Finally, New Computer is done!!

[macojoe]

For those who do not know, My Dell died 3 weeks ago and I have been limping along on a spare 500 mhz HP.
Well That has ended as of yesterday!!
Got the case Friday before Xmas and I had it all built Xmas day. All seems well and was much easier then I tought it would be!!
This is my first build.

Ok as always this thread means nothing with out pictures!!
So here is the new machine. Nothing special But its all mine built by me!

425 W Power Supply
http://syncboard.com/albums/macojoe/Picture_011.sized.jpg

The Guts
http://syncboard.com/albums/macojoe/Picture_009.sized.jpg

The rear
http://syncboard.com/albums/macojoe/Picture_002.sized.jpg

Lastly the front. You can see the no face floppy as thats all I have for the moment. I have a new one on the way. I have 4 spare floppys from other computers and they all work with no faces, the faces were part of the cases i took them from.

You can also see that I painted the top CDROM, I wasn't going to buy another, when I have 5 of them cause I wanted a black one.
So Paint is cheap and thats what I did.

http://syncboard.com/albums/macojoe/Picture_001.sized.jpg

It has a ASUS Mother Board, AMD 3000+ (1.8 ghz), 1 gig PC3200 DDr Ram, 160 gig Western Digtil Hard Drive, Acer 52X CDROM, Sony DVD+ R Dual Layer/ RW/ + R/CD, Floppy, NVIDI GFORCE Graphic Card with TV out, Sound Blaster Live Sound Card, Modem

I think thats it.

[Mac_Attack]

Good job MJ! I built mine and used a AMD CPU. You'll be streamin now. Bill Mc ;D

[Franco]

FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T MAKE OUT OF STARBOARD!!

[reelapeelin]

Recently I installed new RAM and actually installed new HARD-DRIVE only to remove H-D after realizing all we would lose...how can I retain bookmarks(favorites) and files and other stuff when replacing HARD-DRIVE??... ???...thanks for any direction on this as I'm pretty CLUELESS re computers...

Oh yeah...and what's the present thinkin' on firewalls, pop-up blockers and PC protection in general??...

Great job, MJ...looks like you'll be SAILIN' now... ;) ;D...

[mirage2521]

FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T MAKE OUT OF STARBOARD!!
Now you have done it, the next picture is going to be of a Starboard accy. for the puter..lol...can't wait to see the new cup holder

[macojoe]

Thanks all!!

Posted by: reelapeelin Posted on: Today at 7:52am
Recently I installed new RAM and actually installed new HARD-DRIVE only to remove H-D after realizing all we would lose...how can I retain bookmarks(favorites) and files and other stuff when replacing HARD-DRIVE??... ...thanks for any direction on this as I'm pretty CLUELESS re computers...

Oh yeah...and what's the present thinkin' on firewalls, pop-up blockers and PC protection in general??...

Great job, MJ...looks like you'll be SAILIN' now... ...



Do you have a CD burner?? If you do you can save all that stuff to a CD and then reinstall later.

What did you get as a hard Drive?? Name Brand? I use Western Digital, They have a program that comes with it and you can add the new drive as a slave, then transfer all data to the new drive. After you are done you remove both drives and reinstall the new one as the master. Bang your all done!
Is there anything wrong with the drive you have now??
Why not add the new drive as a slave (F Drive) and save all data to that. Virus attack C drive, if you get one you can format the C drive with no damage to the F drive.

Hows that for Greek!!

Posted by: Franco Posted on: Today at 7:50am
FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T MAKE OUT OF STARBOARD!!


I could have made a Starboard Case I bet!! But it would have cost a ton!!

[JeffXJ]

MJ,
Congrats on the sucessful build, though it's probably better that you don't make a case out of starboard... ;) Good job with oainting the CDRom too!

Rap,
As far as saving favorites goes, open Internet Exporer---->Click on File on the top left corner----->Click on "Import and Export..." -----> Then follow the wizard to export your bookmarks to a file of your choice (either on your harddrive, a floppy, or burn them to a disc). You can do the same thing with Outlook Express to save e-mails. If your using a different broser or e-mail client then the steps are similar, but the wording is a little different. As far as saving regular files, Like MJ said, if you have a cd burner you can burn them to a disc. If not, they are cheap!!! A decent cd burner can be had for 20-40 bucks (maybe cheaper, try www.newegg.com for ideas on prices. They are usually as cheap, or cheaper than anyone else) Western Digital makes a decent hard drive. I prefer Seagate, though. They seem to have a very good rep and better warranty as well as being about the same price. Not a Maxtor fan, though. As for a firewall, if you have some form of highspeed internet, then you should have one. One of the better ones is Zone Alarm, but the one that comes with WinXP SP2 will do alright. Just beware that most firewalls will alert you when a program running on your PC tries to access the Internet, but it should give you the option to let it if that's what you wanted. Anti-virus is very important!!! Pop-up blockers, not so much. If you have WinXP w/ SP2 with the latest version of IE then a pop-up blocker is built in. If your using other web-browsers then it probably has a pop-up blocker built into it as well. Microsoft seemed to stall the longest in that department.

Hope that helps, without sounding too much like a geek!

[macojoe]

I have high speed and router with 4 computers hooked up all the time. The router has a firewall and I have shut off the XP one as it was conflicting.

I run Yahoo pop up blocker and it seems to do fine.

I can't run the SP stuff from MicroSoft as I am running a Bootleg Copy of XP Pro :o Don't tell anyone!

[Franco]

damn MJ, whoda thunk!!! Beauty and Brains all in one package!!!


PS I think you just told everyone about the bootleg copy!!

[reelapeelin]

Not too many people...

Thanks MJ & Jeff...that's some good stuff...PC has 2 CD trays, I think only one will burn...

[macojoe]

Only one can burn, thats how they are set up. Do you have a burn program, like Nero or Roxieo??
That will make it easy for you

[reelapeelin]

MJ, we got "I TUNES"...will that do it??...if so, how?..

[macojoe]

I know think so? PM me your address i wil send you a copy of nero and you will be set!!

[cruiser37]

go to C:\Documents and Settings\"your user name" and make a copy of your favorites, Outlook Express is also store in the "user name folder"

[JeffXJ]

No, iTunes isn't a cd burning program. What MJ is sending you will work great and is pretty easy to use. Good Luck!

[reelapeelin]

Haven't heard from him yet, but sounds like he's got the right program...Thanks a TON, Guys!!...

Now, after I get the new Hard-Drive in, how's the best way to keep it from gettin' clogged w/CRAP like this one??... ::)...have been runnin' Pest Patrol for about 2 years and was great til recently...seems less effective than B4...

[JeffXJ]

The best advice is to be careful about what websites you visit and keep an eye on the e-mail you recieve It's not a good idea to open e-mails from senders you don't know especially if it has an attached file.

Set up your computer to check for updates at least weekly. Same for your anti-virus (I prefer Norton over McAffee, but both will do a decent job). Here's a free anti-spyware program you can download (look toward the upper right side of the webpage) http://www.lavasoft.com They have more stuff like firewalls and the like, but the spyware program is free and works pretty good. And do look into installing firewall software. Just as a side note, anyone building a new computer might want to consider getting a motherboard with the Nvidia Nforce4 chipset because the ethernet interface has a built-in hardware firewall. This means there is no software to corrupt and no added applications the CPU has to run in the background. Plus a hardware firewall is more secure....Ok, geek rant over ::)

[macojoe]

I am just getting to your Pm, on the new drive just add it as a slave. And it will never be cloged!!

[macojoe]

Ok got the address and will send Mnday morning, you will have 2 days later on Wensday!

[reelapeelin]

Thanks, MJ...appreciate the hand... ;)...

And Jeff, I do watch what I open and where I go, but w/two teenaged girls, NO tellin' where the this computer's been...I know music service Roxio (or somethin' like that) was a SUPER HIWAY for junk...

We've had McKafee...seems to be too restrictive or ineffective...

[chumbucket]

Whoa! Back up that bus Mr. MJ giving you a hand(job)? I don't think I like the sounds of that. >:(

;D

[reelapeelin]

Sorry, CB...it was only VIRTUAL...besides, he TOLD me you wouldn't mind...somethin' about you had dumped him for another guy or somethin'... ::) ???...

[chumbucket]

;D ::) ;D

[macojoe]

He is a lier!!
I will never dump my sweet heart!!

"sings" I only have eyes for CB!! :-*

[reelapeelin]

:'(

[chumbucket]

Look at MJ back paddling. ::) He's just using me for the razors. :-[ I feel so cheap. :'(

[JeffXJ]

First and Foremost........HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! May '06 bring better fishing and more fun on the water....among other things!

Reel,
Two teenagers......Definitly download and install that spyware program. The free version works good (especially for the price!) It's what I use. Just know that once it's installed it does not automatically run in the background, you have to run it yourself. I recommend running it at least once a week, maybe more often with two teens surfing the web (especially if you think the PC is running slower than it should). As for anti-virus, I've never been a big fan of Mcaffe. I've always found Norton easier to use and a bit more effective. I'm sure you'll find some who disagree with me, but that's just my $0.02.

After catching up on this thread, seems like it's become a little too mushy for me.... :-[ ;D MJ, just send CB some virtual flowers or chocolates and get it over with! ;D ;D ;D

[macojoe]

I agree with the Norton!!
As a matter affact I am going to send you 1 year free Norton!!
Its the 2002 version but thats ok, it still updates and IMO works better then some of the newer versions.

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Cb, knows I love him, and no flowers are needed!!
Now Candy is a different story, He loves me in a pair of them Candy Undies!
I will were them when I see you this week!!
This is a great time of year for them!!
Remeber in the sumer heat! Wow they melted all over me! :o

[JeffXJ]

TMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! :-[ :-[ :-[

;D

But since we're already there.....I really think the chocolate flavored cherry would be a good choice... ::)

[Stinky_Hooker]

Good job MJ, looks and sounds sweet!! ;D