FamilyLife Forums

I figured we could use a thread where we all get help for Computer stuff.. questions, advice, etc.

Awesome!

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I'm so lost...

Ok.. I'll start off with mine..
I want to run a side business. Although I have an iMac desktop, I very much need a windows machine for a side business I want to start up. It should pay for itself. I have a laptop now but it belongs to my estranged husband and he's done some damage to it which caused it to be compromised. It is no longer safe not to mention he wants it back and I don't want to fight.

So, my question.
If I were to get a square clone with Winblows.. er.. windows, I mean, windows *wink*..
Anyone have any suggestions on an inexpensive laptop (i.e. under $500) or know of any coupons that would help me save? I would need to do this ASAP as this computer has no adminsitrator privelages and is being eaten up by nasty malware.. one of the worse.

Thanks,
GG

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I'm so lost...

First suggestion is don't do a laptop.  They are not as upgradable and if you need repairs, you often have to ship them away.  While not as stylish, a beige box PC with Windows XP is probably easier to maintain.

You mention not having admin rights on a machine.  Is this your hubbies laptop, or is there another machine in the mix?  If so, why not just format the drive and re-install XP. 

That will cure a number of malware ills right there.   Combine that with not using Internet Exploder, doing your day to day work with an account that has NO administrative rights so stuff cannot be installed, avoiding all the cute tool bars, etc will go a long way.

I'm still using a 1.8GHz Dell with the original 2002 factory load of XP.   I've copied it to a new, larger hard-drive, but have not re-installed the box ever since I bought it in late 2002 (maybe early 2003, I don't quite remember.)

Even though I have a swanky laptop, provided by my employer, I wouldn't buy one for myself.  They just are not good computing values.

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God didn't send His son to make us happy, He sent His son so we could be Holy!

spare_parts:

First suggestion is don't do a laptop.  They are not as upgradable and if you need repairs, you often have to ship them away.  While not as stylish, a beige box PC with Windows XP is probably easier to maintain.

I really prefer a laptop. I don't have a den or an office and the space that is available is/was my husband's and not private (for work). So a laptop gives me the portability I need in the house.
Again, I have the emac/imac desktop for everything else. Also, we do a fair amount of traveling and I really need my system to be able to leave the house with me.

To answer your question, it  is a laptop my husband gave me (we had three total) and also because he didn't want to spend the money on a desk for my mac. Then, supposedly, he was going to take his stuff off this machine and give me administrator rights (fa before the separation) but he kept putting it off. After our separation, he changed the rights, removing any rights I had to update or download anything. He can't rightfully ask for it back, but with all the other stuff going on in the separation - I just want to be completely and totally blameless before all.  This left me vulnerable since I could no longer install any updates or additional protection.

Furthermore, he took the Windows software with him, so I would have to replace that, too.
The rest of the stuff we use de nada (think, Open Office, Ad-Aware, Firefox, etc.).

Yes, I never use IE. We only use Firefox. The daywork will be on a secure, wired connection primarily on the software with rights to update software as needed or I will have an adminsitrator account for updates daily vs. no access as a user or administrator cause someone was frustrated with our marital situation.

Even though I have a swanky laptop, provided by my employer, I wouldn't buy one for myself.  They just are not good computing values.

They've really come down in price and the hw is pretty good - far better than i would ever need just for a professional/e-mail machine. My mac is for the rest.

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I'm so lost...

Spare,

My brother is going to scan and clear my photos and videos from the old laptop, which I am loading to the thumb drive I bought ($20 with coupon for 4gig).

The system I purchased was only $570 and has 2 GIG of ram, 260G hard drive, one of the top graphics cards around and an awesome 1.76MhZ dual processor. I think this will hold me for quite some time. The ram is upgradeable to 4G if I need it. My family is all techies (though they are far away) so they should be able to help with installs or fixes - just a shipping label away! *wink*

I need the portability of a laptop. I need it for the at-home work and also for the trips out of town that are fairly frequent. I DO have a Mac. I just don't have a desk and can't afford one. My husband wants his desk back as well as other furniture that is technically mine but which I am just going to give him (it breaks up a set). With my situation, I won't be able to afford a desk - this means the Mac or any desktop will have to stay in its box long term. I don't know much about Macs, but I am eager to learn.
My job is also keeping me busy.

So what do you think of the laptop? I do have a desktop that is secure. I installed Ad-Aware and update it daily. I also installed Spybot S&D and update it daily. I also have Norton and update it daily. I run them each about every two days.

I am running out of space on my D: drive which is set aside for backups. I set it to backup daily and replace the old copy but it is not replacing the old copy. I am not familiar with being my own administrator to THIS degree as I've never done this before. I checked the box to replace old backups with the newest one, but it doesn't seem to be doing that..

Hope you are well.
G

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I'm so lost...

If I were you, I would definately try to reinstall Windows on your existing PC.  Reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows will get rid of all viruses and malware, plus give you administrator rights.  You don't need the specific Windows CD that came with your PC to do the reinstall.  You can either call the manufacturer and ask for a replacement or you can borrow a CD from a friend as long as it's exactly the same version of Windows as is listed on the sticker on your PC.

Hi, GG,
I know that this is way after you asked and you may have already taken care of this, but I thought I would answer anyway.
How old is your iMac? If it is a more recent iMac with the Intel chip, you can get Boot Camp for free and install your windows software on it. Of course, that would make the Windows part susceptible to all of those Windows viruses, but maybe it could save you some money.

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Elaine

Romans 8

Hi there sweeties!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies.
My iMac is only about 1-2 years old and very tiny. It's not, however, the one with the problem. It was the windows-based laptop.

I don't have a desk (my husband took the only desk, the dresser, the shelving, etc.) so the best I could come up with was another laptop - until I can get a desk from someplace like freecycle.org or something.

I managed to get a laptop on a very steep sale and the good news is that it works like a champ. I have a couple of anti-spyware/bot programs on here - the best ones..

I am still looking for a freeware but incredibly delicious antivirus program as well.. anyone know of one.?

As for someone's comment about reformatting the drive - I thought I had said previously but the reason I couldn't do that is because it was my husband's that he gave to I and the kids. I was concerned:

a. He may have information on there that is not backed-up. I didn't want him to permanently lose it and,
b. If I had made that judgment call (since most of the data is likely infested and unusable anyway and since he's been living without it for a year's time and since I'm pretty sure he copied files a few months ago), I still have to realize he's very bitter and angry and if he actually divorces me, he may file a complaint and ask for it back and if he does and his info is gone, he could sue me. So it sits.  When I can afford to buy a new hard drive, I'll just take all my data off of that infested drive, have it cleaned up by an expert Sys Admin while deleting it from that drive, and then just replace the hard drive for it and give it to the kids.. unless my husband asks for it back. To date, he's gotten everything he requested back except 1 item which is marital property.

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I'm so lost...

I support a whole pile of Macs as my profession do I've got a couple of questions.

What exact model of iMac is it? I ask because it may be possible to run windows on it.

What exact software does your business possibility require that you don't think you can run on a Mac?

When you say no administrator privilidges and malware, you are referring to the Windows laptop right, because as of now there is really no malware that noticeably affects Macs.

OneofHiskids:

Spare,

I also have Norton and update it daily. I run them each about every two days.

Getting rid of norton will get rid of a lot of problems. It has bee utter and complete garbage for the last 3 years or so. Sbybot and Adaware for spyware and AVG or McAfee for virus is the way to go for keeping  a PC healthy.

OneofHiskids:

I am still looking for a freeware but incredibly delicious antivirus program as well.. anyone know of one.?

AVG

Search for it on download.com

There's two versions a paid one and a free one.

As for my other questions, I asked them before reading the whole thread.Sorry.

You can reinstall Windows without reformatting the hard drive, which will give you admin control, plus wipe out most of the malware, plus preserve all the existing files.

The PC may have a restore sector (D) on the hard drive which precludes the need for a disk. It stinks they did that for awhile, but I have one that way.
Ultimately though I still had to take an XP disk and wipe it as the adware etc. crept into that area as well, and would lay in wait like a snake in the grass.
My kids use that PC for runescape etc. and Nick.com and believe it or not those places pile on the spyware.
I use spybot, McAfee, and have zone alarm if anyone cares.

GG, check your PMs. :-) Sent you one on this subject with some links.

 

Take Care.

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Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow

Grand Illusion:

You can reinstall Windows without reformatting the hard drive, which will give you admin control, plus wipe out most of the malware, plus preserve all the existing files.

Maybe in theory, but I have yet, in many years of trying that on many flavors of windows, ever ended up with a stable system after doing that.