[Tacocaster]

I recently (today) recieved my new dell laptop. I was wondering what I should do to make it as stable as possible and what not (I know its a dell). Any programs or advice that you might have is appreciated. If you need anymore info please let me know and I can provide it for you. I'm not exactly a power user or anyhting, but let me know if I am missing out on some great software.


DELL INSPIRION 5150

P4 3.02 ghz
40 GB HD
screw this....

AIM
Ad-Aware
Kazaa Lite K++

Oh, one more thing, can you get alcohol 120 from a computer store or do you have to buy it direct from theit webpage?

*Spell check was down so sorry about any typos.

[lisaa7002]

I got my Dell desktop a month ago. Hope you like your system as much as I like mine!
Well You've already found the best thing you could have to make your computer as good as possible! (this site!)
The Ad- aware is good don't forget Spybot & Hijack This. You might not need them yet, but.... I had trouble with Kazaa lite& got rid of it. It slowed me down too much (I'm just on dial-up). &what about some sort of virus protection? I had Norton stop half- a -dozen things in the short time i had the regular Kazaa.Did you get the macafee with your laptop? Any way I'm sure there will be others to come 'round to tell you the more indepth stuff!!! Good luck!!
Not having any spell check is awful isn't it????

[mobo]

A good investment would be Norton systemworks 2003 and a good firewall, preferably a router but there are lots of free software firewalls that provide decent protection as well.

[roban]

I own a Dell Inspiron 4000 which I use for one business so it's not cluttered with unecessary programs. It runs Windows 2000 Pro and is networked through a DLink DI604 Router. I think NSW is a bad idea contrary to some who swear by it because of the bloat, especially NAV. If you don't do too much downloading packing files on your system, use AVG anti-virus (the Free Edition) and keep it updated regularly. Otherwise the best way to keep a system running smoothly is memory. How much do you have and what OS are you running? You can purchase Alcohol 120 online but why do you want to run it? Will you be burning alot of bin and ISO's?

[mobo]

Originally posted by roban:
I think NSW is a bad idea contrary to some who swear by it because of the bloat, especially NAV. If you don't do too much downloading packing files on your system, use AVG anti-virus (the Free Edition) and keep it updated regularly. Otherwise the best way to keep a system running smoothly is memory. How much do you have and what OS are you running? You can purchase Alcohol 120 online but why do you want to run it? Will you be burning alot of bin and ISO's?

Since when did a nsw installation bring down a 3.06 processor ? Never to my knowledge. I guess it goes to show that all advice isn't nessecarily good advice

[roban]

Originally posted by motherboard:
Since when did a nsw installation bring down a 3.06 processor ? Never to my knowledge. I guess it goes to show that all advice isn't nessecarily good advice

I don't think I said that it would bring it down. I said it was bloat. And just because I didn't agree with you doesn't mean you have to demean my opinion. Or can't you take a difference of opinion?

[mobo]

Just the fact that suggesting AVG over NSW shows something.

[roban]

[DVOM]

I would use PartitionMagic 8 to cut the OS partition down to about 8 gigs. The rest I'd use for data and Norton Ghost images of the OS partition.

This works best if you don't save ANYTHING to your OS partition. Just the OS and programs and nothing else on there.

There's nothing like a recent Ghost image of your OS when you run into trouble.

[cwolfe98]

Originally posted by lisaa7002:
I got my Dell desktop a month ago. ........ . Not having any spell check is awful isn't it????

Found a spell check for XP .... http://forums.techguy.org/showthread...hreadid=141835