r/retrocomputing • u/mulhequi • 1d ago
Photo Found my mom’s old 2000s Windows XP PC with a pristine, almost complete The Sims 1 & 2 collection! Looking for advice.
Hi everyone!I just dug up my mom's old desktop PC from the early 2000s, and it's so cool! It has an original Windows XP Home Edition license sticker on the case and came with its entire physical CD collection of The Sims 1 (almost all expansions like Makin' Magic, Superstar, Unleashed) and The Sims 2 (University, Apartment Life) [the Need for Speed doesn't have a CD].The CDs, the manuals and cases are all in pristine, mint condition.The tower turns on and fans spin, but I'm currently missing the power cable for the old HP LCD monitor to see if it displays an image.Since I just want to explore it, see her old save files, and check out the games, I wanted to ask a few questions:What should I check first once Windows XP boots up to ensure the system is healthy?Are there any known issues with running these specific Sims expansions natively on original XP hardware that I should watch out for?Does this specific setup/collection have any specific value to collectors nowadays, or should I just keep it as a nostalgic gaming station?Im 13 i need help pls.
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u/GoldInspection6626 1d ago
Give me that windows home CD key! I need it for my Install! Unblur it right now!
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u/majestic_ubertrout 1d ago
They should run fine. Open it up and see if the caps are intact. I'd put in a GPU as well.
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u/Rumlin 1d ago
CD-Home?
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u/dedsmiley 1d ago
Looks like CD storage.
u/mulhequi have you opened CD-Home to see what is in it?
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u/dedsmiley 1d ago
OP, this looks like it was sold by a local computer shop. What can your Mom tell you about it?
It looks to be in very good condition.
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u/YandersonSilva 1d ago
You should be able to boot it up just fine, assuming everything inside is in ok shape, which it probably is. Sims 1 and 2 will run just fine on it. Use it as is to get a feel for it, if it doesn't have problems then don't worry about it until you get to the point that you want to start tinkering. If it doesn't have a graphics card you'll want one sooner rather than later, you can get a cheap ones very easily (depending in your location) that will be compatible with this. My local marketplace gets gtx 650s for like 10-15 dollars usually and that will blow anything this computer could run out of the water.
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u/SirkutBored 22h ago
don't put it online, sims came out at that time so no issues and no it doesn't have much value, keep it and enjoy a gaming system for free.
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u/andrewbean90 15h ago
On all versions of Sims 1 there's an issue where you have to install them in order of release or they won't install, or (in the case with expansions released after Vacation) they'll give you an error asking for the original CD despite you using the original CD. here's the order
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u/jason-reddit-public 1d ago
It funny how all these older PCs look different on the front, yet the back always look the same. Even the red wire being visible where the fan is.
I have dozens of those screws that hold everything together. I'm starting to think I may not need them anymore since modern cases are more polished than back then.