Man do I know how you feel. I forget how long I went without one, your situation and mine...not too different. Here's what I can do, I have an XP disk with the key. I can mail that to you no problem but it probably wouldn't be until the end of the month. I also have Win 7 Pro but the key was lost somehow. With that you can contact Microsoft for a new key but without a rig it would do you little good  My suggestion would be to find a place where they sell refurbished machines. Sorry Kona but as far as hardware or finances I am not in any position to do either of those. I just qualified for LIHEAP which is a program that helps people with little or no income to pay utility bills. Before that I had to sell my food stamps. Fortunately I only did that one time. Now I'm hoping you live somewhere in the US. If not well...I don't what to say. I have an old Dell laptop someone gave me but the hard drive is toast and so is the battery and charging cord. That wouldn't do you any good. Before I fell into my situation helping out would have been a no brainer. It would have been done in a heartbeat, no questions asked. It bothers me to see people doing without and it pisses me off that I can't do that anymore. I wish you the best of luck Kona.

thanks for the answer. seems the concept for "being in need" in your country differs a lot from mine.

real advice: throw that computer of yours in the trash. do a little research on how to mod your XBOX. after all it's another full pc when you unlock it. Chinese Androird tablets or used computers can be purchased for as little as $50. now i know that wages in the US are poor, but it can't be more than one or two days of work.

i wish i was in a position to help Kona.... im sorry I am not.

I truly hope you get what you need.

I agree with Starkers.. unless you have walked in the persons shoes.. you know NOTHING of their situation.

Everyone's circumstance is different.

An open heart is a beautiful thing.

Starkers is in Australia, as am I.

Shipping an old CRT to the US would be about the same as buying just about anything in the US better than Kona's P4.

False economy.

Believe it or not, however...I know of people in worse position and in worse health who are also contributing and active members of the site.

No-one is made of money.  Each person has his/her own issues of Real Life to contend with...but we do what we can...where it will help best.

In my 'real world' a person's computer's inability to run whatever OS quick/well enough is NOT an earth-shattering drama of significance.

However,

If someone has something spare...AND the cost [to them] isn't prohibitive...then do what you can.  I'm sure Kona will be grateful....;)

Question......the laptop given me is Vista ready. Can it run Win 7? Kona.....the Win 7 Pro is yours if you want it. Best I can do.

I’m proud to be a member in a community with people like you!

Just a couple of things but I need to answer this first....

Uvah, there are programs that when installed will find that for you... here, there's a handful of 'em over a majorgeeks.

Moshi, I am not at liberty to discuss them, but the circumstances in kona's home are not always conducive to sharing computers... independent needs, homework, etc, etc.  There's more to it than that, but like I said, I can't discuss it.  As for a $50 Chinese Android or 2nd-hand PC, well that'd be alright if kona had one or two days work and/or 50 bucks that didn't have to go on food, rent, utilities, living expenses.  It's okay to offer solutions, but he has to have the means to carry them out.  Now your thought as to modding his X-Box, that might just be of help, and if you were to offer support/assistance in that endeavour it would be much appreciated, by kona and myself.

Thanks Kitty, I value your support here, it's much appreciated. 

Now the thing is, people, I haven't walked in kona's shoes for even half a mile, but I've walked in similar shoes and for different reasons, so I do sympathise because I know what it is to be sleep deprived for prolonged periods; what it's like to suffer with depression and anxiety issues; what it's like to feel hopelessness and like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. 

Since my last post here, kona has given me permission to provide a little more detail regarding his health problems, and the comment immediately above sort of indicates what they are.  First off he suffers with sleep apnea and can go for weeks on end with such little sleep it affects his mental state and he becomes constantly depressed, withdrawn, anxious and totally frustrated. Now this has a negative effect on his family, as you could well imagine, it's not easy to live with, so often he feels alone, unloved, unneeded.  Try living with that people.

Yes, there are treatments for his condition, but kona has 2 problems with that. One, he doesn't have any money or medical insurance; and two, he has a phobia/fear of doctors and medical procedures. I know this because he showed me a strong reluctance when I suggested there were ways he could obtain the treatment for free.  So it's not just an issue of money or insurance, it's dragging himself there and actually going through with it... and then there's the ongoing cost of medication, which we all know isn't cheap.

To put it in a nutshell, kona is in a Catch 22... damned if he doesn't go to the doctor, and damned by fear if he does. So before anyone condemns, criticises or call him a fuckwit again, walk a mile in those shoes and see if you feel the same way.

Oh, and if anybody thinks it was easy for kona to ask for help here, let me assure you it wasn't. Despite everything, kona is proud and doesn't like asking for charity. In fact, he might even have a fear, shame, phobia about it, and the fear of refusal/rejection must be horrendous, so instead of thinking ill of the man let's show some compassion here and try to help him, please.

Indeed... and I would have except that 48 hrs. before the OP was posted, I promised my old laptop to another member in dire need. I'm sorry, kona. I wish I could have helped more.

Perhaps bending that "rule" might help for the short term might ease your plight a bit?

This is bringing tears to my eyes so..............I'm gonna do something! What was done me for by RedneckDude, bless his heart.

If you have an AM2 socket motherboard that you could afford to post to the US, I have the corresponding CPU, then all he'd need is a stock cooler, which surely somebody in the US has a spare of laying around.  I'd send one myself, but I recently posted a HDD and a stick of RAM to the US that cost me just shy of 50 bucks, and a CPU cooler would cost me similarly, so it wouldn't be cost effective for a mere ten dollar item.

I'm more than happy to send the CPU, though.  If you could provide the motherboard then a large part of the problem is solved.

And I got the Win 7 Pro. I just gotta find some stuff and its a done deal.

Yum!

i am really not sure wether this will help in the long run.

when i was in need, i had troubles buying enough rice and noodles to survive, problems like one of three computers in the house not working still is  petty stuff to me.

by donating some computer parts or money you will just make somebody feel comfortable in the current situation. while there is a real need to come out of the basement and find an additional source of income right now.

if that doesn't happen and everything stays as it is, the family will be unprepared for the bigger impacts (and those will happen) like the car or laundry machine breaking, medical bills, etc.

of course a medical condition like that might disqualify for a regular job. there are still other options like manufacturing from home, moving lawns, etc. (and no, hoping that somebody pays you for fixing his computer does not count)

as for modding the XBOX, what to do depends on what version it is. you could even get an internet browser on an XBOX 360 without any modding. 

From what I read of the specs you posted, you could get by with something like this. http://compare.ebay.com/like/271130472416?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar It is a hyperthreaded P4, which in effect would be almost as good as a dual core. It would be a drop in and go upgrade and the cheapest way to improve upon what you have.

Moshi just can't get a clue.

I'm doing all I can to find work. Full time, part time, temporary. Problem is with my bad job history and bad references from previous employers topped off with this bad economy. It's hit my neck of the woods pretty hard.

Good thing we don't have a car or laundry machines.

I'm exploring all of my options, trust me.

Yes I know. However the computer handles the internet far better and my other programs I use on a day to day basis. As for modding the Xbox at this point I can't do that. Still under warranty.

Attacking someone posting in an open forum is way out of line for someone looking for help. Telling us, Moshi just can't get a clue. People can not walk in your shoes either unless they know what shoes you wear.

It seems you have a reason for all your problems, but the reasons keep changing according to what is said here. First your disabled, then you are out of work due to employment history and job scarcity. You have nothing, yet, you have an xbox under warranty still, must be fairly new. I think if you were a little more forthcoming with some info , others may relate to the situation better, and not be so critical. 

I have free stuff I could send, or maybe the paypal help, but you seem not to want to do anything to help others help you.

Teddy Bearchola offered and all you had to do is say, how about someone else use their paypal to purchase and have it shipped to you. Lots of ways , but you can not just sit back and wait like you appear to be doing and have done for years. If you truly want help, be honest, quit changing your reasons and let those who want to help form their own opinion of your needs, you can not form it for them by twisting words. You also mentioned a girlfriend, She must be a saint to support you for so long.

 AS for Starkers. you just bought some space rig and windows eight,with like 50 gig of ram, obviously you are doing well, does not mean the rest of the world has what you have to offer, so wear our shoes.

So much for staying out of trouble I guess. But, if you do not push me further away Kona, and others get something started, I am on board to try to help. I am not a bastard, but not a sap either. We all live different, ain't a crime, but be upfront with people.

If you haven't done that in a couple of years and the machine is fundamentally sound, you might give that a whirl.  Did wonders for my old P4.  Of course it won't help the monitor or dvd but it might get you another year on the machine, a decent chunk of time in the computer world.

Edit/Clarification:  I'm referring to a fresh re-install of XP.  I was a little vague there.

I'm not being mean, or trolling, or what have you.

Anything spent on that rig is wasted money/parts/etc.

It isn't worth upgrading, it needs replacing.

Actually it's a mix of all of that. I am mentally disabled. I suffer from ADD, ADHD, severe depression, sudden mood swings. And yes I have a bad job history, bad references, and jobs are scarce. The Xbox is not mine. I didn't buy it. I just use it. Does that clear that up for you? What else did you need me to clear up? I will answer what questions I can.

As soon as I win the lottery I will do just that. Until then upgrading is the only thing I can do. Sorry.

Ok...now I are confused! Are you talking to yourself?

Was quoting me for emphasis. I was afraid I may have came across as harsh earlier.

My point is, I know Kona can't afford to replace his rig. But at the same time, to spend time, effort, and money on the one he has is a wasted effort because no matter what you add to that rig, it's going to be a slow, slug of a machine, no matter what.

If Someone were to have something to share or help with.

Where would it need to be shipped?

Just a general idea so one can estimate shipping costs.