Advice about buying a used computer?

Question

I’m thinking of buying a used computer. I’m not looking for anything very powerful, just something to do basic home computing (mostly internet/email etc).

I understand computers enough to know what I need in terms of processor speed, RAM, Hard drive etc. My biggest concern is that I’ll buy something that has enough power, but it will be so full of viruses etc that it will run slowly.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can protect myself against buying someone else’s problem? How would I go about wiping the hard-drive clean before using it?

Answer 1

dont most of the life span of the computer is already used if you do use it for a firewall with smooth wall or install linux on it.

Answer 2

well u can just change the hard drive or once u get it u can download Glary Utilities(Google it) it has 18 tools and utilities to fix and remove any unwanted files i would download that once u get your computer

Answer 3

If its just for internet/email get a mac mini.  there cheap and d**n near imposable to get a virus on

Answer 4

i have two websites for you

www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

www.tigerdirect.ca

both are good retailer stores.

first press start and then programs and then system tools and press defragmentator and disk clean up download avg scanner off the internet it is a free tool and scan it and if you want to then format it (clear the hard drive)

Answer 5

You can wipe then reformat the whole hard drive, by putting in a Windows OS disc then restarting your computer.  This is what I would do because then you are detatched from anything the previous owner did.  Then you can install all your secuirity software, like firewall, antivirus etc.

Answer 6

I would strongly recommend to reinstall Windows after buying a used computer... ask them for the Windows disk if they still have it, haggle the price down if they don't... Windows has decently easy installation and just by going along with the process you'll end up cleaning up your hard drive from everything... just reinstall Windows, that's it!

Answer 7

recently i bought a used laptop from ebay. the deal was awesome but the hard drive failed a few weeks after arrival. since the hard drive was busted I got it repaired, and got 20 buck knocked off an 80 GB HD (thnx to the nice repairman) upgrading me from a broken 60 GB one. (which I later found out it was broken because it was ripped out of a toshiba and slammed into the hp lol) a $450 notebook turned into a $530 notebook. but still, even for ebay notebook prices, the guy could have sold this to us for at least $600. and after shopping at all the places that sell used noteboooks where i live, i found the ebay was the best. Cheers :-)

mac mini? the guy is looking for USED. not cute little powerhouses that are sparklin new.

Answer 8

Many older family PCs have years of other people's p**n viewing and teenage Myspace addictions scarring their hard disks. It shouldn't matter, though, because it gives you a haggling point and an excuse to reformat the drive. All you really do is put in a disc for 2000 or XP, tell it to do a full installation, let it run a quick format (unless you want to test for bad sectors), choose your options MS offers virtually none), and then install the drivers you got before hand from either the vendor (eg. Gateway), or from various OEMS like Leadtek and Realtek. This works great, and some sellers like me do it for the buyer at no extra charge even on those 30$ Celeron 566 boxes.

As for hardware problems, they're less obvious. If people say a computer is unstable, that may mean a bad PSU, memory, or motherboard, but it could just be a system begging for a reformat. Stress testing tools take too long, to be honest. Most just take their chances, as will you have to. Just pop the case to confirm the components and make sure things aren't too dusty or forlorn. That, and know that you can get a dead donor PC of comparable age for free on Craigs List from time to time.

On another note, computers can and will last a dreadfully long time. I have a 286 from the late 80's in running order. The 5.25" 20 megabyte hard disk died years ago, replaced with a "modern" 105 megabyte IDE drive and controller. Also, the built in amber monitor is jumpy until it warms up. Otherwise, great.