NationStates Jolt Archive

It is very sad, for me at least, that I managed to kill my grandparents computer.
Y'see, I usualy lean my foot against the backboard of the desk, above all the assorted wires and such that connec to the computer, and one day, my foot slips and snags a wire on the way down. The computer gets a little bump, it didnt look serious at the time.
The computer was off at the time though, 'cause I was watching TV, so I had no idea anything was wrong.
I turned the computer on, and it promptly goes about rapidly reseting itself.
This is the point where I went "Oh shit..."
Well, nothing we tried could fix it, so we took it to a repair guy. He tells us that it looks like the power supply shorted out directly into the motherboard, resulting in the RAM, graphics card and processor getting fried. Fortunatly the harddrive is okay.
So now Im trying to help my grandparents get a new computer, the least I can do, but he seems to be set on getting another crappy Compaq. I try to tell people that if you can, avoid pre-built computers. But I guess he doesnt mind that they suck horribly and are hard to upgrade/replace parts of.

But, for now, Im on this WONDERFUL little 1996 Compaq, with its "commanding" 300mhz Pentium II, an 'amazing' 64mb of RAM, and an 8 gig harddrive the size of a dinner plate. At least I got the DSL working on it, the problem is that it doesnt have a firewall/virus scanner/anything, so after one day I downloaded Adaware and did a full system scan, which turned up ~300 critical objects.
About thirty of these critical objects are of the sort that come back constantly and make lots of popups. Its almost painful, considering the age of this computer, and the loud clicking noises it makes when its thinking.
I suppose Ill have to go back to reading books or something :P

Ouch, that's terrible.

Maybe you should remind this gentleman that he knows doodly-fuck-shit about computers.

If that doesn't work, appeal to the wallet. Tell him that pre-built is more expensive for inferior quality.

removing the spyware REALLY clears up the slow bullshit problem, I know

get ad-aware, spybot s&d and microsoft anti-spyware, that should clean it up decently, might want to get avg and do a virus scan as well. and dl spyware blaster and turn it on and turn on the immunization for spybot

Just to add to a previous point, be sure to get ZoneAlarm.

It may be stupid, but it does the job.

Just to add to a previous point, be sure to get ZoneAlarm.

It may be stupid, but it does the job.
Whatever firewall you get, don't get ZoneAlarm. It's a CPU hog and it has a nasty tendency to fuck up things. Anything's better than ZA.

Whatever firewall you get, don't get ZoneAlarm. It's a CPU hog and it has a nasty tendency to fuck up things. Anything's better than ZA.

I use it without too much trouble. I only recommended it since he doesn't seem to love his Compaq, so why spend money on it?

Just to add to a previous point, be sure to get ZoneAlarm.

It may be stupid, but it does the job.

It's been known to conflict with benign things and prevent access from the net. IMO, ZoneAlarm's shit.

If they don't have an antivirus, get one. Get the free Avast Antivirus at www.download.com if they won't pay for one (which is pointless to, if they're gonna get a new comp).

Incidentally, those specs sound EXACTLY like the comp my girlfriend's family has. *Shudders*Is evil. And they're running 98 on it, which I've never liked.

It's been known to conflict with benign things and prevent access from the net. IMO, ZoneAlarm's shit.

Well, I find it good for the price (free) and it works if you visit the Program Control every now and then.

And as I say, why pay 50 pounds on a firewall for a P.C that'll get thrown out of the window?

I think you should get a new iMac G5, then install Windows on it. I've always wanted to do that. :p

Well, I find it good for the price (free) and it works if you visit the Program Control every now and then.

And as I say, why pay 50 pounds on a firewall for a P.C that'll get thrown out of the window?
Good for you. Though I'd hate to run something like ZA on a 300MHz machine. Why? Because it eats up all his CPU resources.

That it usually has major issues with completely random things, is just one more straw. But the system specs is the main reason I think ZA would be a really bad choice.

Get another free firewall, or buy one you like and transfer it to the new machine. Or do something illegal ;)

I think you should get a new iMac G5, then install Windows on it. I've always wanted to do that. :p

Urgh. Wouldn't that kill it?

Good for you. Though I'd hate to run something like ZA on a 300MHz machine. Why? Because it eats up all his CPU resources.

That it usually has major issues with completely random things, is just one more straw. But the system specs is the main reason I think ZA would be a really bad choice.

Get another free firewall, or buy one you like and transfer it to the new machine. Or do something illegal ;)

Thanks.

I does that I admit, but I just pay close attention.

Other ones? Where?

Illegal? Like what?

Illegal? Like what?
i think he's referring to either illegally acquiring the software or installing multiple copies of the software under a license for only one copy, which is pretty common, even though it's normally illegal

I think you should get a new iMac G5, then install Windows on it. I've always wanted to do that. :p
or he could try to surf the net on a commodore 64. that idea makes as much sense as what you're suggesting.

or he could try to surf the net on a commodore 64. that idea makes as much sense as what you're suggesting.

Woah, that would be sweet! :p

Urgh. Wouldn't that kill it?Maybe, but I'll try anyway. :D :p



Oh...btw....can I borrow your computer a minute? *Hides software CD:D*

Maybe, but I'll try anyway. :D :p



Oh...btw....can I borrow your computer a minute? *Hides software CD:D*

Not right now. Sorry.

But feel free to try once I get a new one. Hell, send me the disk and I'll do it for you.

Woah, that would be sweet! :p
yes, but i don't think it has sufficient ram to actually load these forums, i was just saying it'd make more sense than the idea with the mac

yes, but i don't think it has sufficient ram to actually load these forums, i was just saying it'd make more sense than the idea with the mac

Dunno, really.

Hide a modern P.C inside a C64, it probably can be done.

Maybe you should remind this gentleman that he knows doodly-fuck-shit about computers.

If that doesn't work, appeal to the wallet. Tell him that pre-built is more expensive for inferior quality.
Yes, thats an EXCELLENT way to tell my grandparents, who are most likely the nicest people I know, that they need to do something else.
I already tried telling him that, but he seems to think Ill try to trick him into getting an uber-fast super-computer thing or something.
ALl said though, he mostly uses the computer for Email and Quicken, so he doesnt need a good one and he can spend his money how he likes.

I guess I should know better than to try and pity whore on NS by now. :P

Dunno, really.

Hide a modern P.C inside a C64, it probably can be done.
2 problems with that:
1. i'm pretty sure that a modern pc won't fit inside a standard c64 case
2. how are we going to hide the bits that aren't seen on a c64, like the VGA output (i'm pretty sure they used tv's as screens or at least, they didn't use VGA)

Yes, thats an EXCELLENT way to tell my grandparents, who are most likely the nicest people I know, that they need to do something else.
I already tried telling him that, but he seems to think Ill try to trick him into getting an uber-fast super-computer thing or something.
ALl said though, he mostly uses the computer for Email and Quicken, so he doesnt need a good one and he can spend his money how he likes.

I guess I should know better than to try and pity whore on NS by now. :P

I didn't actually mean say that exactly.

So why you moaning here???

I guess I should know better than to try and pity whore on NS by now. :P
yes, you should know better. there's no way you're getting pity from us sad losers (by which i mean me)

2 problems with that:
1. i'm pretty sure that a modern pc won't fit inside a standard c64 case
2. how are we going to hide the bits that aren't seen on a c64, like the VGA output (i'm pretty sure they used tv's as screens or at least, they didn't use VGA)

Well, if you use a Dremel and as much on-board stuff as posible, you'ld be safe.

I think.

Well, if you use a Dremel and as much on-board stuff as posible, you'ld be safe.

I think.
i don't know about you, but i've never heard of an on-board tv-out

Not right now. Sorry.

But feel free to try once I get a new one. Hell, send me the disk and I'll do it for you.LOL!