Synovative Technology
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Synovative Technology
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Synovative's Plan for a Reliable Windows XP Desktop
We have been asked, from time to time, how we choose to configure a Windows XP desktop for reliable performance. Here are the guidelines and features that we have chosen to provide this reliable solution. For non-commercial (i.e. Home) users, this solution is low in cost. Some utilities are freeware. Some are share-ware. Others are donation-ware. Our current aim is to provide the Home user with as low a cost solution as possible. Commercial sites usually are required to purchase the software products that are free to home users. We have aimed to minimize the exposure to viruses, spyware and ads at a reasonable level of risk. We also configure for best performance. We tie it all together with our SOUP software offering. Hardware We recommend Dell desktops and laptops. Get a machine with Windows XP Pro, at least 512 MB of main memory (1 GB is better) and 2 hard drives. Do not get an Intel Celeron processor. Laptop owners will need to acquire an after-market USB external hard drive to act as the second hard drive. We recommend that all PCs have a second hard drive to store backup copies of key files kept in your "My Documents" folder. We will configure SOUP to backup the My Documents folder to the second hard drive. Make sure that all applications place their key data files in a folder using the application name within the My Documents folder. At the top level, keep your My Documents folder showing only folders. Place data and documents into named folders where the names will keep you organized. We recommend that all broadband connections, even at home sites, have a firewall router. We recommend you get one made by Linksys. If possible avoid wireless LAN connections. Protect your hardware and operating system files with an APC (American Power Company) standby power unit. The 500 watt unit, model Back-UPS ES 500, should work just fine. Make sure you have a small extension strip so that you can plug your System Unit, Monitor, Router and Cable/DSL modem into the standby power. Do not plug your printer into the standby power plugs. Software We do not recommend the use of "automatic updates" or "scheduled tasks." They consume the resources of your PC and slow it down. Weekly updates, assisted by a feature of SOUP, should keep you current. We recommend that you do not install toolbars and search bars. Most bring some form of spyware to your PC. Be smart about what you choose to do while on the Internet. We recommend that a core of configuration options and utilities be installed and configured. The notes on what to install, how to configure the install and how to configure the programs can be found by clicking the "How to Build" button in the left margin. We recommend the use of the following programs and utilities:
Links to the above utilities can be found on our download page. They are also present on our "How to Build" page. Click the "How to Build" button when you are ready to build your reliable desktop. |
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