Discussion » Computer Problems

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Posted by ilovebeerme, 19:49, 16th May 2003:
 
'lo dudes. I'm having issues with my PC. When I first bought it and started it up it had all the bumpf on it. I could go into the programs menu and choose Prassi Primo to watch a DVD and choose another program to burn Cd's.

I've just changed my hardrive and now all these things are gone. I expected this but where do I get them from again? My DVD player won't work and I can't burn any cd's etc. Does this just mean I need more software?

Not very technically minded of me but I'm a bit confused!
Posted by chandler, 23:10, 16th May 2003:
 
If you changed the harddrive then none of the programs will be there cos they are on the old hard disk. if you have cds that came with the computer then you will have to reinstall the software.
Posted by ilovebeerme, 10:34, 17th May 2003:
 
Thanks. The problem is I didn't get any disks with the machine cause it was cheap. I asked for the windows disk etc and was told they don't give them out with machines anymore as all the stuff you need is saved on the hardrive. I argued but they didn't give a monkies.

I'll just have to download anything I need i guess.
Posted by beargod, 11:41, 17th May 2003:
 
You could keep your old hard drive in there and use the programs from that. You can use the latest version of windows media player to watch DV's, or go to www.download.com and find a dvd player to make the CD go to that link or download nero but you will need to pay for it after a while
Posted by ilovebeerme, 12:45, 17th May 2003:
 
cheers beargod :)
Posted by jeffld, 02:36, 18th May 2003:
 
Ah, the dreaded hard drive crash. Been there, done that.. I now use Norton Ghost to backup my hard drive to another hard drive. Basically it is a backup that can be restored if the hard drive crashes. If you can afford a 2nd hard drive it is a very easy backup method. Hard drives are relatively cheap. Ghost does compression which helps to conserve disk space. I usually keep about 5 days back, kinda overkill but I have the extra disk space. I usually just start it and go do other stuff like laundry or a visit to the pub because the process does take a while.



code: foobar



jeffld
Posted by unclejohnny, 22:38, 18th May 2003:
 
One very quik and easy way would be to clone your old drive onto your new dive. The shop that sold your PC should?!? be able to do that. Especially since they are legally required to supply the disks of all installed software (especially the operating system). I imagine they are installing windows onto the computers they build using one disk, therby increasing their profit on each PC by around £50.

There is a small piece of software called Ghost, its written by Symantec, of Norton anti virus fame, and is specifically designed to copy everything from one drive to another. When you start your computer again after efectively being cloned from your old hard drive, it wil be like before, with all your old programs intact and all your data in place. Your PC will probably seem much faster too.
Posted by Sul, 22:45, 18th May 2003:
 
I seem to remember that ilbm's old hard drive is fucked though
Posted by cal, 10:38, 19th May 2003:
 
Especially since they are legally required to supply the disks of all installed software (especially the operating system).


This is simply not true. Most PC you buy these days will not include the windows CD. Most large suppliers (e.g. PC World) have had this policy for the last couple of years. They do it because it's (very slightly) cheaper, but it is by no means illegal.
Posted by ilovebeerme, 11:03, 19th May 2003:
 
yeah it was a PC world pc and no matter how much i argued tgey would not give me disks. Also my old hard drive was well and truly fecked I'm afraid. I'll just get anything I can't download from my mate. Oh and partition my drive this time.
Posted by chandler, 11:11, 19th May 2003:
 
buying a computer rule #1 NEVER buy a computer from PC World.
Posted by Grim..., 13:23, 19th May 2003:
 
I think unclejohnny may have been getting confused with 2nd hand PC's and normal PC's.
2nd Hand PC's should come with the Windows CD's because, by law, you can't sell a second hand PC with a copy of windows on the hard drive - it has to be formatted first.
Posted by Grim..., 13:23, 19th May 2003:
 
That goes for office, too.
Posted by cal, 15:43, 19th May 2003:
 
i'm slightly dubious about that statement too. some proof please?
Posted by Sul, 16:47, 19th May 2003:
 
Grim...: I assume you mean that it's illegal to sell the PC with an unlicensed copy of Windows on it. Which is common sense really. But if you sell your PC that you bought from PC world and it had either a rebuild disk or the windows CD image on another partition then that would also be legal as long as it's properly licensed. Having to sell it with a blank format on it would be silly. You have to remember that its the software license that you pay for. Not the CD or any other media format that it comes on.
Posted by Sul, 16:47, 19th May 2003:
 
if that makes sense
Posted by cal, 17:18, 19th May 2003:
 
and software licenses are (usually) transferable