it will be a learning experience, (learn to say NO!!) j/k- they are really nice people. It does suck- makes me really appreciate my (getting slow with age) PC I built last year - or was that 2 years ago?

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 23, 2003, 06:03 PM

i HAVE WROKED ON WORSE ... lol

I once got a 40x cd-rom to work in an old 30mhz system LOL

Matth · Jul 24, 2003, 08:38 PM

There used to be a cheap upgrade from 98 to 98SE - in fact, I believe it WAS offerred free at one time (though possibly by mistake).

If you have to go with 98 straight, I hope you can still get SP1 downloaded.
Full price for a 98SE would just be silly - there must be discounted ones, and even people decommisioning machines with 98SE.

As for USB - the last of the 95B releases had limited USB support - and I have a vague recolletion that USB support in 98 was also weak/buggy/crash prone - the demo when they turned round to see a BSOD!
Maybe sp1 fixed it?

BWX · Jul 24, 2003, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matth
There used to be a cheap upgrade from 98 to 98SE - in fact, I believe it WAS offerred free at one time (though possibly by mistake).

If you have to go with 98 straight, I hope you can still get SP1 downloaded.
Full price for a 98SE would just be silly - there must be discounted ones, and even people decommisioning machines with 98SE.

As for USB - the last of the 95B releases had limited USB support - and I have a vague recolletion that USB support in 98 was also weak/buggy/crash prone - the demo when they turned round to see a BSOD!
Maybe sp1 fixed it?

Oh, I didn't even know there was an SP1 update for 98 or 98se- I just haven't been on a PC w/ either of those OS's on them for a long time. Thanks- I'll check that out to.

I'll be getting the PC in a few weeks when they go on vacation- I'm going to hook it up to my cable modem so I can get all the updates. It would be impossible on their dialup-

Jul 23, 2003, 10:00 AM	#1
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	OLD Gateway - I'm stuck woking on it- suggestions? I really wasn't sure where to post this question, but here is as good as anywhere. My girlfriend's Boss's wife's computer is OLD- I went over to their house today for dinner and to "fix" their old PC. So far I cleaned it up a bit- nothing major. I'm going to take it home with me next week and really work on it- (wipe HD - install ethernet, ram, etc...) It is a Gateway G6300 LPMINI-TOWER MFG date 9/01/98 Its a very slow PII 300mhz, 64mb pc66 ram (i think), 5gig hard drive. Win 98 (no "se") [color=yellow]Which has been installed SINCE 1998!!!! No kidding![/color] This thing is like most peoples' PC's, it was loaded up with all kinds of spyware and junk programs, including AOL- which they use- But they are going to get Powerlink- (cable modem ISP) Here's my question. Where can I get info on what you can, and can't modify on these OLD things- (proprietary PC's) - Like, can I upgrade OS? MB? Stuff like that? What about the bios? I haven't even started to research this online- I haven't ever had the misfortune of having to work on a Gateway, but I know Dells are miserable to upgrade/ make adjustments to bios.. etc... My goal is to put in some in more memory and install XP- install an ethernet and get them going with faster cable ISP... I installed XP on a celeron 333 once and it worked fine, so I know it can be done. I just don't know if the proprietary software/hardware will let me successfully. It has some old printer and a scanner hooked up through the serial port too- I don't know if there is software (for XP) for those either. I'm off to go search around and see what I can see- But this is going to be rough. It's only going to be used for e-mail and stuff like that- and if you were going to say- upgrade, bla bla bla, don't bother- they want to get by with this for the time being, (why, I don't know- the guy makes $90,000 a year and she probably makes at least 30 to 40k- but they want to keep it! )- so I'm stuck trying to make this as good as it can be for them- and it will serve it's purpose well with a clean install and configured properly. Plus- I'm on workman's comp for 3 back surgeries and don't have a job- and they will give me some cash to clean it up and get it working better. So obviously I'm gonna try to help them out. Any help, or comment from someone experienced -or not so experienced- in working with Gateways or similar appreciated, thanks. __________________

Jul 23, 2003, 02:15 PM	#2
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, DON'T INSTALL XP!!!! You do NOT want to have the 'fun' of trying to hunt down XP drivers for antique hardware...trust me! Back up the HD, install 98se, install the intel inf update, install the IE 5.5 update, and tweak it in from there. If you just upgrade the memory it should be easy, but some of them old PCs can be DAMNED PICKY about what type of memory to throw in 'em. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jul 23, 2003, 04:11 PM	Thread Starter #3
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I was wondering about that (xp installation) - The problem is that it is just 98, not 98se. But I guess they are used to it anyway. They will be happy with a nice clean (working) 98 machine probably. My ram is pc100 and the ram in there is pc66 - but it should default back to the pc66. I found out it is a pII 300- but there is a jumper on the MB that will allow you to run it at 333- I wonder if it can handle it? Right now it has a HUGE PASSIVE heat sink on the cpu- I'm thinking 92mm and permanently OC the thing w/ the jumpers. every mhz counts when you have that few. "With J26-J28, the speed of the CPU can be set accordingly. The jumper settings for a 333 megahertz (MHz) processor is shown" I wonder. Thanks for help. __________________

Jul 23, 2003, 04:22 PM	#4
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	A scanner through serial port ??? - wouldn't be fast enough! Parallel, SCSI, USB or own cards (and scanners using their own card would probably be IMPOSSIBLE to get XP drivers for) Can you still download the XP upgrade checker? http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...ng/advisor.asp Looks like it! PS. Intel P-II multipliers were usually fixed. If it has BIOS support, you may be able to run a Celeron in a slocket converter - I think they used 66 FSB until the 800 Last edited by Matth; Jul 23, 2003 at 04:27 PM.

Jul 23, 2003, 04:39 PM	Thread Starter #5
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Cool thanks, I think it was the printer on that bus must be--- And nope- I don't think there is ANYTHING worth while in the bios- it looked prett slim- unless there was some kind of "magic" key combo that I don't know about like there is on some Gigabyte boards. __________________

Jul 23, 2003, 04:49 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Looks like it has onboard MPACT 2 video - and there is no XP driver for that - so if XP ran it, it would be as generic VGA / SVGA. Also looks like if the video were to be upgraded, it's limited to a PCI card (though a PCI Radeon 9x00 would blow away the onboard - which also lies in the "unsupported" category of many current games). It's really not worth doing more than a clean and trim-up - and maybe getting hold of a surplus 98SE Serial PRINTERS ... The old Deskjet models had both, then they went Parallel only, and serial was an option on a lot of dot matrix models - are we talking dot matrix here?

Jul 23, 2003, 05:06 PM	#7
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	No, no. NOT 98, 98se patched and tweaked...there is a WORLD of difference! __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Jul 23, 2003, 05:08 PM	Thread Starter #8
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I think it' san inkjet, (not sure) but the thing does have a 2x DVD in it from factory, and a zip drive. It was kind-of top o the line in the BEGINNING of 98- I mean, a DVD drive in 98? Yes, it does look like the poor thing isn't going to do well with XP- just too old. If I did ALLOT of sniffing I may be able to narrow down what those components are and see if anyone has drivers for them. has allot of info here- http://www.support.gateway.com/suppo...info/index.asp That is where I found out most of what I know about it- Nothing about printer though. It looks like 98se might be the best thing for it- I don't know if it is worth the money (100 dollars or so) to upgrade from 98 to 98se. Everything on the up n' up, ya know. __________________

Jul 23, 2003, 05:25 PM	#11
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	lol that sucks i hate gatways lol ... any propritary system for that matter... theres not a whole alot you can with it... __________________

Jul 23, 2003, 06:03 PM	#13
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	i HAVE WROKED ON WORSE ... lol I once got a 40x cd-rom to work in an old 30mhz system LOL __________________

Jul 24, 2003, 08:38 PM	#14
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	There used to be a cheap upgrade from 98 to 98SE - in fact, I believe it WAS offerred free at one time (though possibly by mistake). If you have to go with 98 straight, I hope you can still get SP1 downloaded. Full price for a 98SE would just be silly - there must be discounted ones, and even people decommisioning machines with 98SE. As for USB - the last of the 95B releases had limited USB support - and I have a vague recolletion that USB support in 98 was also weak/buggy/crash prone - the demo when they turned round to see a BSOD! Maybe sp1 fixed it?