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Upgrading your computer cheaply (part 3)

I started by taking the side panels and top off. It was at this point I decided to go excessive. Since most computer peripherals come with black finishes, I decided to change the case's color to black (this is where Home Depot comes into the picture). So I took off the face of the case and gently removed all of the buttons and lights.

A completely empty case.

I then proceeded to install the motherboard, processor/fan assembly, and memory. Next came the expansion card (wi-fi) and onboard connections. Note: Since I have some spare parts, I did install back panel connections for one serial port, one printer port, and four USB ports (for a total of eight on the back). These did not come with the motherboard. Then came the power supply and the drives.

The brand new system.

Here is a photo of the finished system, less the face and sides. I did add two more items into this $164.98 machine. Anybody who knows me knows I'm not particularly eager run onboard video cards. It uses a part of your system memory, which can be detrimental to a system's performance with a small amount of RAM. Say you have a system with 512 MB of RAM, and you have to have 128 MB for your video card. You have now cut your available system memory by 25%. Also, the memory on internal (opposed to onboard) video cards is faster. So I added a Microstar NX-8400GS with 512 MB for $43 and an Antec 80mm Tri-Cool case fan for $5.

So here's what I ended up with:

Intel Celeron 430 1.8 GHz with 4 GB's of DDR2 memory running with an FSB speed of 800 MHz, Microstar video card with an NVidia GeForce 8000 Series GPU with 512 of GDDR2 with a Western Digital 320 GB SATA Hard Drive.

Total for the whole system, $213.97, excluding labor. I will post a picture of the finished case when it's done.

Side note: My younger daughter decided she wanted to change her case too. This one is cool! Faux stone and chalkboard! Stop back by and see how this turns out.

Upgrading your computer cheaply (part 2)

Before we can go shopping, we need to see what we can reuse.

An inside view of the 'old' system.

The motherboard and hard drive need to be replaced. The new motherboard will require a new processor and memory. So here's a list of what we can reuse:

  • Mid-tower case
  • CD-ROM
  • CD-RW
  • Floppy drive
  • Internal wi-fi card
  • Power supply

Usually, you would also have to change out the power supply to accommodate the new motherboard's increased electrical requirements. This power supply was replaced within the last two months, so that it can run the new configuration.

Time to go shopping. We can go online and local retailers. I prefer to go with local retailers, as returning items purchased online can be a hassle. But if you're sure that the possibility of returning the items is slim, it's a great way to get a bargain. The first item is a new motherboard, and what type of CPU (Intel or AMD)?

I'm going with Intel this time. O.K., an Intel processor may not be the most frugal way to go (AMD processors cost less), but for this system, I think it's the way to go. I went looking locally and found a Biostar G31-M7 for $50. It has an LGA775 processor socket. The array of processors available for it is broad.

I found an Intel Celeron 430 1.8 GHz (Retail box) on-line for $35. This is something I am relatively sure I will not have to return. Geek tip: Intel warranties are different for retail (boxed w/ cooling fan - 3 years) and wholesale (no box or cooling fan - 1 year). The price difference is the cost of a cooling fan. So unless you are going to overclock your processor (which requires more cooling than the standard fan provides and voids the warranty), go with the retail version.

I found a deal on memory locally. Got a Corsair twin pack of 2gb DDR2 PC-6400 memory for $50. It came with a $25 mail-in rebate, making the final cost $25 for 4GB of memory.

I also got the hard drive locally. It's a Western Digital 3200AAKS 320 GB SATA hard drive for $52. I could have gone with a smaller size to keep down the cost, but this is the time to think about storage requirements (now and future). The larger the drive, the less the cost per gigabyte.

The total cost at this point is $162 (if you get the feeling I'm not done yet, you'd be right). We have an Intel Celeron 430 running at 1.8 GHz on a Biostar G31-M7 motherboard with 4 GB's of memory. The system has been running on a preinstall environment for over 24 hours and passed several stress tests. So it's time to...

Outside view of the 'old' system.

'Pimp my Box' (sorry MTV, just had to use it).

The next time I write, we'll start building this system and take a trip to Home Depot. (Note: I am going excessive at this point).

Upgrading your computer cheaply (part 3)

Upgrading your computer cheaply (part 1)

Just the other day, I got a call from my daughter about her computer. It was acting strange, so I told her to bring it over. Sure enough, her system is starting to fail. The hard drive has bad sectors, and the motherboard has only one working USB port —a pretty good life for a computer I built nine years ago.

So now I am looking at the options available for upgrading her system. In the next few blog entries, I will give you more insight into the process of undergoing a system upgrade. The options that I am looking at are:

  • Completely brand-new
  • Used / Refurbished
  • Partial rebuilt with new parts

At this time, I would like to explain my two theories on computers:

  1. "Infant Mortality" is the belief that if it runs for a day (24 hours), it will run for its lifetime.
  2. A computer "Lifetime", from my experience, is three years from the start of service. At three years or older, it's not if it will break down, but when will it break down. Just like a car, the older it gets, the more repairs it will need.

With these in mind, you can see where a used system over three years old would not be recommended but can come in handy in an emergency. Refurbished systems can be good deals, but remember, they have been returned to the manufacturer and had something repaired. They still have their full warranty, software, and documentation, so a refurbished system may be right for your particular needs.

New systems can be found starting at $299 and up. These systems can come with and without software, so always read the specifications before buying. But if you already have a computer, you already have software too. And in most cases, you can install it on your new system.

Since this article is about upgrading your computer cheaply, I will do it in the most frugal way possible. I will disassemble the system and rebuilt it from the case up.

The next time I write, we'll go shopping for parts.

Upgrading your computer cheaply (part 2)

Virus removal guidelines for Windows

Updated July 10, 2024

Are you worried about viruses infecting your Windows computer? If so, you're not alone. With the increasing number of malware and viruses targeting Windows operating systems, it's crucial to protect your PC proactively. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover virus removal guidelines for Windows to help you keep your computer safe and secure.

Prevention is critical to protecting your Windows computer from viruses. This starts with using reputable anti-virus software and always keeping it updated. Regularly updating your operating system and other software is also crucial, as many updates include security patches that protect you from newly discovered vulnerabilities.

In addition to using anti-virus software, it's essential to practice safe browsing habits. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrustworthy sources, as these can often be vectors for malware. You should also be cautious when opening email attachments, as many viruses are spread through phishing emails.

Prerequisite: To start the removal process, you will need to download software to scan for and remove any malicious software. It is recommended that you download this software on another computer that is known to be uninfected and use a clean, recently formatted USB to transfer the software to your infected computer.

Microsoft Safety Scanner - This program is completely self-contained and requires no Internet access to run or install. Just download it, copy it over to the infected computer via a USB drive, and then run it. If you decide to run a full scan, it can take hours or even days, depending on how many files are on the drive(s). This software is time-stamped and will only run for ten days. After that, you would need to download a new copy of it.

Malwarebytes - This program requires Internet access to download the complete installation files. I recommend downloading the installer and copying it to the infected computer via a USB drive. Once the installer is on the infected computer, connect to the Internet and start the installation program.

Avast Free - This program requires Internet access to download the complete installation files. I recommend downloading the installer and copying it to the infected computer via a USB drive. Once you have the installer on the infected computer, connect to the Internet and then start the installation program.

Taking immediate action is essential if you suspect your Windows computer is infected with a virus. Here are some virus removal guidelines to help you effectively eradicate malware from your system:

1. Disconnect from the Internet: If you suspect your computer is infected, one of the first steps you should take is to disconnect it from the Internet. This can help prevent the virus from spreading to other devices on your network or communicating with its command-and-control servers.

2. Enter Safe Mode with Networking: Boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking to limit the number of processes running and make it easier to remove the virus. Depending on what software you want to use, you may need an Internet connection to install it. Now, Safe Mode with Networking only supports wired (ethernet) connections because it uses generic network drivers, and there just aren't any generic WiFi drivers.

You will need to use the Advanced Boot Options to get Windows to boot up into Safe Mode, and here is how to get there:

Windows 11 Advanced Boot Options

Windows 10 Advanced Boot Options

3. Scan for viruses: Run and/or install one of the recommended programs listed above, then run a full scan. Be prepared to wait as the software scans all of the files on your drive(s). This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

4. Remove suspicious files and programs: Inspect your system for any suspicious files or programs and remove them. Look for unusual filenames, recently installed programs, or programs you don't remember installing.

If you can't remove the virus on your own, consider seeking help from a professional computer technician or a reputable IT support service, such as Geeks in Phoenix. They can assist in performing a more in-depth virus removal process and provide guidance on preventing future infections.

After removing the virus from your Windows computer, it's important to take steps to prevent future infections. This includes maintaining up-to-date anti-virus software, patching your operating system and software, and practicing safe browsing habits.

In conclusion, viruses pose a significant threat to Windows computers, but by following the virus removal guidelines outlined in this article, you can effectively protect your system from malware. Remember that prevention is vital, so stay vigilant and secure your computer to avoid falling victim to malicious software.

Check out the following article for more information on free Internet security software.

Free Internet security software

Check out this article for a detailed description of one of the worst cases of infection I have seen.

A real life virus removal horror story

A real life virus removal horror story

I hear more and more new computer users are getting severely infected with malware, spyware, Trojans, etc. I am currently working on a system that is, by far, the worst one I have ever seen. I have the system back running and have documented the procedures I followed to clean up this system. I have included a link at the bottom of this article to an article on free Internet security software.

Note: I took on this client as I felt he needed assistance. He’s an older veteran who just graduated from school. He bought a used computer and then connected it to a high-speed connection. Without any knowledge of what he needed for security software, he quickly got infected. The story does end happily (should I tell you now or make you go to the bottom of the page). I built a new system for him from my spare parts and loaded all his old software onto it. System cost: $0. Good feeling: Priceless.

Let me first outline the situation. I got a call from a gentleman who had purchased a used computer, and it got infected. It was so bad that it would not even boot into Safe Mode. When I got it, I immediately went to back it up. It was then that I discovered the system would not boot to a CD-ROM (red flag). This was my first issue.

The system had a floppy drive, so I installed a network card I knew worked and had DOS drivers. I then created network boot disks and was able to back up across the network. The data transmitted from the client was different in size from what the server received (red flag).

I now had a good working image of the hard drive. A system driver was failing to load, which caused the crash. I wanted to check the hard drive for errors first. Since this drive was FAT 32, I used a Windows 98 SE boot disk with support tools and ran Scandisk on it. The surface scan indicated a bad cluster on the drive (drive failure?). A quick download of the diagnostic software from the hard drive manufacturer confirmed the hard drive failure.

Luckily, I had an equal-sized hard drive and cloned the drive image back to a new drive. A quick Scandisk to check for errors, and away I went, but I still got errors when booting. I changed the boot options and was able to get the error screen to stay up. I took a photo to do more research. It turns out the error is coming from the onboard IDE controller (controller failure for sure, possible motherboard failure). This would explain the issue with the CD-ROM.

I happen to have a spare PCI IDE controller card from when I had to have eight drives in one of my systems (as opposed to the standard four at the time). I’ll tell the story of the system I built, where I had to turn off all onboard devices to keep running later. What I did to keep that 486 running was amazing.

I installed the controller card and almost immediately discovered the BIOS was scrambled. I couldn’t bootstrap the BIOS. That was it - motherboard failure. The project now was how to rebuild the computer. The motherboard failure made me suspicious of using any of the old hardware. You don’t know what else may be damaged (we know the hard drive was).

So I went around the office to see what I could find. A Pentium-D 805, ECS P4M800, a 256 MB stick of PC-3200 memory, CD-ROM, floppy drive, hard drive, power supply, and case. A slight modification to the case allowed clearance for the power connector to the motherboard, and I was off and running.

I assembled the system and loaded the original image. I was still getting boot errors, but it did boot. Of course, Windows found all sorts of new hardware. But the pop-ups were coming on hard and fast, and so were the system errors.

So I opened the hard drive image file, and there I found a couple hundred infections. I made a copy of the image and then proceeded to edit its contents manually. I was able to remove about three hundred (300) or so infected files. I then pushed the revised image to the new system. I could get the pop-ups and errors to come down quite a bit. I turned off System Restore, installed Malwarebytes, and started a scan. It found several infections and removed all on reboot.

I installed AVG, updated definitions by file, and ran a complete scan. It was then that I found out that this system was beyond repair. It had an infection that attaches itself to every executable file on the hard drive. AVG found over seven thousand (7,000) of these infections. Now, it is time to completely wipe the hard drive and do a clean install of Windows.

That’s where the story ends. I reloaded all of the applications, user files, etc. The computer is in place and running beautifully. It’s again hooked up to high-speed internet, but this time with protection.

Free Internet Security Software

Free computer diagnostics

Repairing a PC can sometimes be expensive, and that is why we offer free basic in-shop diagnostics. Give one of our professional and experienced technicians a call at (602) 795-1111, and let's see what we can do for you.

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Here at Geeks in Phoenix, we take pride in providing excellent customer service. We aim to give the highest quality of service  from computer repair, virus removal, and data recovery.

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Repairing a computer can be time-consuming. That is why we base our in-shop service on the time we work on your computer, not the time it takes for your computer to work! From running memory checking software to scanning for viruses, these are processes that can take some time.

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