So you want to build a computer...

[Perd Hapley]

I'm told that updating BIOS is something scary, so I'll give it the first go with that machine.  My geek-fu is weak enough, that almost anything can be a learning experience.   

[RocketMan]

Updating a BIOS is only scary if something goes wrong.   

Seriously, make sure your floppy drive is clean and functional, and you use a good quality floppy disk if you go that route.  Not so much of a concern if you can do the update from a thumb drive.

Not mandatory, but it wouldn't hurt to put the system on a UPS if you have one, just in case the power decides to blip in the middle of the update.

[Uncle Bubba]

Crap.  I can't figure out which is cooler.  The cardboard computer or the computer with the StupidaPeripherals. 

The computer-in-a-cardboard-box, out and away. Visualizing that gave me the best laugh this week.

[Perd Hapley]

But visualize the cardboard computer with stupidamouse, stupidakeyboard and stupidamonitor. 

Rocketman: UPS, I has one.  I has two, actually. 

[Perd Hapley]

Not a bad way to go, fistful.  If it dies, you aren't out much.  And you might learn a few things about computers in the meantime.

And I have two other machines that I could probably upgrade with that Pentium I'm getting.

[Perd Hapley]

Well, the build-a-computer project may be pushed back even farther.  I just purchased a Dell GX620 for about one bill.  It has the good stuff I had been hankering for - a Gig of DDR2, 2.0 USB, with 6 in back and 2 in front.  2 USABLE ports in front, as opposed to these old Gateways and this old Dell with the funky grey door in front. 

It should be a good fit, because I already have the XP Pro install disk and drivers/utilities disk for this particular model.

Now, I'm just going to buy a student-license copy of MS Office, and some moar RAMs for these old machines, and maybe a spare monitor, and this outbreak of computer stuff-getting will probably subside for a while.