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ot minimum software requirements for an ancient pc

updated sat 9 apr 05

 

The Chapel of Art on fri 8 apr 05


When in doubt, ask the experts! And that means everyone in Clay Town=
because the whole population is computer savvy to some degree!

I have an 80 year old student who has a second hand Compaq PC and is not in=
the market for a new one until she is absolutely sure this is the way to=
go. After more than a year learning (don`t ask!!!) we are finally about to=
go on-line!! The excitement may make further inquiry irrelevant, but this=
Oldie is fast running out of resources. The PC I hasten to add, not the=
Aged P!

I have already taken off everything possible, from over 180 fonts to=
folders & files left over from "uninstalled" programmes (inc. over 5000=
personal and business e-mails belonging to the previous owner who lived in=
Dubai before moving to Hong Kong, worked for an international insurance=
company from Zurich, used Netscape and who thought "uninstall" actually=
removed everything but left the mailboxes intact?!?!!)

But we obviously need to keep "essential software" Word/Notepad/Wordpad as=
well as like Solitaire and Freecell for everyday use! Seriously, it is=
becoming hard from switching "on" let alone adding more/new software...=
The 4 gig HD running on WIN98 (I suspect it was upgraded from WIN95 at=
some time in its youth) is already SLOWWWWWER than watching paint dry, but=
I still need to install the necessary software for her to see/read=
everything that will be sent via e-mail, as well as all the oddments she=
will want to download from web sites (she is an active campaigner on=
social/trade justice and third world issues). She can view images in her=
browser, but what about other stuff like flash files, pdf documents and=
videos?

I have not been taking much notice recently but Acrobat and other=
programmes seem to be enormous these days, with a minimum requirement=
always in excess of10 Mb. Even the anti virus software eats up the bytes=
and it is touch and go if it is even going to have enough space for=
downloading those AV updates!

So my question... If you had this ancient PC with very limited resources,=
what would be the bare minimum necesary for your use? I will be TRYING to=
install Acrobat tomorrow, but this will be the third attempt and I do not=
think it will work... I need an equivalent about half the size! Any ideas?

Thanks for any bright ideas!

Sincerely

Janet Kaiser - Who saw the story about the convicted killer who kept his=
pottery teacher who was wife of a gaoler a hostage for 10 years??? Bet=
that gave Valice a turn!!!!?
THE CHAPEL OF ART - or - CAPEL CELFYDDYD
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : GB-Wales LL52 0EA

Plan visiting The International Potters Path?
Contact: Janet Kaiser
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523122
http://www.the-coa.org.uk



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Carl Finch on fri 8 apr 05


At 12:56 PM 4/8/2005, The Chapel of Art (aka, Janet Kaiser) wrote:

>I will be TRYING to install Acrobat tomorrow, but this will be the third
>attempt and I do not think it will work... I need an equivalent about half
>the size! Any ideas?

How 'bout an older version of Acrobat Reader (I'm assuming your friend just
needs Reader, right?). I suspect that for most porpoises an older version
will suffice.

I have a copy of Reader, version 3.01, and the installation consumes 5.2
MB. The installation program is 3 MB. Say the woid and I'll email it to you.

--Carl
in Medford, Oregon