HELP!! Computer help please.

[Superior Shine]

I hardly know a thing about computers. My old one keeps freezing. 7 techs and and over a year later I am done with it.

I am looking for a desktop that I need to run a client management program, a quickbooks program, a print shop program and to surf the internet. I need it to run my office 2003 software also. I download pics to it from my dig camera.

I will use it to load my ipod as well. I am not a gamer, I don't watch movies on it, etc..

My old computer is (except for the freezing ) sufficient. It is a 5 year old HP that runs WINDOWS XP home edition, AMD XP3000, 2.16GHz, 448MB.


What should I get to replace it with.

Thanks

[ZoranC]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Joe, I will PM you my cell number in a moment as I am in IT industry.

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Reinstall Windows with XP Professional?

If you're set on a new computer, I would recommend a laptop. If you're set on using Windows, get a Dell. Otherwise, the Mac is a great choice. It's so easy to do just about anything with the Mac. It takes 2 minutes to make a professional movie with iMovie, and you can edit and maintain a photo collection with similar ease in iPhoto.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

I would try reinstalling windows on it first.

[Superior Shine]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Here is what has been done-

System restored with my discs
system restore with a friends disc
geek squad worked on it
computer warranty service have sent no less than 5 techs over
everything has been replaced twice
yes my money had been refunded even after owning it over 4 years

Computer works perfect except for the freezing every now and then.


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[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Geek Squad is not highly regarded from what I hear from their clients. A system restore is different, I think, than a complete reinstall. When you do a reinstall, everything is new and the offending bits are removed.

The downside is that you will need a full, XP Pro CD and that all information will be removed during the formatting. If it's truly a software problem, this will fix it.

[ZoranC]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

If you're set on a new computer, I would recommend a laptop.

Laptops dissipate internal heat much less efficiently than desktops. Heat significantly decreases lifespan of a computer. I have never had a quality desktop die on me even after many years of use. I have had many notebooks die on me even after just a year of use.

If you're set on using Windows, get a Dell.

New York sued Dell over number of reasons:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/27/dell.lawsuit/

[ZoranC]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

I'm just off the phone with Joe and there is no clear indicator this is a Windows install/config issue. I am not completely outruling it yet for number of reasons so clean install is still one of options to pursue after we check foundation (clean supply of power, BIOS settings, and health of basic components).

[Superior Shine]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Thank you Zoran!!!!!!!!!!

[GSKTech]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

my 2 cents,

I had a pc that would freeze all the time and it ended up being a memory problem. (wrong speed)

You might want to make sure that the memory is the correct type and speed for your c'puter.

Good luck Joe.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

If it hasn't been done recently, it's important to clean the dust off the heatsink using canned air.

If you do need to reinstall Windows, don't worry about getting XP Pro if you already have Home. It's not worth the upgrade if you're already using home.


Have you thought about adding a bit more ram? 1gig would really help speed things up and make it more reliable. Being five years old, the ram is probably DDR. Two sticks of DDR400 512mb will do you just fine.

[yalerd]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

If Windows is not a problem then something with
1. Memory
2. Motherboard
3. PSU

I work with HP Computers and I had a similar problem, yes you have to make test to know exactly what's going on but the problem was the the PC kept on freezing as well, in the end we changed the Motherboard and that was about it.

If it's a memory problem it won't be because of a wrong memory speed problem, HP has Spare Parts Number all over the devices, when changed you get the exact same configuration. If it's a memory problem it could be that the module is damaged OR that the motherboard DIMM slots are having some problems

In the end Joe, if you want to change your computer then do it. You can get a new HP if you think the one that you have has done a good job, HP Workstations are in a great price right now

Being five years old, the ram is probably DDR. Two sticks of DDR400 512mb will do you just fine.

If you are looking for some upgrade or looking at this alternative then you can give me your P/N # and I would find the exact memory that your computer uses

If you do need to reinstall Windows, don't worry about getting XP Pro if you already have Home. It's not worth the upgrade if you're already using home.

Joe, if you still have it, use your recovery partition, you can access it by restarting the computer and pressing F11, this is the way to reformat the drive again (by doing this you will loose all your data and it will reinstall windows and all the drivers and programs, the configuration will be as it came from the factory) and it's pretty user friendly

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Laptops dissipate internal heat much less efficiently than desktops. Heat significantly decreases lifespan of a computer. I have never had a quality desktop die on me even after many years of use. I have had many notebooks die on me even after just a year of use.


New York sued Dell over number of reasons:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/27/dell.lawsuit/

Desktops don't fit very well into a backpack or briefcase. Nor are the able to operate independent of an electrical outlet. So, that rules out taking one to business meetings, school, etc.

About the lawsuit, well, I have only had good experiences with Dell. In my family, we've owned four Dell computers, three of them laptops, and they have all been great. Good customer service, too. At least, when you're not re-routed to India.

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

What about the cost of a laptop?

If you found a desktop and a laptop of equal performance, the laptop would cost a lot more.

Computers will always cause fights (Windows vs. Mac, desktop vs. laptop, Nvidia vs. ATi, Intel vs. AMD, WD vs. Seagate, etc), so I'm staying out of this one.

[ZoranC]

Re: HELP!! Computer help please.

Thank you Zoran!!!!!!!!!!

Any time Joe! Do not hesitate to call.