[Novalug] weird backup question

[Bonnie Dalzell]

One thing to try and determine is wether her harddrive is physically
failing. IDE drives are only guarenteed for 2 or so years.


It is my understanding that Computers purchased with M$OS's these days do
not come with a complete set of OS CD's (at least that was the case last
year). It is my understanding that unless one purchases the "enterprise"
version of the OS most of the installation comes across the internet
after registration.

Two years ago when I put M$XP on a computer for someone with DSL the
installation, starting with a OEM CD took 4 hours of internet
interactiona and at the end the machine had already aquired at least 2
pieces of malware - and it was only hooked up to the M$ site.

Reluctance to switch to Linux by people who do not need an application
that is only available via M$ is of course composed of fear of the unknown
and the pressure by computer professional outlets to refuse to give aid to
beginners. Our local computer store owner claims that linux installations
on his older laptops which are too feeble for M$XP would create a "support
nightmaore". Other than my printer problems I have encountered few things
with my computer that would justify that claim but I do not try to use my
computer as an interactive multimedia entertainment system either - I have
a TV, a radio, a satellite connection and a DVD player for all that.

If your friend was closer you could go over with a Linux Live disk.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                       Bonnie Dalzell, MA 
mail:5100 Hydes Rd ---- Hydes MD USA 21082-----EMAIL:bdalzell at qis.net
 
freelance anatomist, vertebrate paleontologist, writer, illustrator, dog
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