Is there any way to completely eliminate the use of all Microsoft OS/programs from my computer? I have been using 2000 Pro for years and it has been relatively trouble free but with the increasing attacks against MS stuff am wondering if I should consider the total removal of everything related to MS.
Today I have a virus program problem (McAfee with a suspected corrupted file) and need to run MSCONFIG and have just discovered that MS 2000 does not have this option and have to go another time consuming route.
What OS/programs are recommended for a semi-literate computer guy? What should I be using for e-mails? Using Firefox and Yahoo at the moment and am plagued with hundreds of spam daily.
Anything coming down the pipeline that I should wait for?
I know that this question probably boils down to user preference and opinions, but are there any hard facts out there to support the use of OS/program A against program B or even C? What are the pros and cons?

Not related to the above, but every week I put together and print a bulletin. Any suggestions as to the best program for this? It needs to be something that can be used on about three computers as others need to be able to use it when I am away.

 

I'm using Gentoo Linux and OpenOffice for my daily work. Gentoo is targeted towards people who will read a lot of instructions while setting it up but highly configurable. (Some folks call it a PIA)
An alternative would be either any other Linux distribution like Kubuntu or maybe BeOS.
I'd suggest that you buy a single Harddrive with at least 40 gigs and unplug all the other hard disks from your computer while setting up linux and testing it to get used to it. Burn some CD-s of your Data (like the bulletin you mentioned) to play around with under Linux-Openoffice without the risk of losing data.
If you like I can help you by e-mail or PM, chatroom etc on this stuff.
(Even though I'd really like to fly over there and just do it but I think this could prove a little expensive given the fact that you're quite at the source of Corona and good fresh lemons )

On the other hand MSconfig can be downloaded here:
http://www.techadvice.com/specs/file...p?fnid=3398288
I don't know whether it's legal to use or not, and I won't take responsibility for anything that happens if you use it. If you have a computer running WinXP you can copy the file msconfig.exe to C:\winnt\system32 on your win2k machine.
Works for me

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

Thanks AlpineRAM. Why don't you just come on over and I will supply all the Corona you can drink, (AFTER you modify my computer) plus fresh lemons and tacos of all kinds daily. May even let you drive my Ram.
Still not sure if I even need to make changes, but will take a look a look at all suggestions and then decide.
May yet call on you for help. The offer is appreciated.

 

I've been using Vector Linux for some time now. Was fairly easy to set up, has the standard packages included (Open Office, Firefox, etc.) and has a fairly easy user interface.

 

Considering windows 2000, is well, 7 years old, moving to windows XP would be a wise choice.

msconfig is available for windows 2000 as part of the admin pak.

Spam is only avoidable if you use a company that does not sell your email address (very few do. Charter.net cable company is one of the few that doesnt).

No advice here on other o/s's, I stick to using microsoft products and stay off the **** and illegal activities and keep clean that way.

 

About spam: Since I'm an ISP myself I know about fighting spam.... I do provide webspace including custom programming and e-mail.
I'm running anti spam measures on my mailservers for the customers who wish this. I do not disclose e-mail adresses of my customers to anybody except the customer himself.
Usually the problem is that the customer gives his e-mail addy to some website where it'S a requirement to access some content (not necessarily **** or the like) and the provider of this website sells the adress for targeted marketing. My problem is that a lot of customers do complain about spam when it's a legitimate e-mail (meaning it has got the correct adress, correct sender identification etc) because the customer signed up for some stuff and agreed to get e-mails from this company and marketing partners (most customers don't look for the checkbox where it says that you don't want this)
I think that most people should try to get their own domain name and then use this domain to handle the e-mail. If you are not content with the services of your provider you can easily change the provider without contacting a bazillion people about your new e-mail addy. Also a lot of the spammers avoid e-mail addys of individual domains but do target the domains of access providers where they run a lower risk to be sued than if they spam a company.

On the win2K or WinXP question: IMO win2k is still very well supported by Microsoft and if you don't use hard.- or software that requires XP there'S no need to change. Especially if the users are used to Win2K it's not really worthwhile to change their habits forcibly. (In office environments the handling of Win2K or XP is almost the same for the user)

I do personally propagate the use of public domain and open source software. I think that commercial software has it's place and do not condone piracy. If you don't want to pay for software there are viable alternatives, and those alternatives will be a little tougher to keep up to date because there's nobody who gets paid for the support and the bugfixes. On the other hand because you have to care for the bugs yourself you will get to know a whole lot more about how stuff works and you will be empowered to tailor your system to your needs.


AlpineRAM

 

Forget Windows, forget Linux, and PC's. Get a Sun Ultra 40 workstation and run UNIX.

 

Back when I first got pirated copies of |\/||c.-050f+ programs there were no viable alternatives. Now there's Open Office and Linux and a host of other free or cheap open-source programs, but I'm used to the high dollar |\/||c.-050f+ and 4d083 stuff.

But still, I use |\/||c.-050f+ Office and \^/1|\||)0\^/2 XP and the like because it's what everybody else uses. I don't usually support monopolies, but I don't want to imagine a world where there's five or six little |\/|1(.-050|=+5; I can't keep up with 2000 and XP, can you imagine the world with a dozen operating systems?

As for $p4|\/| and \/1.5$3$, I really don't care. The days are long past where a single \/1.5$3 (|-|3.0|\|0_%#$ you're computer, and $p4|\/| never followed me past my AOL days. I get about 1 unneeded message a week between five accounts, three of which are Outlook-based.

I don't care about |-|4(|{3.$; if they want to waste their time stealing my homework or DTR log-in information, so let them. Then again, if you had a bunch of Social Security numbers or the like, it'd probably be wise to get a firewall maybe lock your doors at night.

I'm a lot less worried about Microsoft then 9009|_3; 9009|_3 _||_|57 |\|33|)2 70 83 |)357.-0`/3|), .-1|>|>3|) 1|\|70 |>13(32 4|\||) 8|_|.-|\|3|) 1|\| 4 (.-4|>-|=1|_|_3|) |>1|\|474.

 

Stan, if you're in the market for a whole new computer (sounds like you probably are if you're still running 2000), I saw a commercial on TV tonight where Mac was advertising that their computers will now run windows programs as well as whatever it is they normally run (don't know much about Macs). If this is true, that seems like it would be a great way to completely get away from Microsoft products but still be able to use other Windows based software. Just something to think about.

Heck, after spending just a few minutes reading their website I'm half tempted to throw away my perfectly good Dell and buy a Mac. That 20" iMac is pretty impressive.

 

It's not that macs can run windows software. Its that they have Intel processors and are basically the same as all other pc's now. They can run windows and the software for it, but as far as I know MAC osx can't run windows programs. However, if you still need to run windows based software you need to read this article.

 

Thanks for the answers so far, keep 'em coming. I don't want to throw away my computer as that part is still good - or is it? This one was built up for me. This is what I am running, so what do you "expert's" think?
CPU; AMD Athlon XP 1800+ 1.53 Mhz.
Mbd; Gigabyte GA7VTXE 266Mhz FSB, Socket A.
RAM: 512 DDR
FDD: Misumi 1.44 MB
HDD: WD 60 MB 7200 RPM, IDE/ATA100
CD-ROM Sony 52X
CD- RW Samsung 24x10x40
Video Pine GeForce2 MX400, 64 MB
Case Skyhawk ATX brushed aluminium with AMD 300 P/S
And other stuff
The hardware seems to be running well, although I desperately need a DVD read/write. I know that some of this maybe could be updated, but would it noticeably improve performance? It is mainly the software that I am questioning. Windows 2000 seems to be running OK and I have had very few problems. OK, my computer freezes once in a while, but I suspect a problem with the sound card.
The original reason for my question was whether I should be considering a total change in my software to preclude problems. Is a change really advantageous and why? So if I change, what software do I change to that would preclude problems and will the change do anything for performance?

 

id sell the motherboard, memory, CPU, and video card on ebay.

keep all the rest.

then get a new abit or asus motherboard, with a 2.8mhz (or 2.6mhz) AMD CPU.
then top it off with 2 512mb sticks of muskin memory, and a geforce fx5700 256mb.
and windows XP of course. =)

 

Really depends on what you want to do with it. XP 1800 is very old by computer standards. IDE harddrives are old. Most games out there now wont even open with the video card you have. However, if youre just doing basic internet tasks and word processing, newer hardware will save you time, but doing those tasks the time isnt going to be much saved.

What do you want to do with it?

How does your machine freeze? Mouse stop moving? If it freezes to the point of the mouse not moving anymore, keyboard not responding, thats a hardware problem.

As far as updating software, Windows xp will be faster, more stable, and more compatible with drivers/less chance of crashing.

Ultimately, just like in the automotive world, speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?

 

It's both sad and exciting that in the computer world something can be obsolete in two or three years.
I never play any games on this computer which is one reason I chose that video card. Just wanted good video and great sound. I use another 'obsolete' system for my audio, the Creative Inspire 5.1 surround sound.
All I use this computer for is e-mail and other internet tasks. Do a lot of research via the internet on this computer. Oh, of course the most important use is to log into DTR.
When my computer freezes it is almost always when I move the mouse and then everything totally freezes. The screen saver freezes, the mouse will not respond and the audio quits. Control, alt, delete does not work as the keyboard is frozen also. This may happen twice a week or once a month. There is nothing consistant about the timing. Hotboot it and everything works fine.
I am not after blazing speed, just want something to happen immediately I click on it.

 

Stan, I'd pull the case off, give the innards a good shot of clean air, and then reseat everything. Sounds to me as if something is not seated properly and giving you intermittent fits.

As a last resort, wipe the hard drive and reload everything from scratch. You'd be amazed at how that will speed things up.