Joe's Basement -Computer Sales & Service

2006-11-29T08:28:00.000-08:00

This is Mike's old Sony VAIO P4 x 2.4ghz laptop. He was having issues with some spyware, Windows validation and receiving updates from Microsoft. I ran a couple scans and cleaned out a bunch of cookies and few pieces of spyware. I validated Windows XP so he can now receive updates as they come out.

2006-11-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

Here I am working on Mike's old IBM Thinkpad iSeries 1400 2611-411. It's an ancient relic made in 1998; P1x300 mhz MMX processor, 32MB RAM, 4GB HD. Well, he thought that he could install a Linksys wireless pc card to it so he could surf the web and check email wirelessly as he traveled. I contacted Linksys technical support and they told me that he needs a minimum 64mb RAM and a 200mhz processor to even use on of their cards. I advised Samad that it would be best to just backup his important files, reload Windows 98SE and list the laptop for sale on Craigslist. It's not worth the time, trouble and expense to upgrade since the machine can not reliably handle wireless Internet anyway.

2006-09-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today I worked on Carl's laptop which had a blue screen of death (BSOD) error and a corrupted Registry probably due to a virus. I did have a copy of a Dell Restore CD that I used to restore Windows XP Home Ed SP2 and he was up and running again in a couple hours. I installed AVG Anti-Virus, Adaware Anti-Spyware, CD Burner XP Pro and a few other great open source applications to give him an alternative to Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

2006-08-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

Here I have finished installing Windows 98SE on this IBM Thinkpad T21 that I bought as scrap last week. All it needed was removing the supervisor password and a new hard drive so I took care of all that this afternoon. I have tested all the components and everything passed fine. Now I am making the finishing touches before I post it for sale on Craigslist.

2006-07-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

I bought this Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600 laptop last week as a scrap deal off Ebay. It's a Pentium 3 x 800 hmz system with 512 MB RAM, 20gb HD and DVD-ROM/CDRW combo drive with a WiFi-G pc card. Well, I fixed the broken hinge on the lcd cover, replaced the HD caddy and installed a new 20gb hard drive. I am just installing Windows XP now since I sold it this afternoon for $300 to a customer who will be picking it up tonight.

2006-06-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

IBM Thinkpad A21M- P3x700mhz

I just finished Fred's Thinkpad this morning. His hard drive died on him a couple weeks ago so he stopped by my shop last night and dropped off the laptop along with a new 2.5" hard drive that I advised him to buy at Fry's Electronics. Well, I installed the new HD, reloaded Windows XP PRO, MS Office 2003 PRO and installed open source Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall software to help protect his system. It's running great now! I knocked it out this morning so he will be swinging by tonight after work to pick it up.

2006-05-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here, I am working on Bill's HP Pavilion laptop. His hard drive failed so I advised him to buy a new 2.5" laptop hard drive from Micro Center and drop off the laptop at my shop. I backed up all his ducuments, songs and personal files off his old failing hard drive to my usb jump drive.
I installed his new 80GB hard drive, reloaded Windows XP, Office 2003, Adobe Acrobat and a few other app's and moved all his backed up data back to this new hard drive. It's running good as new now!

2006-05-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

Today, I worked on Carlos' old Canon S300 inkjet printer to see if I can get it running again. I was able to use strong alcohol to clean off all the gummed up stuff on the pickup roller so now paper gets pulled through. Sadly, it has a failing controller board as every other print job chokes and never gets completed. There is an intermittent failure somewhere as is common in these cheap low end inkjet printers. I advised him it is not worth fixing so he decided to just buy a new one at Micro Center.

2006-05-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here I am working on a client's computer, Melissa, that was infected with viruses and spyware that damaged critical system files. She just dropped it off at my shop tonight.
I backed up all her documents, pics, music and favorites to my 1gb jump drive and simply did a complete restore of Windows XP Home Ed.
Now, it is up and running fine. I will finish off by installing AVG Antivirus and Microsoft Antispyware to help protect against future attacks and then Microsoft Office 2003 Professional and whatever other programs she wants on there.
It will be ready for pickup tomorrow night.

2006-05-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Micro Center's PowerSpec 6641 AMD Athlon 3500+ 64-bit

Now that I am finished posting my old Fry's Electronics GQ3121 for sale, I move on to my old gaming system:

Here you can see its special cooling fan assembly found in all the high end AMD processors. I have taken it apart to install a new PowerColor Radeon X550 DDR2 256MB 16X PCI-Express video card, more RAM, a new 100gb HD, a Hauppauge 26552LF PCI TV Card, an additional 16X DVD-ROM drive, included an external USB memory card reader and a few other things.
Once completed, it will be a screaming AMD Athlon 3500+ 2.2 ghz 64-bit processor with 1GB DDR400 PC3200 RAM, a huge 100gb HD with a 16X dual layer DVD burner and a 16X DVD-ROM among other nice components that I am looking to get $400 for. When I bought this baby new back in January 2006, I spent well near $900 new with all the upgrades and now someone is gonna get it for a great bargain!
Of course, the usual display for the ad:

and posting on good ol' Craigslist!

2006-05-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Fry's GQ 3121 AMD Sempron 2200+

I was recently hired for a legit support contract for an Ebay powerseller in Downers Grove, IL to setup Windows Small Business Server 2003 and network file, printer and email services to 3 other workstations. Apparently, this guy does so much business on Ebay that he built an addition to his home and turned it into a home-office room and mini-network where he has 1 FT and 1 PT employee monitoring, listing and taking care of stuff for all his auctions. Anyway, since he is still a small company and now needs the services of a dedicated consultant he hired me for a 6 month contract to support all his technical needs. Since I would not be getting paid for this long term gig, we worked out a deal that he bought me about $1,600 worth of new computers as compensation for the contract. Not a bad deal since I did not have much going on at the time anyway and besides, all new top of the line computer equipment for my place was pretty sweet!
Once the initial Server and network setup is completed, I do not anticipate many problems at all just support a low end server and a few workstations in the next 6 months anyway.

Today, you can see me here rebuilding and upgrading my old computers for resale on Chicago Craigslist since I have 2 new computers now! :-)
Here is my old AMD Sempron 2200+ that I mainly used as my Download computer with Emule and Kazaa Lite file PSP.
I have the cover off since I am putting in a new ATI Radeon 9250 128MB agp video card and some extra RAM:

I have finished with the upgrades, formatted the HD and reloaded Windows XP. This newly built machine now has 256MB DDR400 PC2700 RAM, a 40GB HD, 16X double layer DVD burner, 16 X DVD-ROM, ATI Radeon Sapphire 9250 128MB 8x AGP graphics card among other things with a fresh install of XP Home Ed SP2 and MS Office 2003 PRO SP2. It's internet ready, game system ready and ready for sale!
Now, I have displayed everything on a table to take pics to post for sale on Craigslist.

And let's not forget the new FOR SALE ad posted on Craigslist!