The big discount computer stores will sell great computers, such as HP models that are blazingly fast, for as little as $440-- that's what we did for our adult son who desperately needed a new system; NOTHING WORKS ON OLDER, SLOW systems like you have, my friend. Just face the hard, cruel facts, and beg, borrow, and get a new system. The one I quoted above is 17" monitor included, Windows-XP oper. system, a nice assort, of software, 256k RAM, 40Gigabyte HARDdrive, and a warranty from a company that will be around to back it up, Hewlett- Packard.
HTH
Forgive me for saying "NOTHING"...a slip of the tongue!! Sorry. I hope the meaning is caught. I meant to say anything new that is developed and tested on the unsuspecting public, almost never works on the older systems... I do have a few of them; can never part with them either. hehe! The new Pentium III and IV are groovy, man...sayeth Mr. Flapdoodle, cheers!