Computer Salvaging

UltimaGecko

<div class="IPBDescription">...or how old computers have stuff</div> Okay, see, I'm scrapping my sister's old computer from 1997-ish. Originally had Windows 95, but has since been formatted and now has Windows 98...that's not really the point of the thread though.

People were going to throw it out/give it away/God knows what to it, so I figured I'd just steal stuff from it and put it in my computer to make some kind of PS2/Megatron type computer hybrid-thing (okay, maybe I just want more space and RAM). This leads to my cool dilemma.

The only thing I've ever physically and <i>sucessfully</i> installed is RAM. A 256mb stick in the computer up-stairs, aside from giving a little protest going in, that stuffs been fine for a good 2+ years now. But that doesn't help me with installing my new found stuff.

[the stuff]
There're:
a 20.4GB 5400RPM Maxtor Harddrive (made in Singapore!)
a 128MB stick of RAM, I'm not sure which speed (it's from Korea and has a really long number[with letters], and a shorter number [also with letters], since it doesn't say on it, and I have no idea how to find out (I don't even know what's in mine, really) - none of them are a recognizable number that I would think could tell me the speed (like 2100 or anything, they all have messed up letters).
a CD-ROM drive, not sure which speed, didn't think to remove it yet...maybe I will.

[installing the HDD]
So, I think I could install the HDD without much trouble. Hook up an IDE cable from my motherboard and a power cable from my motherboard and check to see if it's detected in the BIOS. The HDD says (in a neat little chart on it) Slave: off and Master/Single On (along with Jumper: J50). I think this means I can only install it as a master with my IDE cables to make it work (thankfully, I think my HDD is already a master, and my DVD-ROM drive a slave). Anything special I'm missing to install it? I don't know how to format a drive (I think it's on the toolbar up top or something in My Computer, but I've never had to do it).

[installing RAM]
On to the RAM. I have no idea what speed mine is, through AIDA, I think it's PC2100 (133mhz). As I said, I have no idea what speed the RAM that is from the other computer is, so I've got a few questions:

1. If installed properly, is there a reason it could hurt or fry my computer just from being a different speed?
2. Would it be okay to install it, even if it is a different speed, so that it would go as fast as it could (or slowdown if it's faster, but I don't think it is)?
3. Is there a definite way to find out what kind and the speed the memory is, either through the computer or on the memory?

For simple helpful resources, the old computer's RAM says:

SEC KOREA
707Y
KM48S2020BT-G12
On each of the 16 large chips;
SEC KMM366S403BTN-G2
KOREA 9709
On a sticker across two of the large chips;
ATMEL652
24CO2N
SI27 B
On a smaller chip to the side;
94V-B
KS
-11A
On the board itself (I'd assume those are electrical recommendations);

So, can I get any help knowing if any of this will hurt my computer and if I've got the 'installing a HDD' stuff down? Help would be greatly appreciated, because I'd rather not kill my computer <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> .

UnCritical

About the ram issue, I'm not sure if this is 100% correct (maybe someone else can verify it) but i always thought your pc will always default to the lower speed.
As in if you have two sticks and one is loads slower than the other (which your salvaged one might well be (especially if its off an older pc)) then your other existing ram will run at the lower speed.

I always try and pair ram off together, exact same make model, everything. It's easier that way.

But I don't think you can do lasting damage if you try it.
If your machine doesnt boot, just take it back out.

Sandrock

Correct about the ram. If the ram you salvaged is slower than your current stuff, it will make your current stuff slower. Which isn't always a good thing.

For the harddrive, if you only have your single harddrive and dvd drive installed currently, you can hook up this new harddrive onto the second IDE channel. Leave the jumper on the harddrive so its set as Master/Single, and plug it into the end connector of an IDE cable. If your sister used Win98, theres a good chance it has FAT32 filesystem on it, so you should be able to read the drive immediately in Windows. To format it (under Windows XP), you need to go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, then choose Disk Management in the list on the left. It will show your installed drives, you can right click the drive and choose format. I'd suggest NTFS under Windows XP. Hope that helps.

Jasp

As for the HD set it up as a master on the secound IDE cable, if you use the first for you HD and DVD.

As for the RAM it maybe SDRAM with it being from an old PC, not all new MBs support DDR and SDRAM.

Also as UnCritical said both sticks of RAM will run at the lowest speed, to stop any incomptabilitys.

As for formatting the drive if you have the windows XP disc boot from it and it should detect the new drive and allow you to format it, to NTFS or FAT32.

If you running an older operating system create a bootdisc thru the add/remove programs menu stick it in the drive and select to boot with CD support.

Once its finished its crap type format (drive letter), E.G Format C:\

Thier is another command that escapes me at the moment on the floppy bootup disc that allows more advanced things. Im sure someone will point it out <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

*edit* Damm you Sandrock beaten by 1 minute <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
*edit2* Just wanted to say that if you use the bootup floopy it will set up virtual tools as the C drive so each letter is normally pushed 1 forward.

BobbyShaftoe

I'm guessing the old RAM is SDRAM 100-133 MHz and I'm not sure you'd actually have a slot that would accept it.

Even older RAM would be EDO RAM which was 72 pins and you had to buy them in matching sets... current DDR RAM is what 184 pins?

UltimaGecko

I know it's fairly new...this 128MB stick actually replaces an older 64MB stick from...Windows95 days. I'm not sure if it's SDRAM. Almost positive it would fit in one of my memory slots though. it's probably 100 or 133mhz though, probably a different...something that screws up my computer <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> .


Mine is a 256MB PC2100 at 133mhz DDR SDRAM stick (high quality Compaq cheapness, right there)


Looking through this AIDA program, it seems that my motherboard has a 267 (...266..I guess)mhz front side bus.
[give you the cool stuff it shows, just in case it helps anything:

Front Side Bus Properties
-Bus Type: DEC Alpha EV6
-Bus Width: 64-bit
-Real Clock: 133MHz (DDR)
-Effective Clock: 267MHz
-Bandwidth: 2133MB/s

So I'm guessing the real clock speed is 133 because that's the speed of what I've got in there right now, and if I buy more I should go for 267mhz clocked stuff?]

So it wont hurt my computer if it fits in the slot? So I'll have to ask, do you guys think it'd be better to put it in or not?

It could be 66mhz 16-bit RAM or it could be 100mhz at 64-bit (might even be 133, but I don't think so...although I think it's only 3 years old or so). So would it be beneficial to combine my 133mhz/64b with maybe a 100mhz/32b or 100mhz/64b stick. I do only have 256mb, so maybe the decrease in speed would be made up for by the increase in size (so I'd get the cool 384MB stuff going).

Thanks for help with the HDD stuff so far too, have to check my BIOS to make sure I can throw it in as a master. Another question on the HDD: Will I have to format it, or should it all be accessible when I plug it in and start it up?

...makes me wonder what drive letter it will have assigned, since it was a C: drive on that computer.

Jasp

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thanks for help with the HDD stuff so far too, have to check my BIOS to make sure I can throw it in as a master. Another question on the HDD: Will I have to format it, or should it all be accessible when I plug it in and start it up?

...makes me wonder what drive letter it will have assigned, since it was a C: drive on that computer.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The drive will either show up as E or D, and yes as long as it is allready formatted once either FAT32 or NTFS you will be able to access it, basically since you had it in you old windows 98 PC, it will be formatted to FAT32 and you should be able to access all the files you had on it before.

Emsee

<!--QuoteBegin-UltimaGecko+May 27 2004, 07:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (UltimaGecko @ May 27 2004, 07:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I know it's fairly new...this 128MB stick actually replaces an older 64MB stick from...Windows95 days. I'm not sure if it's SDRAM. Almost positive it would fit in one of my memory slots though. it's probably 100 or 133mhz though, probably a different...something that screws up my computer <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Assuming it literally just replaced the old win95 era ram (No MoBo changes ro anything) it will definatly be SD RAM and won't fit in you current motherboard. It may look like it will but the notch in pins will be in a different position so it wont fit.

Talesin

Yeah, it's about 95% likely that's SDRAM, which you can't use.

Also, the older styles (pre-dimm) of RAM were SIMMs and did need to be in matching pairs.. they came in 30 and 72-pin. I've got about three four-pound bags of the stuff. DIMMs are 168, and there are three keyings (so far) for DIMMs... SDR, DDR, and ECC-registered.

UltimaGecko

I tried to check it out, and the RAM is quite old, since it doesn't even fit properly into my RAM socket (maybe it's just the fact they're on the right side of the motherboard covered and obscured by IDE and power cables).

Then I ran into a slight problem trying to put the HDD in...It appears the only open IDE slot there is is a slave. I'm going to check my BIOS in a minute to see what's taking up the third cable, but I think it might be my graphics card or something (cable seemed to be going down there).

So, if all I have free is a slave posistion, how do I install the HDD that seems to be set to a master? I'd assume there's away to switch it over, but do I do it through the BIOS or do I need to physically change something on the HDD or something?

[edit]
BIOS says one master is my HDD and the other is my DVD-ROM drive, so all I have is two slaves open. So, could anyone tell me how to make the HDD a slave instead of a master?

UltimaGecko

Slight bit more information:

<img src='http://www.maxtor.com/_files/maxtor/en_us/images/general/documentation/jumper_settings/style_a1.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
This is what the Maxtor site specifies...and that seems all well and good, and I would be able to set it as a slave except for a small kink in the works: These all show one jumper and I have two. One vertically where the Master picture shows above, and another over the top J48 and J46 pins.

Should I remove one of the pins and just store it somewhere and then put the other in the storage (or slave - since the there's actually only one pin there, and it specifies on the site that the jumper isn't really connecting anything in the slave posistion) posistion...or am I missing something here?