New Computer-Brand?-System?

[Cody C]

I am burning all of my files so that I can still use them, the hard disc is dying. What I am wondering is what is the best brand and opperating system to buy? Windows XP or Vista? What is the difference in the two? Can you still get XP?

[Craig A]

How old is your current computer?
Maybe a new hard drive is all you need, is easy to install and comes with a setup CD or floppy.....just follow the directions.
But if you don't have a legit operating system CD to reinstall XP you could be in trouble..............

Barring that...........by all means IF you wind up getting a new machine get one with Vista Premiun preloaded.......don't fall for any of the "UPGRADE" crap that comes with many current XP loaded machines.
As with XP, any "upgrade" never pans out............a clean install is the ONLY way to go!

But BEFORE you go to Vista........go to the M$ website and download the Vista hardware compatibilty wizard to see if your hardware even HAS Vista drivers or you'll be in even DEEPER doo doo..............

[Cody C]

It is 4-5 years old, the outside tin cover is getting HOT, it is making weird noises, being verry slow, and freezing frequintly.

[bocephus_k6]

Cody, check the power supply in the back of the tower, nake sure the fan is even turning, or if your familiar with a volt meter, pull the side cover and check the voltages on the power supply, on the 4 pin moles plugs, yellow should have 12V + and the red should have 5V + if they are under then thats why you are slowing down and freezing up alot, could very well be that the fan in the supply has gone bad and making the noise you hear , or the cpu fan, easy enuf to check and easy enuf to fix as well, if you replace the power supply use a decent brand and wattage, according to the year of your system likley a good 300 watt would do all you need and more, i use alot of thermaltake and enermax supplies.

Regards,

Brian

[bocephus_k6]

Windows Vista I would avoid like the plague, you should still be able to get XP if even in the OEM version,same thing just no fancy box, alot of the US government wont even use Vista,, whats that tell ya.?

If your hard drive is messing up most times you will hear a clunking noise from the read heads slapping the sides, if you can run a defrag your hard drive is fine.

Brian

[Craig A]

Governments and businesses aren't going to make the switch for two reasons.
They want ANY new OS running for 2 years minimum to give the developers time to get the bugs out AND the COST of switching entire industries over to new operating systems is enormous.
I will continue to use XP until MS stops supporting it.
IF I got a bug to build another computer I would build it "Vista ready" as I own two legit licenses for XP and am not coughing up hundreds more for Vista.
I've seen Vista.........I like it.......just takes some getting used to like any other new operating system.

[Brady]

I USUALLY REBUILD MY COMPUTERS WHEN THEY GET OVER 4-5 YRS OLD.

HONESTLY:
GATEWAY GIVE ME A BETTER DEAL THAN DELL, WITH ALOT MORE OPTIONS. IF YOU GET 4-5 YRS OUT OF A COMPUTER, THAT IS ABOUT AVERAGE & NORMAL LIFE-SPAND. TO STAY UPDATED, "RULE OF THUMB" , GOOD COMPUTERS COST $1 PER DAY X 3-5 YRS = $ 1300 ON UP. THIS IS WHAT I'VE FOUND OUT. JUST MY OPINION

[bocephus_k6]

I personally prefer to build my own systems, I dont like supporting the $2.00 an hour labour force that Dell, HP, Gateway and all the bigger companies use to sell to the north american market and then have to call tech support in India....now theres a real trip......when the bigger companies start putting their money back into the north american economy and not so much to the chinese and foreign countries I will start supporting them more.

Windows Vista is just like the change over from 98, to ME, to 2000, to XP....they toss it on the market and let the consumer fix their problems for them, so far from what I have seen from Vista, I will steer clear from it until they get their act togther and correct the issues it has....

Brian

[Eric M.]

Stick with XP. Vista causes RAM to disappear faster than a 6 pack of pudding pops in a teenager's fridge. It is a nice OS, but the interface is different and has too many bells and whistles.

[Fred M.]

Originally Posted by Cody C

I am burning all of my files so that I can still use them, the hard disc is dying. What I am wondering is what is the best brand and opperating system to buy?

Cody-

I see that the majority recommends the conservative approach, keeping the old OS. For that matter, you can keep the old computer a little longer. A new HD in an external case, can be backed-up-to using a program called something like "Ghost". If you use the correct program, the result will be bootable. You can then transfer the new HD into your computer, and go on as before.

Another approach that is a bit more radical, is to wait a few weeks until Apple's OS X version 10.5 is released. Then purchase the first Macintosh Intel computer that comes with 10.5 pre-installed, that has the form factor you want. With that machine and OS, you would be able to create a separate partition and install Vista (maybe XP, not sure). You then would have the ability to run all your old software that is compatible with Vista (or XP?), as well as run Macintosh and UNIX programs.

I have a hard time letting go of my favorite old programs, but you have to move on or get left behind.

Fred

[Craig A]

Eric is right about Vista sucking ram like a Hoover...........IF you wind up with a new Windows system get 2 gigs of RAM right off the bat.......probably set you back about an extra $100.......but money well spent.
The ONLY reason I build my own is because I have striped hard drives and whatnot which you can't normally get off the shelf without spending BIG money.
But at the price of building now versus the performance of the dual core processors I don't know if it's worth it anymore.......
I agree with Brady about Gateway. I NEED my "fix" and stop at Best Buy frequently to check things out.
If you don't THE fastest machine on the planet you can save $150-$200 going the AMD route vs. Intel too.
In fact I bought a Gateway for our church.....I like the hardware but the BEST part I like is the nVidia chipset and onboard graphics.
At this time nVidia has the best onboard graphics going so if you're a NOT TOO heavy gamer the onboard graphics will handle your games without buying a separate video card.
A LOT of the features in Vista can be disabled so you don't have to put up with all the "permissions" crapola every time you want to make a move.......
Google vista, vista bugs, vista problems and vista tweaks and see what you find.......
You'll find stuff that SHOULD be understandable to you.......

[Cody C]

Okay, next question: What is the difference between Acer Aspire Desktop with AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Processor 4400+ and eMachines Desktop with Intel® Pentium® D Processor 925?

[Craig A]

The latest Intel processors outperform the AMD's.............
Fortunately, unless you HAVE to play the most high powered games all that performance really won't matter to the average user and you'll save some money going the AMD route........
I'm hooked on AMD so, Intel buffs, please don't jump all over me.......
You can choose a lower end Intel cpu and probably come out, moneywise, too.
I forgot to mention.........there are 32 bit and 64 bit Vista platforms.
Going 64 bit is overkill as there are few programs written to run at 64 bit processing so keep that in mind too.
Another benefit of the nVidia platform is their use of "unified drivers".
In other words, PRETTY much, a "one size fits all" driver package which is pretty cool.
Even you DID download the wrong drivers the installer would stop the installation if you happened to choose the wrong drivers.
I'm not aware of any other developer who does that.
You mentioned Acer, who builds respectable stuff, and eMachines.
Let the eMachines gather dust in the retailer's store.
They're dirt cheap for a reason.......

BTW: For $10, and maybe free (I forgot), Gateway provides a REAL Windows CD in case your OS takes a dive.

[Paul B]

I just retired my old XP for a Vista, not sure yet but I am beginning to think I may have made a mistake.
This thing keeps coming up with changes in the program (ie) It started forcing me to turn it off instead of hibernating or I couldn't sign back on to the net.
I fixed that by pinning my provider to the start menu. It will lock up at the drop of a hat, gets super slow at times especially if it is running a update or some kind of scan. Doesn't seem to me to be a stable system.
But I don't claim to be a guru.
Paul

[Craig A]

Paul, as far as I know, using the Hibernate thing is not advised by anyone or anything I've ever read.
It seems when it goes into hibernation it uses every bit of system ram in doing so and when you come out of hibernation there is no available system left for the system to use..............
Try disabling hibernation and see if your problem goes away.
Heck.....I never had any luck using Standby.......so I don't use that either.

Here's the XP hardware check to see if your periferal hardware is Vista compatible:

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...deadvisor.mspx

[Cody C]

I just got an "Acer Aspire" set up.
thank you all