Buying Windows

Fightsback

Miroslav wrote: »

My biggest concern is the security. Does it have Firewalls/Anti Virus etc on it so it would be safe to internet bank on it etc?

There are virtually no known wild Linux viruses and almost all distros come with a firewall superior to the one that ships with windows. It's perfectly safe for banking however no system is fool proof and the biggest security risk to any OS sits between the screen and chair. You are still vulnerable fake websites and spearfishing emails that induce you to divulge your login credentials just like any other OS. Windows viruses and malware will not run on Linux. I personally never use Windows for financial transactions, only Linux.

Miroslav

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Details?
Brand name and model number?
Motherboard description?

Dell Optiplex 780.

Not sure of Motherboard but the person who gave it to me says they've never changed anything in the machine from it's factory defaults. The only thing that changed was the deletion of Windows as they were getting rid.

Fightsback wrote: »

There are virtually no known wild Linux viruses and almost all distros come with a firewall superior to the one that ships with windows. It's perfectly safe for banking however no system is fool proof and the biggest security risk to any OS sits between the screen and chair. You are still vulnerable fake websites and spearfishing emails that induce you to divulge your login credentials just like any other OS. Windows viruses and malware will not run on Linux. I personally never use Windows for financial transactions, only Linux.

That sounds ok. We're pretty careful anyway. This was one of my biggest concerns thus always thinking of trying Linux but never going ahead with it.

NiftyDigits

Miroslav wrote: »

Dell Optiplex 780.

Not sure of Motherboard but the person who gave it to me says they've never changed anything in the machine from it's factory defaults. The only thing that changed was the deletion of Windows as they were getting rid.




That sounds ok. We're pretty careful anyway. This was one of my biggest concerns thus always thinking of trying Linux but never going ahead with it.

Service Tag?

Sending you a PM in order to check the state of the licence.

steviebabes

There is a way of turning a laptop into an unofficial chromebook. For the uses you mention a chromebook would be fine. Have a look at http://getchrome.eu/download.php or google chromium o/s

Miroslav

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Service Tag?

Sending you a PM in order to check the state of the licence.

Can't see anything relating to a service tag BUT their is a Windows & Home licence sticker....how do I find if it's still active and usable? Or can they have transferred it to another PC?

It says - Windows 7 Home Prem OA DELL.

NiftyDigits

Miroslav wrote: »

Can't see anything relating to a service tag BUT their is a Windows & Home licence sticker....how do I find if it's still active and usable? Or can they have transferred it to another PC?

It says - Windows 7 Home Prem OA DELL.

Do you know how much RAM is installed?

Miroslav

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Do you know how much RAM is installed?

4GB of RAM.

Miroslav

steviebabes wrote: »

There is a way of turning a laptop into an unofficial chromebook. For the uses you mention a chromebook would be fine. Have a look at http://getchrome.eu/download.php or google chromium o/s

Oooh.

I'm going to check it out now. Even if I don't use it for this, I have an old HP Vista machine i'd like to do something with too.

gjchester

Miroslav wrote: »

Or can they have transferred it to another PC?

It says - Windows 7 Home Prem OA DELL.

OEM licensees cannot be legally transferred to another machine, the box is still licensed for a W7 Home OS Install.

NiftyDigits

You can skip the first PM for now. Just go on to the one I've just sent.