Computer help?

How about this one (the Dimension B110 on the extreme left -see link at bottom)?Faith usage seems light enough and she doesn't sound like she's going to go deep in but just wants a computer to do what she needs it to do.Taking what folk have said, this basic model can be upgraded to:1024 Ram
basic speakers
include installation discs
DVD burner (instead of just CD burner)...for $548. Which falls within budgetSpec in total in case I missed something shortened linkEdited by iano, : No reason given.Edited by AdminJar, : No reason given.

This one seems a good option too: main difference is that the processor is meant to compare in performance to the Penthium4. RAM stays at 512mb to keep within budget but is only $50 to upgrade to 1024mb which runs to the end of the budget but seems a smart thing to do now. The optical drive loses DVD write facility (CD write facility only)$549 (or $600 with 1024 RAM) Why do they put Award Winning Service and Support last?

Also Faith,Girl 2 doors up works at Microsoft so I can get whatever you need that end cheap and send it across. I got MSOffice (in order to get Word) for about $40 IIRC. MSworks which comes with the above deals has a word processing package which is much like Word-lite. It also has spreadsheets (But not excel) It might suffice - I imagine its documents/spreadsheets and Word/Excel stuff are interchangeable. Could check it out with the neighbour

Yeah the geek talk is too much for me to follow, but I'm getting lots of good ideas from this thread, so I don't mind at all. I think I'll keep it bookmarked for some time.I'm pretty sure I should start pricing things at Best Buy next. In person I guess, since I can't be sure the computer will survive the website. I'm sure I won't be doing any installing of motherboards or Zip drives. I'm not sure about this thumb thing, but it sounds necessary so I guess I'd better learn more about it.But I have a reprieve for now since it's running smoother (after unchecking the msconfig startup list -- amazing difference). As long as I don't ask it to multitask I can do everything I need to do on it and I have a lot of backlog to catch up on this weekend.

Even though I thought I was digesting all this terminology, the two systems you described are going to take some thinking about. Sounds like there are some good options out there though.I have the Office XP CD, which I assume is still usable. The thing about Office substitutes is that I HAVE to have MS Publisher and I don't think even all MS Office collections contain that. Also have the Windows XP CD from four years ago, and if all that works I shouldn't need new software.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Thanks Iano. It is like good things from heaven.

Hi Faith. I'm likely less computer wise than you so can't give tech help but what what ability I have I give, i.e prayers to the Father in the name of Jesus on behalf of you and your problem. The "fix" to things prayed for often comes for me in most unusual ways, so we know God did it. Other times it comes as per usual. Then there's those times when for some purpose known to him we are required to wait a spell.

---

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW ---- Jesus said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28

The prayers count for a lot Buz, thank you.

Right. You have to reinstall windows. Not really a problem in most cases AFAIK - assuming the disk isn't wrecked (and you have the original CD case with the activation codes). Right - but I was including that in the price. The whole package: motherboard, power supply, and new dram was about $180. Why is it that dram chips never work in a new board? It's gotta be a conspiracy. True. I was having similar problems to what Faith is describing: the random Windows Blue Screen of Death. I reinstalled windows to see if that would work. It made things better for a bit, but ultimately I ended up scrapping the old motherboard and getting a new one. Now things seem to be swimming along nicely. If she goes with the incremental "swap out this and see if that's the problem", by starting out with replacing the hard drive, she might be able to get lucky on the first switch.

Problem is I don't have the tech knowledge or experience to do that myself.

Hey Faith, notice how so far I'm the only one that's giving you advice based on your level of understanding of computers? People are giving you too much techie stuff. I'm giving you the real deal But seriously, unless you plan to hack into the FBI server, why waste money on gadgets you will never use? I say either go with a new computer via my way or jar's way. Once you have your new computer hooked up, I, or someone else, will be more than happy to walk you through taking apart the old computer and salvage what you need from it, like the zip drive and whatnot. I only charge 100 bucks per minute of my time

You mean I don't need to get that thumb thingy?But really, I don't think I want to take on learning how to install a Zip drive in a new computer.Sorry, my head is swimming with all the new infromation so I wouldn't have remembered who said what at this point.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

It's called a memory stick, or thumb drive.Regarding the installation of the zip drive, trust me, it's easier than how god supposedly created the world. All it takes is unscrewing a couple of screws and unplugging a couple of wires. You don't even have to worry which wire goes where when you plug it into the new computer because they have different shapes and sizes. If it fits, put it in. If not, don't.You'll be amazed to see how easy it is once you've done it.

Like I said you could transplant your current Zip drive into a new computer. The downside of this, putting aside your actual ability to do this, is that Zip drives are a dead technology. You'll have a hard time finding any new Zip disks or any replacement drives if your current one dies.
Thumb drives are similar to the replaceble memory chips inside digital cameras, they plug into your USB port and WinXP will automatically detect it and treat it like another hard drive, you can copy and paste files from your Zip disks onto the thumb drive and then take that thumb drive to any computer with a USB port (which will any computer built with the past 7 years or so) and access your files. Thumb drives range from ~256MB - 1GB or more, they're cheap (depending on the capacity, like I said before the smaller the cheaper), and can be used on any modern computer, their only downside is that they're small and easily lost, my dad has gone through about 5 of them.In short, no matter what solution you go to for the computer problem, I reccomend getting a thumb drive to transfer your files from your computer/Zip to a system with a CD/DVD burner.

---

Just a monkey in a long line of kings.
If "elitist" just means "not the dumbest motherfucker in the room", I'll be an elitist!
*not an actual doctor

I wasn't so much my intention that you figure out the details yourself but that the more gifted in this area could throw an eye over the suggestions (msg 91 and 92 top this page) and comment on suitablility. I'm sure there are better deals but I just put these up as they seem to meet your needs and the spec is open to be examined. If there are no objections then you would have a ready solution within budget should you decide to go down the new path. I think they have all the bits you need but I might be overlooking something - hence others opinion welcomeThe main difference between the two is that the one has a Celeron processor and some more by way of peripheral stuff (1024 RAM and a DVD burner). The other has a Penthium-equivilent processor and only CD burner and 512 RAM. Both cost about $550.You have to decide whether you want to burn DvDs. If you don't the spend elsewhere (maybe look at going for a 19" screen or more RAM or better speakers or whatever. The Dell site makes it easy to chop and change and they run a total current cost as you change thingsI note they say the Celeron unit is MS Vista ready though how ready I cannot say. Although its not said of the second option, the Penthium-equivilent processor (or chip) would be MSVista ready I'm sureFor the rest:Someone should comment on whether existing software CD's would load up - I imagine it would.I'd go with Doc Jones and forget the zip. Transfer stuff over through it via a plug in memory like he says and leave it at that.What about security? You sound like you have little and its only $50 a year or so for Norton or McAfee which both provide a suite of items to barrier you from the big bad world. Norton can be a bit glitchy - although I run it myself without much problem. Don't know about McAfee. There is stuff you can get for free but if its fit and forget you want with just a bill to pay every year then that is the way to goEdited by iano, : No reason given.