computer problem

[Irish_Alley]

OK heres the deal. my mom;s computer is like a 200 has windows me and is a Compaq. just got her high speed, went to windowsupdats.com and updated the computer as far as downloads. they connect to your computer and run test on what you need and all. thats taken care of now i need to find a good free virus cleaner that will find viruses and errors in the computer any suggestions. o yeah it also has problems with some .dll files so that has to be fixed I'm hoping a error fixer will fix that

[zieg85]

I have used AVG with no issues.  I also installed Spybot that I manually ran weekly.  Same computer for 8 years, never shut off.

For Windows XP Microsoft Security Essentials works great.

[Donut]

I don't trust any of the "magic, fix-all" programs.  AVG free or AVAST (also freeware) I have used for my antivirus.  Spybot Search and Destroy, for spyware.  SpywareBlaster blocks spyware from being downloaded.  It also works well with Spybot S+D.

AVG free http://www.avg.com/us-en/product-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
Spybot S+D http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html (choose download mirror)
SpywareBlaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Both the spyware programs have to be updated manually.

.dll files, I usually do them manually (if I can remember how) or either a repair/new install.

Before I get to carried away with a computer, I'll run a disk check and defrag in Windows, then find out who makes the Hard drive.  The manufacturer "usually" has a program that can test your disk to see if its good or failing.  Doing all this work stinks when you find out the disk is toast and needs replacement.

Of course, a good kid would upgrade Mom's machine when they upgrade theirs.

[VileZambonie]

Any anti-virus program you put on the machine will take it's already pathetically slow operation and make it even slower. There's so many deals out there now why not get mom a new xmas present?

[smitty77]

Any anti-virus program you put on the machine will take it's already pathetically slow operation and make it even slower. There's so many deals out there now why not get mom a new xmas present?

I just saw a rockin' deal at Staples.com for a Compag priced at $399, and another $120 will get you a widescreen flat-panel monitor to go with it.  Hard to go wrong there.

Last year I bought my wife a Lenovo (who makes Thinkpads for IBM) S10 netbook, before netbooks became all the rage, for $399.  It's great for web surfing, e-mail, and MS Word.  Battery life is good, and it's small enough to bring anywhere.  The wife leaves it on 24/7 she can surf the web instantly from the easy chair.  She'll even take it into the kitchen to cook as she has most of her recipes loaded on it.  I bought it on a lark, not expecting much from such a small machine - I was hoping it would run smoothly enough to surf the web, but wasn't expecting much else.  One year later, I'm still amazed!  She uses it everyday, and it has performed far beyond what I expected for what I paid for it.

Bottom line, a new PC is well worth the cost if you can swing it.  At the very least dump Windows ME for a stripped version of XP - ME was a short-lived turd of an operating system for more than a few reasons.

[Irish_Alley]

yeah i had xp on it at one point but didn't like how it ran so i took it back off and put me back on i think it is time to change. i wouldn't have a problem with a new computer but I'll have to talk to the wife lol i think I'll try to fix this one, try to make it last a little longer

[Donut]

Trying to upgrade and old one can be more expensive than going newer generation, for instance, I've got an older AMD based machine, to upgrade 1 stick of memory (512 mb DDR) is about 45.00, last winter I put in ( my main machine) 2- 2gb DDR2 (4gb total) for the same money.

Do you have any friends that upgrade their computers often?  They're the ones that will have one kicking around that they don't use anymore that will still be twice the machine your mother has now.  (even the little "netbooks" are better than what she has now).

smitty77- I was in Staples yesterday looking at the same Compaq, I was going to buy it.  By the time I grabbed a salesman, another had hung a "sold out" tag on it and the sale ended yesterday.

yeah i had xp on it at one point but didn't like how it ran so i took it back off and put me back on i think it is time to change. i wouldn't have a problem with a new computer but I'll have to talk to the wife lol i think I'll try to fix this one, try to make it last a little longer

Pay attention to the memory requirements of the operating system, with XP, 1 gb. was nice. 2 gb. was even better (IMO).  If you do decide to purchase now, just about everything comes installed with Windows 7.

[smitty77]

smitty77- I was in Staples yesterday looking at the same Compaq, I was going to buy it.  By the time I grabbed a salesman, another had hung a "sold out" tag on it and the sale ended yesterday.

That stinks.  Don't fret, I'm sure they'll have some other deals coming up soon.  OfficeMax has some good deals too.  They beat Staples by $30 on an All-in-one printer I got for the wife ($119 vs $149, regular price $199), but I couldn't get to the store yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find they offered free shipping on most orders over $50 at OfficeMax.com.  Only problem is - it's backordered and supposed to ship in 5-14 days so I'm crossing my fingers it arrives before x-mas.  Shopping online is becoming the norm for us as most places offer a "free shipping promo" during the holidays, and it's a no-brainer if we have a local store that will take online returns if there's a problem.  Almost zero risk, and you don't have to fight the crowds.

We did photo x-mas cards for the second year now through Walmart photo - we just upload photos and design the card online and got free shipping to the house and only paid $12 for 30 cards, and we didn't have to drag the kids out in the cold rain and wait in line with the masses.  Ordered them last Tuesday, got a notice that they shipped Thursday, probably have them by Monday or Tuesday this week at the latest.  What a country!

[Irish_Alley]

shhhhhhhhh you all are going to hurt this old Compaq's feelings

[Donut]

Then do what I do, Tell it to "get with the program or it get's replaced"   (this sometimes works for trucks too)