The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

[Pleng]

To be fair you'd have probably gotten the same feeling from a clean install of Windows. Computers don't just 'get slow' over time. It's only the amount of crap you put on them that bogs them down.

I'm not anti Linux. I'm not pro Windows. There's a place for everything.

[margaretcarnes]

To be fair you'd have probably gotten the same feeling from a clean install of Windows. Computers don't just 'get slow' over time. It's only the amount of crap you put on them that bogs them down.

I'm not anti Linux. I'm not pro Windows. There's a place for everything.

Maybe Pleng - but with Windows corrupted how long before it happened again? Plus with only an 80 gig drive Windows simply had too many widgets I simply didn't need.

[buksida]

Welcome to the revolution Mags - open source rocks!

Pleng does have a point though, your Windows software probably got corrupted because you clicked viral links in your Hotmail account which allowed malware into your system. A format and fresh install of it would have you running at Ferrari speed again, I do it out of habit every six months or so anyway.

Linux is a great alternative but personally in my line of work I don't have time to learn from scratch and source all of the new software I would need to get the job done.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes I suspect Linux doesn't host the amount of stuff you need Buksi. For my modest domestic use it should be fine., and there is a certain amount of relief in the knowledge that it isn't embedded. As it was explained - living in a cloud it's safe from corruption. Surprisingly I got my head around that one pretty quickly!
Next step will be to get freed up from the ISP - that will take more time and research - but can be done. I just wish that 5 years ago I'd known that you don't need to buy a PC with a pre-installed OS. Apparently Windows for example get over 80 quid for every Windows installed PC sold in the UK. Obviously retailers don't want people to know that. One for the Office of Fair Trading maybe?

[Pleng]

Plus with only an 80 gig drive Windows simply had too many widgets I simply didn't need.

And who's fault is that...

Welcome to the revolution Mags - open source rocks!

Pleng does have a point though, your Windows software probably got corrupted because you clicked viral links in your Hotmail account which allowed malware into your system.

The irony of it is that most of the 'malware' probably didn't come from viral links, but from installation of open source and other 'free' software. The secret to keeping a clean Windows is making sure you read carefully when installing applications, and unchecking all the boxes saying things like 'yes please run a free useless scan after installation', 'yes install desktopsheepfarm widget' and 'yes! install yet another toolbar Ill never even use or know how it got here'.

All but the most hobbiest 'free' software has to be funded somehow, and its these installation 'extras' that do so.

Apparently Windows for example get over 80 quid for every Windows installed PC sold in the UK. Obviously retailers don't want people to know that. One for the Office of Fair Trading maybe?

The Trading Standards looked into that years ago. Microsoft managed to somehow trick the courts into fighting a completely different case, which actually caused a lot more harm than they probably imagined at the time.

That time is long past. It's quite possible to buy a computer without an OS. The first netbooks came with Linux distros installed. Microsoft missed that boat. But they have the funds to be able to miss a trick and still grab hold of the market. In the end, people didn't want Linux netbooks. They returned them and either got their money back, or traded in for a Windows netbook.

Computer shops are only giving people what they want. With the amount of information available on the internet these days, consumers can only really hold themselves responsible for not researching alternatives if they are interested.

Personally the issue I have with computers in shops is not the OS that comes installed - it's all the crap they supply with it: nortern security trials, hp/dell/xbrand service agents, online game demos.... crap.

[buksida]

The irony of it is that most of the 'malware' probably didn't come from viral links, but from installation of open source and other 'free' software.

The viral links do exactly that - direct you to websites that prompt you to download malware to clean up non-existent problems on your computer.

[hhfarang]

Speaking of OSs, I have a genuine copy of XP Pro that I bought directly from Microsoft currently running on my old desktop. If I buy a new "empty" machine here, am I allowed to put that same copy of XP on it without any licensing problems with MS or their validation software?

[m_right]

Speaking of OSs, I have a genuine copy of XP Pro that I bought directly from Microsoft currently running on my old desktop. If I buy a new "empty" machine here, am I allowed to put that same copy of XP on it without any licensing problems with MS or their validation software?

I have done it here with my U.S. copy on a new desktop.
There can be problems with drivers, however. I had a hell of a time because the new machine had SATA drives and XP PRO doesn't support them. There are ways to work around but they can be a pain.
I have actually done it twice. The easiest was I bought a machine here that they had installed XP PRO on for me. It is a phony version but it has all the right drivers so I reinstalled over it with my licensed version.

I hate Windows 7 so I am holding on to XP Pro as long as I can.

[hhfarang]

I hate Windows 7 so I am holding on to XP Pro as long as I can.

Thanks, I'm with you on that one! I installed a second hard drive in my machine years ago and I think it was/is sata, but it works fine with my XP. However, it came with it's own driver and controller card so maybe that's why it works.

[buksida]

Why would you want to put ten year old software on a brand new machine? Additionally, unless it is the 64 bit version you'll only be able to use 3.2 gigabytes of memory and any 64 bit or multi-core processors will not operate anywhere near their potential.

Windows 7 is far superior in many ways.

[hhfarang]

Why would you want to put ten year old software on a brand new machine?

Besides the fact that I like the way XP works, an empty (low to medium range) desktop here costs about half the price of the same machine with Windows 7 loaded on it from what I've seen on internet shop sites. I paid a high price to get a genuine copy of XP and I think it will serve my purpose for years to come, so the bottom line is (as always for me) financial.

I'm sure 3.2gb of memory will seem like a dream to me when my current machine is maxed out at 500mb...

I can get a decent box here with a good Intel dual core processor for around 12k with no OS and that's with a 1tb hard drive and the usual built in's like card reader, USB ports, and DVD RW. Add Windows 7 and the price pretty much doubles.

[buksida]

Add Windows 7 and the price pretty much doubles.

Not sure how, W7 Home Premium license costs 3,400 baht.

[hhfarang]

Maybe I better look at those web sites again... is that for a "real" license or a "Thai" license?

[buksida]

Its for a Microsoft license - a "Thai" license of course is free

[hhfarang]

Right Buksi, I don't know what I was looking at before but what I was doing was looking at two comparable machines (I thought), one with DOS only and the other with W7 and there was around a 10k baht difference. I just looked at the software only page of that web site and W7 Home Premium is 3990b. Either the machines were not as similar as I thought or the more expensive one had W7 ultimate (whatever that is) as it is much more expensive.