Helper's new PC

[Helper]

Newegg?

Almost always (or Crucial for just RAM).
My friend sent me the actual links for each of the items, so all I had to do was click on the links, then click on 'Add to cart'.
Total no-brainer (fortunately) on my part.

I'll edit the first post to include the RAM and add the links.

[teknotiss]

you mean win XP???
cos the CD i have in front of me says WIN XP pro 32 bit.
i don't see a 64 bit option on it.
hmmm time to go info hunting!  ::)

Nooo!!

Win XP 64-bit was not a really good option.  I forgot that a good 35% of the world population is still running an operating system that is rapidly becoming obsolete and from next year will not even get security updates anymore.

i wasn't going to buy xp 64...  ::) i'll have to wait for a spare £70/80 and get win7.
but since few viruses are targetted at XP anymore security ware should be good enough.
plus of course microsoft might find it tricky to stop updates for a product if the european court thinks otherwise. i wonder if they'll get another big fine or they have an agreement already.
not an issue for me since i'll be getting win 7 at christmas if not before

[Grauniad]

but since few viruses are targetted at XP anymore security ware should be good enough.

Don't kid yourself. Win XP is fertile ground for viruses and the user population is large enough. When last did a month go by that you didn't get security updates? They will stop updates for browsers, Office Flash, everything that could be vulnerable and exploited.

I don't think the European court has much say in that, unless you have a link to a relevant news article?

[Helper]

but since few viruses are targetted at XP anymore security ware should be good enough.

Don't kid yourself. Win XP is fertile ground for viruses and the user population is large enough. When last did a month go by that you didn't get security updates? They will stop updates for browsers, Office Flash, everything that could be vulnerable and exploited.

I don't think the European court has much say in that, unless you have a link to a relevant news article?

Someone mention malware?
@tek - that is what I do for a living.
XP is actually more vulnerable than (ugh!) Vista or any flavor of Win7.
You should probably be running an alternate (to IE) browser and keeping a really close eye on Java and all Adobe product updates.
If you're not running a good solid AV product (I like MS MSE - free - and Malwarebytes Pro), plus a modified HOSTS file and really scrunched down browser settings...you're likely to have a visit from some very unpleasant people.

[teknotiss]

but since few viruses are targetted at XP anymore security ware should be good enough.

Don't kid yourself. Win XP is fertile ground for viruses and the user population is large enough. When last did a month go by that you didn't get security updates? They will stop updates for browsers, Office Flash, everything that could be vulnerable and exploited.

I don't think the European court has much say in that, unless you have a link to a relevant news article?

i haven't had a virus or malware issue for several years and don't allow my machine to auto update. having forgotten to do it for a while (i've been ill), i'm not "covered" by microsoft as is, and no issues, same as most safe web users, but i'll have to get it updated today.
it's going to dangerous web pages and dl'ing things without using virus checkers that cause all the problems on people machines that i usually fix.

and the EU court has a habit of making companies honour their contracts, so we'll see if the challenge gets anywhere. my MEP is part of the commitee that covers software law, he was part of the efforts to get games companies to stop ripping off europeans on price and when the EU slapped microsoft the last time.
this will take time to process (you think the US seneate is slow? try the EU parliment 27+ languages on top of politics!), but i know Mr Vauhgn will be interested in this
but we're getting off topic....
and i tried to post but helper beat me to it.

but since few viruses are targetted at XP anymore security ware should be good enough.

Don't kid yourself. Win XP is fertile ground for viruses and the user population is large enough. When last did a month go by that you didn't get security updates? They will stop updates for browsers, Office Flash, everything that could be vulnerable and exploited.

I don't think the European court has much say in that, unless you have a link to a relevant news article?

Someone mention malware?
@tek - that is what I do for a living.
XP is actually more vulnerable than (ugh!) Vista or any flavor of Win7.
You should probably be running an alternate (to IE) browser and keeping a really close eye on Java and all Adobe product updates.
If you're not running a good solid AV product (I like MS MSE - free - and Malwarebytes Pro), plus a modified HOSTS file and really scrunched down browser settings...you're likely to have a visit from some very unpleasant people.

a fellow software monkey!  :D
i used to do PC repair full time, now i just do it about 3 days a week.
and malware fixing is my main business (people just can't seem to learn if it's too good to be true it isn't true!).
i run firefox with adblock plus (this has stopped alot of problems for people once i installed it for them ::), i believe it also protects the host file, but i'll need to reread their info), and i don't have java installed (don't need it, don't use it) i use AVG free with Zonealarm and ASC free as the tuning utility. i also have a load of other anti virus malware and specialist removers installed or stored for the fixing i do.
and as i said i'll be getting Win7 soon(ish) so no worries anyway.
sorry for hijacking your topic, i was just trying to add an amusing aside

[Helper]

Status update:

UPS status is "Out for Delivery" (finally)!
The Memphis warehouse had some kind of meltdown in the order assembly process. I could have driven there and got the stuff faster.

Updates to follow.

Interrogatory:
My plan is for Win7-Pro/64.
Any reason to go with a different flavor?
I have licenses for all varieties of Win7.

[Grauniad]

wow, finally. I have something called "Shoprunner" and it gets most of my Newegg orders delivered with free 2-day shipping. Not sure if that could have bypassed some of the warehouse meltdown issues.

Windows 64 Pro is my personal OS of choice. I give the Home version to ordinary users that don't know much about Windows and won't need some of the extra features and can use the cost savings. If cost isn't an issue, then Pro. the Ultimate version has nothing I'd want and in most PCs for sale on Craigslist, if they have Ultimate, it's a dead give-away that the software has been pirated.

[Helper]

Not sure what happened. The RAM and case were delivered in 2 days, everything else got SNAFU'd. I saw the 'Shoprunner' link up there, but didn't pay any attention. I'll go back and check it out.

Thanks for the Pro comments. I beta-tested Ultimate, but have since loaded Pro on all our new systems. I think it's plenty for what I need and do.

[Helper]

New system up and running (screaming!), but the WD Red data drive just sat there humming at me.
I RMA'd it to Newegg for a refund and will be looking around for a replacement. Looking through the reviews at Newegg, that DOA appears to be a way too common problem with WD.

I was too beat to do much of anything with it last night, but plan on doing some Beta testing today - just to see how it handles some of the larger games.

[Grauniad]

The big guys  (Seagate, WD, Toshiba, Samsung - Hitachi got swallowed by one of those after swallowing the old IBM drive manufacturing operation) mostly have equal issues with drives. It has been years since there was a real reliability problem in one drive manufacturer's products over another's. Frankly, I look at my price point and I buy whats available on Newegg.

Another nice thing about that Shoprunner thing I mentioned, return shipping is free.

[Helper]

I have a 1TB Black/Caviar that I can put in the new system.
My preference would be WD (made in Thailand).
I'll keep trying the Red until I get one that works.

I'm finishing up the installation of CW2/3 and want to run some of the more processor intensive games.
Any nominations come to mind?

[Grauniad]

well, today's Newegg Shellshocker deal is a 3TB Seagate NAS drive with a free router (value $24) for $145. I personally won't put a NAS drive in my general use PC, but then, you already had the NAS-oriented drive. :)

[Helper]

Irritating...the WD Black I installed came up with a SMART error this morning.
I ran the WD diagnostic and it cannot repair the problem. At least the NAS Red drive had the courtesy to fail before I installed it.

Looks like a Black Friday buying visit.

Any recommendations on a 1-2 TB internal HD? I know there were some thoughts given last month, thought I'd check for any updates.

[Grauniad]

Pretty good deal on the Western Digital WD Black 1TB  for $80. - and they do have a warranty, you know? :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Promo code: EMCWWVV22

Or a Seagate Barracuda 2TB for $100.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148910

[Helper]

@G - thank you.
I'll go through the warranty/RMA process, but what a PITA! This box has only been up for a little over a month.

The ratings (NewEgg) on both of those suggest that I buy two to ensure getting one that works.
I'm not a hardware kind of guy, but I don't recall HDD reliability being such a major problem in years past.
H