The Best Way to Buy a PC?

Author	Post
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 12:36PM I've had my current computer for around 5 years. I had it assembled by Gateway to spec -- but, because I know almost zero about computers, "spec" meant, roughly, that I described to the sales person my intended uses and she picked the components. Presumably, she chose a CPU, optical drives, memory, sound and video cards, etc. based upon the deals that Gateway had at the time with outside component vendors. My current computer is built around a Pentium 4 processor, 1.40 GHz, with 768 MB of RAM. It has an NEC CD-RW drive and a Matsushita DVD-Rom drive. It seems slow and freezes with annoying regularity. This despite the fact that I regularly use Webroot Window Washer and Norton Cleanup to keep the computer running more efficiently. Am I better off up-grading my existing PC (if so, how?) or buying a new one. If I buy new, should I purchase it retail "off-the-rack", or have a brand-name computer company assemble it for me, or purchase a "clone" built to spec? I have started doing some research on components, so I won't be as hapless as the last time. Any and all advice would be appreciated. [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 1:38PM Apple Obsessed Kitty said lots of things. What do you use it for? If we're just talking web, mail, word processing and spreadsheets, those specs should easily be more than enough, even with older bus speeds. Unless the thing is broken, it might just be time to clean it up and re-install Windows. Click to expand They now recommend a fresh install of windows every year or so. More often if you download lots of files online. If you have never done this after five years, then your computer definitely needs a refresher. Just backup everything and reistall windows. I bet your speeds dramatically increase after this. Windows bloats very quickly. Edited by - redish on 9/1/2006 5:54:01 PM [Link]
Redish Poetic Moderator Long and Cursive road to the Ivory Pagoda in the province of Loraine 4076 Posts 12/03	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 5:55PM Whoops !!! I edited Kperv's post instead of quoting it. I am so sorry. Can you repost Kperv? Damnit, too many beers on Friday, or is it not enough? [Link]
PL Senior Member God hates us all, you know it's true, God hates this place. - Slayer 1726 Posts 10/03	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 6:15PM I agree, a format and reinstall every year is good, it's a MUST in my book - LOL, I format and reinstall ever 3 - 6 months That rig sounds fine, assuming you do normal things like surf and watch movies on it. If you aren't gaming or not editing video/audio, your fine for a little while. "The universe is hostile, So impersonal. Devour to survive." - Tool [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 6:54PM Butterfingers wrote: Whoops !!! I edited Kperv's post instead of quoting it. I am so sorry. Click to expand Eeeek! Perhaps Drew should consider adding a couple of "Are you absolutely, positively sure you want to edit this post?" steps to the process. Anyhu, you didn't delete much. Just the bit about some of my friends still stuck in the quagmire that is Windows having told me that, despite the improvements in Windows clean-up utilities since the dark ages when I was still running Win95, it's still necessary to delete and re-install Windows from time to time to get rid of the cruft. And that Bob should back-up his data, and let the Windows installer erase and re-establish the C: partition during the installation process. There are ways of making a clean slate without completely erasing the C: drive, but they're not for the faint of heart. Making a D: partition or installing a second drive for your own data files, could be one way of avoiding having to delete them when repeating the operation in future. [Link]

skronker Notable Legendary Icon Scopophiliac 9780 Posts 9/02	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 7:56PM Macs cost more but are less fuss. [Link]
Janitor Retired Porno movies, sexy videos, xxx. Adult DVD Talk at your service. 6409 Posts 11/99	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 8:11PM skronker wrote: Macs cost more but are less fuss. Click to expand Not for those of us you email files to Bob, go with the windows reinstall thing mentioned. Your computer is downright fancy. No need for a new one. Don't lose your avatar in the process though. It's taking me somewhere. [Link]
skronker Notable Legendary Icon Scopophiliac 9780 Posts 9/02	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 8:56PM Steph wrote: skronker wrote: Macs cost more but are less fuss. Click to expand Not for those of us you email files to Click to expand Hopefully, the new desktop will make life easier, sometime soon. [Link]
Harri Patel Senior Member #SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele 5110 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 1 2006 : 10:50PM Build your own. If you can handle any typical "some assembly required"-type consumer product, you can put a computer together. [Link]
kataboom master blaster ad astra per aspera 995 Posts 6/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 12:41AM buy a new one. desktops are so cheap nowadays. [Link]
kataboom master blaster ad astra per aspera 995 Posts 6/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 12:42AM skronker wrote: Macs cost more but are less fuss. Click to expand i agree - hackers fuss with them less. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 3:42AM K wrote: Just backup everything and reinstall windows. Click to expand One small step for K, one giant, anxiety-producing leap for Bob. ------------------------------------------------------- A couple of questions: 1) How does one back-up everything, and to where, and what does one do with the backed-up files afterward? Is the back-up solely for safety purposes (i.e., if the reinstall causes data loss), or is the idea to wipe the C-drive clean and then re-import the backed-up data? 2) My PC came with Windows 2000 installed. A couple of years ago, I installed an XP-Pro upgrade. Do I have to reinstall Windows 2000 and then reinstall the XP upgrade -- or is there a simpler solution? Can you point me to any step-by-step kinds of articles on the web? Thanks! [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 6:23AM Bob wrote: 1) How does one back-up everything, and to where, Click to expand To CD is one option. As are USB flashdiscs or harddrives. A second internal drive is also a possibility, but if you don't know what you're doing, you might inadvertently erase that one too. You do back up your data already anyway? Don't you? Harddrives fail. You'll need to back up all your data. Mails, addressbooks, Word documents, spreadsheets, databases, nude snaps of the wife (just mail those to me)... all the stuff you want to keep and that aren't automatically installed with the applications themselves. Everything you've entered or downloaded yourself. ... is the idea to wipe the C-drive clean and then re-import the backed-up data? Click to expand In your case: yes. As I wrote earlier (twice, vermillion one ), it's possible only to delete Windows and those applications that need re-installing because they don't keep their configuration info in their own directories, but it's a more involved process. I'll have to pass on question #2. I haven't done this in yonks, and XP gives me an allergic reaction. [Link]
pinc_noiz Deactivated User 758 Posts 6/05	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 8:08AM K wrote: XP gives me an allergic reaction. Click to expand this explains the red face I see in your avatar What software, if any, do you recommend doing automated back-ups? p_n edit to include @ Bob: don't buy new when the old will do; even when prices for new gear are low, when not needed they're a 100% waste of money Edited by - pinc_noiz on 9/2/2006 8:14:00 AM [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 9:10AM K wrote: They now recommend a fresh install of windows every year or so. Click to expand Erk! I've never re-installed Windows, barring a HD failure. Bob wrote: 2) My PC came with Windows 2000 installed. A couple of years ago, I installed an XP-Pro upgrade. Do I have to reinstall Windows 2000 and then reinstall the XP upgrade -- or is there a simpler solution? Click to expand Yes, you have to have an operating system already installed to use Microsoft's upgrade disc, but don't touch that CD just yet! It looks to me like Webroot Window Washer is designed to be a privacy program, not a trash-removal program. Norton Cleanup appears to be designed solely to clean up Symantec files. In other words, neither of those programs is going to address your problem. There are two issues you need to address, and they both have to do with memory: First - the registry: download [invalid URL removed]CCLeaner and run the cleaner, then scan for issues. Getting dead entries out of your registry will reduce the amount of memory it takes up and can dramatically improve performance. Second, the number of programs loading at startup: get everything out of startup that you don't absolutely need (keep antivirus & firewall) and run that stuff manually. If performance is dramatically enhanced then you can add stuff back to startup one at a time. If that doesn't solve your problem then a reinstall may be necessary. However, don't forget that you'll need to reinstall all the Windows patches that have been released since your upgrade CD came out and, unfortunately, those ($#& patches are another major source of system slow-down. edited for clarity; and a fucked up URL.* Edited by - hardware on 9/2/2006 8:09:28 PM [Link]

K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 9:54AM K wrote: They now recommend a fresh install of windows every year or so. Click to expand Just to clear it up: while I'd agree with the statement, it was the beer happy moderator who actually wrote that paragraph. Hardware wrote: Erk! I've never re-installed Windows, barring a HD failure. Click to expand Amazing. But if you rarely install/un-install software to test it, I suppose you can get away with it. The cruft build-up and the opacity of Windows preventing me from cleaning up properly myself, was a large part of why I exorcised Windows from my computers. Edited by - K on 9/2/2006 10:00:24 AM [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 10:07AM pinc_noiz wrote:What software, if any, do you recommend doing automated back-ups? Click to expand I'd consider collecting all documents and user data in one directory structure, and backing up the whole shebang each time. Isn't Windows pretty good at keeping user data in "Documents and Settings\pinc_noiz" these days? While there are solutions for making incremental back-ups, IMHO they shouldn't be necessary for most private users. The last time I looked at the automated back-up thing was when 120MB QIC-80 tapes were popular. [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 10:19AM K wrote: Just to clear it up: while I'd agree with the statement, it was the beer happy moderator who actually wrote that paragraph. Click to expand I really shouldn't work on pictures of Bamboo at the same time I'm trying to post. Edited by - hardware on 9/2/2006 10:22:57 AM [Link]
justalurker Member 241 Posts 8/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 12:03PM Hardware wrote: Yes, you have to have an operating system already installed to use Microsoft's upgrade disc, but don't touch that CD just yet! Click to expand MS made the upgrade disk for XP bootable, all you need is proof of a prior upgradeable OS, i.e. install disk for Windows 2000. [Link]
PL Senior Member God hates us all, you know it's true, God hates this place. - Slayer 1726 Posts 10/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 2:54PM justalurker is right. Go to install XP with that upgrade CD, it will ask for a previous version of windows. Pop that Windows 2k CD in and in a few seconds it will ask for the XP CD back. Then it will install XP Pro for ya. This is a much better way to do it too, as it's a far cleaner install. I still recommend that format and reinstall, but most people use their "My Documents" as a catch all for docs so backing up that is a must. Also backing up your favorites in IE/FF is a good idea, along with exporting QuickBooks or Quicken. In addition, you can use [invalid URL removed]this tutorial to back up all your Outlook Express contacts, old emails and account info - it's easy and has saved my ass manual backup of OE a few times "The universe is hostile, So impersonal. Devour to survive." - Tool [Link]
pinc_noiz Deactivated User 758 Posts 6/05	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 3:10PM Hardware wrote: ^snip^ First - the registry: download url=http://myfreeadultdvd.com/order.asp]CCLeaner /url] and run the cleaner ^snip^ Click to expand @ hardware : did you realy type this ?? I was in the thread "want a free 8 hour adult dvd? try it!"/Porn Pool before, wanted to safe your link to the CCleaner program later on, and found the link from that thread in your post ??? p_n Edited by - pinc_noiz on 9/2/2006 3:11:25 PM [Link]
kukm4 Member so-cal 212 Posts 9/04	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 4:31PM if you need xp service pack 2 (sp2) you can order a cd from microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx I would recommend Back-up all your files (burn em to cds) Then do a fresh re-install. If you need Service pack 1 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp1/default.mspx then install SP2. After that go to Windows update and get the latest updates. http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/ Use Firefox (instead of Internet explorer. You will need to use Internet explorer when you need to go to windows update) http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ Grisoft AVG anti-virus http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5 Ad-aware (checks and removes spyware) http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Spybot Search and Destroy (same as ad-aware) http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html Spyware Blaster (Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.) http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html [Link]
Redish Poetic Moderator Long and Cursive road to the Ivory Pagoda in the province of Loraine 4076 Posts 12/03	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 7:25PM K wrote: K wrote: They now recommend a fresh install of windows every year or so. Click to expand Just to clear it up: while I'd agree with the statement, it was the beer happy moderator who actually wrote that paragraph. Click to expand That's happy beer moderator. Edited by - redish on 9/2/2006 7:26:13 PM [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 2 2006 : 8:11PM pinc_noiz wrote: Hardware wrote: ^snip^ First - the registry: download url=http://myfreeadultdvd.com/order.asp]CCLeaner /url] and run the cleaner ^snip^ Click to expand @ hardware : did you realy type this ?? Click to expand Hmmm, apparently my Ctrl-C didn't copy CCleaner's URL. Thanks for catching that p_n. I've fixed the link. [Link]
pinc_noiz Deactivated User 758 Posts 6/05	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 4:27AM The free-DVD-link is suspect for being host of a trojan (no prove, but highly likely), but maybe I was infected already ... p_n [Link]

Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 2:10PM I took Hardware's advice. First, I downloaded [invalid URL removed]CCleaner and used the utilities. Then, running "msconfig" from Control Panel, I pared down the programs loaded on start-up to the bare essentials. My computer is now behaving like a dewey-eyed girl. I'm going to take on the XP re-install later this week, and I'll report back with my results. Thanks, all, for your suggestions! [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 2:15PM Oh, but a couple more questions: 1. Can anyone recommend a good (and free -- or at least cheap) utility for backing up one's hard drive? The Windows XP utility only has an option for backing up onto a floppy disc, which won't hold the nearly amount of data I have. 2. Once the C-drive has been backed up and Windows has been reinstalled, how are the C-drive's contents re-imported into the clean system? <spelling> Edited by - bob on 9/3/2006 2:16:31 PM [Link]
Harri Patel Senior Member #SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele 5110 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 3:16PM If it's working OK now, I would leave it alone. I think this supposed need for frequent Windows reinstallations tends to be exaggerated by the MS haters and those who aggressively fiddle around with their machines. [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 4:20PM Bob wrote: 2. Once the C-drive has been backed up and Windows has been reinstalled, how are the C-drive's contents re-imported into the clean system? Click to expand I'd recommend you manually burn your data to a CD. That way you know what goes where, so you won't overwrite anything by mistake. And you may also develop a good habit of keeping you data apart from the applications (if it isn't like that by default already). BTW, how does a dewey-eyed girl behave? Harri Patel wrote: I think this supposed need for frequent Windows reinstallations tends to be exaggerated by the MS haters and those who aggressively fiddle around with their machines. Click to expand It's a necessity for those who fairly frequently install and uninstall applications. Gamers are typically very affected by the cruft issue; particularly if they often try out trial versions (or indeed coughtrialcough versions). I've no idea how Macs work in this area. Linux and BSD are a little different, but have other issues of their own. Edited by - K on 9/3/2006 4:21:13 PM [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 3 2006 : 7:45PM K wrote: BTW, how does a dewey-eyed girl behave? Click to expand Eager, energetic, and nimble -- or so I've heard. [Link]
Loraine Senior Member 1559 Posts 3/04	Posted - Sep 4 2006 : 6:14AM I don't anything about Windows 2000 so this may be completely unhelpful but on my old pc running Windows 98 (yes I said old) I use [invalid URL removed]Registry Fixto help out iron bugs and the tedious "Defrag" in Systems Tools. Did I tell you I love my MAC? Edited by - Loraine on 9/4/2006 6:14:50 AM [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 4 2006 : 9:40AM I'm not sure why you want to reinstall XP at this point. Backing up your data is always a good idea, though. K wrote: I'd recommend you manually burn your data to a CD. Click to expand I'd recommend you burn it to a DVD - it holds lots more data. There are any number of products on the market that will manage backing up your data files. A quick look around suggests $50-$100 is what you'll have to spend to get one. [Link]
Bill All-Star Member 5334 Posts 6/00	Posted - Sep 4 2006 : 9:56AM I ended up going the easier, but more expensive way for backups and bought an external hard drive that I back up to weekly using Norton Ghost. Ghost also makes recovery points on it's own throughout the week. If you decide to use DVD's for backup, buy them online at a place like [invalid URL removed]Rima.com or [invalid URL removed]Meritline.com. You can get quality blank DVD's from either of them for < $.30. I can't personally recommend using RW DVD's because when I first started using them, I had nothing but problems when attempting to reuse them. So I gave up on them. That problem may have just been the drive or discs that I was using at the time, I don't know. Also, given the quality difference of the drives and DVD+R discs over the last few years, I have to believe that RW's have gotten better too. I just can't personally recommend them. At $.30 per disc for DVD+R, I've had was no reason to go back and try RW's again. [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 4 2006 : 11:15AM Hardware wrote: K wrote: I'd recommend you manually burn your data to a CD. Click to expand I'd recommend you burn it to a DVD - it holds lots more data. Click to expand Ah, but he only has a CD-RW drive and a DVD-ROM. . (My, what naughty business has that Loraine been up to to get her that flustered? Missing or misplaced words and spaces.) [Link]
Bill All-Star Member 5334 Posts 6/00	Posted - Sep 4 2006 : 3:17PM K wrote: Ah, but he only has a CD-RW drive and a DVD-ROM. Click to expand ...only if he hasn't purchased the new DVD Burner that he was asking about in [invalid URL removed]this thread yet. [Link]

Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 5 2006 : 5:03AM Bill wrote: ...only if he hasn't purchased the new DVD Burner that he was asking about in [invalid URL removed]this thread yet. Click to expand I ordered the BenQ DW1670 over the weekend. [Link]
oatmeal Meat Popsicle Seeking Beauty 1738 Posts 8/04	Posted - Sep 6 2006 : 5:14PM a fast, "cheap" amd easy way to back up everything is to buy a second hard drive (internal or external). An internal does you no good in a variety of scenarios but it's great when you want to rebuild a machine. The cheapest would be to build your own external hard drive. Some things to look for: -email (outlook, outlook express) -address book -favourites (for all browsers) -My Documents -files on desktop -license keys -important stuff in program files -files in odd locations (ie background image in windows folder or stuff in Documents and Settings) [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 12:31PM I'm purchasing a Seagate with 200GB bundled with the "Bounce Back" program. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:00PM BTW, JAG's new thread on [invalid URL removed]virtual memory problems was a huge help too. When I purchased my computer 5 years ago, it came with only 256MB of RAM. A year ago, I added another 512MB, but didn't adjust the setting for the paging file to 1.5 times 768MB (because I didn't know about it). After reading igor948's post in the other thread this morning, I adjusted my settings. Now my computer is running like a thoroughbred. I also adjusted my wife's settings this morning (we trebled her RAM last year, too). So, for the next couple of days at least, I'm her hero. Big thanks to all! You've saved me a shit load of money. I won't even think about buying a new PC until Windows Vista is released and the bugs are worked out. [Link]
K Smitten Kitten Cloud 9 530 Posts 2/06	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:03PM Bob wrote: ... until Windows Vista is released and the bugs are worked out . Click to expand Sorry, couldn't resist. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:13PM Yeah, worked out being a relative term. [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:25PM Bob, you'll know the bugs are worked out when M$ releases Vista's replacement. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 3:09PM Ain't that the truth! Microsoft -- fucktards. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 1:27PM I just added an additional 256MB of RAM (to bring my computer up to a total 1GB of RAM), and I reset the virtual memory to 1.5GB. Now my computer is running really well. I'm still waiting for my new DVD+RW drive to arrive -- there's some kind of back order situation. But now, another question: With this last upgrade, my computer has run out of slots for memory cards. How possible/complicated/expensive would it be to have more memory slots installed so that I can further increase my RAM? Or is my computer's RAM finally maxed out? [Link]
Redish Poetic Moderator Long and Cursive road to the Ivory Pagoda in the province of Loraine 4076 Posts 12/03	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 2:51PM I don't think you can add modules to increase your memory. You have to increase the onboard RAM of the modules you put into the slots. If you have four slots, I am assuming that your sticks are 256 meg apiece. To increase your RAM, you would have to buy 512 sticks of memory to put into the slots. [Link]
Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 4:02PM Thanks, Redish. The kind of RAM my computer uses is Rambus, which doesn't come any higher than 256MB. With all four slots filled with 256MB modules, my computer has reached its upper limit. [Link]
Bill All-Star Member 5334 Posts 6/00	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 4:06PM Right. You'd need to replace your existing memory modules with bigger ones. The down side to that is that if you buy an additional 1GB of RAM, you will only be increasing your RAM by 512KB, because you would need to pull the 512KB that are already in the slots in order to replace them with the 1GB. BTW, that's definitely something to check when purchasing a new PC. If you're buying a PC with 1GB of RAM, you want to make sure that it's in two 512KB boards, not four 256KB boards. Many times, when you upgrade from the standard configuration, they add additional memory boards rather than replacing the ones from the original spec with larger ones. [Link]
Hardware All-Star Member Your other left 14595 Posts 3/02	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 10:20PM What are you doing that may require more than 1GB of memory? There's no point having more if none of your programs are going to use it. I've got 1GB in my computer and the only time I have a memory problem is when some stupid program has a memory leak. That's not something buying more memory will fix. [Link]
Joey Starr Senior Member Still wanking after all these years. 8082 Posts 10/00	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 11:07PM Redish wrote: Whoops !!! I edited Kperv's post instead of quoting it. I am so sorry. Can you repost Kperv? Damnit, too many beers on Friday, or is it not enough? Click to expand And it's not the first time too, next mistake you're out as moderator! [Link]
Joey Starr Senior Member Still wanking after all these years. 8082 Posts 10/00	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 11:08PM That or the plank. [Link]
Joey Starr Senior Member Still wanking after all these years. 8082 Posts 10/00	Posted - Sep 16 2006 : 11:10PM My advice of course is get a Mac, with about 1Gb or RAM, they can even boot on Windows now. [invalid URL removed]Apple.com [Link]