jimras

Since Norton is the big problem, has anybody got any input on AVG antivirus? It seems to run OK under XP but how about with SP2?? Any other suggestions welcome, too.

The main problem that I had with SP2 is with Norton AV This is a known problem. If I try to use Norton in any way my computer will just plain lock up totally. I just renewed my subscription, too. I suppose I will have to just say screw it and not use norton anymore and then I can put SP2 on and it will work but then I need to get another AV program. I am not TOO worried about the updates because MOST of them have to do with IE and Outlook and I don't use either of those. Haven't for years (except to get updates)

The deal is that up until today, you could block SP2. Now, you can't do that any more, however if you turn automatic updates OFF, they can't just dump it onto your computer. You will have to check manually for updates and patches from now on and you should be able to continue without it. I am in the same boat. SP 2 and some of my programs just don't get along and I have tried 4 times to get it to work without success and I have tried just about everything to make it work, too.

I am running WinXP Pro SP1 and my burning program is Nero Express. I was having trouble with my CDRW drive. It didn't always seem to want to read the disks that I put in there and I think it might have been dirty. I used a "cleaner" disc that had like little brushes on it and that didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. I had another CDRW drive sitting around so I put it in the computer and I can see it in Explorer and I can copy from it just fine. The problem is that when I go to make a data disk, I try to write the files to that drive but it doesn't copy them onto the disc. It wr

This is EXACTLY the kind of feedback that I wanted. I would hate to invest a bunch of time and (a little) money and then be frustrated with the results. any more input??

Well, I've been doing a LOT of reading and a lot of thinking and I have deceided that I want to try Linux. I am thinking of either Debian 3.0r4 or Mandrake 10.1 From what I have read, it seems that the Debian is a bit easier for a first timer to use. Anybody have some thoughts about my choices?? Just FYI -- I am running a 1.8 Ghz Athalon 2500+ with 512 MG RAM and I have a seperate 80 Gig HD that I will use for the Linux install. I have Windows XP Pro installed on my other HD.

Yeah. A Purple "F" doesn't hurt anywhere near as bad as a red one!! Give me a break

could anybody reccomend a good program for burning CD's? I would prefer a free program, if possible. Running XP Pro w/Athalon 2500+ 512 RAM I have Nero 5 right now and I'm not really happy with it. I need a program that will write out the .ISO files to CD for Linux. Any suggestions??

Thanks to both of you for the reply This sets my mind to rest. Onwards!!!

This may seem like a REALLY stupid question, but please bear with a Noobie to Linux. My question is what about security when running Linux? I wouldn't dream of running under Windows XPpro without a firewall and a GOOD AV program running. What about when running Linux? Do you need these programs running and if so, could you please reccomend some that I should use? I am just about ready to download some distros and give them a try..... Gee..will this be like trying to learn DOS was so many years ago?? Thanks for any help you might be willing to offer. Jim

I have a couple of questions for you experts. I have heard a lot of good things about Linux and I would love to try it out. My system should handle it just fine...Athalon 2500+ 1.87 Gig -- 512 MG RAM -- 2 80GB HD's. What I am wondering is this -- I have read that you should install Linux on it's own partition of the HD. Since I have TWO HD's and I use very little of the 2nd one, I could easily clean this drive off and have it totally clean. Can I install Linux onto the 2nd HD instead of trying to partition the first one? Also--the HD is formatted NTFS. Will this make any difference??

A heartfelt thank you to one and all!! People complain about birthdays (at least old poops like me) but I'll tell you what.......birthdays sure beat the alternative!!! Thanks again!! Jim

Usually, I use Nero and just do a copy of the disc. In most cases, that works fine.

This morning, when I booted up, my computer stopped after the POST and said that there was a "CMOS Checksum error" What is this and what can I do about it? Running WinXP Pro on a 1.8 Gig Athalon 2500+ Barton Core w/ 512 MG memory

Blim....... My wife just got a new Dell and it has SP2 already on it and it came with the McAfee Internet sercurity suite on it and it works just fine. It is using the McAfee firewall instead of the M$ firewall and everything seems to work good on her box. Maybe I'll buy a copy for me!!

When I installed SP2, I had completely disabled NAV . I use a program called "startup.exe" to monitor what loads with windows and how it loads. After unchecking all the various modules, I then rebooted XP and confirmed that nothing else was running in the background. I did all the prep work of backing up and defragging and all that stuff, too. After getting SP 2 installed, I did manage to get the security console to open ONCE. When I restarted the NAV stuff, that's when everything went to heck. I suppose I could just bite the bullet and get another AV program, but I have had such good

OK--you've all heard me rant and rave about how I didn't want SP2. Well, over the weekend, I tried three times to get it to install and work and it wouldn't. I finally ended up with a totally screwed up computer. The problem is a conflict between the security panel (installed w/SP2) and my Norton AV. That is a really long story and not really relavant to this problem. I ended up having to do a boot from CD and repair the OS and then I removed SP2 and got my computer back to the supposed state that it was in before I started messing around with it. Well, not quite. Here's the problem,

The least expensive way would be to wire (cable) the computers to the router. If this not a problem, then you would need a cable to reach from each computer to the router. Of course, you need the router, too. You will also need to have NIC (network interface card) in each computer. If you don't have these already installed, then put these on your list too. They're cheap--$10 or so. If running cables is a problem, then you can go wireless and that means you have to get wireless cards for each computer. You could also go wireless for the computer that is far away and use a cable for the

I believe that the computer is not looking for anything. What the "path" statement does is inform the computer and programs -- In this case, Adobe Photo Deluxe -- where to look for it's data and other files. This kind of smacks back to the old DOS days when most program installations would append the path statement.

My guess is that once this date is passed, you won't be able to go to M$ update site without being forced to accept SP2 before you can get anything else.

I have seen this before and it is SPOOKY how this works time after time. Does amybody know how this works??

Well, here's the source that I saw about this http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...n/sp2aumng.mspx Check it out and see!!

I have heard that shortly, Windows will automatically install the XP SP 2 weather you want it or not. Has amybody else heard this?? I don't really want to install SP2 and I have auto update turned off for just that reason. I don't use IE or Outlook and I have a good firewall and virus protection so I can't really see any reason to install a service pack that I have read so many negative things about. Anybody like to offer opinions about installing or not installing SP2 and has anybody else heard about the required upgrade??

Oooohhhhhhhh Is that a good question or what???? Seriously, that really IS a good question Wondering about XP too

I, too, use Firefox and I use Eudora for my Email. I refuse to use M$ programs because of all the security problems. Maybe someday, M$ will get all the problems ironed out but for now, I don't really feel secure using those programs. I have been using Eudora ( ver Pro 4.2 ) for years and I have been using Firefox for almost 2 years now. This, coupled with a GOOD anti-virus program and a GOOD firewall, has kept my computer in pretty good shape. I, for one, don't really care what Bill Gates comes up with. I'm not going to be in a hurry to switch!!!