comp/net virus protection - Page 12

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:01 PM

Oh. Dimension 4600.

tw · 02-15-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbpark

The purpose of the exercise was to find out what wireless card she had so we could get the latest drivers for it, not the XP tag

That service tag number says what the hardware is and lists all latest drivers. It is not a Windows XP tag. Service tag number would have answered your version and driver questions (assuming the wireless card came with the machine)

However you performed a simpler solution - download the latest driver anyway.

Still, Shawnee - provide that service tag number anyway. Otherwise you are only stifling your help of critical information. I wish you had stated it was a Dell long ago so that I was not wasting so much time on other possibilities. You have no idea how much useful information was available if you had answered "what machine" questions the first time.

Dell Dimension and about 200 other questions such as verions numbers made available immediately from a tag labeled "Service Tag".

To know what hardware is in your machine and so that others can tell you what software corrections are required, provide the "Service Tag" number.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:07 PM

I thought I did provide the Dell thing...but to be honest I have no idea what is pertinent and what is not.

I see many sets of numbers on that label. Is product key the same thing as service tag?

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 07:07 PM

TW,

It doesn't provide the wireless card info. Dimension 4600s didn't ship with one.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:09 PM

I got this computer like almost 6 years ago. See first post. lol.

So it probably didn't come with a lot of wireless options as it wasn't a huge option at the time. As long as it was cable modem ready was my concern.

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 07:11 PM

Shawnee123,

Download and run the latest BIOS update:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid=

And this utility to provide better drivers for USB, PCI, and AGP from Intel:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Cl...Name=&lang=eng

Both of these will help eliminate issues with your USB devices.

Yes, I've used a Dimension 4600 before. It's actually quite a nice machine that has onboard SATA support.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:13 PM

I didn't go all the way high end when I chose it, but I did try to get a nice one for a decent price; makes me feel not so dumb when you say it's a nice machine.

Thanks for your help. While it's working I'm going to download.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:37 PM

Thanks Mitch. I did those downloads. We'll see what happens.

Should I disconnect the cable, or just leave it all in place?

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 07:39 PM

Hello,

Disconnect the cable and see what happens.

BTW, if you can get 1GB RAM in there, do so. It'll take standard DDR400 RAM.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:43 PM

How do I do that? I mean the 1 gb RAm thing.

I've been thinking about saving for a new comp. Should I? Should I go Mac? What's the best avenue?

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 07:47 PM

Shawnee123,

You can get a little more usage out of it by spending $40 on this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440

And then saving the rest for a new Dell or Mac.

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 07:55 PM

right now my comp is making serious noise, like it's processing really hard.

Maybe it's running better and is shocked?

Mitch, what do you think? I wouldn't be against going completely against what I've always had, started with windows 3.1 and learning dos commands when needed, but I have friends who think Mac is the way to go. Course, these friends are graphics people. What do you think, as far as that?

tw · 02-15-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbpark

It doesn't provide the wireless card info. Dimension 4600s didn't ship with one.

That and numerous other questions would have been answerd (no reason to even ask them) had another's first question ("what is the machine") long ago been answered and if the Service Tag number was provided.

All those software updates would have been known and downloaded long ago. Meanwhile, the Service Tag number still is required because it answers everything about hardware and the many software/driver updated available (and why they are available).

Still unknown is where the problem resides - Dell or Netgear router.

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 08:03 PM

TW,

I have worked with netgear cards enough to know that the drivers provided are complete and utter shite. You have to download new ones.

Dell never ships Netgear cards as an OEM option, hence they would not be available with the service tag. They ship their own brand (Dell TrueMobile) or Intel wireless cards as the OEM option when you buy a PC from them.

Dell also ships several variations of the base chipset model. They have a habit of using reference Intel designs with slight changes. However, it is always important to have the latest BIOS for them due to them making a lot of changes. The Intel ones also use Intel's chipset drivers.

mbpark · 02-15-2009, 08:11 PM

Shawnee123,

I am typing this on my Macbook, which also runs VMWare Fusion, and Windows XP, Windows 7 Beta, and Ubuntu Linux on that

.

I'm going to recommend what I use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

right now my comp is making serious noise, like it's processing really hard.

Maybe it's running better and is shocked?

Mitch, what do you think? I wouldn't be against going completely against what I've always had, started with windows 3.1 and learning dos commands when needed, but I have friends who think Mac is the way to go. Course, these friends are graphics people. What do you think, as far as that?

02-15-2009, 07:01 PM	#166
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Oh. Dimension 4600. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:07 PM	#168
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I thought I did provide the Dell thing...but to be honest I have no idea what is pertinent and what is not. I see many sets of numbers on that label. Is product key the same thing as service tag? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:09 PM	#170
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I got this computer like almost 6 years ago. See first post. lol. So it probably didn't come with a lot of wireless options as it wasn't a huge option at the time. As long as it was cable modem ready was my concern. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:13 PM	#172
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I didn't go all the way high end when I chose it, but I did try to get a nice one for a decent price; makes me feel not so dumb when you say it's a nice machine. Thanks for your help. While it's working I'm going to download. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:37 PM	#173
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Thanks Mitch. I did those downloads. We'll see what happens. Should I disconnect the cable, or just leave it all in place? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:07 PM	#169
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	TW, It doesn't provide the wireless card info. Dimension 4600s didn't ship with one.

02-15-2009, 07:11 PM	#171
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	Shawnee123, Download and run the latest BIOS update: http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid= And this utility to provide better drivers for USB, PCI, and AGP from Intel: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/T8Cl...Name=&lang=eng Both of these will help eliminate issues with your USB devices. Yes, I've used a Dimension 4600 before. It's actually quite a nice machine that has onboard SATA support.

02-15-2009, 07:39 PM	#174
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	Disconnect the cable and see what happens Hello, Disconnect the cable and see what happens. BTW, if you can get 1GB RAM in there, do so. It'll take standard DDR400 RAM.

02-15-2009, 07:43 PM	#175
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	How do I do that? I mean the 1 gb RAm thing. I've been thinking about saving for a new comp. Should I? Should I go Mac? What's the best avenue? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 07:47 PM	#176
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	Shawnee123, You can get a little more usage out of it by spending $40 on this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440 And then saving the rest for a new Dell or Mac.

02-15-2009, 07:55 PM	#177
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	right now my comp is making serious noise, like it's processing really hard. Maybe it's running better and is shocked? Mitch, what do you think? I wouldn't be against going completely against what I've always had, started with windows 3.1 and learning dos commands when needed, but I have friends who think Mac is the way to go. Course, these friends are graphics people. What do you think, as far as that? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-15-2009, 08:03 PM	#179
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	TW, I have worked with netgear cards enough to know that the drivers provided are complete and utter shite. You have to download new ones. Dell never ships Netgear cards as an OEM option, hence they would not be available with the service tag. They ship their own brand (Dell TrueMobile) or Intel wireless cards as the OEM option when you buy a PC from them. Dell also ships several variations of the base chipset model. They have a habit of using reference Intel designs with slight changes. However, it is always important to have the latest BIOS for them due to them making a lot of changes. The Intel ones also use Intel's chipset drivers.

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