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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: celia on Sunday 14 November 04 00:53 GMT (UK)
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Although my computer Windows 98 is a bit tired ,it is in good working order it does not have the facilities that i now require.I have been into digital camera's for the last twelve months. I use it a lot, i download the photo's which i can do anything with to the program that came with the camera. I have now outgrown the program ;D My Problem is that i have a lot of of photo's stored on the P.C. A lot of them are of no interest to me but i have to keep them. Just in case my computer Decides to suddenly take early retirement with no warning ;D i have to print them all out. this is costing me a fortune in Gloss photo paper.So i am thinking of upgrading.I do not have this thing called a D.V.D writer which an upgrade will give me.
I don't know anything about them though. What can i put on them? Can i put photo's on? I only want a new engine but no point in wasting money if i cant put my piccy's on disk. Advice please
Celia
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Hi Celia
With a CDwriter/burner you can down load you photo's on to CDRom. You don't have to go as far as a DVDburner unless you want to burn films.
Genni
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Celia
You should be able to get a CD Writer (which would allow you to save you pics on a CD) for uner £40, but you will probably need someone with some technical knowledge to install it. You can get blank CDs for around 20p - so quite a cheap option.
Your message starts 'I have outgrown my computer' - are you considering a totally new PC? I don't know what PC you have at the moment or what you are using it for (apart from RootsChat and Pics of course). Let me know if I can help in any other way.
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Thank you Gennie, but i have no idea what a D.V.D burner is
Ticker
Yes as i said above i am thinking of upgrading,just the hightower. I have had a look at lots of computers of various prices. Some of them are stated as having CD RW others CD Rom. Thats just for music disks isn't it? I had thought a CD Writer's were now part of all computers.Then if i bought a new one i could save some Photo's on the C.D . I could put them on one of my many floppies but really want a disk. So In A nut shell if i buy a new computer with CD Rw can i store my photo's on it? and will it store anything else? I didn't know you could buy CD RW separately. Maybe I would be better with one of those It could go on the third floor ;D I know someone who can install it for me. He has loads of disks I use my computer mainly for research of all kinds I have never been a web wonderer ;D
Celia
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Installing a CD writer into an existing set up is relatively straight forward . One site that gives instructions in pictorial format is
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/installing_cd_recorder.htm
Although as has been said with the title "I Have outgrown my computer" it sounds as if the seeds of doubt have already been sown.
But before dumping your machine make sure that you take everything into consideration before falling for the charms of that super duper shining new case model in the show room.
1. does your computer do everything you currently need
2. how much further will your work/leisure push your machine
3. can I get away with simply upgrading parts
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Celia,
a CD RW (CD Writer) can be used to record any type of information which you currently have on your computer onto the CD.
There are two main types of CD both of which require a CD (or DVD) writer to create
1. CD ROM's which can only be written to once (ie the information becomes "permanently" stored)
2. CD RW's which allow you to write several times to the same disc to allow all of the information to be read again.
Many ordinary CD players will read CD Rom discs ..... for example stored sound or music files ... some domestic dvd players will play slide shows created to cd on your TV.
Permanency in regard to CD storage is under debate at the moment with claim and couterclaim but generall you are talking 5 to 10 years minumum lifespan for a data CD stored in optimal conditions.
A CD rom on a computer is simply a cd reader it will only read or play the information from your discs a CD Writer is required to create the discs
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But before dumping your machine make sure that you take everything into consideration before falling for the charms of that super duper shining new case model in the show room.
1. does your computer do everything you currently need
2. how much further will your work/leisure push your machine
3. can I get away with simply upgrading parts
Hello Falkyrn, its not the super duper Models I would fall for but the super duper sales pitch ;D answear to question 1 Yes. 2 can you rephrase that one? 3 Yes. I fix any problems that ac cure myself.so don't have any and my C disk memory 4.01 is less than half full. in fact yesterday i was cut off the net for hours. A few hours later i found something not me ;D had messed my email number up i had a row of xxxxxxxxxxx instead. I had thought that been able to buy a separate DVDRW. I would just plug it in to the computer, Like a digie box to the T.V. seems not.
I have one here in the brochure of PC World. Emprex 16x Internal Duel Layer DVDRW drive. Its £69.99 with Vat. bit more than i was expecting. Is this the update i need?
Celia
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Although my computer Windows 98 is a bit tired ,it is in good working order it does not have the facilities that i now require.I have been into digital camera's for the last twelve months. I use it a lot, i download the photo's which i can do anything with to the program that came with the camera. I have now outgrown the program ;D My Problem is that i have a lot of of photo's stored on the P.C. A lot of them are of no interest to me but i have to keep them. Just in case my computer Decides to suddenly take early retirement with no warning ;D i have to print them all out. this is costing me a fortune in Gloss photo paper.So i am thinking of upgrading.I do not have this thing called a D.V.D writer which an upgrade will give me.
I don't know anything about them though. What can i put on them? Can i put photo's on? I only want a new engine but no point in wasting money if i cant put my piccy's on disk. Advice please
Celia
You could always try putting them all onto floppy disks I had the same problem before I got a CD writer. You wont fit as near as many as you can with a cd rom. but it is surely better than printing them all off and perhaps it is something you can do as a temporary solution. If ever you upgrade your computer to incorporate a CD Writer you can always send what is on your floppy disks onto a CD rom.
DVD/CD writers are more expensive than CD Rewriters.
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Hello Jen, Yes i love my floppies, I found a Place years ago where they upgrade the computers colleges and schools have finished with.They sell high capacity cleaned floppies 10 for a pound.I can also get new ones by the bag. so i have all my important not to be lost family tree info on them. Never seen L.C. in the shops they wound never hold all the animation's i have on them or the Photo's. I even have smilies on them. So i think i will spend some time moving them onto the floppy for now .till i decide what to do. Do Floppies have a shelf life some of the stuff on them have been on 4 three years. They are in thier own little box with a lock so safe i think.
Celia
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I am not sure of their shelf life. however I have had my photos on them since 2000 and they are fine at the moment. I suppose if they are looking a little unloved you could copy the data onto newer ones every now and then to make sure. I do think though your answer is a CD Writer. Floppy's are good but don't hold too much on them better than leaving everything on your PC though! ;D
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Hi celia sorry for the confusion I caused,
There are two main upgrade paths you could choose
1 is to fit a CD Writer (this will create your CD's with appropriate software)
2 is to fit a DVD writer (This will create your CD's OR DVD's with the appropriate software)
You need to ask yourself if you need the storage capacity of a DVD ..... unless you are storing large quantities of video files or very high quality picture files I would suspect the answer is NO ...
to put it into context 1 CD is equivalent to approx 450 Floppy discs and 1 DVD Disc is the equivalent of 7 CD's
A suitable internal CD writer drive can be obtained for as little as £17
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/cdanddvdreaderswriters/
fitting it is relatively straightforward if you have no qualms about opening up your machine's case ..... If you do try to get someone else to fit it for you.
Another option is to go for an external unit which would plug into your system and be available without opening the case ....... this is a much more expensive option £70 - £100.
Regarding the CD types ...... the CD Writer can write to two types of CD
type 1 is a one off operation .... ie you Create (burn) the CD and the information is put on the CD in one operation ....
type 2 is what is referred to as CD RW ..... these disks can be written to several times adding a litlle information each time so that all of the information is available to the person viewing the contents
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Hello Falkyrn I am getting to understand this subject a little better now .Thanks to you lovely people, so are you saying that I don't need to spend £70 ? Phew.so would this even cheaper than £40 machine allow me to put piccies on that would be great. Thats all i want. It would save time when i send photo's to my Daughter in oz. I have just tried the site address it's not working. the address on the toolbar is flashing on and off. Be back later
Celia
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Hi Celia
Judging by your animated crest you are not a complete 'comperdum'. That said I must point out that CD-RW is not the best medium to 'add' data to, it is more intended to erase and re-write. You can keep adding data (not music) to a standard CD until it is full and at about 20p per disk it is a very cheap way to store pictures.
With most programs such as 'Nero' it is a simple mater of drag and drop.
Installing a CD is not exactly rocket science but please don't open your puter unless you know what you are doing. There are plenty of geeks about that would be only too pleased to do it for you. (usually someones grand son!!!!)
BTW floppy's are a good media for small files like picture, I have some recorded in the early 90's however as with all technology built in obsolescence comes into play. The floppy drive is becoming a thing of the past. Lots of new puters don't have em!
I hope I haven't confused more than helped - if so just bear in mind the old expression 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'
Lots of luck
Lo ;D
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celia,
To get a basic capability to write to CD's added to your machine should be relatively inexpensive .... the basic internal Cd writer is available from a number of sources
http://www.dabs.co.uk
www.pcworld.co.uk .... although they appear more expensive thans dabs
www.simply .co.uk also have a good make (philips) cd rw drive for £20
To recap from earlier, The CD is regarded in many areas as the successor to the floppy disc although given its increased capacity it is obviously of more use to transfer large files. That said given the fall in blank disk prices the CD's are almost cheaper than Floppies were a few years ago. (relatively speaking ...no pun intended ::) )
To use as storage or to transfer files from one location to another they are a good option and given what you say are your current and projected needs they are all I would say that you need at the moment.
that said I would urge caution if you are at all uncertain about installing the drive yourself
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Hello Falkyrn. Thank you for that advice. I tried the other three web addresses you sent but i can only get P.C.World none of the others. I am a terror for doing a bit of reseach on anything I buy. Someone once asked me "is that why it takes you so long to buy a packet of crisps" ;D Cheeky ;)
Celia
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HI Celia,
You might find what you are looking for here. We've used them ourselves in the past and have been very happy with the service.
http://www.aria.co.uk/
Fitty
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Thank you Fitty Will try that one.
Thanks for All the help and advice everyone. Now i can go to a shop and look like i know what I'm Talking about ;D
OVER & OUT
Celia
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Hi: This is really a big THANK you to FALKYRN. I have a CD burner, supposedly a DVD thing and something called a MP3? Now at least know the difference from the CD and DVD - very first time someone has explained the diff in capacity. :D My questions to salesmen were either ignored or sluffed off.
Have finally figured out how to look at file exdtensions in XP using explore. Helped get rid of a couple of problems.
Now if someone would just explain what one uses that MP3 thing for??
Lauraine
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MP3 is a format for compressing digital audio files. It is a "lossy" compression scheme, meaning that MP3 files do not have quite as high quality as the standard CD-DA audio tracks they are encoded from. MP3 files can be automatically converted and recorded directly to CD as standard audio tracks using appropriate software.
To give MP3 it's full sunday name ... Mpeg layer 3 audio compression ....
MP3 files can be played on the users computer as music files using 1 of many different players. Microsoft not to be outdone have introduced a different format known as WMA files which are only playable on a limited number of players.
Files can be transferred to CD as MP3 files (a data CD) or converted back into straight music tracks and burnt onto a CD or DVD . Some CD players and dvd players claim to be mp3 compatible .... ie they will play them.
The other option is an MP3 player .... the fashion statement of the moment is Apples ipod which can hold up to 10,000 music files .... there are other players many of them a lot cheaper
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Hi Falkyrn:
I tried to get on here several times and couldn't remember my password. Want to thank you for explaining the MP3 thing. Actually have bought two MP3 players. One for my Dad who is in a nursing home with very limited space. Loved it so got one for myself. They are very very small and hold a lot of data. Price has golne way down in N. America. Also, they can be used as a voice recorder, so would be great if visiting archives for oral notes or interviewing a senior. :)
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Hi celia sorry for the confusion I caused,
There are two main upgrade paths you could choose
1 is to fit a CD Writer (this will create your CD's with appropriate software)
2 is to fit a DVD writer (This will create your CD's OR DVD's with the appropriate software)
You need to ask yourself if you need the storage capacity of a DVD ..... unless you are storing large quantities of video files or very high quality picture files I would suspect the answer is NO ...
to put it into context 1 CD is equivalent to approx 450 Floppy discs and 1 DVD Disc is the equivalent of 7 CD's
A suitable internal CD writer drive can be obtained for as little as £17
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/cdanddvdreaderswriters/
fitting it is relatively straightforward if you have no qualms about opening up your machine's case ..... If you do try to get someone else to fit it for you.
Another option is to go for an external unit which would plug into your system and be available without opening the case ....... this is a much more expensive option £70 - £100.
Regarding the CD types ...... the CD Writer can write to two types of CD
type 1 is a one off operation .... ie you Create (burn) the CD and the information is put on the CD in one operation ....
type 2 is what is referred to as CD RW ..... these disks can be written to several times adding a litlle information each time so that all of the information is available to the person viewing the contents
Sorry slight correction. Both types of CD will allow data to be added until the CD is full as long as the cd has not been finalized.
The benefit of a cdrw disk is that you can erase the cd and start again the same as you can with a floppy disc.
Cheers
Guy
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Hi all,
Sorry to butt into the conversation. I have just bought a couple of PC from DELL. The best one was £700 which has everything, including three years on-site warranty and is virtually the top of the range, this one is a lot lower spec, but for £350 what do you expect.
Their prices are the best in the world at the moment, they include free delivery in about a week, and I have already used their support team who are very good.
I would not even bother trying to fix any of my other computers at this price, as you are only renewing/adding bits; whereas this has DVD, 6 USB ports, 256MB RAM, a 2.66 MHz processor and a years support.
I know it is still a lot of money for some people, but well worth thinking about. Incidentally I am a Computer Officer, so have an idea what I am talking about,but as said, it is almost cheaper and certainly better to buy new at these prices than bother with upgrading. Hopefully, I will get an MP3 player for my birthday soon, my kids use them all the time and are a big improvement on carrying a CD player.
Best
Kevan