Major computer problems

Maddie&EthansMom wrote:

If you don't see me around a lot it is b/c I have two computers here that are a piece of JUNK!! One of them Scotty's cousin built for us and I have NO idea what happened to it, but it is incredibly slow. The other one is just a really cheap HP that Scotty brought home from work. It has no memory on it and now it has crashed. I can't get ahold of his cousin to come pick them up and work on them, but when he does I will be without a computer for awhile.

We are getting a new one with our tax return. Oh that can't get here soon enough!!

jem0622 replied: Make sure you buy a Dell or a Sony! We've had both and have been very happy with them!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: We are looking at a Dell and I'm going to check out the IMac's too. I hear they are awesome. I'm not buying anything cheap. When we buy a new one it will be good. I'm tired of everything breaking on me. We really can't afford it, but with the possiblity of Scotty going into business for himself in the next few months I really want something reliable to take care of the accounts. It will pay for itself in no time, I'm sure.

I'm just praying I didn't lose everything on the HP. I had months of pictures on there. Which is probably why it crashed. It will turn on, but the desktop won't come up...there is just a blue screen. I'm hoping his cousin can extract all my files.

Thanks for the recommendations, Julie. I know Scotty would love a Sony laptop..we've looked at them in the past.

Kaitlin'smom replied: oh no I hate when computers crash or just slow, mine at home is running a bit slow I need to have DH look at it hope you get them fixed asap.

coasterqueen replied: Sorry about your computer problems. Must be today, my boss' computer went wacko on me and Megan and I spent the morning trying to fix it.

Also, might want to consider a laptop versus desktop. Especially with Scotty considering business and all. It would be more mobile.

We've had Compaq, Sony, and Toshiba laptops and have liked them all. We've also had some non-name brands, but I don't like them as much.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Thanks Karen! I really appreciate any input I can get. I wonder if I would be as happy with a laptop? Scotty really, really, really wants one, but I'm on the fence about it. Just not sure why.

Stupid computers. I was looking at Dell.com and Apple.com right before it crashed on me. It's a conspiracy.

coasterqueen replied:
I couldn't LIVE without my laptops. We have two laptops and one desk top at home. We NEVER use our desk top (Dell). I like to be as mobile as possible with mine. I take it anywhere in the house.....kitchen for recipes, livingroom to browse while watching tv late at night, back yard if need be, etc, etc. When DH was in LA being mobile came in really handy because I only had time after the kids went to bed to chat but also had to do house cleaning so I carted the computer around the house while I cleaned and chatted. I know sounds looney but I'm a multi-tasker and it worked.

I love my laptop so much that I convinced our boss at work to let me buy us all laptops for work and he did. Good thing because I cart it around everywhere in the office. If I have to go in a different office to pump I take my puter with me and can still work.

We have wireless internet at home and at work. MUST HAVE!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Sorry to hear that Aimee! Hope things get fixed soon...we'll miss you! I don't know much about computers, so no help here.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Well, I got ahold of Scotty's cousin. He knows exactly what is wrong with them and more than likely he will be here tomorrow to pick them up. I'm not sure when I will get them back, but he usually takes into consideration that I can't live without it for too long.

I'm just so hoping all isn't lost on the smaller computer. I had so many pictures in there. He said he could upload it all to his hardrive...we'll see. It has ME right now and he is also going to try to install XP if it will hold it. ME is so useless.

If he can get these to work they can be the kids computers and I can get a laptop. (you talked me in to it Karen)

Kaitlin'smom replied: Yep DH also LOVES his laptop, so mobile and we take it when we go on a trip. Its a Dell.

A&A'smommy replied: OKay one thing about a dell is if you EVER have any problems with it (which eventually you will) you cannot replace the parts with other brands you have to go through dell and its REALLY expensive and not as good. Hp is good because they have good costumer service and you can replace the parts with other brands of whatever you need..and if you buy a good one (not just a cheap one) they are actually pretty good computers we use them in our school system and they are nice. homemade built computers are good but it really depends on WHO builds it Gateway laptops are nice but kinda slow and the desktops just suck.... Anyway good luck on what you choose!! Also I have had my dell for 3 years this christmas and it has only had problems ONE time and that was when some of dhs friends were playing on my computer and they got a virus and Jeremiah just went ahead and cleaned off my computer. I know the most aggravating thing about my dell is that the video cards aren't very good and they NEVER put enough ram in them I have 2gigs right now but that is because jeremiah found some REALLY expensive ram that fits into my computer and it runs faster but I still can't play good games on it like the sims 2 because I can't replace the video card

I agree with Karen about a laptop Jeremiah and i both have one and we use them for everything we also have two desktops (mine and his) and we RARELY use them I put pictures on mine and then I mapped a drive to my laptop so I can get them.. anyway if you would like some advice about them I will ask jeremiah what he reccamends I have two a dell and a gateway and personally I think my gateway was faster but I don't know if it was "better" because I got it used and the one I have now (the dell) is brand new.. so anyway I can ask him for you tonight if you would like!!?? Anyway good luck on what you decide!!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Jessica...Please ask him. Scotty is computer illiterate and I know little about them. We need all the help we can get. Of course his cousin knows a lot about them and I plan on asking him tomorrow. He's the one who built this one. It worked fine until I messed it up.

I don't know much about RAM and all that stuff. If I purchase a Dell with x amount of RAM is it possible to purchase more later if we need it? Scotty seems to think all of my pictures on here is what is crashing it b/c we don't have enough memory. I've taken all the pics off this computer, but the other one had a lot on it.

What should I look for when purchasing a computer (laptop or desktop?) We will be using it for home and small business.

TIA!

coasterqueen replied: I'm not sure what all to look for, Dh does that. I could figure it out if I could, but don't. When I buy them for work I buy the best and most of what they have. It's usually the same as what Dh would buy.

Hope you like a laptop since I've talked you into it.

Also, I think someone brought up the travel feature of laptops. We take our laptop EVERYwhere. Every time we travel we take it so the kids have something to watch movies on in the hotel room.

coasterqueen replied: Oh and if you will be using it for business you will be able to write that off .

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
That is what we are counting on!

If we have these 2 desktops up and working I won't be so insecure about a laptop. I just didn't like the idea of it being our one and only puter for some reason. I told Scotty and he agrees that we need a laptop (of course)

I've looked at several different brands on line. No matter what brand I buy (Dell, Sony or Apple) I will get the one with the most storage and features. I guess you can't go wrong by doing it that way.

A&A'smommy replied: Okay i talked to dh he said that brand doesn't matter BUT he reccamends (sorry for my spelling) to get two hard drives or one and a external hard drive!!! So that you can keep personal stuff on one and business on the other and make sure you back up he said there are one touch hard drives were all you have to do it hit that button and it does all the backing up for you and they are reliable too!!! HTH

Maddie&EthansMom replied: You're an angel!! That helps SO MUCH! I didn't even think of that! Thanks!

tellred replied: Hi.

If you're concerned about system stability then you should really look at getting yourself a Mac. No doubt a mac shop will tell you that you should buy a powermac for small business use, but in reality if you're just doing accounts and not running a server (or doing graphics intensive work) then any of the imac line will be sufficient. Personally, I use the power mac at work and the power book at home, but that's because I don't have to buy them myself

My tip: Get a 14" ibook. 1GB RAM, 100GB Hard drive (default 60 is probably enough if you don't want to download movies). Get the default DVD+RW drive. All the wireless capabilities (blue tooth and airport) come standard.

If you want an extra drive then you can always get an external one, or better yet and ipod, then you can view all your picture on the go...

Good luck.
Tell

coasterqueen replied:
2 hard drives is a good idea. we have two on all our computers except our desktop I think.

We just backup to a kangaroo drive. I like that instead of an external hard drive because I can put the kangaroo drive on my key chain, pocket or purse. Then if I want to look at pictures like at my mom's to show her one I've got it right there. I take that thing with me EVERYWHERE as well.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
This is what Scotty was telling me about. It's a whole new world out there for me. He said "Quit saving all your pics on the computer and save it to the kangaroo drive." I had no idea what that was.

I need a list of things we need to buy.

I have an Ipod, but it is the shuffle (cheap one) and doesn't store pics. I'm still on the fence about an Apple. Thanks so much for the advice Tellred. It is definetly enticing and I know they are great computers. I will do lots of research before we buy.

coasterqueen replied: BTW Amy, kangaroo (jump, thumb) drives are really really cheap so even if you went with a hard drive and an external I'd still get one. IMO they are too cheap not to have. DH's large company gives everyone one to backup their computers with and take their info with them when out on the road. Our office does the same thing. I back my system up to one and take it home with me when I need to work on projects there.

Hey...that means if Scotty goes into business he needs a computer there and you can have one at home too and just use a kangaroo to transport your files back and forth.

Oh boy, I'm sounding more like my husband every day when it comes to reasoning the purchase of too much electronics.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
It really makes perfect sense, though!

I appreciate your advice more than you will EVER know!!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: So, if I get a thumb drive I wonder if I can backup all my files off the other computer (the blue screen). Probably not, huh? I'll just wait til his cousin can work on it and pray I didn't lose everything.

coasterqueen replied:
It's really hard to tell without being there to see it. Does it boot up enough for you to hit a recommended function key to go into safe mode? I can't remember the function key number off hand. If it lets you go into safe mode you should be able to back up.

I'd probably just wait til he gets there, he'll know what to do for sure. If your hard drive is crashing you don't want to mess with it too much anyways.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
That sounds so bad. What will I do if all my pics are gone?