Re: Garage sale pc

If you have or can obtain drivers for the machine, the wipe/reload is
definitely the way to go.  Depending on the machine's resources, I'd
reload with either 98 (already paid for) or XP Home (cheapest upgrade).
Reloading 98 solved many stability problems.  Beyond the OS, I'd do:

- The Zone Labs security suite:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/promotions/sweepstakes/index.jsp?campaign_
id=01302 to gain AV, firewall, and anti-spyware.  (Alternate: The free
version of Grisoft's AVG AV product at free.grisoft.com coupled with
Counterspy anti-spyware ($20) + Kerio personal firewall ($15) from
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/shop.cfm)
- OpenOffice from openoffice.org is free and will read/write MS Office
docs.  Or see if you qualify to buy an educational license for MS Office
or, probably even better, a Home Use license (depends on your employer's
relationship with MS).  I got MS Office Pro for $20 via our Home Use
program.  Another alternative would be to look for a cheap copy of the
WordPerfect suite; I haven't checked on it lately.
- Firefox for browsing unless you're glued to IE.

As an aside, considering the low price of decent new machines, I hope
the garage sale PC was pretty cheap.

Other aside: Depending on specs, the machine may not be able to play
modern games.  Modern games are about the most demanding consumer-level
apps out there.

John A. Jones, CISSP
Americas Information Security Officer
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.
V: +1-630-455-2787 F: +1-312-601-1782
john.jones@xxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 12:20 PM
To: pctech@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCTECH] Garage sale pc

We bought a garage sale PC with 98 on it.  Problems with it is that it
seems to lock up a bit.  I guess I've gotten used to the stability of
2000 and XP (granted any rabid anti MS person will think that's an
oxymoron). 
Another problem is that my wife would feel better using it than my work
one.  But she uses Excel alot to do books for her mom (who uses some
version of Windows) and a friends ceramics shop.

Kids want to play games on it.

I had a local downtown business do some work, like swap out a CD drive
for a DVD drive.  This business caters to home users.  Pretty low key
but did nice work in the past.

I'm thinking of:
- having the local business "reload" the computer with 98 to get all the
crap that the previous owner had on it off.  Then I'd still have to get
an office suite.
- erasing the disk and loading linux on it.  And some open office stuff.
- Getting a new PC with the latest version of windows for the home user,
and an office suite.

The thought process is -not- to use this as a learning machine for me to
learn linux.

What do you think?

Rob Berendt
--
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
PO Box 2000
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

--
This is the PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users (PcTech) mailing
list To post a message email: PcTech@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe,
unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/pctech
or email: PcTech-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at
http://archive.midrange.com/pctech.


This email is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only.  If you have 
received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and then 
delete it.  If you are not the intended recipient, you must not keep, use, 
disclose, copy or distribute this email without the author's prior permission.  
We have taken precautions to minimize the risk of transmitting software 
viruses, but we advise you to carry out your own virus checks on any attachment 
to this message.  We cannot accept liability for any loss or damage caused by 
software viruses.  The information contained in this communication may be 
confidential and may be subject to the attorney-client privilege. If you are 
the intended recipient and you do not wish to receive similar electronic 
messages from us in the future then please respond to the sender to this effect.