Using A Donated Computer

The other day I was "given" a 5 year old PC that wasn't needed by the user any longer. But in order to use it properly, I needed to know some information.

The first thing I did was to look through old documentation that came with it. I'm looking for CPU speed, RAM and Hard Drive size.

I also searched on line using the model number to see what should be in the computer when it was built. The only way to see if its been upgradeed is to start it up and take a look.

It's also a good idea to take an inventory of the ports and other visible parts of the PC. See how many USB ports there are, parallel ports, network ports, etc.

Once you do that, you'll understand the limitations of the PC, and make a determination on whether you should upgrade any parts of it.

You'd be surprised how many PC's still have life in them, especially for a second computer for a child, or surfing the net.

Trouble with Older Programs?

Just the other day, I tried to start up a program on my PC that I hadn't used in about a year.

And guess what? It would not work correctly and kept producing errors. So I plugged some of those errors into a search engine and found others that had the same problem.

To correct the problem, I had to download and install a Service Pack for it. Once I did that, it worked fine.

Moral of the story: if you have some problems with a particular program, make sure you have installed all the updates since it was created.

More than likely, it will solve your problems.

Obssessed With Viruses?

I received e-mail from a viewer the other day convinced his PC was acting up because of a virus.

However, his anti-virus program found nothing. And other online anti-viruses checkers came up empty.

So now he's dissecting the registry.

Word of advice: if you've got a good anti-virus program (such as Avast) and you are using a firewall and anti-spyware programs... relax a bit!

Accidentally going to one suspect website probably won't bring your PC to a halt. However, repeatedly going there could be problems.

If you suspect a website may be a problem, research it on the Internet. See if others have had problems. If you get an error message, search that message on the Internet.

Chances are you are not the only one experiencing problems. And with a little research, you may find the fix to your problem.

Notebook vs Laptop

Got the question the other day: What's the difference between a notebook and a laptop?

I thought they were both the same, but I thought I'd double check on the Internet.

Seems as though there are many answers to this one, although there seems to be some concensus on the differences.

A Notebook is generally ultralight, with no internal floppy, DVD or CD system, and a screen no larger than 14".

A Laptop is heavier, with a screen larger than 14", an internal DVD drive and a full featured keyboard as well as integrated wireless capabilities. And a laptop is upgradeable.

But, of course, the main difference is that a laptop is designed to sit on your lap, hence the name.

To me, they are all portable and that's the most important thing.

Computer Prices vs What You Get!

I've been keeping an eye on desktop and laptop PC's for a few months now. And one thing I've noticed is that you must carefully read what is being offered.

If you're looking for a great deal... like something under $500... read the details to see what you're getting (and what you are not)!

Many come WITHOUT a monitor. Some come with the Windows XP operating system, and not the newer Vista. And some have only 512MB of RAM which is NOT ENOUGH to run Vista if you want to upgrade at some point.

Others do not include an internet connection or port. And some are missing other key peripherals such as a mouse or keyboard.

So a word to the wise... before you jump on a great deal, be sure it includes the things you need now... or may need in the future!

COMPUTERS ARE LIKE SNOWFLAKES

Over the years I've discovered one thing, computers are like snowflakes.

I've never met two PCs that were exactly the same. In fact, they all have a different personality. From the moment you power them up, they come to life each in their own unique way.

I have access to several computers each day. They all have their own quirks. It's probably due to the different components in each.

Some boot up fast, some boot up slow. Some have a hiccup, some are smooth.
The cursor beatS almost like a heart. If it stops, you know some thing's wrong.

Once you learn their idiosynchrosies, then you know how to make them work at their peak performance. And you know when they aren't feeling well.

Yes, PCs are not all the same. Or is it just me?

MAC in the house!

Well, we finally have our first MAC computer in the house.

It's a notebook and I must say, I'm very impressed. From the start it has been very easy to set up and use. And it comes with quite a variety of programs.

There's a movie-making program which allows you to edit your home videos. And there's a program called Garage Band. You can actually record several tracks of instruments and put it all together for your own CD.

We're just starting to use it, but everyone who has tried it has smiled.