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The Operating System

Windows and the Competition

For most Personal Computer owners Microsoft Windows is the operating system. Put simply, an Operating System (OS) is a program (and a lot of sub-programs) which allows your computer to operate. It enables you to control the PC using the keyboard and mouse (input devices), it enables the computer to recognise and make use of all its components, and to communicate with you and the world using the monitor, printer, modem and other output devices.

It enables the transfer of information to and from the computer using floppy disks, CDs, DVDs and a number of different types of external storage devices.

It serves as a platform which for running other programs which may be installed once the Operating System is up and running.

Microsoft Windows XP is not the latest Windows operating system for the home PC, but it's currently the most popular and commonly used. Many Apple and Linux users will argue that their systems are better and more secure, and I tend to agree but with reservations. They each have their pros & cons.

Justified or not, Windows is king at the moment.

A newer version of Windows, Windows Vista was released in 2007 and, like its predecessors, has stirred some contorversey. It's resource hungry and there are problems with incompatibility with some other software and a lot of hardware.

This is always so with a new version of Windows. If you're buying a new PC with Windows Vista you probably won't have any probelms. If you're upgrading your old system you may find that you have compatibility problems with some existing programs and with some devices like printers and scanners.

Linux

Linux is a free operating system and saves a buyer several hundred dollars, but in its current manifestations it requires a lot more than a basic knowledge of computing to use successfully.

The useability of Linux is improving rapidly however. Watch this space Mr Gates.

It's my opinion that the latest edition of Ubuntu's Linux distribution (distro) is ready for use by the non-geek public. If you don't need to use PC games, don't require specialist software, Ubuntu 8.04 is an excellent and free alternative to Windows.

For people who use their computers for word processing, spreadsheets, digital photos, playing music, Internet and email I definitely recommend it. For new users there's a learning curve, but it's arguably less steep than for a person new to Windows.

Apple

Apple has a big following in the high end graphics market and at one time was popular in schools and universities. Factors against it at present are the high cost of hardware and the Windows stranglehold on business and games.

Apple will not allow their Operating Systems to be used on computers other than their proprietary machines. There's no denying that these are good machines and beautifully designed.

It's undeniable that Apple were and still are, the innovators. They were using a graphical interface with windows, icons and a mouse long before Microsoft. Their new PCs have always been at the leading edge of design. And, unfortunately, price.

For New or Near New PCs

We'll stick with Windows on this site for the immediate future.

If you only have one stand alone computer, you need Windows XP SP2 Home Edition or Windows Vista Home Premium. If you're using XP and have two or more computers which you wish to connect in a network you would benefit from upgrading to Windows XP SP2 Professional Edition on the newest of them. The Professional edition makes setting up a network easier and the network is more secure. Note that if you wish to network six PCs or more the Professional Edition is obligatory on at least one of them.

SP2

In case you were wondering, SP2 stands for Service Pack 2. This was a major overhaul and bug fix of Windows XP. If you do buy a used PC with the Original Windows XP version, ask the seller if they can supply the SP2 upgrade on a CD. Otherwise it's a very big download over the internet.

If you're stuck, contact mistywindow via feedback, and I'll send you an SP2 CD at cost.

XP SP3 has recently been released.

Are You Getting the Windows CD you Paid For?

When you've been through mistywindow's Buying Guide, and you know what you need as far as hardware is concerned, the next question to ask is: does the vendor provide a full Windows XP program CD with its own licence and Product Key?

This is the most satisfactory situation and an important consideration when comparing deals.

Many new PCs, especially from the big name brands, are being sold with a Windows licence and a Product Key but no CD. This is not a good practice from the owner's point of view and can cause difficulties down the track. More later.

Restoration disks

If you don't receive a Windows XP CD, you should at least receive a set of restoration CDs. These disks can be used to restore your PC to the exact state it was in when it left the factory. This is not a satisfactory solution. More about this below.

As mentioned previously, sometimes you receive the licence and Product Key but not even the restoration disks. The installation software is on a hidden partition on your hard disk. A restoration can be done by following the instructions given in your manual, which usually consists of tapping a specified key when booting (starting). If this is the case, at the very least you should be able to create a set of restoration CDs on your CD writer, otherwise if your hard drive fails, you have no means of reinstalling Windows on a new drive. A new full copy of Windows would set you back almost as much as a cheap PC.

What's Wrong with Restoration CDs?

• You've paid for Windows and you should receive a full copy of the program.
• For a number of reasons, your installation can become so corrupted that you can't access your data, or perhaps you can't even start Windows. With a Windows CD you can do a Repair installation. That is, if Windows is playing up and you're having trouble fixing it, you can reinstall it over the top of your current installation. With a bit of luck your programs, data and settings are still there.
  You can't do that with a Restoration set. You can only do a restoration during which everything is wiped off your C: (main) drive. it's restored to the way it was when it left the factory. A lot more work ensues reinstalling all your programs and data and you have a really BIG problem if you haven't been backing up your precious files!
• If, in a year or two, you want to upgrade to a fancy new version of Windows, you can buy a (much cheaper) upgrade version. Unfortunately, if, as is usually best, you want to start with a clean installation of the new operating system, during that installation Windows will want proof that you qualify for the upgrade.
  For the purposes of proof, XP will not recognise a restoration disk. So you have to either do a dirty installation of the new product over the top of the old one, or you have to do a restoration of the original version and then do a dirty installation. Neither option is completely satisfactory.
  If you get in this position, and you do have a valid licence, try to borrow someone else's disk for verification during installation.
• Some repair and maintenance operations are difficult or impossible without a Windows CD. Find out here.

Help From the Vendor

If you decide to ignore my advice ☹ and to buy a system which requires the creation of restoration CDs by the buyer, insist that the vendor does it for you. You must clarify with your potential vendor exactly what you're getting. Otherwise it will cost you. I have (almost) always insisted on a full Windows CD.

Buying Used Computers

If you're buying second hand, Windows 98 SE (SE stands for Second Edition) and Windows 2000 are good stable operating systems. They're no longer available on new PCs and Microsoft no longer provide full support for them. Updates to Windows 98 can be found here: http://www.Microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp.

Windows 2000 and Windows Me were interim versions and have been less popular than 98 & XP. Avoid Windows Me like the plague.

The CD on the left is an OEM (supplied with a PC by the manufacturer) version of Windows 98 original (it's not 98SE).

I would advise sticking with Windows 98 SE for older PCs or Windows XP for a PC produced after 2000. Don't buy any PC built before 1998. They're virtually worthless.

Do NOT buy any computer without an original Windows installation CD!

Original Windows CD

Lets say it again. Don't buy a used PC without an original Windows CD and Product Key (serial number - 25 letters and numbers). The product key will be on the back of its jewel case or cardboard slip case (Windows 98 case picture on the right with a red Second Edition star) or on a sticker on the PC.

More often than not, the Windows CD is worth at least as much as the computer. Without that CD you will face expensive problems.

Be aware that, because of the activation process, Windows XP or Vista can only be installed on one PC. The seller should satisfy you that the copy on the machine has been activated on that PC.

Upgrades

If the Windows CD is labelled Upgrade, then the seller must also supply you with the qualifying older Windows version on CD or floppy disk, unless you already have a qualifying product. That older version should not be an upgrade or you'll need a qualifying product for that one too!

Versions of Windows prior to XP do not require activation, however the software may not legally be used on more than two PCs, and those two are only allowed to be used by one user at any one time. This is to allow you to have a desktop and a laptop machine for your own use.

If your computer, software, and ancillary equipment are more than 5 years old and you decide to upgrade to XP from an older version of Windows you may find that the required XP software (driver) is not available for some of your hardware - such as printers, scanners and modems. In this case you would need to buy new hardware or stick with your old version of Windows.

Generally speaking, most older PCs don't have sufficient power to run Windows Vista satifactorily.