Another dummy question...connecting 2 computers

[Shanty Oilish]

Make that capital D Dummy. Here's the problem:

I've got an old computer that does everything right except the drive where you put games doesn't work. I've got a new computer that keeps telling me it doesn't have something it needs to do Directx and run the kid's games. I've got a kid who can't live without her games.

Is there a way to breed these two computers and get a hybrid with the brains of the old one and the jaws of the young one? So we can play the game using the drive of the young computer and the Directx ability of the old one? Otherwise it's a couple of days' work learning to locate and download Directx (or whatever...some kind of "driver?") or buy a new drive for the old one and learn how to hook it up.

The old puter is a compaq with windows98, the young one is xp pro. If I have to do the download thing and fix the young one, what am I looking for? It has Directx already, for all the good it's doing.

TIA for anyone who can give me a %$&# clue here, and remember to go light on words invented after 1960.

[slackmaster]

1. Two ways to fix the problem

A) Put a new CD-ROM drive in your Windows 98 machine. They don't cost much and installation is simple - Find a friend who does computers if you don't want to tackle it yourself.

B) Windows updates on the XP Pro machine - That will result in a better game machine. Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and click on "Scan for Updates" to see what's available. The Critical Updates are extremely important for security. You should do those no matter what.

In the left frame under "Pick updates to install" is where you will find the Windows XP and Driver Updates. DirectX will probably be under Windows XP.

[lcordero]

2. go here and see if this works:

http://www.adventurecompanygames.com/tac/support/xpnotice.html

scroll down to section 3
Under section 3, find "Setting Windows 98/ME Compatibility Mode"

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. you should be able to download the directX drivers from

Microsoft's site.

But, I am thinking it could also be a hardware problem. If you don't have a directX compatible video card in the new machine, that is, it uses the Intel Extreme graphics chipset soldered to the board and not a separate PCI or AGP card, then you may not even be able to use the directX drivers.

There are some integrated chipsets that can process directX, Savage S3 is one of them.

What kind of computer is the new one? What does it have for a graphics processor?

[Shanty Oilish]

4. new puter is ibm celeron...graphics processor...

Gee, that's a good question. I will see if I can find that. :scared: I hate to go trolling around in the control panel!

[MojoKrunch]

6. More info needed, please.

Brand?
Amount of RAM.
Hard Drive size.
Celeron equiped computers tend to be on the low-end side of things, which means they probably skimped in other areas as well.
Many new MotherBoards come with built in Audio/Video and Networking and it is possible that the video system will not be able to run the game.

Oh, and what game(s) are you trying to run?

Graphics intensive shooters need much horsepower to run, these days.

To determine which version of DirectX you are running on the XP machine, type dxdiag in the Start/Run field.

The first tab "System" will tell you lots of info about your computer and down at the bottom will tell you which version of DirectX is on your machine.

If you were once able to play these games on the W98 computer follow the directions someone gave earlier for compatibility mode.
XP treats software differently from W9X and has to be told to do so with old games.

Two things, no matter what, Windows Update.
Use it faithfully.
You should have Service Pack 1a installed *minimum*.
It can be a long download, but it is a must.

Updated drivers.
Having an integrated motherboard with make this easier.
Just go to the manufacturers website and find the "support" section and look for "downloads".
Typically the driver updates are kept there.

If your computer came with a drivers CD you can check it for info and to see which version you have installed.

Good luck.

Mojo

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. go here

start/programs/accessories/system tools/system information

[Shanty Oilish]

5. here's the error message

InitDirectDraw0, pSPrimary CreateSurface0 - Unable to creat an DirectDraw surface. Game shutting down - DDERR_NODIRECTDRAWHW - A hardware only DirectDraw object creation was attempted but the driver did not support any hardware.

wtf does that mean? :shrug:

[frylock]

8. sounds like the graphics settings within the game need to be changed..

or that maybe the drivers for the video adapter itself are incorrect? Does the game have a graphics configuration utilty you can access without starting the game itself (usually found in the Start>Programs>'GAME'directory.) Configure the video settings for Direct3d (d3d) if it isn't already. Also, any DirectX drivers you may need to run the game are usually found on the game disc itself. There should be a directory on the game disc named DirectX or DX 8.1 (depending on when the game was developed, could be DX 8, or DX 9).

[No Passaran]

7. yeah...

...but it would cost you more to create a network than purchasing a new computer. why not just get a new cd-rom. it's cheap and download a new Directx. It's free.

[BigMcLargehuge]

10. switch 40 bucks + ethernet cables, 20 bucks = network

60 bucks isn't all that much, certainly less than a new computer.

[No Passaran]

11. yeah, but...

...you can clearly tell he can't do it by himself. Do you know how much they charge to install a network of pcs at home? More than a new computer that's for sure.

[BigMcLargehuge]

12. no.... it takes time, and patience.

the software that comes with the switch will do most of the work. Assuming both machines have ethernet cards, if not that's another 20 bucks, and they are plug/play so the only setup necessary is sticking them in the motherboard and retarting.

As for networking the machines, simple, share the HDs. Network Neighborhood in XP makes networking much easier.

Anyone who charges "a few hundred bucks" to set up a small home network is a theif, and anyone who pays it is being had.