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Computer wiz HELP

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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
I have a one year old lap(Dell) top right now that works perfectly i just want more room because i am running out with music and other stuff and I don't want to delete stuff to make other space.

-I want to get a bigger hard drive and replace my smaller one.  from 60 GB to 100 GB.
-I would also get more ram,  adding 1GB to my already existing 1 GB.

My question is to get an operating system which would most likely be VISTA am i able to install it on my computer after just installing the new hardware?   I am not sure if i can do it that way or if i should bring it to someone, which is another option.

I would appreciate any advice or experience opinions(Other than telling me to get a MAC you idiots) about any of the stuff i have posted from the upgrading to vista or good or bad idea.  Any random comments are great too.

Thanks, ericpbp
May 31 2007 11:53PM
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andrewg
Posts: 4746 - Karma: 18
If you had a MAC you wouldnt have this problem. They are very stable and probably the best computer i have ever owned.
Jun 1 2007 12:01AM
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mizzike
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 251
werd
Jun 1 2007 12:06AM
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french_fry
Posts: 4698 - Karma: 53
I would advise Linux. hard to get used to, complicated, but by far the most reliable system. No surprise that scientists use it. Lots of different variations available, find the most user friendly one you can get, i think it's called Suse.
Jun 1 2007 12:07AM
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weenox
Posts: 1568 - Karma: 19
i personally don't know how difficult it is to change the harddrive in a laptop, but i know RAM is really easy to install.  if you know for a fact that you can put the harddrive in without fucking up your warranty or just your computer in general, you won't have any problem installing a new operating system.  all it involves is running a disc....after the new harddrive is installed, when you boot your computer it'll ask where you want to boot from and you just select the drive that has the installation discs in it.

i'm not entirely sure what you're asking, but i hope that helped.
Jun 1 2007 12:27AM
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Ericpbp
Posts: 3161 - Karma: 24
you definitely helped me a lot.  more than shithead andrewg.  Thank you
Jun 1 2007 12:28AM
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BSI
Posts: 646 - Karma: 38
You may also want to consider getting an external HD for everything other than your OS. Def don't get Vista. It is pretty and that's about it.

You can keep your essential music on your lappy's HD for when your on the go and archive everything else on your external.

IDK what adrewG is talking about, apparently Mac's never run out of HD space?
Jun 1 2007 12:42AM
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Joe.
Posts: 2888 - Karma: 24
do you not have any computer whiz friends? i am pretty good with computers and wouldn't trust myself to change the hard drive. I'd get AT LEAST 120 GB. 100 is not enough. get a 2 GB stick of RAM if it's still in your budget range....and for an OS if you're going to go with windows get Windows 2000...its nice and stable and great...although just to be a dick im going to say you should have just gotten a macbook pro.
Jun 1 2007 12:54AM
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andrewg
Posts: 4746 - Karma: 18
lol I just said that cause he didnt want people to talk about how macs were "better". I actually dont have a mac and am very happy with my pc; although, its having some down time right now getting repared. And ram on a laptop is very easy to install. A three minute job at most, atleast on my laptop. And i was going to suggest a external also, just keep all your music on theyre so you dont have to go through the hassle of reinstalling ur os and changing the harddrive. If you really wanted to, its not that hard.
Jun 1 2007 12:58AM
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proZach
Posts: 7163 - Karma: 917
wow. you're a complete fucking retard. jesus christ. he even specified the exact information you state. you piece of shit. why don't you do everyone a favor and go burn in hell. fuck your mother and your sister too. son of a bitch.
Jun 1 2007 1:01AM
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*cowboy*
Posts: 8830 - Karma: 214

(1) I would highly recommend getting an external HD for your media. The cost of a laptop hard drive is going to be a lot higher than the price of an external HD. You can get HUGE external drives for insanely cheap.

check out: www.newegg.com
Jun 1 2007 1:02AM
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*cowboy*
Posts: 8830 - Karma: 214
(2) RAM: head over to www.crucial.com and enter in the info for your computer and you'll get crucial to tell you what kind of ram you need.

Example: 200pin SO-DIMM PC5300 400Mhz 1.8V CL=5 etc etc.

now, take this data over to www.newegg.com and get yourself some hella cheap RAM.

(3) I'd stay away from Vista at this point. Unless you have a really new computer, or a really powerful "decked out" machine, it's probably a bad idea. Wait a few more months and stick with XP.
Jun 1 2007 1:04AM
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*cowboy*
Posts: 8830 - Karma: 214
BTW guys, if you have a mac you'll never run out of HD space :)
Jun 1 2007 1:05AM
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andrewg
Posts: 4746 - Karma: 18
WOW. Stop going pysco please. I wasnt serious in that post you moron.
Jun 1 2007 1:11AM
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BSI
Posts: 646 - Karma: 38
Even if you have a pumped up PC keep your XP. The rewards aren't that plenty. Vista... is... slow.


Sorry AndrewG, I missed your sarcasm.
Jun 1 2007 1:11AM
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T-KR3W
Posts: 754 - Karma: 175
yea get an external hard drive... as for windows i have a operations disc if u need it
Jun 1 2007 1:29AM
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St.Steezy
Posts: 4228 - Karma: 20
check your warranty to see if if installing it yourself would void the warranty. I wouldn't advise on swapping out the drive yourself. Its much more difficult in a laptop.
Jun 1 2007 1:47AM
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proZach
Posts: 7163 - Karma: 917
when i get drunk i get e-belligerent. my bad. HAHAHA
Jun 1 2007 12:27PM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
Follow Cowboys advice...exactly what I'd advise as well
Jun 1 2007 1:22PM
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hart62
Posts: 352 - Karma: 10
I'm going to warn you right now, hardware modding on laptops is a pain in the ass. Everything is so compact, you usually have to remove stuff you don't want to. I was putting a new hard drive in my dads (also a dell), and had to take out the processor, ram, and a bunch of power cables just to be able to slide it into the slot. And to answer your Vista question, yes, it should be able to be installed right away. While your in the process of taking apart your computer, I would recommend a new DirectX 10 capable graphics card. If you have any interest in playing games over the next few years, you will need that. And, just running some of the cool features in Vista is EXTREMELY graphics card intensive. I guess you could turn of most of those features, but then you just have a bug-ridden, shitty version of XP.
Jun 1 2007 1:34PM
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OpIvy
Posts: 741 - Karma: 9
Upgrading your internal hard drive is going to be a pain in the ass and cost you about $70 for a 100 GB one.  I would recommend going with an external hard drive.  You can get a 400 GB, plus buy an enclosure for around $120.  You get a bit more space and no headache.
Jun 1 2007 1:42PM
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