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Came across an old computer

gmaesplayer
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Clean it and re apply thermal paste ( you could have a look at my guide on cleaning smoke damaged PCs the same would apply to yours ) then test windows again (also check all ram and expansion cards are seated properly) if windows doesn't work try Linux if that doesn't work then it is knackered (the problem would be the motherboard) are there any leaking capacitors or any visibly damaged parts in the PC ?

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It's a really old HDD, it's not compatible with mine-just tried.

 

Probably IDE then. You can get adapters for IDE to SATA or IDE to USB from computer stores. But I'd also recommend using live-CD to resque any files and then installing Linux on it if you want to keep using it.

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Turn it on and hit F8 over and over until you get the boot menu, select Safe Mode, profit.

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It's a really old HDD, it's not compatible with mine-just tried.

 

 

you can get an ATA (IDE/PATA) to USB adapter if you really want to know whats on it - theyre about $15

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Clean it and re apply thermal paste ( you could have a look at my guide on cleaning smoke damaged PCs the same would apply to yours ) then test windows again (also check all ram and expansion cards are seated properly) if windows doesn't work try Linux if that doesn't work then it is knackered (the problem would be the motherboard) are there any leaking capacitors or any visibly damaged parts in the PC ?

I can't figure out how to take off the heat sink-it looks like the computer was a pre-built and parts weren't meant to be replaced

"Do as I say, not as I do." 

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I can't figure out how to take off the heat sink-it looks like the computer was a pre-built and parts weren't meant to be replaced

Can you post a picture of the CPU cooler?

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I can only think of a few systems that had integrated CPUs so the likely hood is this on has got a removable heatsink just post a picture and someone will help you

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Can you post a picture of the CPU cooler?

I'll try to tonight.

"Do as I say, not as I do." 

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If it has a USB port create a bootable usb from some linux distro or something and poke around.

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I got the Universal USB Installer and selected Ubuntu,but what is a ubuntu*desktop*.iso?

You need to download a Linux disk image to load onto the flash drive.

 

Ubuntu is a very user friendly and easy to use distro, download it here. Get the 32 bit version as that Win XP computer probably doesn't have a 64 bit processor.

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right if it has a p4 then it wont be integrated (never seen one intergrated myself) so there will either be a few screws holding the heatsink onto the cpu or there will be some retaining arm tabs both are easy to remove , at worst if you cant remove the cpu and it has retaining arm tabs then you can pry at them with small slotted screwdriver just be careful not to damage anything 

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