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Post by opion8d on May 25, 2012 9:58:08 GMT -5
Recovery disks erase everything on your hard drive then reinstall everything that came with your computer. Sound scary? Well, it is if you have a lot of downloaded software and haven't backed up your files.
I was stuck on Microsoft Office Pro so I didn't want to reformat my 12 year-old Toshiba laptop. Then I switched to "OpenOffice" (free) and ditched MS. Anyway, the old machine was a real clunker so I thought, "What the heck,I don't want to sell it or give it away with all my files on it."
So I backed up my files and then use Eraser on them just to be sure. Then I ran the three restore disks. WOW! That old reliable really came to life! Everything, like function keys, I gave up on years ago now work like they did when I bought it! Amazing! I may keep it!
Now all the software I use is either on DVD or free from the Internet. I back my files religiously. So here's a question --- "If after a few years after accumulating a lot of baggage on the hard drive, does it make sense to purge the system every three or four years?"
Anybody done this?
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Post by jamie on May 25, 2012 10:07:36 GMT -5
yep, It makes good sense. It is akin to cleaning the dust filter on a dryer. You are cleaning out the accumulation of registry and other conflicting entries which bog down a computer. Those conflicting entries disrupt and slow down the flow of information you need.
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Post by sobeach on May 25, 2012 10:10:06 GMT -5
I had all my files involuntarily purged a couple of months ago when a hard drive crashed. Laptop runs like new with everything gone...
CCleaner.exe and defrag should keep you running well enough...
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Post by DaveyJones on May 25, 2012 10:23:56 GMT -5
I had all my files involuntarily purged a couple of months ago when a hard drive crashed. Laptop runs like new with everything gone... CCleaner.exe and defrag should keep you running well enough... I use the same CC but I use Smart Defrag 2.2 .not the computer's. www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html |
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Post by myche on May 25, 2012 12:31:27 GMT -5
Keep your files backed up off your pc,ie, separate hard drive or server. I still don't trust having anything backed up on clouds or with external services offered on the internet. JMO.
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Post by opion8d on May 25, 2012 15:05:30 GMT -5
Good inputs. I use CClean and defrag too, but stuff still collects over a couple years. This machine had twelve years to accumulate a mess.
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Post by stevemontgomery7 on May 25, 2012 15:10:58 GMT -5
Buy a Mac!  |
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Post by fishygal on May 25, 2012 17:25:49 GMT -5
Buy a Mac! Could do that but I can buy 3 fairly decent PC's for what a MAC cost. I have a samsung laptop with an external keyboard. I don't think she's too portable anymore but I love the old gal just the same. |
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Post by stevemontgomery7 on May 26, 2012 5:53:25 GMT -5
Buy a Mac! Could do that but I can buy 3 fairly decent PC's for what a MAC cost. I have a samsung laptop with an external keyboard. I don't think she's too portable anymore but I love the old gal just the same. There is no such thing as a fairly decent PC! ;D ;D I hear you on the laptop - I've got an 8 year old Dell that still runs pretty well so I've held on to it. Seriously, if you compare a Windows-based PC to the same specs as a Mac you'll often find there is very little difference in price. The lower priced PCs can't compete with Macs, but the higher priced units can - up to a certain point. But there are definite advantages to a Mac: the operating system is superior to anything Windows has, the file structure and hierarchy is superior, there is no sharing of files across software programs (like Windows does with DLLs!!), etc. There is the myth that Mac's don't get viruses. They do. But it's very uncommon, partly because there are fewer Mac's than PCs and because of the Mac OS and security. But with more people buying Macs it's probably going to get tougher to keep the viruses off. |
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Post by opion8d on May 26, 2012 8:12:27 GMT -5
That's my observation. If one wishes to meet Mac head-on you can do it with a PC, especially since both machines use an Intel platform.
Win 7 is nice, so is Mac's latest OS. I own both and as a practical matter they are pretty much operationally equal, but the Mac has a higher quality feel to the hardware.
Virus is a bigger headache with a PC.
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Post by stevemontgomery7 on May 26, 2012 8:29:21 GMT -5
That's my observation. If one wishes to meet Mac head-on you can do it with a PC, especially since both machines use an Intel platform. Win 7 is nice, so is Mac's latest OS. I own both and as a practical matter they are pretty much operationally equal, but the Mac has a higher quality feel to the hardware. Virus is a bigger headache with a PC. You always have to customize the PC to get to the level of the Mac. You won't see the high end PCs on the shelf that can come closer to the level of the Mac. But even after customization I find the performance is definitely better with the Mac, especially in the area of graphics and photo work. I just don't like the way Microsoft builds its OS, or how they bastardize it with other software. It's a mess. The defray, file component sharing and system hangs/crashes are just a few examples of the problems with their approach. Also, viruses are a much bigger problem with PCs than Macs. |
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Post by DaveyJones on May 26, 2012 9:34:37 GMT -5
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Post by stevemontgomery7 on May 26, 2012 9:50:35 GMT -5
I didn't miss it. And that story is nothing new. Read my post again. The part where I said Macs not getting viruses is a myth. That is known as an acknowledgement. But also read the part where I said the virus problem is much bigger with PCs. That is true because there are far and away more PCs in use than Macs. That make them a much more appealing, and easier, target for viruses and hackers. The Windows OS is a security train wreck. Mac security is much, much better. That means that even though Macs may become more common among computer users, they still will likely have far fewer issues with viruses and hackers. |
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Post by fishygal on May 26, 2012 14:52:29 GMT -5
I think as the Mac's become more popular you will see the virus problem go up. For years they didn't have a problem because there weren't enough for the hackers to bother. With the boom of other apple products this is no longer the case.
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Post by Zed on May 27, 2012 8:15:16 GMT -5
MAC is better for graphics and photo handling, always have been. But most folks use their PC for basic functions that MS Office does quite well. In today's environment people use the Internet more than anything else. Tablets and smart phones will do the vast majority of the things that have traditionally been done by PCs and laptops.
Get a decent anti -virus program and be prudent with your use of social media and websites and you will be fine.
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