What the hell can I do with this?

August 9, 2006 11:09 AM

So I have this new Dell computer and I need to know what the hell I should do with it. (Much more inside.)

My dad bought me a new Dell computer (as a "thanks for not being a complete fuckup like your brother" present). It came installed with Windows XP Home and a whole lot of other crap on it that I don't want/need (I think). Before this new shiny computer, I was using another Dell Dimension 8100 that had the HD replaced twice, a new CD-RW drive installed (which crapped out after installing Windows XP Pro). The old computer had been running Windows 2000 for several years (XP had been on for about a year). I'm currently using the McAfee anti-virus that came with the computer until my dad gets home and lets me into the DOD system to get their antivirus software that he gets for free.

My dad owns legitimate copies of Office 2000 and XP Pro. I hate this XP Home edition thing. It just doesn't feel quite right to me after using XP Pro.

What should I do with this new computer and what sort of interesting and good to use programs should I install? And how can I (if it's even possible) install XP Pro without killing this new computer?

(I had a Mac when I was very young and my family didn't know the meaning of "antivirus/not loading it up with crap" and I loved it, but that's not exactly feasible at this point.)

When I look at the general information about this computer (I didn't really look at the options when my dad ordered it), it says: Dell Dimension DE051 Intel Celeron CPU 2.53 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM.

I don't really do anything too sophisticated, but some of the assorted things that will be attached (or already are) include: iPod video, digital camera, (new!) flat screen monitor, HP all in one printer, shitty $20 webcam, wireless keyboard and mouse (also from Dell), old set of speakers/subwoofer from old computer, and a new UPS.

Help me AskMefi! I run Firefox already, but I'm not exactly what one would describe as "computer-savvy."

posted by sperose to computers & internet (15 comments total)

- install AVG antivirus, be sure to completely uninstall the McAfee first
- uninstall the Dell crap

You should be good to go.
posted by k8t at 11:12 AM on August 9, 2006

If you want to install your dad's XP Pro, you can wipe your current installation of XP as part of the installation process. Put the CD in the drive and restart the computer, get yourself into the Setup menu. When it asks you where to install, it should present you with a list of existing partitions. Delete those partitions (there should just be one). You will be left with unpartitioned space. Create a new partition from that unpartitioned space. Select NTFS as the file system. You'll have a nice, clean install. Don't forget to spend some time downloading all the updates for XP and Office.
posted by Dasein at 11:21 AM on August 9, 2006

i wouldn't uninstall everything...theres still crap left around...get an xp pro disk, or better yet ubuntu and do a fresh install(NOT UPGRADE). Unless you're an office freak download open office.
posted by killyb at 11:22 AM on August 9, 2006

Instead of uninstalling all of the Dell crap (which I'm sure that computer is loaded down with), I'd suggest to just go ahead and format the HD and install your copy of XP Pro.

After, be sure to you have 3+ days to make Windows half way secure (yes, I _am_ biased). Install your Anti-Virus software, and then go grab Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, and a firewall program. I'd recommend ZoneAlarm, but it looks like that software is no longer freeware.

Then, go and turn off useless services, and make sure the Messanger service is off off off or else you will get spammed like that.
posted by triolus at 11:23 AM on August 9, 2006

XP Home is really not that different from XP Pro. You will likely run into problems with Windows authentication if you try to install XP Pro without buying a copy specifically for that computer.

Look at the crap that automatically runs when the machine boots. Get rid of half of it. The Dell Support stuff is useless advertising that you can remove.

Install Firefox. Install Openoffice. Install Gaim. Install the GIMP. Install the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment and deinstall older versions (security holes in some of them). Do the Windows Updates up to current.

Advanced: Install Ubuntu.
posted by jellicle at 11:27 AM on August 9, 2006

If you don't want to go the "wipe the drive, start fresh" route, use the PC De-Crapifier. (Note: I have not used it, so I can't say for sure that it won't completely hose your computer. If it does, it just gives you an excuse to start fresh.)
posted by arco at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2006

My dual boot suggestion would be SuSE 10.2, but other than that, mostly what they said. AVG's ok; what you've already got isn't too bad; just don't have 2 antivirus programs installed at the same time.

Spyware cleaners are another story, mostly; I like Spybot, too.

Firefox, Thunderbird, Gaim, OpenOffice, it's not open source, but I rather like Picasa.

And they're right: you can change XP home into XP pro with something like 6 registry tweaks; they're really almost identical (though the UI knobs may default different ways on pro).
posted by baylink at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2006

First off -- What exactly do you need XP Pro for? I have a friend who bought a new machine with XP Home and had the same issue you did -- but in all reality, XP Home is the EXACT same operating system as XP Pro. There are minor features disabled in XP Home, namely it cannot join a corporate domain, and it cannot accept unsolicited remote desktop requests.

Don't fall into a "Pro is obviously better than Home" trap.

Where to go from here? Go into the control panel and uninstall anything that looks like you don't want it (Search ASsistant, URL Assitant, etc).

Uninstall the included antivirus, and do one of two things:

a. If you are cheap, install AVGFree (google for it).
b. Buy Windows Live antivirus ($50/yr?)

Your dad may own legal copies of Office, however if you are using them on more than one machine, that is not legal. OpenOffice is a decent Office clone that will get you 80% of the functionaliy of Office, but if you do anything decently advanced, I would stick to Office 2000 or XP.
posted by SirStan at 11:54 AM on August 9, 2006 [1 favorite]

After, be sure to you have 3+ days to make Windows half way secure (yes, I _am_ biased). Install your Anti-Virus software, and then go grab Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, and a firewall program.

Or just:

(1) Never use Outlook Express
(2) Never use IE
(3) Don't click on random shit
(4) Especially don't download software from porn and warez sites.
(5) Get a router.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:00 PM on August 9, 2006

ROU:

I wish my mom would understand rule #3.
posted by SirStan at 12:31 PM on August 9, 2006

Here's a great comparison of XP Home to XP Pro. From that list, I can't imagine what the average home user is missing in XP Home that'd drive him or her to need need XP Pro -- the only two things that would approach that would be the lack of file-level security control and the lack of being able to connect via Remote Desktop unsolicited. (For me, the inability to join domains with XP Home is also a tipping point, but my home network is far from average.) So I'd echo SirStan's question: what specifically is it about XP Home that's off-putting to you?
posted by delfuego at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2006

My own "must-haves":

• AVG Free (antivirus)
• Microsoft Windows Defender and Spybot (malware)
• Firefox
• PowerArchiver (zip file manager)
• Sandboxie (sandbox for new software and protection against evil Web sites)

posted by davcoo at 1:24 PM on August 9, 2006

I can vouch for the De-crapifier mentioned above. I used it on my brand new Dell laptop a few months ago. I will mention, though...I had to manually uninstall Music Match Jukebox from the Add/Remove Programs before it would run correctly. It worked like a charm after that. It does look like they have upgraded the program since then, so they may have fixed that bug.
posted by Mrs. Smith at 1:49 PM on August 9, 2006

After fiddling around with this computer for the better part of the day, I've decided that I might as well just stick with XP Home. It would probably be more trouble that it's worth to get Pro on here, especially when it seems like I can do everything I need to do with Home.
I ran the de-crapifier mentioned above, and it seemed to get rid of some things, but there are still things showing up in the add/remove programs thing that I'm not sure about, such as:
--conexant d850 56k v.9x DFVc modem
--dell driver reset tool
--dell system restore
--digital content portal
--digital line detect
--documentation and support launcher
--games, music and photos launcher
--microsoft .net framework 1.1
--modem helper

I'm currently in the process of installing spybot and adaware. Is the Dell system restore different/better than the typical windows one? I also don't *think* that I use a modem, because I use my family's FIOS connection through the UPS.

ps: I don't use IE except for the windows updates when the automatic updater takes a shit (or some fucking place requires it) and I despise Outlook. FF was actually the first thing I downloaded when I started up this bad boy.

Thanks so much everyone. If anyone else has anything they'd like to add, I'd greatly appreciate it. :)
posted by sperose at 2:26 PM on August 9, 2006

I'd recommend ZoneAlarm, but it looks like that software is no longer freeware.

Slight derail: Not true. The basic ZoneAlarm is still free, but it's not as robust as it once was - or, I should say, it's still pretty good, but they're loading all the cool new features they develop into their paid versions.

The basic one's still pretty good, though.
posted by pdb at 3:10 PM on August 9, 2006