Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
June 27, 2005
Terry's Computer Tips newsletter - http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newletter for users of PC's.
Volume 1, Number 2 -- Monday, June 27, 2005
IN THIS ISSUE:
* A cautionary tale
* Original CDROM's versus Restore CD's
* Advertisement: Powweb
* Was it a premonition or just coincidence?
* Linux for Windows Users
* Shareware/Freeware Pick of the Week
* Advertisement: AllPosters.com
* New Microsoft Anti-spyware (beta) version
* Just For Fun
* and a Grin
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1. A cautionary tale -- keep your CDROMs An anonymous friend wrote to talk about his unfortunate experience uninstalling software:
Hi Terry:
Glad to be a part of your computer tips.
Here is one (don't) from personal experience.
I have been using WinFax but somehow it is not really compatible with the aol 9.0 software. It will receive a few pages but on a long fax it will "stick" somewhere after several pages.
My solution:
Remove WinFax and use the fax program that comes with either Windows XP or the Microsoft Works package. Sounds simple, right?
Office computer ( 3 year old Dell Dimension ) with Windows XP. Removed WinFax, took about one minute using add/remove function. All OK but still haven't figured out how to receive a fax, sending OK.
Home Computer (1.5 year old Dell Dimension) began same process. After about 5 minutes it looked to me that the computer was "stuck." I applied the tried and true hacker's solution, I turned the computer off via the button. Bad, bad mistake. When I turned it back on I got a black screen with one line message, system corrupted.
Thus began an hours long session with Micro Soft, a geography lesson, meeting techs from Banglore, and New Delhi as well as Nova Scotia. Finally restored the Windows XP but internet connection (cable and modem) blocked. See yellow question marks in device manager section.
Solution: Disconnect everything and take box to CompSolutions in the mall near my house. $130 later all fixed and now I am sending you this message via my cable connection.
Moral: Either learn more about computers, don't throw the cds away that come with the box, or simply do not turn off computer via button while program is working.
Thanks for the story. You're absolutely right -- always keep the CDs that come with your hardware and software. Most manufacturers, especially computer manufacturers and software companies, will not provide new CDROMs if you lose the originals.
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2. Original CDROMs versus Restore CDs
Some manufacturers provide you with original CDROMs. Those are the manufacturers who will get my business.
Other manufacturers take a cheaper option on Windows licensing -- they pay less to Microsoft if they give you a restore CD, since you can only use it with their motherboard. If your motherboard dies in warranty, you get another one from them and all is well. If it dies outside of warranty, you buy a new motherboard from them or a new motherboard and a new copy of Windows. Might as well buy a new computer, with the pricing of a retail copy of Windows XP.
How about the other guys -- the ones that don't give you any of the above? You should get at least a recovery CDROM with any computer you buy. In that case, fixing your OS usually means blowing away everything on your computer and putting the hard drive back to the original condition...
At least one major manufacturer makes it your task -- and he saves the cost of 6 to 8 CDROMs. When you first boot your new computer, it tells you that you need to make your recovery CDs. It even reminds you a few times, too. But, I think there's one of those little "don't tell me again" checkboxes on the warning. If your manufacturer wants you to make the recovery CDs, you need to do it. Even though you would like to surf the web, set up your email or whatever, consider it part of the process to set up the computer.
If your manufacturer (and there are some big names here) doesn't provide a CDROM or the way to make one, call their Tech Support immediately and order it, before you need it. Some will sell it to you (maybe they just charge a shipping charge) via their Tech Support if you order it while your machine is still under warranty. What happens if you don't get it and your hard drive dies or gets messed up? You wait until they get around to shipping it. Downtime, plus blowing away all your data and configuration. If you are out of warranty, you might have more trouble getting the recovery CDROMs.
Back to my original comment -- the manufacturers who provide original CDROMSs are the ones who'll get my business. Why? Because if I need to restore a few files to restore the OS, I can do it. I can even boot an original Windows XP cdrom and go into a recovery console. I can run the Windows system file checker, whose first step says "insert your windows CD." With an original CDROM, I can do a fresh installation without all the add-on software the manufacturer put on the computer. And, finally, I can do an upgrade to the next Windows version as a "fresh install" and not just "upgrade the existing installation." The fresh install is the most stable way to upgrade.
Without your operating system CD's or recovery CD's, your option really is to take for computer repairs and probably involves buying a new retail package of Windows.
Continued in Part 2
Volume 1, Number 2 -- Monday, June 27, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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