[mitchshrader]

Computer buyers are in great numbers uninformed. Computer sellers *often* take advantage of this to increase profits and sell what they have on hand, rather than tailor the machines configuration to the users needs.

This isn't always the case, and no offense to small builders (I'm one) nor to those who carefully thought out their purchase and did necessary research on performance ratings, price versus value, and life expectancy of components.

For those who need a PC (or will soon) and don't expect it to have an apple on the case or Linux inside.. a few tips.

GET A FULL OS INSTALL DISC. If you don't own one, and can't get one from your seller, reconsider the deal. A full install disc of your preferred Operating System is only important when you need it. Rare. But when you DO need it, nothing else will do.

Get enough ram. 256 isn't. 512 might be. 1024 megs is Very Nice if you game or do large photography editing, and near mandatory for video edits.

Get as much graphics card/chip as you MAY need. Don't try to do gaming or video editing with onboard graphics unless you have the patience of a saint.

Get a second hard drive, and make both fast enough, and large enough, and most likely identical, unless you are certain why not.

Partition your hard drives. Put the OS on *enough* space, and the data you accumulate on a separate partition. This protects it in the event you must format the operating system partition. Partitioning is done at the original install, and is a bit of insurance that costs nothing, and might someday save years of accumulated work.

STRONGLY consider a dual install of the operating system, on the 2nd hard disc. AND, then boot TO that disc, default. Why? Because any trouble you may EVER have, with drivers, virus infections, corrupt files in the OS, or even the physical hard drive itself, can be diagnosed, repaired, or copied over easily from the Other hard drive nearly always, nearly instantly, and with a pure minimum of stress. Even a warranty return of the drive, for replacement, is relatively painless if you've got another already in place, and your data copied over.

Strongly consider a DVD R/W as a primary drive. They are under 100$ at present for 8X, and media is inexpensive (per gig of data). This makes backing up files fast, simple, and effective.

Lest all this seem like a huge expense, be aware that save for RAM, component prices are at an all time low for performance versus price. And even RAM is cheap compared to prices 2-3 years ago.

One can purchase (In the US) a midgrade or higher machine, with dual drives, and operating system, AND a DVD R/W, WITH a gig of ram, for under 1000$. Add a good gamers graphics card, if desired, and the price is still perhaps 1200$.

Cheap. Not *very* cheap, to be sure, but a solid machine that should give minimal trouble for 2-5 years, depending on useage and your habits.

That's a fair guesstimate of US pricing on non-cutting edge, but good quality and warranty, hardware. Now about your software..

Many useful programs are free. There is no reason to be impressed with the software 'bundle' that often is less useful to you than to the seller.

A few of the free programs that are Very Useful, are: XenTweak, which will allow you to custom configure the Operating System to your tastes; MBM5, a computer hardware gauge that allows you to monitor temperature and fan speeds; AVG, one of the better anti-virus scanners; and dozens if not hundreds of desktop utilities for everything from identifying media types, to office software, to specialty printing programs. Software for MOST common tasks is free if you'll look for it.

Equally, read ratings. Not all programs are created equal; not all programs play nice together. Find out, before you install a 'new thing' what it's downside may be. Does it require you to allow advertising? Did you just agree to be spammed forever, or worse, turn your desktop into an unending procession of pop-up ads?

There is no need to install aggravation. Find out, from informed sources, what works.

If there's one single bit of advice for those who havn't purchased YET but are going to soon, it's READ! Nearly all the information it takes to make a good decision is on the web. The part that isn't is YOUR desires, and the best way to accomplish them.

Remember that any tool must fit the task. Select the one that does the job you want it to.

This post has been edited by mitchshrader: 15 May 2004 - 08:51 PM

[ITeachComputer]

Fantastic MITCH..............

Super information!

[Mike]

Pinning and moving to the PC forum

[Nick]

mitchshrader, on May 15 2004, 09:43 PM, said:

GET A FULL OS INSTALL DISC. If you don't own one, and can't get one from your seller, reconsider the deal. A full install disc of your preferred Operating System is only important when you need it. Rare. But when you DO need it, nothing else will do.

This I think is perhaps the most important, yet it is becoming more difficult to do. HP, Compaq, and others are using the "application recovery CD's" more now. I got an HP back in 2000 and didn't know much about computers and didn't even realize I wasn't getting a Windows Cd until much later. Now, 4 years later, I can revert my computer to how it was on July 1, 2000. That part isn't too bad, but what is really annoying is it also installs all of the garbage like the ads for various ISP's that don't exist anymore like Erols and Prodigy, and I can get AOL 5.0 right off of the HP disc too. The worst part is it reinstall McSfee something or another as my antivirus, then has the gall to tell me to update. I haven't used McAfee in 3 years, so I need to purge it from my system. Then there's the hidden partition...

Anyways, it seems that you need to build your own to get a real Windows OS disc. these days.

[dave38]

Quote

HP, Compaq, and others are using the "application recovery CD's" more now.

.

I don't think that ANY of the "off the shelf" PCs now come with a real OS disk. They are all image installs with a recovery CD. I challenged this at one local store, and was told that they had to do it that way - MicroShaft insisted as part of the license! And they could not sell a computer without an OS either! Agreed, the cretin behind the counter was completely baffled by the idea of a computer wothout windows, as "it won't do anything! You must have windows to run anything!"

[Gwyrox732]

"it won't do anything! You must have windows to run anything!" hehehe, priceless.

But I do have one thing to add to your excellent post, Mitch. I know a few years ago it was a rising trend to not allow upgrading parts (Compaq IPaq and those kinds of things where they only let you add more RAM). I'm not sure if this is still the case, but just be sure that you can upgrade your machine if need be.

[wawadave]

hello
a full install cd is vary necessary if you have xp. the only way you can do sfc /scannow and a repair install. and a few others.
i think that was good advice for the newbies. link nick i got stuck with windows m.e 4 years ago. and recovery cd,s.i got norton ghost so that helped alot. and got a xphome upgrade cd and now duel boot gave me the full install with out a qualifying cd only route to go. the back up hard drive is good advice. got ghost images on it allso.
jmho

[Archon_Wing]

So what do we do if we do want a real OS CD?

[samiam758]

buy a dell! they come with full os cds. They only install on your computer, but other then that, its great.

[Gwyrox732]

just curious as I don't own a dell: do those full os cds also reinstall the bl0atware computers inevitbly come with.

[Trilobite]

My two cents:

Many of the newer computers do not come with a floppy drive, however many programs still require this antiquated device.
Spend the extra $10-$15 and get the floppy drive.

Stay away from stores like ‘BestBuy’ where many of the computer salespeople are pushy and rather ignorant about computers.

Code

just curious as I don't own a dell: do those full os cds also reinstall the bl0atware computers inevitbly come with.

No, the OS is on one CD. The 'bloat' is on other disks that you do not need to install.

[Tuxedo Jack]

CompUSA is quite nice for FDDs, as is Fry's. However, you can always order them online and spare yourself the trouble.

http://www.newegg.com

If worse comes to worse on the full install CDs, you can go to Fry's, buy a cable or an FDD, and then ask for an OEM copy of Windows. They only sell those to people who buy hardware. Note that they only sell Windows 2000 and XP Home/Pro. No 98SE/ME there.

Also, if you want a good, cheap PC, take your neighborhood geek with you. For a little extra, s/he can custom-build you a good one for a pretty cheap price. They also generally provide copies of software that you might want/need - freeware only, though, in keeping with copyright laws. *Whistles nervously* Nothing to see here, move along to the next post.

This post has been edited by Tuxedo Jack: 17 May 2004 - 03:02 AM

[VashonDude]

Nick, on May 16 2004, 02:27 AM, said:

HP, Compaq, and others are using the "application recovery CD's" more now.

My dad's computer (a HP) doesn't even have a recovery CD. The "recovery" is on a hidden partition of the hard drvie.

Recovery CDs go back as far as 1995. My 1'st computer (NEC Ready 7510) had one.

-- LB

[JRosenfeld]

Gwyrox732,

Dell XP disk is just that, XP, with SP1 or SP1a nowadays, (not further updates unfortunately). Dell 'bloatware' and other apps (AV software, DVD player etc.) as well as drivers come on separate CDs.