I ask myself, "Which software and which tutorial?"

[WyattWhiteEagle]

I'm always finding myself using my laptop as a test machine instead of happily enjoying it.

I want to use my system for

1. Personal Self-improvement (health, finances/budget, etc)
2. Social connections with friends and family (Facebook, Instant messaging chat clients, etc)
3. Offline 3D Gaming
4. Research (genealogy, etc)
5. In-home entertainment (mp3, wav, netflix, youtube, etc)
6. Image creation & editing
7. Audio edting

And more.

I'm frequently having to

1. Clean install Windows
2. Clear Event Viewer errors & warnings
3. Run workaround vbs files
4. Enter upper level cmd.exe codes

That's just a scratch in the surface of the list.

I'm feeling the need to personally review and compare software and pc configurations and choosing what is best for my system so I can achieve my goals.

IMHO Windows 8/8.1/10 sucks while 95/98-2E/7 are the better OS.
Windows 7 is my personal preference.

I'm seeing a gigantic list of tutorials, hints, tips and tricks.

I'm also finding myself with questions like, "Is the time on my computer not showing the actual time of day?" and "Is that what is meant by 'overclocking'?" as well as "Am I unintentionally overclocking my pc when I apply those softwares and configurations?"

I'm looking for faster and more efficient boot speed and performance and with visual effects that are easy on the eyes...

and

software that is easy a non-IT person to understand all its words and features.

I need to be asking myself questions like this...

1. Is the software easy for me to understand what it says?
2. Is this tip compatible with the most recent tip applied?
3. Is this anti-virus reliably thorough? How can I know for sure?
4. Does this...cause my comp to slow crawl?
5. Is this eating up RAM, CPU and/or Network?
6. Does this software have any hidden "left-overs" and configurations if uninstalled?

What are some good questions to add to my reviews?

What scale formats might I incorporate for these reviews?

 

[mrjimphelps]

I would try Linux Mint 32-bit xfce edition. That will eliminate the problem of having to clean-install Windows.

Most if not all of the software you need is available for free for Linux Mint. For example, for audio editing you can use Audacity.

As far as anti-virus, the best I have found for Linux is Sophos. It's free and highly rated. But you have to go to a command prompt to install it. Full instructions are at the Sophos website.

If you would prefer to stay with Windows: get a big external hard drive, and download and install Macrium Reflect Free. Make periodic backups of your computer onto the external hard drive. In this way, it will be easy to reinstall Windows.

 

[badcrc]

2. Clear Event Viewer errors & warnings

Event Viewer does not need clearing. Although it might look like there's a whole bunch of errors and problems, this is how Windows works. In fact, the unsolicited phone call scammers often tell the person to look in Event Viewer as 'proof' that their PC needs money spending. By all means look in Events if their is a problem, but don't misread all the warnings as warnings of impending doom.

 

[samuria]

You can create images of Windows so you can set it back from it in half the time it takes to install

 

[WyattWhiteEagle]

I would try Linux Mint 32-bit xfce edition.
That will eliminate the problem of having to clean-install Windows.

Most if not all of the software you need is available for free for Linux Mint.
For example, for audio editing you can use Audacity.

While this may be true, as I stated before Windows 7 is my preference.

IMVU is the instant messaging client I use. Sure it has its flaws and short-comings but there are other personal uses
for it which I utilize such as easy to understand and use P2P user communication over a home network when details of
conversation need to be kept quiet between 2 or more people in the home.

IMVU, Inc does not provide support for Linux-based OS's.
I have tried Ubuntu 14.04 LTS before. Not the best one for something like IMVU.

As far as anti-virus, the best I have found for Linux is Sophos.
It's free and highly rated. But you have to go to a command prompt to install it.
Full instructions are at the Sophos website.

Never heard of Sophos because everywhere I looked,
everything said that Linux distro's aren't virus and malware magnets but are repellants for them.

If you would prefer to stay with Windows: get a big external hard drive, and download and
install Macrium Reflect Free. Make periodic backups of your computer onto the external hard drive.
In this way, it will be easy to reinstall Windows.

Good point but wouldn't that be the same as what I been doing..."always giving up and starting over and not really
putting forth effort to actually achieve my goals"?

2. Clear Event Viewer errors & warnings

Event Viewer does not need clearing.
Although it might look like there's a whole bunch of errors and problems, this is how Windows works.
In fact, the unsolicited phone call scammers often tell the person to look in Event Viewer as 'proof'
that their PC needs money spending.
By all means look in Events if their is a problem, but don't misread all the warnings as warnings of impending doom.

That's partly the problem...Event Viewer incorrectly reflecting a warning when it should reflect the "issue" as
informational. For example, Windows 7 HP 64 bit Event Viewer ID 4001 WLAN-AutoConfig. If it successfully stopped,
Why reflect it as a warning? And there are no workarounds to correct it.

When I see "Warning" it's as if I'm stuck thinking "ok its warning me that if I ignore this then I'm guaranteeing myself
for impending doom."

You can create images of Windows so you can set it back from it in half the time it
takes to install

Doing that...wouldn't it be only making copies of the errors, incompatibilities and misconfigurations?

I feel as if it is much better for me to bite the bullet and actually take the time to review and compare and
find what is best for achieving my goals.

Thus being said, please allow me to redirect to my original inquiry about good questions for personal reviews of software, tips and tutorials.

 

[mrjimphelps]

It would be easier for you to do a backup, and then restore from the backup if needed, than to do a clean install. With a clean install, you must not only install Windows, you must install all of the Windows updates, plus your software, plus your files. With a backup restoration, you get it going, and half an hour later you're completely done.

As far as Linux, it is not virus repellant. It can be infected. My philosophy is to be as ready and as protected as I can be. That's why I recommend Sophos for Linux.