Also,
If they don’t know which part is the computer (i.e. not the monitor or printer) then they should have their computer taken away and be given crayons.
So you’re the one who took my mom’s service call! She wanted extra space on her computer and ended up deleting something that wouldn’t let her on the internet.
And God help you if she doesn’t get her Gamesville fix. 
Yea, I spent more than I would have for a prebuilt to build mine initially, and it requires regular infusions of cash to upgrade. But a pre-built…I love having a computer without having to delete the loads and loads of crap they put in. Or one with standard parts, not some weird “We don’t want you replacing this power supply on your own, get techs to do it for a low low price”
But I don’t think everyone should do it. I’d liken it to my car. Some people know how they work and can tinker on their own. I just take it to the dealer and let the guys who know what they’re doing fix it.
The main thing I detest about pre-built machines is the propensity of manufacturers to include a so-called Recovery CD, rather than a full OS install CD. For those unfamiliar with this vile concept, it’s a CD-ROM that reformats your drive and reinstalls the OS and bundled software just the way it came out of the factory. If you want to do a simple OS reinstall, you’re SOL.
Meh. I still think you got robbed, even granting that DVD-ROM drives were fairly pricey 2 years ago.
First computer was a Gateway, back when they were Gateway 2000, in 1987 or 88. It ran DOS. I liked DOS.
I assembled my current computer two Christmases ago. Case $50 + processor $149 (nice 1.6 ghz AMD, got from Fry’s) + motherboard $150 + AGP video card $100 (I think? I’ve replaced it since then) + the same old sound card I’ve had for a million years, the Soundblaster AWE 64 Gold for effectively nothing.
Same monitor, which is probably a $200 monitor, same keyboard, speakers, everything. So for me, making a custombuilt computer is kind of what I’m constantly doing.
And I did everything except plug the little cords from the motherboard into the various bits of everything else – you know, that big mass of teeny little individual colored wires? If they printed motherboard instruction manuals worth a damn, I wouldn’t HAVE this problem…grumble. But I mounted the processor all by my lonesome and everything.
And Dad can do it better than me, and he STILL buys Dells instead. Know why? Because he trusts the company and he doesn’t have the time to spend vultching on Pricewatch and then the two hours it can take to assemble the whole bugger even after you’ve got all the parts.
Hey, I’m not putting down people who can’t built their own. But don’t fucking bitch when your Dell, Packard Bell (if they’re still around) or IBM POS computers fuck up and you can’t even fucking read a model number.
And I don’t agree that you can get a cheaper machine through Dell or IBM. Of course I’m not talking about just “cheap” machines (yes, in canada you can get a rock bottom shit machine for less than $500) but any machine in the $1500-2000 range can be built with better parts for the same money. About the only “deal” you might get from a Dell is software (I even opened my own company with a vendor license to try to get better deals but with no luck). OS’s are probably the most expensive thing to buy these days next to the monitor (depending on size).
My IRE on pre-builts was already mentioned…custom parts! Argh! Last time I tried to support an Aptiva (with built in video card) it didn’t even come with an AGP slot!
Last first, and last, pre-built computer was an NEC DX2-66 (about 1994 or 5 I think) that couldn’t be upgraded anymore than what it had. What a piece of junk, and it was $2200!
So if you can’t build your own, I’d suggest you just get a clone (even a name-brand clone).
I’m thinking too fast…that should be “My first and last” .
And if thats not bad enough… I managed to completely fuck up my computer, so bad that the c: drive is corrupted, ie the recovery partition is not accessible to the damn recovery disk. I’m now sat on my ass waiting for Packard Bell to mail me the master cd’s, just so i can get it up and running again… in 7 to 10 working days…Just how long does it take to put a cd in the mail??
You’re using a nearly ten years-old system with a proprietary board and a 66 MHz, DX chipset as a reason for not buying a pre-built now? And with the exception of Apple systems, all the major general populace-orientated computers out there ARE clones–so much so that the whole “clone” concept has become fairly irrelevant.
In addition, you call Dell systems POSs. Are you sure you know what you’re talking about? Seems to me that you might be a few years behind the times.
Won’t your recovery CD reformat and reinstall the OS without needing any additional partitions? I would think you could just use FDISK from a boot diskette to reset the partition structure (losing all data in the process) then run the recovery CD to restore at least the OS. I’ve not had this problem you describe, so I’m unfamiliar with it. I could easily be way off base. In any case, since you’re getting the factory disk set anyhow, it’s worth a shot.
I dunno. I got a really good deal on my Gateway in the summer of '98 and had it every since. Never had a problem with it. Never had to call tech support or anything. Only time I needed to change something was a memory upgrade and I did that myself with no problems.
That was a pretty good pickup, IMHO.
Why shouldn’t I call Dells crap (desktops only)? It’s over priced as far as I can see (looking right now I can get a Dell Dimension 2350 for $899! Wow! Intergrated everything! 30 gig drive! (I didn’t even know that was still available) and it’s even a sale!)
Maybe the term “clone” has changed. Clone to me is any system in which someone other than a factory, installs the parts. Whether is be the computer store you buy from, your friend, or yourself. I’m not using my NEC as a reason for not buying a clone, I’m just highlighting my major issue with pre-built systems. Intergrated parts generally suck, even if it’s name-brand (like the Intel Extreme 3d that comes with the Dell I mentioned).
To un-hijack this thread… Years ago, I was the caller, er, visitor. We had dial-up. I honestly don’t recall what I did, but I wasn’t able to disconnect, so I wasn’t able to use my phone. I checked all the wires and cables and it was as if my computer was possessed. Luckily my ISP was across the street and a couple of blocks down. I went over to talk to them. They accessed my account and assured me I was still logged on. They asked a bunch of obvious “duh” questions and I assured them I had done all the right things. They suggested I just turn off the computer and try to contact the phone company - perhaps there was a problem in the phone line.
Well, as it turns out, there was nothing wrong. I just confused the incoming phone line in the spaghetti that was behind the computer. Once the lightbulb came on, I rebooted the computer and all was fine. I called the ISP and told them all was OK, without going into detail. Even us reasonably intelligent users have brain farts on occasion. :o
I’m no expert. I know how to use a computer, but fixing them is hit and miss. All I know is that when i booted up off the recovery disk it would get so far and then demand Master CD 1. The disk isn’t at fault as I have already used it to restore to factory settings once. I musta screwed it up pretty badly this time 
damn Neverwinter Nights
btw does that game cause anyone else pc to crash?
** Q.E.D. ** is correct, you should be able to unpartition your disk, repartition (if nessessary) and reformat/install your OS. How did you mess up the drive? virus? You can kill the MBR with fdisk /mbr (this has probably changed as I haven’t had to fdisk my drives for a long long long time).
Sorry, I didn’t realize you had replied to ** Q.E.D. ** already.
people like you should be shot… heh heh
Yes, the undocumented /mbr switch still works to rewrite the MBR under FDISK.