Help needed in getting a new computer.

gizmoleeds · 3 December 2005 at 2:39PM

GIRLPOWER wrote:

I am pricing up a package on the dell site and microsoft works is included... does that include word and exel?????

Works includes its own word processor and spreadsheet which are based on Word and Excel but are not as good.

If you have Word and Excel for your current PC though then just use those disks to put it on your new one.

intel · 3 December 2005 at 2:39PM

GIRLPOWER wrote:

We save everything and have a great lady in to do the books and vat return so she sorts all that out... but I am trying to get involved and start doing the accounts myself using sage so will have a lot to learn... I also have a full time job and 3 young children so need everything to be as quick as possible.

I am pricing up a package on the dell site and microsoft works is included... does that include word and exel?????

Works does include theese two but its a very stripped down version if you can get office I would do that, try ebay for Office 2000 premium its the dogs danglies, not forgetting open office,, over to Gizmo.

GIRLPOWER_2 · 3 December 2005 at 2:50PM

You two have been great I am very thankful for the help.. I am just in the middle or ordering one now.... this one...

D12511) Dimension 5150 3.0GHz

£411
Includes VAT & Shipping

this price includes them installing it......I know a waste of money but I would break it!!!

I got the e code from a previous thread of 305 d12511

The only thing is it says that dell internet order is inclused and does not seem to give me the option to cancel it... does this mean that i would be signing up with them for internet access as I am contacted for a few more months with Tesco. ??????????????????

Also included in this system

The following options are default selections included with your order

Free Monitor Upgrade from 17"CRT to 15"FP

Dell Internet Order.

Adobe Reader 6.0 - English

1-Year Collect and Return service

System Documentation with UK Power Cord

List D12511 Dimension 5150

Dimension Order - UK

albertross_2 · 3 December 2005 at 3:21PM

I have to agree with Intel, your current PC spec should be fine for what you need to do, and buying a new one is probably a waste of money, whether you treat it as a business expense or not..

Everyone seems to report that their PC's are grindng to a halt nowadays, and go out and buy a new one every couple of years to fix it. Unless you are a gamer, or do CAD work, then this is throwing money down the drain. Using the internet and Word is not a processor intensive activity. It was possible on PC's 10-15 years ago, and more modern PC's are much more powerful.

Before replacing a PC, everyone should ask the question, "Was it slow when I bought it?"

If not, then the only thing that will have slowed it down is the software or configuration changes that have been done since you bought it. If the O/S has been upgraded to XP since you bought it, then a bit more RAM may help.

The virus scanner can cause the PC to grind to a halt, as can the list of icons in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Try closing them, and disabling the virus scanner (temporarily!), to see if it speeds things up. Failing that, follow the advice about ccleaner above, run windowsupdate (https://www.windowsupdate.com), install and run ad-aware from lavasoft.com, Microsoft anti-spyware Beta ( http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en ), and do a full virus scan on the PC (making sure that the virus scanner patterns have been updated first).

If you have picked up any rogue software, then these checks should find it.

If you can't find out what is causing the slowdown, then ask your PC guy to backup your data, and reinstall the O/S to the state it was when you bought it, usually done using the recovery CD you should have got with it.

gizmoleeds · 3 December 2005 at 3:24PM

GIRLPOWER wrote:

The only thing is it says that dell internet order is inclused and does not seem to give me the option to cancel it... does this mean that i would be signing up with them for internet access as I am contacted for a few more months with Tesco. ??????????????????

It is nothing to do with the internet. It is a duff entry to make a note of the fact you ordered over the internet. Quite a few of the things listed on the invoice are duff entries.

albertross_2 · 3 December 2005 at 3:25PM

Looks like my post was too late, but you could still follow it and keep the old one as a second PC..

If you are keeping confidential business data on your PC, then you could use the old one for internet access only, to safeguard your business data from prying eyes, viruses, hackers etc..

gizmoleeds · 3 December 2005 at 3:29PM

albertross wrote:

Looks like my post was too late, but you could still follow it and keep the old one as a second PC..

Yep. Once you've transferred your stuff to the new PC give the old one a complete reformat and reinstallation of Windows (you should have the Windows XP CD somewhere - just put it in before you start the PC).

Then use it as a second PC or a personal PC.

GIRLPOWER_2 · 3 December 2005 at 3:49PM

albertross wrote:

Looks like my post was too late, but you could still follow it and keep the old one as a second PC..

If you are keeping confidential business data on your PC, then you could use the old one for internet access only, to safeguard your business data from prying eyes, viruses, hackers etc..

yep to late gave up on trying to use the web page and telephoned..(have to hang up 5 times till I got through to a uk based person who could understand me) but ordered the d12511 at £411 including vat and del and them installing it and giving me a demo. :j :j :j

The comp guy has done all the above with the comp I am using.. It was not to slow when I purchased it and it does seem to be the anti virus and pop up blockers etc that really slow it down.

I have a 14 year old son who also uses my pc to play music from them bloody sites and this is where all the real problems with my machine have come from. I have banned him from kazzar but my comp person says that linewire is safe so he's been using that.

I will give him this laptop for his bedroom and get him some pay as you go internet on it for him... unless I can connect him to my broadband.(which would be another tech question at some point)

Thanks everyone for all you help and support. :T

albertross_2 · 3 December 2005 at 4:21PM

Using file sharing programs like Kazaa may be the source of your problem, you are allowing other people to connect to your PC, and have probably got this software permanently running in the background, slowing the PC down. Personally I wouldn't touch this type of stuff with a bargepole..

You are also legally responsible for what your son is downloading, and the music/film companies are becoming increasingly aggresive at tracking down and prosecuting illegal downloaders..

And before you ask.. suggest you forget about the PAYG if you already have broadband, get a Netgear DG834G (for BT phone lines, or a DSL model for cable) broadband wireless router (or similar), wireless card or usb dongle (if you don't already wireless built into the laptop), read and implement (V. important!!) all the recent wireless security tips which I and others have posted on this forum.

A router will also protect your new PC from a lot of the nasties on the internet (I am assuming that you have a broadband usb modem at the moment), so is a good investment anyway. Should cost around £50-60..

GIRLPOWER_2 · 3 December 2005 at 5:04PM

albertross wrote:

Using file sharing programs like Kazaa may be the source of your problem, you are allowing other people to connect to your PC, and have probably got this software permanently running in the background, slowing the PC down. Personally I wouldn't touch this type of stuff with a bargepole..

You are also legally responsible for what your son is downloading, and the music/film companies are becoming increasingly aggresive at tracking down and prosecuting illegal downloaders..

And before you ask.. suggest you forget about the PAYG if you already have broandband, get a Netgear DG834G (for BT phone lines, or a DSL model for cable) broadband wireless router (or similar), wireless card or usb dongle (if you don't already wireless built into the laptop), read and implement (V. important!!) all the recent wireless security tips which I and others have posted on this forum.

A router will also protect your new PC's from a lot of the nasties on the internet (I am assuming that you have a broadband usb modem at the moment).

All the problems did start from Kazzar and still even since we have used the disc with the red cross on to re set the computer to its starting point it is still alot slower.. the little light that flashes everytime you ask it to do something is always flashing even when your not pressing anything!!!!

I don't know know the tech term but this lap top does not allow you to put anything from the computer onto a disc only from a disc onto the computer. so it only downloads to the desktop... not sure if that is still illeagal.

And I have not got a clue what you mean about wireless routers will have to get someone in.. I must have a built in modem as we used to have pay as you go but now it's connected with the one tesco sent me when I signed in for broadband.

Help needed in getting a new computer.

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