An illustrated, step-by-step procedure of how I rebuilt an old 200Mhz computer into a working machine. Please note that I have also repaired numerous computers for Darren Coleman.

A donated computer, courtesy of my good friend Scott, was given to me. Starting with more than just a case and motherboard made the project a little easier.

Upon opening the case, it was revealed that this system was lacking RAM, a hard drive, and a modem, along with any external devices. Inventory at this point: case, power supply, motherboard, processor.

The first part I thought to replace was the missing RAM.

8 sticks of 32MB SDRAM, courtesy of eBay (The World's Largest Marketplace) item #2302929996, viewable for the next 90 days at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14914&item=2302929996&rd=1

Voila! (2) 32MB memory sticks inserted for a total system memory resource of 64MB SDRAM.

Next up, I decided to tackle the lack of communication device.

After pricing a modem at Wal-Mart, 29.73 retail, I talked again with Scott, he agreed to trade a working 56k modem for a few of the memory sticks. Apparently he thought they were undervalued at the 2.24 each that I paid for them. Also he has a room full of computers similar to this one. He decided to use the memory sticks to try and fix the other computers himself.

WHAMMO! Modem installed.

All that appeared to be left internally at this point was the space where a hard drive should have been.

Luckily, I happened to have a spare hard drive that I purchased from a semi-liquidation sale.

Hard drive installed.

Everything done in here.

Next up, external devices.

The external mouse and keyboard that I used previously for my laptop when it was stationed at my desk. Along with a monitor that was generously donated by a benevolent soul.

One operating system install later, and here we go, a working computer station!!!

Yes that's right, your eyes do not deceive you. Windows XP installed on a 200Mhz computer system. According to the Minimum Requirements for Windows XP, the system must have a 233Mhz processor, and a minimum of 64Mb of RAM. Just for giggles, I tried running the system on only 32MB of RAM to see if it was possible. The computer booted into the desktop, but was very slow and the screen went blank about every three minutes. Works fine just the way it was rebuilt though. In fact I used it to create this webpage.

Once the installation was complete, I began to configure the dial-up configuration for MichNet.

One internet configuration later, and we're off and surfing the web, designing a website to showcase this wonderfully completed project.