Which brand of personal DESKTOP computer would YOU recommend?

http://www.sodahead.com/technology/what-brand-of-personal-desktop-computer-would-you-recommend/question-779775/


Computer Upgrades from 4allmemory.com


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Which brand of personal DESKTOP computer would YOU recommend?

http://www.sodahead.com/technology/what-brand-of-personal-desktop-computer-would-you-recommend/question-779775/


Computer Upgrades from 4allmemory.com


If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Thanks! 
0 comments

What every Windows pc needs

In addition to staying on top of your Windows and Office Updates, you should install and/or run the following:


Malware protection
  • To prevent viruses, we like AVG.  It’s FREE!  Of course, you can upgrade to the Pro version which is probably even better.  Also good are BitDefender, ESET NOD32, Kaspersky.
  • To get rid of malware/spyware, we like MalwareBytes best.  Also good are a-squared, AVG's "suite," SpyBot, AdAware and SuperAntiSpyware. They all have free and “pro” versions.
  • To clean out unnecessary junk files (where malware often hides), we love ATF-Cleaner.  You’d be amazed how much space this sometimes frees up.  It’s much better than Windows’ built-in Cleanup utility, although that’s good, too.  It’s free, but we recommend you donate to them.
Disaster recovery
  • We highly recommend Acronis True Image, no matter what your operating system is.  It creates an image of your existing installation and copies it to a bootable, protected, hidden partition (or an image file on an external or network drive) that is easily restored.  You might lose recent documents after restoring, depending on how it's setup, but it’s the best thing we're aware of for quick and painless disaster recovery.  Windows VISTA and 7 also have the ability to make a complete backup of your system, but we haven’t tested it thoroughly enough to rate it here.
  • For flaky/weird/hinky recovery, assuming you can get into Windows, we recommend ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility for NT-based Windows).  It puts itself into the Startup group and makes a backup of your Windows registry (where all settings are stored) every time you startup.  It’s free.
  • Don’t forget System Restore, again assuming Windows will at least start.  It’s a great tool.  It’s under Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools. 
Browsers, etc.
Hardware
  • For your hard drive, the physical piece of equipment where all of the above happens, we recommend:
    • An external hard drive (here or several here) to safely copy your files.  They're getting bigger and cheaper all the time.
    • For the integrity of the drive inside your computer, we recommend running Check Disk every 2 or 3 months, like so:
      • Open up a DOS/command prompt (click Start, Run, type "cmd" without the quotes, hit Enter or click OK.  For VISTA and Windows 7, you don't click "Run")
      • Next, type (without quotes): "chkdsk /r" and hit Enter
      • When chkdsk starts, it'll say it can't be run now, "would you like it to run next time you start Windows?"  Answer Yes and then restart your machine soon thereafter.  Otherwise, you'll forget, and the next time you start your machine it will take forever to finish that check and load Windows, you'll be in a hurry, and you'll start cursing me and my advice.  :)




If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Thanks!
For in-home/on-site computer repair service in and around Nashville (remove viruses, connect to the Internet, setup new systems, fix a myriad of problems), call Bill at (615) 479-4981.
0 comments

What every Windows pc needs

In addition to staying on top of your Windows and Office Updates, you should install and/or run the following:


Malware protection

  • To prevent viruses, we like AVG.  It’s FREE!  Of course, you can upgrade to the Pro version which is probably even better.  Also good are BitDefender, ESET NOD32, Kaspersky.

  • To get rid of malware/spyware, we like MalwareBytes best.  Also good are a-squared, AVG's "suite," SpyBot, AdAware and SuperAntiSpyware. They all have free and “pro” versions.

  • To clean out unnecessary junk files (where malware often hides), we love ATF-Cleaner.  You’d be amazed how much space this sometimes frees up.  It’s much better than Windows’ built-in Cleanup utility, although that’s good, too.  It’s free, but we recommend you donate to them.


Disaster recovery

  • We highly recommend Acronis True Image, no matter what your operating system is.  It creates an image of your existing installation and copies it to a bootable, protected, hidden partition (or an image file on an external or network drive) that is easily restored.  You might lose recent documents after restoring, depending on how it's setup, but it’s the best thing we're aware of for quick and painless disaster recovery.  Windows VISTA and 7 also have the ability to make a complete backup of your system, but we haven’t tested it thoroughly enough to rate it here.

  • For flaky/weird/hinky recovery, assuming you can get into Windows, we recommend ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility for NT-based Windows).  It puts itself into the Startup group and makes a backup of your Windows registry (where all settings are stored) every time you startup.  It’s free.

  • Don’t forget System Restore, again assuming Windows will at least start.  It’s a great tool.  It’s under Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools.


Browsers, etc.

Hardware

  • For your hard drive, the physical piece of equipment where all of the above happens, we recommend:

    • An external hard drive (here or several here) to safely copy your files.  They're getting bigger and cheaper all the time.

    • For the integrity of the drive inside your computer, we recommend running Check Disk every 2 or 3 months, like so:

      • Open up a DOS/command prompt (click Start, Run, type "cmd" without the quotes, hit Enter or click OK.  For VISTA and Windows 7, you don't click "Run")

      • Next, type (without quotes): "chkdsk /r" and hit Enter

      • When chkdsk starts, it'll say it can't be run now, "would you like it to run next time you start Windows?"  Answer Yes and then restart your machine soon thereafter.  Otherwise, you'll forget, and the next time you start your machine it will take forever to finish that check and load Windows, you'll be in a hurry, and you'll start cursing me and my advice.  :)















If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Thanks!
For in-home/on-site computer repair service in and around Nashville (remove viruses, connect to the Internet, setup new systems, fix a myriad of problems), call Bill at (615) 479-4981.

0 comments

Windows: XP vs. VISTA vs. 7

I just tested the startup speeds of the three latest versions of Windows.  Yes, I have that kind of time.  :)

My desktop PC is triple-boot, meaning I can run Windows XP, VISTA or 7 on the same PC (for the next few weeks, anyway, until the newer versions' trial periods expire).  Speaking of which, I found a GREAT utility, iReboot by NeoSmart Technologies, for multi-boot machines.  Anyway, I thought I'd test to see which operating system ("OS") starts up the fastest.  Basically, the timer (me counting thousand-one, thousand-two, etc., because I don't wear a watch and couldn't find a timer) started when that initial boot menu shows up.  Your PC probably doesn't show that unless you're running multiple operating systems like I am, or maybe you've got it set to give you the Safe Mode option. 

I didn't use iReboot for these tests, although I guess I could have timed a complete reboot for each of the OS's.  Another program by NeoSmart, by the way, is the VERY handy EasyBCD, for editing the VISTA\7 boot configuration instead of Microsoft's kluedgy (sp?) bcdedit.

The timer stopped once the Windows desktop was completely "up" with all icons visible and the hourglass no longer spinning.  Not very scientific, but it is applicable to real world perceptions, and I'm all about perception.  :)  All three installations have basically the same thing installed on them, although in XP's defense it does have MS Office and a few other small utilities that the other ones don't have installed.

Anyway, the start-up speed results, in seconds, were:

XP Professional SP3  =   70
VISTA Business SP2  =  60
7 Ultimate (final beta)  =  45

On that note, after getting somewhat familiar with Windows 7, I'd say I definitely like it better than VISTA, but not necessarily better than XP.  It's just diffferent.  The only drawback to 7 vs. VISTA that I've noticed so far is that Windows Mail (Outlook Express's replacement) doesn't come with it.

I'm not going to go out and buy Windows 7, though.  Mainly because it's not that much better than XP, if at all.  Besides, my main printer, an old but perfectly good NEC SuperScript 870 hand-me-down, won't work with Windows 7 or VISTA.  Apparently, NEC got out of the printer business.  Who knew?  Also, Movie Maker doesn't work on my PC with VISTA or 7 because they say the graphics adapter is not good enough, even though it works fine with XP and it's ON THE SAME PC!  :)

In conclusion, I'm sticking with XP.  :)  When I can afford a second machine, I'll most likely get a Mac.  The Mac Mini is actually pretty cheap at apple.com.  As cheap as that is, though, I still can't justify buying one yet.  My wife also wants her next PC to be a Mac.
If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Thanks!
For in-home/on-site computer repair service in the greater Nashville area (remove viruses, connect to the Internet, fix a myriad of computer-related problems), call Bill at (615) 479-4981.
0 comments

Windows: XP vs. VISTA vs. 7

I just tested the startup speeds of the three latest versions of Windows.  Yes, I have that kind of time.  :)

My desktop PC is triple-boot, meaning I can run Windows XP, VISTA or 7 on the same PC (for the next few weeks, anyway, until the newer versions' trial periods expire).  Speaking of which, I found a GREAT utility, iReboot by NeoSmart Technologies, for multi-boot machines.  Anyway, I thought I'd test to see which operating system ("OS") starts up the fastest.  Basically, the timer (me counting thousand-one, thousand-two, etc., because I don't wear a watch and couldn't find a timer) started when that initial boot menu shows up.  Your PC probably doesn't show that unless you're running multiple operating systems like I am, or maybe you've got it set to give you the Safe Mode option. 

I didn't use iReboot for these tests, although I guess I could have timed a complete reboot for each of the OS's.  Another program by NeoSmart, by the way, is the VERY handy EasyBCD, for editing the VISTA\7 boot configuration instead of Microsoft's kluedgy (sp?) bcdedit.

The timer stopped once the Windows desktop was completely "up" with all icons visible and the hourglass no longer spinning.  Not very scientific, but it is applicable to real world perceptions, and I'm all about perception.  :)  All three installations have basically the same thing installed on them, although in XP's defense it does have MS Office and a few other small utilities that the other ones don't have installed.

Anyway, the start-up speed results, in seconds, were:

XP Professional SP3  =   70
VISTA Business SP2  =  60
7 Ultimate (final beta)  =  45

On that note, after getting somewhat familiar with Windows 7, I'd say I definitely like it better than VISTA, but not necessarily better than XP.  It's just diffferent.  The only drawback to 7 vs. VISTA that I've noticed so far is that Windows Mail (Outlook Express's replacement) doesn't come with it.

I'm not going to go out and buy Windows 7, though.  Mainly because it's not that much better than XP, if at all.  Besides, my main printer, an old but perfectly good NEC SuperScript 870 hand-me-down, won't work with Windows 7 or VISTA.  Apparently, NEC got out of the printer business.  Who knew?  Also, Movie Maker doesn't work on my PC with VISTA or 7 because they say the graphics adapter is not good enough, even though it works fine with XP and it's ON THE SAME PC!  :)

In conclusion, I'm sticking with XP.  :)  When I can afford a second machine, I'll most likely get a Mac.  The Mac Mini is actually pretty cheap at apple.com.  As cheap as that is, though, I still can't justify buying one yet.  My wife also wants her next PC to be a Mac.
If the above helped you in any way, please click the PayPal DONATE link here. It's safe. Thanks!
For in-home/on-site computer repair service in the greater Nashville area (remove viruses, connect to the Internet, fix a myriad of computer-related problems), call Bill at (615) 479-4981.
0 comments
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