Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newcomputer

Will my brand new computer be faster if I uninstall everything?

kensington314 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:16:01 -0800

I just got a brand new HP G61 320US with AMD Athlon II 2.0 Ghz processor and 3 GB RAM, running Windows 7. It is still in the box. I want it to run fast. Do I need to uninstall everything and then reinstall the basics? If so, what program should I use to do the uninstall? I have heard that new PCs come larded down with all kinds of garbage that takes up RAM and processor-effort. So to all you computerheads: do I need to wipe it clean? If so, does that include reinstalling the OS?

I've heard that PC Decrapifier (no joke) is a good tool for this. Yes/no?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Will XP soon be going the way of the Caribbean monk seal?

the bricabrac man — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:31:22 -0800

I'm buying a new desktop PC. What would be the ramifications of getting one with XP installed instead of Vista? Will I regret it? I'm mostly concerned by all I've read about how much space it takes up. What's the point of finally upgrading to 2GB of ram, only to fill most of it up with an operating system?

I'm not a serious gamer, though I am looking forward to being able to play newer games for the first time in a few years. I'm on my PC a LOT, but most of what I use it for (selling on eBay for a living, surfing the web) doesn't require a lot of fancy software.

Perhaps I should add that until now, I've been woefully ignorant about computers in general. I've given myself a crash course in PC components in the past couple of weeks as I research, but feel free to talk to me as if I were a small child.

Can I get messages off Outlook on my old PC to my shiny new Macbook? There's a catch.

lxs — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:16:57 -0800

Can I get messages off Outlook on my old PC to my shiny new Macbook? There's a catch. I save all my work emails because I have a boss who likes to ask the same questions frequently. I use my work webmail to on a day-to-day basis, but the stupid thing deletes old messages after 3 months. I've dealt with this over the past years by just checking my mail with Outlook Express on my personal laptop every once in awhile - it downloads everything onto my computer so I can keep it there and reference it after it's deleted in webmail. I just got a brand new Macbook, and would like to transfer the old messages from Outlook to Mail so I can do the same thing there. Is this even possible? The messages are no longer on the server - they exist only in Outlook. Yikes.

New software for a new computer?

®@ — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:39:31 -0800

I'm setting up my spankin' new computer. So far I've downloaded AVG as my anti-virus solution, but I'm not sure which way to go for anti-spyware. Is Ad-Aware still any good? Should I use ZoneAlarm (which doesn't play nice with Adaware), or is there something better? And does anyone have experience with AVG's anti-spyware setup? I realize that ZoneAlarm serves more of a "firewall" niche, so input / corrections are appreciated. Anyone have experience with AVG's anti-spyware solution?

Looking for a New Mac for Video Work

captainscared — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:07:28 -0800

Thinking about buying an iMac. I'm looking at the 24inch model with 2.8 MHz processor. I plan on doing some Final Cut and After Effects work, nothing insane like HD or heavy graphics. Will this computer serve my needs? Currently I have an early model G5 with 2.0Mhz and 2.5 Gig of RAM. I'm wondering of the dual Core IMac will at least put me in the same playing field. Granted, I realize the Mac Pro is of course better for these applications but daddy ain't got the dough.

Anyone have insight on this or use an IMac with these apps?

What the hell can I do with this?

sperose — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:09:45 -0800

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."

cracked LCD, new computer?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Sun, 07 May 2006 17:37:32 -0800

My iBook's LCD cracked. I am a poor college student. What is my next step computer-wise? I have a 12" iBook. Yeterday when I got home from essay writing, I toook iBook out of its case and saw a black splotch with cracks on the upper left side of the screen. [the cracks look sort of like when hail hits a car windshield and it shatters] Now half of my screen does not work.

I know that replacing the screen would cost too much money to be reasonable.

Should my next computer be a Mac? I love OS X, I love Apple, but I don't know if I should get myself into a lot of debt for a Mac, and I don't know if a PowerPC Powerbook/iBook is the better idea or is an Intel MacBook Pro would make more sense in the long run.

The other option I am considering is getting a cheaper PC notebook, installing Linux, and spending the summer learning to use Linux. The problem with that is I know nothing about PC laptops - I don't know which ones have a reasonable weight/battery life/price or how easy it would be to use wireless internet with Linux.

What should I do?!

Also, what should I do with my iBook after all of this goes down?

Can I get me some five-dollar tech support?

Kibbutz — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 11:09:51 -0800

I have an old Dell PC (Optiplex GX1--"Opti" for "the eye," and "plex" for the . . . oh, never mind), and bought a new Dell. I'm trying to transfer files from old to new, but I think the lack of a hi-speed USB port in the old Dell is hindering my experience (more inside--really!). I bought a USB Linking Cable from Radio Shack, and it included software to make the transfer easier. After installing the software on both PCs, it appears the new one is good-to-go, but the old one can't use the USB-USB Bridge Cable.

FWIW, here's some of the other stuff I have at my ready:

1. Linksys wireless router (for a third computer--laptop)
2. CDRW with burner (old PC)
3. ZIP drive

I'm not wedded to using the USB to USB method, if there's a better one out there. I don't have a ton of stuff to transfer--some Office docs, photo software, iTunes, and Quickbooks. For extra bonus points, answer me this: When I transfer my e-mails from Outlook Express (old PC) to Microsoft Office Outlook (new PC), will it work?

(May your own personal God bless all ye who care to help me).