Win ME PC Problem

[parttimetechie]

Hey all,

I just got a Win ME computer getting the error "Warning, system is dangerously low in resources"

According to the customer, this PC was working fine for the last few years and just developed this problem. It can not connect to the internet and is a Celleron processor with 128 MB ram.

I am not even sure where to begin, as ME does not have a task manager to show RAM and CPU useage.

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[dk99]

Hey all,

I just got a Win ME computer getting the error "Warning, system is dangerously low in resources"

According to the customer, this PC was working fine for the last few years and just developed this problem. It can not connect to the internet and is a Celleron processor with 128 MB ram.

I am not even sure where to begin, as ME does not have a task manager to show RAM and CPU useage.

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Thanks

I refuse any computer with an O.S. older than windows xp but that's just me.
If I was you I would tell them its time to upgrade. buy a big brand or have you build them one. its just not worth charging them to fix it.

 

[Martyn]

I refuse any computer with an O.S. older than windows xp but that's just me.
If I was you I would tell them its time to upgrade. buy a big brand or have you build them one. its just not worth charging them to fix it.

It's not just you Microsoft stopped supporting it in 2006, good enough for me.

 

[TopLevelComp]

Windows ME - Problem isolated.

 

[parttimetechie]

Unfortunately, its not cost effective to build a new computer. There has to be a reason for why the PC is out of memory, anyone have an idea what that is?

 

[Martyn]

Just Google Windows ME task manager and download one

 

[ajc196]

128MB is just not a lot. So there's probably too much starting up on boot and maxing out all the RAM the system has. Try knocking off some unneeded apps from startup in MSCONFIG.

I guess you could always offer to wipe the system out completely and put something like Ubuntu 8.10 on it. Maybe 7, I think 8 may even be too heavy for that. That's the only feasible way I can see of making something THAT old and underpowered useful without any physical upgrades like RAM and a new HDD. Fixing Windows ME as-is will be too much trouble and wasted time in the long run.

 

[dk99]

Unfortunately, its not cost effective to build a new computer. There has to be a reason for why the PC is out of memory, anyone have an idea what that is?

Have you tried running any diagnostics like memtest or (S.I.W) System information for windows just open S.I.W and click on tools go down to cpu and memory usage....

If it's not cost effective to build a new one maybe find a used one in good shape.
its not safe to run windows M.E. on the internet you can't update it and no anti virus supports it.

 

[red12049]

Hey all,

I just got a Win ME computer getting the error "Warning, system is dangerously low in resources"

According to the customer, this PC was working fine for the last few years and just developed this problem. It can not connect to the internet and is a Celleron processor with 128 MB ram.

I am not even sure where to begin, as ME does not have a task manager to show RAM and CPU useage.

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Thanks

Good on you for taking that job. Usually a hanging program causes that. Try diagnostic startup and see what happens.

To those saying that it is too "dangerous" to put a ME machine on the internet, how many virus infested XP, Vista, and 7 boxes did you work on this week? Is it too dangerous for them also?

Rick

 

[dk99]

Good on you for taking that job. Usually a hanging program causes that. Try diagnostic startup and see what happens.

To those saying that it is too "dangerous" to put a ME machine on the internet, how many virus infested XP, Vista, and 7 boxes did you work on this week? Is it too dangerous for them also?

Rick

Depending on his prices charging a customer to fix a computer that old in my opinion is a waist. I have seen a lot of virus infested machines in this week but at least xp / vista / 7 have some sort of protection and can be updated to further keep them safe.

 

[red12049]

Depending on his prices charging a customer to fix a computer that old in my opinion is a waist. I have seen a lot of virus infested machines in this week but at least xp / vista / 7 have some sort of protection and can be updated to further keep them safe.

Those prices are between the customer and the tech. If both agree, then no harm, no foul. I'm upgrading a machine this week from 3.1 to ME. That's what the customer wants. I've talked to him about a new machine, new or refurb, and he isn't interested. Should I refuse his work?

Rick

 

[seedubya]

To answer your question, it sounds like the swap file is too small, maybe the hdd is full or close to?

 

[ajc196]

As long as he understands what you're thinking but probably not saying because it'd be rude --- "Don't bring it back whining and crying when it breaks again".

If he can agree to that once said in nicer terms, there's no reason at all to decline the job.

 

[parttimetechie]

Wow, some interesting ideas on here.

Turns out MS Word was haning due to a normal template file.

Using this guide here fixed the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307814

I try not to work on ME machines if I can help it because it IS so old, but luckily I knew it couldn't go online so no viruses, hard drive was not full. Nice to know it was this easy.

 

[vdub12]

Those prices are between the customer and the tech. If both agree, then no harm, no foul. I'm upgrading a machine this week from 3.1 to ME. That's what the customer wants. I've talked to him about a new machine, new or refurb, and he isn't interested. Should I refuse his work?

Rick

The only way you are going to doing an upgrade like that is if your using pirated software. There is no way to get a Windows ME license anymore.

I have a few customers that still use 98 and one customer that has a Windows 3.1 computer. The ones that I have supported have no Internet access and are just used for a specific application. Most of the Windows 98 systems I have replaced with virtualbox and the one 3.1 system is still cluging away.

I agree though there is no way I would let anyone those operating systems get on line.

 

[red12049]

The only way you are going to doing an upgrade like that is if your using pirated software. There is no way to get a Windows ME license anymore.

I have a few customers that still use 98 and one customer that has a Windows 3.1 computer. The ones that I have supported have no Internet access and are just used for a specific application. Most of the Windows 98 systems I have replaced with virtualbox and the one 3.1 system is still cluging away.

I agree though there is no way I would let anyone those operating systems get on line.

Jeez VDub, give a guy a break! I happen to have two machines here (old, small case HP's) with ME stickers, running AND an unopened ME install CD with sticker. No pirating.

This particular machine will not be on the internet, the customer has years of medical and financial records, most done in WP6. I'm saving all that, and have already confirmed that WP6 will run on the new(?) machine.

Rick

 

[ajc196]

Last time I had someone bring in a Windows 2000 machine with dozens of viruses, driver issues, etc.... The guy said he had absolutely nothing on the machine to be saved, and he only needed a web browser and Word. I loaded gOS onto it, and he loved it! Firefox and OpenOffice served him well.

 

[red12049]

Last time I had someone bring in a Windows 2000 machine with dozens of viruses, driver issues, etc.... The guy said he had absolutely nothing on the machine to be saved, and he only needed a web browser and Word. I loaded gOS onto it, and he loved it! Firefox and OpenOffice served him well.

I've tried similar many times over the years. Invariably, within a month, I get a call about some program the customer bought from WalMart, or was given, or whatever. Else it's a printer. I gave up.

Rick

 

[Xander]

Which is exactly while I'll probably never recommend linux to a customer: They want to actually be able to do things with their computer. Whether it's printing, or installing that game they bought in the bargain bin at Walmart, there's no way I'm taking the time necessary to teach them how to use Wine or tell them that they've got one of hundreds of printers that there aren't drivers for.

Back on topic, IIRC, the key for Win 9x/ME is much more accessible than it is on XP>7. There'd be a decent chance you could extract the old key for the reinstall.

 

[ajc196]

It's abandonware at this point anyway, and never did use activation to begin with. Ahhh, the good ol' days.

If I ever do need to reinstall ME, I have one key in my bag that I use if one is not available.