Comments on: How I’ve Managed to Get 10 Years from my Computer and How You Can Too

By: Keith Wyatt

Keith Wyatt — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:28:34 +0000

Great article! The techniques you have posted will keep the Operating System running well beyond even the 10 years, if the hardware holds up. However as was pointed out (most notably by Gerald), there comes a point when the Operating System is no longer supported and it becomes vuneralbe to exploits. Specifically Windows, which has been consistantly a target for malicious software. At that point it is time to move to another Operating System. In many cases that requires the purchase of newer hardware to support the OS or the investment in software to replace the ones currently in use. Out of the 8 computers in my home, 4 are 10 years old or older and 1 is pushing 6. The 4 that are 10+ are running various flavors of Linux (quite well) and the 6 year old laptop dual boots Linux and XP.
The older machines are primarily file/media servers (Ive upgraded the hard drives in them to a minimum total of 500G). These machines will continue to serve my purposes for as long as the hardware lasts.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:25:59 +0000

Get a battery backup as a surge protector only, I use and recommend APC. They are good for power surges – that’s all! When you hear lightning and / or thunder in your area do not solely trust that the surge unit will protect your computers. Be safe and unplug the computer, printer, computer power supply cords, printer cords, and telephone cords. This WILL save you massive amount of head aches and DOLLARS. There is NO truth is advertising in the power supply industry industry whatsoever!!

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:36:16 +0000

Thanks so much for this article. In addition to all the things you and others have mentioned to stretch the life of a computer, how about switching to a slimmer OS. My old dog of a laptop now has a new lease on life, not to mention my wallet. I put Ubuntu Linux on it and oh man is it fast (in comparison) and you can’t beat the price (free). I’m not a tech guy I just read the help pages on their website and was guided through the whole process. Installing software couldn’t be easier either. I was already using open office, gimp, firefox etc. due to their (lack of) cost. I can even run most windows programs from it using an extension called wine. As opposed to whine, which a few previous posters have done. In addition to being much faster (than XP or vista), It closes the security holes of obsolete software.

By: ThiNg

ThiNg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:54:05 +0000

Good to hear Gerald. Didn’t want to seem stubborn.

The machines don’t come installed with XP, they usually just give you the CD and key and COA. They charge an additional $25-40 to install XP for you.

I would have thought that it would be easier in the US to find stuff (more businesses) and you can get most stuff shipped in the continental US for a very small price.

Everything I want is always available in the US and noone ships here!

I guess it’s a grass is greener thing…

By: Gerald

Gerald — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:13:06 +0000

ThiNg,

I’m not sure how things works in Canada, but in the U.S. where I live The Product Key and the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) Key (sticker found on the hardware) are different. The product key is orange and is only found with the software. Without the Product Key you can not load or activate Windows. So having the COA without the Product Key will be useless if you live in the U.S.

BTW, I did not view your responses as being critical. I have to assume (since I dont know where Liz lives) that she is in a semi or rural area of the U.S. (if she lives in the U.S. at all) where computer hardware and sofware may be harder to come by than where you live.

The bottom line is that by dialogue like this, ideas can be formed, solutions can be created, and more people are having a safer computing experience. because of this, we in the online community will be better off for it.

By: ThiNg

ThiNg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:03:16 +0000

Gerald,

Here is a quick example of what I was referring to (it’s $50 more but has more stuff):

Intel Pentium 4 2.8Ghz HT

1.0GB RAM
80GB Hard Drive
CDR Burner + DVD-ROM Drive
Windows XP Professinal COA
Onboard Ethernet + Audio
1.44MB Floppy Drive
6 x USB2.0 Ports (2xfront)
Keyboard & Mouse

(OFF-LEASE)
100% Guarantee
30 Day Warranty

$249

I would take this quote in and then haggle them down. Take out the keyboard and mouse, forget the DVD-ROM, CD-RW (salvage from my old machine). That would clear some cash off the top (admittedly not too much).

I didn’t mean to criticize your post Gerald. It was meant as a tip. When you start getting close to the $200 mark for any upgrade, you are not far from the ex-lease price zone.

By: ThiNg

ThiNg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:50:50 +0000

Gerald,

The off-lease machines where I am come with the WinXP license Key still on the towers. You can download or order copies of the OS if needed.

AVG Anti-virus offers a completely free (includes daily updates) version of their virus software. I use it on 10+ machines and run virus free.

I live in the southern half of Ontario, Canada, so if you are in my area Liz, I will definitely send you the names of local shops. But a quick internet search in your area would also work.

You can definitely do what Gerald suggested and I do upgrade machines all the time, but you SHOULD reach a point where the machine you are upgrading is older than what’s available used.

If I buy a PC and use it for 5-10 years, my machine will be older than machines that are ex-lease (2-3 years) old.

By: Gerald

Gerald — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:42:17 +0000

ThiNg,

That is true that you can buy an off-lease computer for about $200.00. However, Liz may not live in a place where an off lease computer may be available.

Secondly, Liz will still have invest $35-50 on antivirus software so that the machine will not get infected.

Third, the machine may not come with licenses (CDs). If they dont, she will still have to purchase a license. In short, even in an off lease purchase you will spend $50-150 depending on the purchase.

If you can provide Liz the names and phone numbers of those 5 stores, she can do the research for herself.

By: ThiNg

ThiNg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:23:39 +0000

I was one of the people who agreed with most of the original article but post #45 by Gerald is a good example of my problem with this.

Liz, I can go out a buy a second hand (ex-office lease) Dell PC for $199. The PC will have a 30 day warranty, Pentium 4 processor, 40GB HDD, 1 GB RAM, etc.

There are at least 5 stores within 15 minutes of my house that sell off-lease machines and they are all about the same price.

My personal rule of thumb, and this applies to cars, electronics, pc’s etc., is that you should NEVER spend more than 50% of the value in a repair or upgrade. The machine she has can’t be worth more than $50-$75 dollars, so don’t dump $200 into it…

By: Gerald

Gerald — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:59:31 +0000

Liz,

As I stated in previous posts nobody should be using Windows 2000. Microsoft does not support the Operating System anymore. You should have the OS upgraded to at least Windows XP(you can buy copies on ebay). You shlould make sure that they have the most current anti-virus software. As far as their hard drive is concerned, unless it is less than 50% full, you will need to upgrade the hard drive (40GB should be the minumum and they’re cheap too). The amount of memory that’s in the computer is fine. In short, to keep the computer safe from viruses as well as having enough hard drive space for the computer to keep working it will cost you appox. $200-250 (Windows XP-$100, anti-virus software $35-50 if you find it on sale, hard drive-$50(40GB is minimum. You may not be able to find a hard drive that small anymore)). Also, make sure that you go on http://www.windowsupdate.com to download and install all critical updates. Once all that has been done, the computer will be safe to give to anyone. Hope this helps.