New Computer

Hi, Bob,

I did change out the graphics card a while back to a more nicer one. I thought everything would be good. I didn't just go out and buy a computer, I checked reviews, what I could afford and what was out at the time a couple years back.

Unfortunately, I didn't get stuck with a very nice computer. Instead its been the computer you want to kill. The other computers on the shelf when I bought it at Best Buy's turned out to be all bad, all with different odd defects, in turn I got stuck with this one.

It's been a living nightmare since. I've had to replace so much on it. It shuts down when it pleases, it starts up when it feels like it. It stopped burning dvd, it no longer won't, I can't always get it to write cds as well now. Floppies don't work anymore in it. I've had to replace fans, power supplies, all sorts of stuff. I've had to reformat, reinstall windows more than once. It doesn't let me run it past about 35 minutes anymore before freezing itself, and the list just goes on.

Many fit some "just big enough" power supply. The details are lacking but it's a common issue. Heat is also a common issue. I think a little work could make life better for this machine. Here's my short list.

1. Monster power supply. Try 450 or more Watts.
2. Scans with EWIDO, Housecall and eject all they find.
3. Stop using Internet Explorer and turn off the Email preview.
4. Run IEFIX to push all the settings back to normal.
5. Check for a BIOS update.
6. Without using the Driver Update button look for updates to motherboard, video, audio and printer drivers.
7. Leave the case cover off to sniff out a heat issue.
8. No dust bunnies and make sure the fans are running plus the heatsinks are without a lint blanket.

Bob

Hi, I've only read a little on Windows Vista, when is it set to be out? I might still try to get a new computer now; I'm scared that the computer I have now will die while I'm doing my work and I'll loose everything. So if there are any computers now that you recommend at the moment please tell me. Thank you for your help.

Though at 7 months away that is subject to change and is why I don't think I'd wait that long to get a new computer.

Do you back up your data now?

Regards,
JB

Wow, 7 months. If it was a little closer, I might have tried to wait it out, lol and beg that my computer now didn't die or develop another problem.

I was looking at an HP pavilion model at Circuit City. The memory, the hard drive was the same, it comes with Lightscribe dvd/cd writing.

I feel lost at trying to pick a new computer, I would like it somewhat better than the one I have now. I have a nice NVidia graphics card, so I'm not worried about the type that comes with the computer. I don't want a computer where everything is connected; Where if one part goes, the whole computer does.

I want to be able to play games with ease, do work with as much ease possible. I have an Athlon AMD 3000+ right now, in your opinion do you perfer Athlon over Intel or vice versa?

Thank you!

I think I'd have to say I prefer Intel if only because I haven't had a computer that used an AMD CPU yet and I've only had a handful of computers in my life that were IBM compatibles.

Right now if I had to get a computer I think I'd likely get an Athlon X2 but that's if I couldn't wait. I'm holding out for the Intel Core 2 Duos to come out before I get a new desktop as my last one, a P3 650 MHz PC that I had since 2001, died a few months back and I'm making do with a laptop that has a Pentium M CPU. Depending on how eager to get a desktop I am when the Core 2 Duos come out, I may try to wait till Vista but right now I'm not sure I want to wait that long.

Regards,
JB

Turn off caps lock in the subject title also. Much more friendly.


Kees