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Thread ID: 39052 2003-10-26 01:58:00 pc's for dummies:-) ahoundau (1195) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
186636 2003-10-26 01:58:00 hi

i am just cleaning up and configuring a desktop pc for some pc scared people, and wonder if there is a piece of software out their that will simplify the basic maintance tasks in the following manner.
( it also needs to be pretty gui for me to set it up cause i am not the total whiz either!)

start a chain of tasks ( eg over night or in down time) with a single click or close too..

run those tasks concurrently - eg when scan disk has finished , then defrag starts ( unlike windows scheduler that dose it by time)

automate the responses required during the maintinance - eg: a yes no is required in scandisk

terminate and close down the machine at completion .

maybe i am asking the earth ? but surely some one has the same problem as me - people that have to be forced to even start the PC?

cheers will
ahoundau (1195)
186637 2003-10-26 02:21:00 You can lead a horse to water....

Do some googling on this subject, the Windows Task Scheduler usually has most of those tasks automated anyway...

For the average home user regular scandisks and defrags aren't really all the necessary...
whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
186638 2003-10-26 04:27:00 Whilst I can understand people being a little intimidated with doing maintenance on their computers I do think that once they have been shown how easy it is they are normally then quite happy to do it themselves. It is only clicking on a few buttons, after all.

I would recommend showing them what they need to do, one step at a time, and maybe putting the shortcuts to the jobs into a desktop folder for them.
Susan B (19)
186639 2003-10-26 05:21:00 Your subject title is also a good idea. I guess they will be using Windows XP, so advise them to invest the the book "Windows XP for Dummies" or "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Windows XP".

You will find people like to refer to a easy to use book that explains what the different part of the operating system does. They can follow the step-by-step graphical examples to do simple tasks like making and saving a file, using Outlook Express and the books also include general looking after the computer eg defrag, disk cleanup etc.

They will learn more this way (and remember how to do it) and slowly gain confidence in their computer. Making things too automatic for them will never encourage them to explore their computer further.
Jen C (20)
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