Get OFF my computer
 

Windows Live OneCare. "No thanks, not right now". is what I ticked. But no, fool that I am, to think Vista would give two hoots what I want.

It stopped the first computer getting on line. Despite one of my kids having a room full of kit, and spending much of his working life using it, he still couldn't get past OneCare and link to the router. We took the new Sony hi-end device back and compained. "Worse than a virus!!!" I said, and they agreed.

I down-graded to a smaller core2 with Centrino Sony without paying the 15% restocking fee. That was just plain good luck. This came in at $649 plus tax of 8.25% Today it was back to $787 plus t. So not a lot of money, but not a patch on build quality to the old Vaio

Said son, had happened to spot a couple acting strangely, and they were later detained. None of the staff had cought on and even anwered their questions as they ripped the security device off the box. Anyway, the manager was very pleased and gave us $20 and the fee waiver.

Anyway, it seems that One has to pay for this programme, and to have the Geek service take "All the crap off your computer" Their words. It costs $29.99 Is it me, or is that a :mad: nerve?

Does anyone know if uninstalling this will cause problems? I'm being bloody-minded again I know, but I'll spend ages resisting paying that 29 bucks.

Another thing that unnerves me is AOL things waiting to pounce. I have this uneasy feeling that something will unpack during the night...even though the computer is switched off:rolleyes:

Any other junk that I might remove? I know, I know...take Vista off...but I thought I'd give it another go, just for the learning curve. If I thought I could get the drivers, I'd go to XP on this in a flash.

The first computer was an all singing 1600and something res 1080p heck of a spec, for $899...but I just could not see the screen details. The fact that it would play video in real-time seemed secondary to it not being a well rounded office computer. Having said this, the LCD on the smaller one is really not any better than the 10 year old unit back home. I seem to have to tilt it way back past perpendicular to get any contrast. I've messed with the colour settings etc, but to no avial. Nothing has been as good as the Fugitsu I tried in the UK. Tonight, I'm seriously thinking of taking it back. I though Sony would be the bee's knees, but just too costly, now I've got the price, the quality seems really diminished. :(

Iiyama CRT monitors. You can pick them up for peanuts these days (well, provided you've got someone to help you pick them up, the 21" models are a bit heavy). Vastly better than any of this modern flat screen crap.

There's some decent Sony Trinitron monitors to be had too.

I just bought a Lacie 19" CRT (essentially a re-badged Mitsubishi Diamondtron) for 10 quid off ebay, plus the cost of transport - nil, as it was near my son's school and I was collecting him anyway.

I have 3 of these screens now (2 x 19" and 1 x 17"), plus a Samsung 19" 1280x1024 LCD panel. The CRTs are much more comfortable to work with for long periods - the LCD is too "harsh" after a short while. I have gone through the monitor calibration and display optimisation and experimented with the B&C settings, and I've experimented with the desktop settings and font sizes. I still prefer the CRTs!

Sorry, is this drifting? :O

SD

Follow this link, it should remove onecare, there is another link provided if it doesnt do it properly.
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OOPS, fogot the link.

How to Uninstall Windows Live OneCare - Windows Live OneCare

...And I may be drifting as well: The reports we read of the problems that Vista and these "helpful" programs are causing computer users, I am more and more decided to buy a legitimate copy of XP off Ebay and then get myself the bits to put my own machine together. At least I'll get what I want and having, with some reluctance, been obliged to re-install XP on my current machine, I have tons more confidence to do it on a new one, be it a self-build or a cheap offer from somewhere from a supplier that recommends Windows Vista - don't they all!

P.P.

You might still be able to get an XP machine to order:-

Microsoft throws another lifeline to Windows XP - ZDNet.co.uk

Two good links to take in later thanks.

A little ramble while I'm cooling off having come out of a very humid 95f -- e-mails, my excuse for stopping building my shed.

At some time, I'll give an update on my dual disc experimentation on another thread. At first it seemed to be everything one could want. Call the disc from the BIOS and Bob's yer uncle. However..(.why is there always a however? ) I'm getting a checkdisc call on start-up. Time and again. Shame that, it was almost perfect. Could be the fact that it's on Slave, or that when I scrunched the ribbon in the vice, a pin or two didn't get connected...but it goes so well apart from checkdiscing.

Back to the thread...striving for purity of OS. As long as it's fun, messing about is okay, but when it gets to :ugh: then haven't got time to waste on hard slog. Will try to get to grips with Vista for a week or so, then reconsider.

When I had the Fugitsu, I re-partitioned the disc with Windows inbuilt software, and no problems. On the Sony, it seems a bit harder. See tonight what that brings.

I'll try that link and rid myself of the annoying prog.

Late last night, a nice lady from SBC told me where my default code was hidden and the laptop was on line with a fantastic signal. Router type is listed as 1701HG Gateway. So, don't know if that's a gateway, or made by Gateway...which brings me to monitors.

You don't have to sell me on tubes. One used to sell some of the first 21" units from Aydin Sp? Controls. had to move all my own kit in those days and carrying up five flights of stairs in Colchester wasn't unusual. Had one in a small village that was in a small chapel. The bloke ran a machine shop in there, and when a metal laden lorry came by the picture would swing off the screen. There were scratch marks in the old red-brick from passing traffic, so it was close.

I still have my Sony Trinitron at home. Took it out of storage and it was perfect after years.

iiyama were used as the benchmark by PC World. Gave my old 17" to a bloke down the pub this summer. Nice bit of kit, 5 BNC input and a LCD display on the front, showing the frequency etc without spoiling the picture. Twas long though...need a deep desk or no wall behind.

When Sony went to 21" the blokes at iiyama reckoned that the trinitron wires would glow and distort with the beam current. Certainly, I thought the 19 was rather nice. Should have been for 2,600 quid.

I'm using my son's cast-off Gateway 2000. 19" So much of what I do is at 1024. He's just thrown his Sony 21 into the skip. I conveyed my displeasure. :=

Dell sells many machines with factory-installed XP. Go to their small and medium business site.
Dell - computers, electronics, and technology solutions & services for business.
(Sorry, this is their USA site.)
Sometimes one has to pay a $99 premium.

I almost went with Dell, but just something made me hold back. One was perhaps the happy experience I had with my Sony for ten years having paid nothing for it, and the other just could be a deep psychological resistance to Dell. When many small computer companies were struggling to keep going, Michael's monument to capitalism looked down on us ordinary mortals from atop the only high bit of ground in Austin Tx. A vast marble-clad building with one word on it. Dell. Couldn't even get someone to put the E straight.:hmm:

Thank heavens I can see the screen today. Driving one inch on a Texas map had taken six hours...I think my eyes were protesting. I think the screen is fair, but by no means the best. 1600 lines was just a dream in the early CAD market, but such a strain for day to day.

I've rid myself of the offending software, well some of it, and am trying to make a partition. Thing is, I'm only being offered 111,000 mb reduction out of over twice that. What would be a reasonable minimum for Vista to play in? From another viewpoint, does it restrict me to that figure because it thinks Vista needs that much?

Well, that's succinct enough, 50 gig would have allowed for the few programs that insist upon alighting in drive C.

Any ideas why I'm only being allowed the downsizing of the partition from 240 to (or was it by) 111 GB ? Either way, I'll only have enough to make the next two drives c 50 gig each, leaving a lot of space in C that I don't need.

The hardship of only having 50 gig drives. :rolleyes:

In my iconoclast moments, I imagine the central stroke in the lazy E being erased. Sort of like a lazy U leaning the other way.

I deal with four Dell machines, two bought within that past year, all running XP. Most are fairly cheap units bought off the business site. They work OK.

I'm not going to advertise the world-wide forum, 'cos I don't think I'm allowed to, but you can 'pick up' Sony(Dell) 21" Trinitrons and the excellent Iiyama 21" FREE if you look carefully. Previous posters are correct - these are still good displays albeit 4 x 3; they can be lifted by one - with care! I managed to get hold of four...The trinitrons sometimes need a small soldering job if they lose their contrast - PM me if you want the details.

If my son hadn't dumped the 21 in Austin, I would have been interested in the soldering job. I called the folk that had supplied it -- $160 I think it was -- and she said that she would exchange it cos of the watery picture and fly-back lines. I offered to do it, but I guess that she was worried that I might kill myself and then make them liable. Actually, I think the Rivetess would have sent her a bunch of flowers and a box of candy.:( Anyway, I'm okay at home in Essex, and more or less okay here for now thanks.

What I'm waiting for is a truly multi-synching flat screen. Can't afford another posh telly though.