| thebiggfella |
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| Fri Mar 13 2009 09:47 PM |
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New Computer
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For the last 2 - 3 years, I've been meaning to upgrade my soon to be six year old laptop to a decent desktop. I've asked a few local computer places for quotes based on a system I 'built' online at Dell.co.uk. At the moment I'm hoping that one of the 'locals' come up with a better price for the spec. than Dell as I'd rather give my money to a small local firm, aside from the fact that I can see them personally if need be.
However, if Dell come in with the best deal I'll have to go with them. I'm just wondering if anyone has a Dell PC and what they think of it and the customer service if you've had cause to use it. I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the way they handled my questions until I asked them if they could come up with a deal if I bought the system and a monitor from them. Indeed they did. It would save me nearly £100 on the price of the two separately. However, the sales rep said he'd email the deal in five minutes but never did. That makes me question their reliability.
I'm still waiting for the quotes to come in from the local places. I emailed them the Dell quote along with the spec. so they know what I'm after and how much Dell want. Am I right to want to get my system locally or would I be better sticking with someone like Dell? Sorry to go on, I've got a couple of new computer related questions also:
What's the best way to to get all my files from the old computer to the new one? There's everything from music, video to the usual Word documents. It will be going from XP Pro to Vista Home Premium.
Eventually, I want the PC to be part of a wireless network so I'm thinking that I may as well get an appropriate router whilst I'm at it. Any recommendations from folk who have already got one? There seems to be loads and it's all rather confusing. The Dell would come with a Internal Enhanced Wireless 802.11n PCIe Card. Is that the wireless standard that I should be using.
Before I connect to the internet, I want to get AVG and my firewall (Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4) onto the new PC. Is that just a case of copying the relevant folders from my old laptop onto a CD, then installing AVG and Sunbelt onto the new computer from that CD?
I'm sure I'll have more questions, but that will do for now. Thanks in advance. Glynn.
| RichieP |
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| Sat Mar 14 2009 09:01 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Hi Glynn
With regards to the first part of your question, I doubt any local retailer will be able to beat Dell on price for any spec you choose.
Local retailers don't buy kit in the same quantitiesa as Dell, and tyhey don't employ people on 50p per hour.
However, as someone who tries to supply my customers with locally built computers whenever possible, I'd say support your local business.
I get slightly peeved at people asking me to beat a Dell quote. I always tell them I can't but could probably do it for around £40 extra. When these people are usually spending over £400, surely an extra £40 isn't much?
Most of them still buy fro me beacasue they get excellent after sales service and support, and my lovely smiley face
But, seriously, for the sakes of a few quid, support your local business.
Now the rest of your questions:
Quote:
What's the best way to to get all my files from the old computer to the new one? There's everything from music, video to the usual Word documents. It will be going from XP Pro to Vista Home Premium.
The quickest way is to remove the hard drive from the old computer and connect it to a USB device like this
Plug it into your new computer and it will install drivers and show up in Computer. Browse to your files and copy them across.
Quote:
Eventually, I want the PC to be part of a wireless network so I'm thinking that I may as well get an appropriate router whilst I'm at it. Any recommendations from folk who have already got one? There seems to be loads and it's all rather confusing. The Dell would come with a Internal Enhanced Wireless 802.11n PCIe Card. Is that the wireless standard that I should be using.
Yes. N is the new technology with much longer range. If you do decide to buy local ask for one with a PCI card or some motherboards come with on-board wireless.
As for routers, you haven't said if it's a BT line or cable. For BT lines, get something like this
Quote:
Before I connect to the internet, I want to get AVG and my firewall (Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4) onto the new PC. Is that just a case of copying the relevant folders from my old laptop onto a CD, then installing AVG and Sunbelt onto the new computer from that CD?
You can't copy programs once they are installed. However, if you have the installation files for those programs, you can copy those and install from there. If not download them again and copy them over.
Just a final point. For Vista, go for a Core2Duo or AMD dual core and at kleast 3GB RAM. It's You'll find it sluggish compared to XP if not.
Good luck.
| thebiggfella |
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| Sat Mar 14 2009 11:57 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Ritchie, thanks very much for your comprehensive and detailed reply. I would really like to use one of the local guys and would be more than willing to spend a bit more to give them the business. I think it would be worth it both to support local business and for piece of mind should I need any help. One of the guys is only five minutes walk away. Using the Dell site gave me a good idea of what I was after spec. wise and I think I'd pay more, maybe 10-15% to get it built locally. It's also nice to have some face to face contact when you're spending a fair chunk of cash.
I am on a BT line and that router you linked to looks ideal. I was looking at a BT Home Hub earlier today but am not too sure about them. They did get a good review from WU but probably the Belkin one would be more appropriate.
By installation files, do you mean the .exe files that you download first off? If so, I've got pretty much all of them saved in separate folder so I take it it would be just a case of installing the apps using those files once they are copied across to the new computer?
Again, thanks for your time, it's much appreciated. As you have probably gathered, it my first computer change over and will be my first foray into the world of wireless networking.
| RichieP |
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| Sun Mar 15 2009 08:04 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Hi Glynn.
Nice to hear you want to buy local. If only more people did perhaps industry in this country wouldn't be going down the pan so quickly.
Make sure you choose a reputable dealer. Ask them what parts they use, eg Seagate, Western Digital hard drives? What's their after-sales support
like if you have problems?
If you're with BT as your ISP then go for their kit. It's easy to set up and the range is quite good. It's also fe so saving you the cost of a router.
The other thing is that if you have any problems, it's BT line, BT equipment, BT broadband, so BT have to sort it out. No getting fobbed off, claiming they don't support 3rd party products.
You can just copy over the old .exe files, but on the case of AVG, it will probably be out of date (it's AVG 8.0 at the moment) and will take ages to update anyway. Download the latest version onto your old computer and copy that across. The same with your firewall.
God luck. Feel free to post back if you have further questions.
| thebiggfella |
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| Sun Mar 15 2009 09:05 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Thanks again for the advice. I just hope one of the local dealers come up trumps. I got a quote off the guy five minutes walk away about two or three years ago when I last looked into this prior to the new kitchen coming onto the scene. He seemed very switched on and knew his stuff. I'll certainly quiz whoever I think gives the best deal as regards their components.
So you reckon the BT Home Hub. That's fine by me, but is that not just a router? The Belkin device you linked to was a modem/router.
| RichieP |
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| Mon Mar 16 2009 11:05 AM |
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Re: New Computer
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The BT hub is a modem/router as well. I suggested that if youi are with BT as your ISP, as it's free. If you go with someone else, the router I suggested is a good one if your chosen ISP don't supply one.
| thebiggfella |
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| Tue Mar 17 2009 02:15 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Ok Ritchie, thanks for that. I checked out the free Home Hub offer last night only to find that I'm not eligible unless I upgrade. I'm an already a BT customer on Option 1 so unless I move to at least Option 2, I won't get one. Option 1 suits me fine so I probably just go with a router/modem along the lines of what you linked to. I'll let you know what I go with once the quotes are all in. Fingers crossed!
| thebiggfella |
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| Wed Mar 18 2009 05:55 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Unfortunately, the local guys are quoting much more than Dell so I think I'm going to have to go with them. Just a couple more questions:
For fear of stating the obvious, with the inclusion of the Internal Enhanced Wireless 802.11n PCIe Card, I assume that the wireless router/modem would not need to be hardwired to the PC meaning that I could put the router/modem anywhere?
Is there any other way of copying my files from the old laptop to the new PC without removing HDs etc? I'm not overly confident about doing this.
Currently, my old laptop is hardwired to the modem. When setting up my new system, would it be best to:
1. Set up the new PC using the existing modem, then replace that with the new modem/router? Or:
2. Install the new modem/router first, hardwiring it to my old laptop (not wireless) then replace the old laptop with the new PC. Or:
3. Install the new PC and router/modem in one go?
Sorry if the questions seem a bit 'basic' but as I've mentioned, it's my first foray into wireless and also my first computer changeover. Thanks again. Glynn.
| RichieP |
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| Wed Mar 18 2009 10:25 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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At least you gave them the chance.
You can place the router anywhere, although you'' obviously be limted by the phone point and lenght of the cable.
For copying files, I'll cover that bit at the end. You'll see why.
1. No. Set up the router with an ethernet cable connected to your laptop. This assumes it has a network card of course.
2. Search for wireless netwroks on the PC and of course, the one you've just set up perfectly via the laptop will appear and you connect to it. Don't forget to use WPA security with a passphrase.
3. Set up file sharing on your old laptop. Do the same on the new computer, then copy all your old files across your wireless network.
Have fun.
| thebiggfella |
| (regular) |
| Wed Mar 18 2009 11:56 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Ritchie, my old laptop is not wireless enabled so I'm not sure that I can do things the way you suggest. Can I still set up the router/network using the old laptop then use the PC to search for a wireless network? Sorry, I'm new to all this carry on!
| RichieP |
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| Thu Mar 19 2009 06:15 AM |
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Re: New Computer
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I never mentioned using the laptop wirelessly.
Connect it directly to the roueter with an ethernet cable, then connect the PC wirelessly.
| thebiggfella |
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| Fri Mar 20 2009 12:07 AM |
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Re: New Computer
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Sorry it's my lack of knowledge regarding this that's the problem.
| thebiggfella |
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| Sat Mar 28 2009 01:33 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Thanks for all your help on this. The wireles network is up and running and secure and the new pc arrived yesterday and is also up and running. I've just got to copy my stuff across, get the TV card installed and get used to Vista. It's just a shame that price quoted by the local dealer was was too high. Thanks again. Glynn.
| RichieP |
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| Thu Apr 02 2009 09:11 PM |
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Re: New Computer
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Hi Glynn
Glad you got it all sorted.
Enjoy