Help. Any computer gurus/experts out there?

[shadowkat]

Okay I've been wrestling with this long enough on my own and need some adivce.
Since it's driving me crazy. Spent half the morning wrestling with the MSN support desk and the half wrestling with Dell's support site. Neither answered my questions or helped. (Case in point, when I went back to review and edit this entry I got disconnected from the internet and had to sign back in. I'm this close to throwing the damn computer out the window and buying a whole new system, but have a few qualms about doing it.)

Here's the situation - my computer is slow, my internet connection disconnects me approximately every 30 minutes. When I disconnect from it - the email takes an hour to sychronize and will not let go of my phone line or disconnect until it's through. Sometimes it will freeze my computer - forcing me to shut it off in mid synchronization or just reboot. I can't download graphics, music, or pictures. The operating system is also a little on the slow side, but nothing compared to the internet.

Information on my computer system:
My operating system is Windows Me.
I have Dell Dimension 4100 and Epson Stylus C66 Printer. My internet connection is MSN 9 - Dial-up Accelerator. My Ram is 128.0M. 32 bit.
There are no PC cards installed. And no Disk Compression. I have
Cable/Internal Modem/4C. There is no mention in the original configuration of an NIC Card. Not sure if I have it or not.
Oh and I have Spybot, Adware, and Norton AntiVirus 2005 all installed. MSN uses MacAfee. Computer to the best of my knowledge is free of all adware, viruses and spyware. Also have deleted all internet cache and cookies.

What I want to do is the following:
1. Exchange music with a friend or download music at some point
2. Greater speed in researching items online
3. Greater speed regarding email
4. Ability to go to more than one site at once, without computer freezing on me.
5. Ability to see graphics and download.
6. Ability to file share or even see streaming videos. Current system I cannot watch any videos on the net
7. No disconnection from the net - so can post and read uninterrupted without it taking two or three hours.
8. And no long periods waiting for email to synchronize, particularly when I don't have any new ones.
9. Keep what I currently have and not lose anything I've written or created on my current system.

Delivery/Financial Challenges: I live on the top floor of a brownstone - there is no doorman and if packages are delivered, someone has to sign for them. Since everyone is gone during the day - the package will either have to be picked up at the post office which is about 20 blocks away, in a crappy neighborhood, across a highway intersection and inaccessible by subway or a UPS site somewhere in the city. I do not own a car. Everything I do is by subway or bus. Also the information on my harddrive is backed up on floppies to some extent and a zip disc. While I could afford a new computer - not sure if I want to spend the money on it at this point, would like to wait a bit longer, when I feel a bit more secure in my job.


Questions:
1. Do I need to get a new computer? If so, which one would be best for my needs? Or should I just upgrade the one I have? What does upgrading involve?
2. Should I opt for a lap-top or a desk-top for the needs I listed above?
Which is better for writing and internet research?
3. Would switching internet carriers solve the problem?
4. MSN's suggestion - that I upgrade to Windows XP and my operating system is what is slowing me down. Is that what I should do? Do I trust them?
5. Do I have an NIC card? Is the 4c Modem the same as this? If not can I get one without getting a new computer and operating system? If so, how do I do it without having to take about my hard drive, something I'd rather avoid.
6. What DSL/Cable modem is best? What is broadband? And how difficult is it to install this yourself? Apparently that's what they all want if you live in NYC.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Comments

[graffitiandsara.livejournal.com]

I'd also recommend getting the service updates as SOON as you get online. Now - I'm a real taskmaster about making sure all our PC's are current - SERVICE WISE - but then I come from the anal retentive mainframe environment, and it was my JOB to make sure customers stayed current on service levels. Sara - what would you recommend?

Actually, I think in the PC world it's far safer to go with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy. I never, ever load service updates or patches to Windows. Microsoft is too undependable with their testing practices. I've read many horror stories of the latest service pack breaking something that was working before. Also, I have no faith that Microsoft has any real ability to close all the security holes, so I don't think you really gain more than the illusion of safety by keeping current. However, many smart and expert people completely disagree with my viewpoint and some actually believe that my attitude is negligent. It's also colored by my very deep distrust of Microsoft and lack of respect for their business practices. So you must keep that in mind.

Sk - you'll probably just want to switch your anti-virus program to get back to where you where before, but if you do decide to go with a different operating system, I would still say Windows 98 Second Edition, with no patches or service packs applied.

It was interesting to hear your take on this LadyH! You made many valid points and to patch or not to patch is a debate I enjoy. Feel free to rebut! Fun is to be had!

[ladyhelix.livejournal.com]

Just sayin' - that's what I'm doing and I'm solid. I have however had to back off 2 patches in the last year because they degraded system performance (one on XP, and one on 98).

I think your approach is completely valid. Mine is just a holdover from my past - on a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLATFORM!

And - if you haven't had problems with 98 without patches, I'm very tempted to turn off the auto updating, and just let it go.

THANKS!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Took your advice and uninstalled Norton Anti-virus last night and installed Avast4 Home Edition. Took a while to do but speeded up my computer considerably. No longer takes an hour for my email to synchronize - that was the main problem actually - the email synchronization after I signed off the internet - would often freeze my computer or make it impossible for me to shut-it off without hitting the switch on my grounder. (Much better advice than the silly Microsoft tech support gave me, thank you!)

Am sticking with ME for now, for two reasons: 1) I don't know anyone with a Windows 98 Second Edition CD that I can borrow and would have to hunt it online, 2) the ME isn't giving me too much trouble - but then I'm not connected to a network and have not used the computer for much outside of writing stories, resumes, and posting/research/scanning the internet. (ME did give me trouble way back when I first got it - there's a bug in all the Microsoft Windows programs for the Word application - the bug is that the normal template page in word will automatically alter whenever you go in and write something new - and if you aren't careful to click - don't save changes to normal, it will freeze the Word application next time you open it. When it happened, I called tech support and they gave me a way to handle the problem - delete the normal template page. But this is a bug I've seen on XP and 2000 operating systems...so clearly a microsoft programming nusiance.)

Actually, I think in the PC world it's far safer to go with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy. I never, ever load service updates or patches to Windows. Microsoft is too undependable with their testing practices.

Agree. This is becoming my philosophy as well on all gadgets.

I know far too much about Microsoft. Having met people who worked for them and wrote the manuals and having worked directly with them in business. They have a monopoly on the software operating systems so don't have to do certain things or worry about things you'd do if you had a major competitor. Say what you will about competition - it does motivate people to make better products and promote a better business philosophy. If you're the only game in town or the only game people think they can rely on - you don't have to work as hard. Linux just hasn't found a way of dislodging that attitude yet.

I stopped allowing Microsoft to update or patch my computer about two years back, because every time I did, it slowed it down. I only do it if it is necessary to protect something.
Most of the patches are irrelevant anyways - since the computer is not attached to a mainframe or network.

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

Can you borrow a Win98 CD from the library? I know mine has software available for borrowing, and as Sara said, it's backdated.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I'm not sold on the MSN98 Second Edition solving the problem. At this point I think may cause other problems.

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

That makes sense too, I guess. Good luck with getting things running a little better!

[raises hand]

[anomster.livejournal.com]

"1) I don't know anyone with a Windows 98 Second Edition CD that I can borrow"

Yes, you do. I think. One of the experts out there will have to tell us if this will work.

I have a CD-ROM whose sleeve says it's a Windows 98 upgrade for W3.1x & W95 & has a "stamp" saying "SECOND EDITION." On the disk itself, it says, "This program will search your system to confirm your eligibility for this special upgrade edition." So will it work on a system that has a later edition? If Sara is right about the license allowing you to load an earlier version than you have, I'd be glad to lend it to you.

However, the person who helped me put my system together told me later that W98 is notoriously unstable & recommended upgrading to W2000, which nobody who's commented here has even mentioned. I dunno, maybe he'd forgotten I was using the 2nd ed. And I haven't gotten that upgrade & don't have it to lend, so maybe it's moot.