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Post by lez on Nov 15, 2011 16:04:04 GMT
*Computer manufacturer: Sony *Computer model: VGC-LS37E *Operating system: Vista Home Premium 32-bit with SP2 (64 bit capable) *Type of browser: IE 8 *CPU: Intel Core *RAM: 2048 *Hard drives: *Optical Drives: *Sound card *Video adapter: nVidia GeForce 7400 *Anti-virus program: AVG *Firewall program: NAT *Spyware, Adware, Malware program: SptBot S/D (will finish later)
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Post by vikingken on Nov 15, 2011 23:05:09 GMT
Get rid of AdAware and Spy Bot SD Annette, they are well past their sell by date. Install Super Antispyware, Malwarebytes Antimalware and Spyware Blaster.
You need to check Spware Blaster for updates every few weeks. You dont run that, it just lies quietly in the background. Super Antispyware will update itself. Malwarebytes needs to be updated before running it.
C Cleaner is a good one to run, to clean up the registry, it also get rid of Flash cookies. Run the registry part more than once, keep going until nothing shows. If you get a long list it wont clean them all at once.
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Post by lez on Nov 16, 2011 2:43:45 GMT
I am planning on taking avg out soon How does one change from 32 to 64 bit? Oh and I upgraded to IE 9 and find it better/faster.
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Post by vikingken on Nov 16, 2011 6:49:46 GMT
You cant just change the file system over, like you can from FAT32 to NTFS Annette. You have to format and reinstall to do it. There is a danger to it, with some of the Vista machines. Although it says it is 64 bit capable, that really only means the processor. It would probably be fine running XP x 64, but some of the components might not have Vista x 64 drivers made for them. It would be a pity to reinstall using a 64 bit operating system, only to find it wont run properly. That could be why it was installed with a x 86 operating system in the first place. It was only dumb arses like me, who messed around with x 64 pre Windows 7. Then suddenly it became fashionably and 90% of the population didn't know the difference.
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Post by lez on Nov 16, 2011 12:17:41 GMT
In other words don't fix it if it ain't broken . Thank you again Ken for this helpful info.
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Post by vikingken on Nov 16, 2011 12:37:02 GMT
Your welcome Annette.
I wouldn't risk spending money to install 64 bit, to find it dont work. When you upgrade to a new computer it will probably have a 64 bit version of Windows 7 on it. Until then, theres nothing wrong with 32 bit. You have got 2 gig RAM which is plenty for what you have got. If you were going to play high power games and needed a lot of RAM, then you have to have 64 bit. From what I've found out so far, your motherboard wont take more than 2 gig RAM anyway.
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Post by lez on Nov 17, 2011 14:00:24 GMT
Good feedback Viking. I do miss my powerhouse (for me) desk top. This one has served me well but I would love to try Windows 7.
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Post by vikingken on Nov 17, 2011 15:53:59 GMT
I thought XP was the bees knees Annette. I bought my laptop cheap in a sale with Vista on it. I only used Vista for the few days I was staying at my daughters house when I bought it. As soon as I got home, I put XP on it. I didn't think I would ever change from XP, until I used Windows 7. As soon as I tried it in BETA, I was hooked and would never go back to XP now. I have got Ultimate SP1 x 64 on Super Beast, Ultimate SP1 x 86 on poor old Molly, as the drivers packed up on 64 bit when SP 1 came out. Mini Two my 10 inch netbook, is running Pro x 86. I would have put 64 bit on her, but I installed a solid state drive and they start to fail with 64 bit for some reason. She runs like a little demond with 32 bit.
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Post by lez on Nov 17, 2011 21:10:38 GMT
I loved xp too! I love the way you say 'poor Molly' I don't think I could put win 7 in lappie do you?
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Post by judymcl on Nov 17, 2011 21:26:18 GMT
I liked XP too. Usually, (but not always) if you have Vista you can upgrade to Win 7 (I would do a clean full install though rather than upgrade). To be sure if you can, you can download and install the Upgrade Adviser program from Microsoft. If you run it after you install it, it will tell you whether your gear is good to go for Windows 7 or not. It will also tell you what of your programs are not compatible. Often with that though you can download the Windows 7 update for your program, especially if it a free one like Avast or something. Here is the link to the MS Upgrade Adviser program if you want to check it out... windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor
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Post by lez on Nov 18, 2011 1:19:28 GMT
Thank you Ruskin. I look forward to checking it out!
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Post by vikingken on Nov 18, 2011 1:30:46 GMT
You might possibly run Windows 7 x 86 Annette, but not 64 bit. The price of a laptop or desktop with it already installed, it would be better to save up your pennies. To improve the perfomance of yours, I would install XP. At least you would be sure it would work. I could afford to experiment with Molly, as a member of Technet I had already paid for my sins. I wouldn't have gone out and bought a copy of Windows 7 on the off chance it would work. She dont get used that much these days, she will probably last me until I'm 145 and technology might have changed a bit by then. Mini Two does most of the work, if I'm not in the house and she was made for Windows 7. Although she is running Pro and not Starter. Some things wont run with Starter; so you really need Home Premium mimimum, if you decide to buy a new laptop. You will get that anyway if you buy a desktop, they only Starter on mobile computers.
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Post by lez on Nov 22, 2011 13:28:35 GMT
Here's a question, if you were going to buy a new laptop what would you get? I need a high performance one to bring out in the field. One problem is that I have to access and edit lots of docs. Based on this info what do you suggest?
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Post by vikingken on Nov 22, 2011 14:15:16 GMT
I'm probably not the best person to ask about laptops Annette. I have always had Acer and hotted them up myself. I've always run MS Office on them and they have performed well. Molly is probably over 6 years old now and going like a long dog. I think Kev likes Toshiba and Asus, but you need to ask him. HP I think have become the favourite among the professional people now, from what I have read. Mini Two is a 10 inch dual core HP netbook running Office 2003. Again hotted up myself and runs very well, but I wouldn't advise anyone to regularly use anything that small and they are limited to 2 gig RAM. Sixty four bit with 4 gig RAM, are common place now and not that much money. You would probably pay more for an HP than an Acer, but by all accounts it might be worth it. Laptops are not really my subject and I only really know what I've read and that can be misleading.
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Post by lez on Nov 22, 2011 14:56:18 GMT
Ken you are awesome. Thank you!
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