robb
Sat Mar 29 12:32:38 PDT 2008
Dear Shenan Stanley;
I thank you very kindly for your intelligent advice. You are too
kind. I appreciate it a lot and thank you.
Now, I have some specific questions, and i request that if you
cannot answer them, please kindly forward freely or refer me to the
best source of information concerning the questions. Again, thanks!
QUESTION. I have a Dell Dimension 3000 and run on it Windows XP
with Service pack 3 Candidate. i will upgrade to the full SP3 in a
few days when it is fully released. I am not loaded down much with
excess programs. I have a PC Tools Internet Suite, an updater by
Secunia, and some codecs, and that is about the extent of it. Nothing
is recorded in my WMPlayer, and I have about 88% freespace.
So, if some catastrophe comes down and i crash the system, and it
is many years down the road, I need some CDs to get the old XP moving
again. Which ones, and where is it cheapest to get them?
i should tell you that i got some CDs when i bought the Dell, but
I am fairly new to actually using the internal appliances that come in
MS Windows XP: check disk, defragment, disk cleanup, etc. I found I
have a CD named <<Dell Dimension Resource CD>>: contents: Device
drivers, diagnostics and utilities, computer documentation. So, to
summarize:
Is the Dell Dimension Resource CD enough for me to work with a
technician after years and years and there is no support for XP
happening? That presumes that i crash and there is no support--can i
reestablish the computer using that disk? If not, which do i need,
and where can i get them? ADVISE.
One last question: is there a good handbook like this: maintain
your XP for idiots? Or anything similar would do! ADVISE.
i thank you again Shenan Stanley!
Best!
Robb
> robb wrote:
> > =A0 =A0 I am concerned with the rumored demise of the Windows XP. =A0I
> > have a Dell Dimension 3000 running Windows XP and Service Pack
> > Candidate
> > 3. =A0 Frankly, it was a little hard to get used to it, and I
> > certainly DO NOT want the hassle of a new OS, etc.
> > =A0 =A0 Here is my question: Forums, Lists, Groups dedicated to
> > maintaining and supporting Windows XP after M$ ceases to, and also
> > books like, hypothetically "Maintain and support your Win XP for
> > Idiots." =A0or the like.
> > =A0 =A0 Can you help me please locate such groups or handbooks, please?
> > I certainly would appreciate the help!
>
> Windows XP will - just like those still running Windows 98 today - last as=
> long as you can stand it.
>
> The secret? =A0Don't upgrade anything and hope what you have does not wear=
out
> quickly.
>
> That's it. =A0Sorry - there probably is no other advice that will strike a=
s
> close to the base of your problem as that.
>
> If you buy the latest/greatest right now that works with Windows XP
> (Computer, lots of memory, hard disk drive, external hard disk drive,
> printer, scanner, digital camera, digital sound recorder, digital camcorde=
r,
> DVD/CD/HD DVD writer, and the latest of any other technology you think you=
> might want to use (that connects to your computer and interfaces with
> Windows XP at this time) and you never have the need to upgrade some
> hardware component or never need to see the latest version of the you-tube=
> craze (whatever format that may be - and thus need a codec or something th=
at
> will not work on Windows XP in 5 years) - then you can stick with Windows =
XP
> for quite some time.
>
> (Given normal computer maintenance, persistent backups and some common
> computing sense...)
>
> However - the first time you have to view that video, get a new printer, g=
et
> a new digital camera or that computer just dies without a possible
> replacement part - then you may be out of luck and upgrading.
>
> Technology moves quick. =A0You either move with it - or stop using it in m=
ost
> cases. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> =A0 =A0 =A0MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-ques=
tions.html