O/t Home Pc Crashed - New Pc Or Imac?

[zvezdochka]

Home pc crashed yesterday taking out iTunes and wiping my iPhone at the same time. Was trying to upgrade phone software and PC started rebooting every 2 or 3 minutes. Now iPhone is working but has lost all data. PC will start but iTunes will not run and pc shuts down after a few minutes and restarts at random.

PC is 6 years old so should have been replaced a while ago. Question is, do I spend mega ££ on on imac (recommended by son who is a real apple disciple) or should I spend less and go for a new pc?

Also, any advice on how I might recover all my contact info as iPhone back up has disappeared with iTunes?

Thanks

Rick (using work pc now)

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Provided you can still access data on the hard disk, your iPhone backups and data should be on there. It can be easier to put the disk into another machine or an external case though if it won't boot/run properly. That way you can transfer all the data you need off at your leisure.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Provided you can still access data on the hard disk, your iPhone backups and data should be on there. It can be easier to put the disk into another machine or an external case though if it won't boot/run properly. That way you can transfer all the data you need off at your leisure.

Agree, I had a laptop give up the ghost on me a couple of years back that was suffering from a boot problem. I bought an external drive enclosure for it and recovered all the files to the new PC from that. Also now very useful for using for backups.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Just been a huntin'...

Depending on whether you're still running XP, or have Vista or Windows 7 on there, the files are normally in the following places:

On XP - :C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

For Vista and Windows 7: - C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Note, if you can't see the AppData folder within the \(username) folder, you'll probably need to go into the "folder options" menu, select the "View" tab, then scroll down to the "show hidden files, folders, and drives" option and make sure the little round selection box next to it is selected. OK that and go back to the \(username) folder and it should be there.

If a few people have used the machine and set up different user accounts, you may need to check under the other \(username) folders within the \Users folder.

[Dommo]

Unless you're doing something the iMac excels at (video editing usually, and removing unsightly hair) or are an Apple follower, it's not worth the extra expense.

[zvezdochka]

Thanks Gadgetman - I located the backup files following your route for XP. Then pc shut down again. I definitely need to remove the hard drive and access through another machine.

Dommo - no video editing required so will focus on new pc - can keep the same monitor and keyboard so definitely cheaper.

Thanks Rick

[adamnreeves]

Unless you're doing something the iMac excels at (video editing usually, and removing unsightly hair) or are an Apple follower, it's not worth the extra expense.

The Mac does not excel at crashing It does excel at being intuitive and user friendly

[Mooch]

It's down to personal choice, but I moved to a MacBook pro when I started my own company and got to choose the IT system. I was always intrigued as to why there are loads of books on switching from a PC to a Mac, but none going the other way....

TBH there's no going back for me, regardless of the additional cost. Macs are intuitive, quick, link in seamlessly with iPads/iPods and iPhones which are becoming ubiquitous anyway. It also fires up in seconds and does not need Norton/McAffee/AVG and their infernal pop ups and reminders. To be fair, I have had problems getting some wireless peripherals to work, though. Setting up the printer was a pain because it was defaulted to Widows and didn't come with a Mac Driver, but now it works, it's trouble free.

The kids have PC laptops which are fine and are undoubtedly the best VFM for their homework and games stuff. However, work with some clients brings me into contact with Windows 7and Office and the thing I notice going onto MS stuff is how relatively complicated it all is. Spent ages on a Powerpoint presentation recently just looking for simple cut and paste functions - now all squrrelled away in sub menus rather than on a tool bar and it drove me nuts!

I hope I'm not an Apple bore....but I can see why people evangelise.

[peterg]

does not need Norton/McAffee/AVG and their infernal pop ups and reminders.

neither does any PC these days, just install MS Security Essentials and jobs's a carrot

[zvezdochka]

Thanks for all the comments - macs seem to get a lot of positive comments but imac would work out around £400 more at least than good spec pc. Anyone tried the imac mini using existing monitor etc.? Similar price to pc but looks too small to have everything in the package?

[Blatman]

Most banks provide free anti-virus software these days. HSBC give McAffee away for free...

As for Macs never crashing, my busiest private customer is always crashing his Mac. He bought it because he believed the hype, despite him being a PC user for his whole life. He's just not used to the way a Mac works and a year later, I'm still getting calls once a month. Intuitive? Maybe, but you should consider the old dogs / new tricks conundrum before reccommending a PC user switches to a Mac. Some will take to it, but there are no guarantees here.

As for boot times, MSConfig. My XP and Win7Pro PC's boot much faster than my firends Macs, and it really pisses them off. That said, Linux Ubuntu beats them all in to a cocked hat...

[Dommo]

and does not need Norton/McAffee/AVG

Whether you go Apple or PC, do not underestimate the need for security products. Apples are not the safe haven they once were unfortunately. Blame popularity for that one!

[adamnreeves]

Ask a PC user about crashing and everyone has a story to tell. Ask a Mac user the same question and you get a confused look. Millions of users cannot be wrong. That said there is a price premium but if you take backups then you can re-load and restore. I store my stuff on the cloud now.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Millions of users certainly can be wrong, Macs just have sooo much better PR

Seriously though, we do IT support for Mac users too, and see a whole raft of not that disimilar issues crop up. It's just not always that obvious on the Apple product that it's the same sort of thing actually happening. Just that, in the users words, there's a bit off a problem, or its not doing something expected.

Mind you, they can be little git's to put right when something has gone **** up on them, but that's only a side effect nof making the basic day to day stuff so easy for average users.

Some real nice touches as well though. Always causes much amusement when people see how fast the Mac Books etc will run Windows

[Stevo]

I use a mac mini as a media center attached to the telly. It's brilliant and would use it as a proper home computer if I was that way inclined (I prefer laptops). It has crashed a couple of times but that's fair enough I reckon and it's only because the children were hammering away on they keyboard. For about £450 second hand it's about as much computing power as the average person needs and will last for years.

The bonus for me is that it's silent and looks nice which is what you want in a living room.