Dont' spill coffee on your keyboard and email me. MUST READ!!!!

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
This AM I spilled coffee on my keyboard and that precipitated my current computer disaster. The computer went insane for some reason and I had to run the recovery disc and reinstall a lot of programs including AOL. In the process I lost my AOL filing cabinet and address book so I'm starting over. AOL users is it worth it to install version 8? If so now is the time to do it. Last time I went from 5 to 6 I lost everything in that process, too.

So, everybody email me so I'll have your email address and if you have a pending order be SURE to email me with details.

I ended up running to Circuit City and buying a new "spill proof" keyboard.
 
Uncle Bill, now might be an execellent time to free yourself of that d@mn AOL virus once and for all ;)
 
I'm running AOL 4.0 which is the version that came with this computer and is the only one that consistently works (more or less). The other versions have either failed to install properly or self-destructed at some point. As far as I can tell, each "improved version" differs from 40 only in offering more opportunities for AOL`to bombard people with their inhouse spam, offering ways to fine-tune systems I don't use (being interrupted by an unsolicited message from a "Buddy" was a nightmare when I had that feature enabled), and taking up more and more of the screen area with useless controls. And it costs more than anyone else! I ought to have my head examined for keeping it:o
 
Many thanks for AOL sympathy. I started with them and got so ingrained I find it difficult to extract myself.

The upside is when I was down at Circuit City buying a new spillproof keyboard (I NEVER spill Heineken, only coffee, water, non important stuff) I discovered they had a computer available which would take the hard drive out of this one so I could save everything and have the new stuff, too. I'm pondering a new system.

Advice from the experts????
 
Yes, don't buy anything from the Computer stores or Wally World.

Call Dell or go to their website.

www.dell.com

I am a computer tech that has been in the business for about 16 years.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Jim, many thanks. I'll consult with you via email before I do anything.
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No problem Bill, anything to help.:)
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
I never met a Marine I didn't like.
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Thanks Bill.:D

We are a special breed, once you understand us you are half way there.

Honor has alot to do with it.:)
 
It takes one to know one.

I never was a tough guy and would have landed in an office if I'd gone in the Corps but I once hit a nail polish bottle at 100 yards with an antique .22 and could run faster than any Marine I ever met. It's an old Aikido trick. When you've run'em out of gas then turn and do your thing.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Many thanks for AOL sympathy. I started with them and got so ingrained I find it difficult to extract myself.

The upside is when I was down at Circuit City buying a new spillproof keyboard (I NEVER spill Heineken, only coffee, water, non important stuff) I discovered they had a computer available which would take the hard drive out of this one so I could save everything and have the new stuff, too. I'm pondering a new system.

Advice from the experts????
Click to expand...


Uncle,

I still have your 'AOL-escape plan' ready when and if you ever want to try to make a run for it ;)

FOr a new system, I agree with Ank that you're much better off not buying from a Computer Shop like Circuit City, but direct from a manufacturer or perhaps even better from one of the places that makes custom systems (small places rather than big companies like Dell). For the latter you're probably better off getting a system put together by someone nearby or at least in Nevada, and maybe someone nearby you can advise?

But I imagine you're safe going with whatever Ank advises :)
 
I found I could not build a system much cheaper than DELL if I put one together, but at least I'd know what was in it. So I put a box together with Intel motherboard, NVidia 440MX video, Celeron 1.8, Maxtor 60 GB HD and decent RAM for about US$450.

I cheaped out, but got brand name components and the thing is plenty fast enough. The slowest computers these days will outrun most all of the software and games you could throw at 'em.

Dells are good too though, and happen to come with software and warranty. :)

I never saw the Dell dude commercial so I don't have a distaste for Dell. I haven't been much on watching that idiot box over the past five years...:)
 
About reusing your old hard drive in a new computer, that's easy and virtually all computers you can buy will accept a second hard drive. But don't make the mistake of trying to use *only* your old hard drive. If you do, Windows will drive you crazy with reinstallations and finding dozens of pieces of new hardware (many of which you never heard of) and then rebooting after each device comes on line.

Also, hard drives are so cheap now that it doesn't make sense not to get a new, high-capacity disk with a new system. I'm seeing 60GB drives selling for $69, which to an old-timer like me is mind-blowing.

Heck, for that matter I've got almost enough spare parts around the house (I review computer equipment for a living) to build you one myself for just the cost of those few pieces I have to buy. Lt me know if you're interested and I'll do a quick inventory.
 
The guy at Circuit City showed me a little compaq that I liked. One screw and the thing opened up. Had a 60GB hard drive and a slot for my old hard drive -- 2 plugs. 2.5 MH or so -- plenty fast. Lots of USB ports. Had the flat panel screen. A thousand bucks.

How to you tell the computer which hard drive you want to use? Can I simply copy stuff off my old hard drive onto new? My DSL goes phone line to model to a card I had to install. Can I plug into new computer and go? Will my old printer and scanner work with new computer? HP 722C and 5100C.

I'm open to suggestions.
 
I don't know if Compaq has changed, but they used to be somewhat proprietary, with onboard video and no way to change out the motherboard unless you got a new case. HP was bad too. Del was fine if you got a standard size case.

To tell the computer which hard drive you want to use, you have to set up one as 'Master' and the other as 'Slave'. You have to set jumpers on the back of each hard drive, and the jumper settings have to match the position on the hard drive IDE cable. Ankerson likely knows WAY more about this than I do. In the end I just decided to sell my old HD with my old box. I was upgrading from an old 12 to a newer and faster 60 GB anyway.

The other way is to simply unplug your CD-ROM, plug it into your old hard drive, and boot up. The BIOS should automatically detect both hard drives. Then you just move everything you want to keep (except program and system files) off your old drive onto the new one. Once you are sure you have everything, unplug your old drive, plug your CD-ROM back in, close the case and you have a new computer with your old data on it. This is what I did, and it was easy for me. YMMV though, and I'd feel better if someone knowledgable was around to help you with your data transfer.

If your new computer, whichever you get, has onboard LAN, then you won't need to install the card from your old machine.

Your 722C and 5100C should work fine, though you may need to download drivers from hp.com.

If anyone else can comment please do, as I am a part-timer when it comes to computer hardware. I have worked on this stuff off and on since 1989, but not all the time.

Hope this helps,
Phil
 
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