It’s better (by almost a factor of 2) than the one I’m using now, and I can do everything you want to do on it. And lesser computers probably aren’t going to get that much cheaper until you hit the really crappy ones.
(This is because people with older computers tend to overvalue their hardware, and try to sell for more than they are worth.)
For the price it seems great to me.
It looks like a good choice to me.
Window 7 64-bit? Ask how much an extra gig of memory would cost.
Otherwise, it’ll do.
Okay, I’ve ordered that computer from Staples – it will get here Friday, at which point we’ll proceed with the next set of “what do I do now” questions.
Many, many thanks, people, for your patient help and advice.
‘’’’’’’
One thing you didn’t mention is if you intend on trying to re-install the old Microsoft Office / MS Word software. Your machine will come with Windows 7 and I’m not sure how well 8 year old old versions of MS office and 64 bit Win 7 will play together.
If you have an academic connection you can often get or download the latest versions Office or Word (2010 version) for huge discounts (ie $70-$80 or so vs $300-$400)
Office 2003 / XP works just fine on Windows 7.
Ugh, I can’t just move them over from the current machine?
You should try to get a freeware program like Everest Home Edition.
It is now obsolete but that doesn’t matter. It tells you exactly how much memory you have and all other stats like that. It tells you all the stats of your PC - what kind of CPU it is, what kind of hard drive, etc.
There is hardly anything about your PC that it won’t tell you.
It’s obsolete due to some legal beef - not because it no longer works. It may not recognize the newest PC models. But it will surely recognize one that is a few years old.
If you can’t find one, I can probably email you one. Send me a PM if you need help.
Another interesting issue is what you should do with the old PC.
I would recommend you keep it for backup purposes. It will serve you as a backup in several ways.
You can’t sell it for hardly any amount of money, so it’s pointless to sell it. It has several good uses to you as a backup PC - more than just backup.
Doesn’t CPU-Z do the same? Only without being obsolete?
Thanks, but since I’ve ordered a new CPU there’s no need.
ETA – oops, didn’t realize there were intervening posts. This is in response to Joanie’s offer to send me obsolete software.
Not sure whether to start a new thread or not –
Okay, I’ll have my new computer today, so will need to switch over the stuff from the old computer this weekend.
I did not buy a new monitor, so will not be able to see what I’m doing on both computers at the same time.
I infer this means I can’t do a direct transfer of files, via cable, from the old machine to the new one – is that correct?
And if that is correct, what do I do – copy everything to a flash drive and swap that over? Is there a flash drive big enough to do that with? Or do I swap stuff a section at a time?
TIA, oh patient and knowledgeable advisors …
How much stuff do you need to move over?
BEFORE you do anything else, make sure the new system has a virus and spyware scanner installed and running. You don’t want anything on the old system contaminating the new one.
Then… if it’s just a few documents and pictures, most flash drives will be able to handle that (it might just take a few trips). If it’s bigger than any flash drive you have around, here are some options:
Leave the old computer on, turn off the monitor, and then connect the monitor to the new computer.
On the new computer, look for the shared folder(s) in Network Places (depending, again, on your version of Windows) and copy the files over.
(More difficult, still free) You could also take the hard drive out of the old computer, connect it inside the new computer, and copy files over that way.
(Easiest, more pricey unless you can borrow one) Get an external USB hard drive… they go for less than $100 these days for 500 gigs or more, but I understand your budget is limited. If you can borrow one for a day or two, it would be the simplest way to do this. It would also allow you to make backups in the future – especially important if you’re going to be doing actual work on it and you don’t want to risk losing clients’ data.
(Easy, can be pricey) Consider an online backup solution like Mozy, Syncplicity, or Jungledisk. Slower but safer and costs vary depending on how much space you need.
Mostly documents, a few pictures. (I don’t keep oodles o’ stuff on this computer since it has so little memory.) Sounds like a flash drive or two will do it. (I have a couple already that I’ve used for this or that – just delete what’s on there and reuse 'em?)
So, step one, set up the new computer, including installing all the protective stuff.
Step two, identify what I want to move over, put that on a flash drive, take the flash drive and install it on the new computer. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Okay, here’s a dumb one – can I keep all my bookmarks if I move Firefox over? Losing my bookmarks would be a major PITA.
Also, stuff like IM programs – just load anew?
Transferring is easy. Your new box is a Windows 7 box, right? So install Windows Easy Transfer from the Windows 7 DVD onto your XP box, and let it take care of the donkey work. If you can have them both on at the same time, you can do it via the network, else a USB drive will do nicely.
Since you use Firefox, I suggest you export your bookmarks and cookies to files.
I can have both machines on, but with only one monitor, I can’t see what they’re both doing at the same time.
What network? I have a single machine that’s hooked up to the modem and nothing else.
What’s a USB drive?
What does that mean?
Yep, that’s the process. You can also automate it to some degree using Windows’s Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (in XP) / Windows Easy Transfer (in 7). That should be in Start Menu -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools. But honestly, if it’s just a few docs and pictures and you know exactly where they’re located, a manual move would be faster.
Download and install any programs anew whenever possible (to ensure a cleaner installation).
Move only personal data that you yourself created – i.e., your documents and Firefox bookmarks. In Firefox on the old computer, open up the bookmark manager (CTRL-SHIFT-B) and click “Organize and backup” and then “Export to HTML”. Save the exported bookmarks file to your flash drive along with the documents.
And do you already have Office on the new computer? If you need to move that over, the easiest way would be to look for the old installation discs and keys. If you can’t find it, you can find your old keycode by running Magical Jelly Bean (don’t ask) on your old computer, downloading a trial version of the version of Office that it had on the new computer, and activating it with your old keycode.
Excellent, thanks, Reply! That all sounds very clear.
The computer is, I hope, sitting in a box by my back door right now – I’m still at work. I’m asking now because I wanted to be able to swing by Staples on my way home if I needed to buy anything (cable, flash drives, other).