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If you have or can obtain drivers for the machine, the wipe/reload is definitely the way to go. Depending on the machine's resources, I'd reload with either 98 (already paid for) or XP Home (cheapest upgrade). Reloading 98 solved many stability problems. Beyond the OS, I'd do: - The Zone Labs security suite: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/promotions/sweepstakes/index.jsp?campaign_ id=01302 to gain AV, firewall, and anti-spyware. (Alternate: The free version of Grisoft's AVG AV product at free.grisoft.com coupled with Counterspy anti-spyware ($20) + Kerio personal firewall ($15) from http://www.sunbelt-software.com/shop.cfm) - OpenOffice from openoffice.org is free and will read/write MS Office docs. Or see if you qualify to buy an educational license for MS Office or, probably even better, a Home Use license (depends on your employer's relationship with MS). I got MS Office Pro for $20 via our Home Use program. Another alternative would be to look for a cheap copy of the WordPerfect suite; I haven't checked on it lately. - Firefox for browsing unless you're glued to IE. As an aside, considering the low price of decent new machines, I hope the garage sale PC was pretty cheap. Other aside: Depending on specs, the machine may not be able to play modern games. Modern games are about the most demanding consumer-level apps out there. John A. Jones, CISSP Americas Information Security Officer Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. V: +1-630-455-2787 F: +1-312-601-1782 john.jones@xxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pctech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 12:20 PM To: pctech@xxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [PCTECH] Garage sale pc We bought a garage sale PC with 98 on it. Problems with it is that it seems to lock up a bit. I guess I've gotten used to the stability of 2000 and XP (granted any rabid anti MS person will think that's an oxymoron). Another problem is that my wife would feel better using it than my work one. But she uses Excel alot to do books for her mom (who uses some version of Windows) and a friends ceramics shop. Kids want to play games on it. I had a local downtown business do some work, like swap out a CD drive for a DVD drive. This business caters to home users. Pretty low key but did nice work in the past. I'm thinking of: - having the local business "reload" the computer with 98 to get all the crap that the previous owner had on it off. Then I'd still have to get an office suite. - erasing the disk and loading linux on it. And some open office stuff. - Getting a new PC with the latest version of windows for the home user, and an office suite. The thought process is -not- to use this as a learning machine for me to learn linux. What do you think? Rob Berendt -- Group Dekko Services, LLC Dept 01.073 PO Box 2000 Dock 108 6928N 400E Kendallville, IN 46755 http://www.dekko.com -- This is the PC Technical Discussion for iSeries Users (PcTech) mailing list To post a message email: PcTech@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options, visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/pctech or email: PcTech-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at http://archive.midrange.com/pctech. This email is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this email without the author's prior permission. We have taken precautions to minimize the risk of transmitting software viruses, but we advise you to carry out your own virus checks on any attachment to this message. We cannot accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. The information contained in this communication may be confidential and may be subject to the attorney-client privilege. If you are the intended recipient and you do not wish to receive similar electronic messages from us in the future then please respond to the sender to this effect.
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