Old Dell running Windows XP

I am helping out a good friend of mine with his old Dell desktop OptiPlex GX270 .  He owns a fabrication shop and uses MS Works 4.0 and being he is almost 70 he don't want to change things. 

His problem now is the computer won't boot.  I opened it up to and saw the problem right away.  Leaking capacitor's is what I found .  More than one.

My question is if I were to find a motherboard on ebay that is the same as this one will I get a blue screen after I replace it ?  

Seems like I remember that XP would throw the blue screen at you if you changed things like the motherboard especially if not 100 % the same. 

Thoughts ?  I know its an old PC but he only uses it for that one program and he knows how it works. 

Edited by mrdillon, 27 June 2024 - 10:36 PM.

I don't like being pessimistic but I wouldn't put the chances of this working at better than 30 - 50%

If you can obtain a mobo that is the same version number as the existing one then your chances go  up but MS always regarded a change of mobo as a new computer and required a new Windows licence. It may well work without authentication but I don't know.

Have you considered replacing the capacitors ?  This does require that you are at least reasonably competent with a soldering iron but it is not an impossible task but you do need to ensure that you fit the replacements in the correct orientation. Electrolytic capacitors are polarity conscious if put in the wrong way round they will fail almost instantaneously, failure including the possibility of exploding !  This is the voice of experience, just don't ask !

Another possibility would be to consider buying a working computer running XP and installing Works on that. This does assume that he still has the installer but  you may be able to download Works 4.0 from the Internet Archive if he doesn't. This would probably be the easiest solution.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

Chris Cosgrove

I don't like being pessimistic but I wouldn't put the chances of this working at better than 30 - 50%

 

If you can obtain a mobo that is the same version number as the existing one then your chances go  up but MS always regarded a change of mobo as a new computer and required a new Windows licence. It may well work without authentication but I don't know.

 

Have you considered replacing the capacitors ?  This does require that you are at least reasonably competent with a soldering iron but it is not an impossible task but you do need to ensure that you fit the replacements in the correct orientation. Electrolytic capacitors are polarity conscious if put in the wrong way round they will fail almost instantaneously, failure including the possibility of exploding !  This is the voice of experience, just don't ask !

 

Another possibility would be to consider buying a working computer running XP and installing Works on that. This does assume that he still has the installer but  you may be able to download Works 4.0 from the Internet Archive if he doesn't. This would probably be the easiest solution.

 

Sorry I can't be more positive.

 

Chris Cosgrove

Thanks Chris.  I appreciate your reply.

I could replace the capacitors if I could find the correct ones .  I know of at least three that are leaking and one looks to be blown out on top.

I do understand installing them the wrong way would fry one but thanks for reminding me as I am old now and do make more mistakes. lol

I have an older PC running windows xp I could give him but not sure if I could get the MS Works data files off his hard drive.  I have an adapter where I can connect it to one of my PC's so maybe there is a chance I could fetch them.  

I may still have the MS Works CD but not sure where I put it.  I never threw much away over the last 20 plus years. 

Tom

Hi,

If you find a similar motherboard it should work, just boot the first time in safe mode (press F8 during boot) to let Windows XP adjusts for the new hardware.

Thanks.  So far I haven't found a board yet but I will continue to look as this does look like the easiest way.   Thanks for the reminder on pressing F8. Its been a while since I worked on PC's but I still can do it.   

Here are some numbers I found on the board .

DS/N CN-0Y1057-69861-396-3C12

The computer is a Dell OptiPlex GX270 which is sort of old     I installed a P/S from another Dell similar to it ten years ago   My sharpie info is written on it

Thanks again for your help on this.  I will continue to look and try and decide the best way to get him back going.  Tom

It seems that could be difficult to find a working motherboard because of this!
https://youtu.be/8g-qSdMIFFQ?t=329

I'm sliding in here with an idea, which could be stupid, but might just work.

You need to look for an old, previously owned, PC with Works already installed. Junk Shops, Sunday Markets, Garage sales, whatever. It's version of Windows is probably unimportant, so long as the PC has a USB Socket.

Then, all you would need to do, would be to take the HDD out of the present one, and stick it in an enclosure, which are pretty cheap these days, and transfer the files.

Edited by wee-eddie, 28 June 2024 - 10:02 AM.

It seems that could be difficult to find a working motherboard because of this!
https://youtu.be/8g-qSdMIFFQ?t=329

I agree.  I do remember many of these Dell computers having leaking capacitor's and finding a used one without that issue would be next to impossible.  I think my next move is just giving him an old laptop I have and then trying to find MS works 4.0.  I have the adapter to where I can get those files needed from his HD. Thanks

I'm sliding in here with an idea, which could be stupid, but might just work.

 

You need to look for an old, previously owned, PC with Works already installed. Junk Shops, Sunday Markets, Garage sales, whatever. It's version of Windows is probably unimportant, so long as the PC has a USB Socket.

 

Then, all you would need to do, would be to take the HDD out of the present one, and stick it in an enclosure, which are pretty cheap these days, and transfer the files.

  I listen to all suggestions and I appreciate your post.  Your idea would be great except finding something around where I live would be next to impossible .  I have old laptops and desktops as I normally don't throw things away plus I have a place to keep them in.   I have a laptop that I think might work for him.  Good HD in it .  Now to locate my MS Works 4.0.    I have the adapter to where I can get his file to the laptop.  I hope anyway.   Thanks

Can you provide us with a service tag number?

I can

HW0X261

I do not know the visual differences between MS Works 4 and MS Works 9 but I would try 9 for this user.

I have used it for a couple of clients.

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/microsoft-works-free-download-win10-11.html

Thank you ill look at it when I'm on my desktop the mobile Dell site sucks

Thanks

I do not know the visual differences between MS Works 4 and MS Works 9 but I would try 9 for this user.

I have used it for a couple of clients.

 

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/microsoft-works-free-download-win10-11.html

I may give this a go this weekend on one of older laptops.  What extension files do I need to back up when I slave his hard drive ?  Thanks