Are you in the market for a new PC but concerned about Windows Vista (which you should be!)?
Online today at PCWorld is this article that explains how to get a new PC with Windows XP from any of the major vendors. Those of you in the market for a new PC may try one of the tactics featured in this article. I, for example, should be able to buy one for my business, the PC Doctor. I am sure most people have some sort of in-home business and could probably do the same.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Time to migrate to AVG V8. Here’s How!
I migrated from AVG Free V7.5 to V8 yesterday on my desktop. I have done this several times (back and forth) to make sure I got it all right. I have documented this in detail if you want some help, but it really is fairly straightforward. I have also done this on several laptops, both my own and my customers. If you have been a customer of mine this summer, chances are you already have V8. Here's how to tell. First of all. the icon in your system tray for V8 looks like a patchwork quilt, with the 4 colored pieces forming the quilt. V7 and earlier icons are simple squares containing the 4 colors. Second, if you open up AVG to its Control Panel or User Interface as it's now called, click on Help up on top, and then About AVG, it will tell you the version. If it says V8, you are all set.
The detailed installation is captured in the attached pdf file. It's about a 2.7MB file, so give it a few seconds to download (on a high-speed internet connection).
The installation of V8 will also uninstall V7.5, so you do not have to go through that extra uninstall step. Note that the scene in the attached begins with a double click on the install file you downloaded to your desktop per the previous post.
Also, although you can delete the downloaded install file on your desktop, I'd recommend keeping it. Move it to a folder where you can find it if/when needed.
The detailed installation is captured in the attached pdf file. It's about a 2.7MB file, so give it a few seconds to download (on a high-speed internet connection).
The installation of V8 will also uninstall V7.5, so you do not have to go through that extra uninstall step. Note that the scene in the attached begins with a double click on the install file you downloaded to your desktop per the previous post.
Also, although you can delete the downloaded install file on your desktop, I'd recommend keeping it. Move it to a folder where you can find it if/when needed.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Migrating to AVG Free Version 8
Okay, it's time to move forward. In the past few days I have tried Avast, another free anti-virus program, but have to say that I like AVG much more.
This is meant primarily for those students and customers of mine who may already have AVG Free Anti-virus Version 7.5 installed. However it may work for others who want to stop paying for their anti-virus program, those who may have Norton or McAfee or Trend Micro or other anti-virus programs installed.
The first step you should take is to download AVG Free V8 ( Version 8 ) to your desktop. It's a good idea to do this again now even if you have done it before, because AVG V8 had its share of early install problems and is already on about its 4th version, so it pays to download the latest.
You can download the program, and remember it's FREE, from this web site:
What you are downloading is AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0.138. If you do this sometime in the future, the version number may well have changed by that time, and that's okay, just go ahead and download.
When you are finished, you will have the AVG Free V8 install file on your desktop. Stay tuned for more.
This is meant primarily for those students and customers of mine who may already have AVG Free Anti-virus Version 7.5 installed. However it may work for others who want to stop paying for their anti-virus program, those who may have Norton or McAfee or Trend Micro or other anti-virus programs installed.
The first step you should take is to download AVG Free V8 ( Version 8 ) to your desktop. It's a good idea to do this again now even if you have done it before, because AVG V8 had its share of early install problems and is already on about its 4th version, so it pays to download the latest.
You can download the program, and remember it's FREE, from this web site:
Download AVG Free Version 8 here
When you go to the link above, click on Download Now and note that the file is about 46MB in size, so this is really an exercise for high-speed internet users and not dial-up users. (If you are a dial-up user at home, you might consider going to a place that has high-speed internet, like your local library, downloading the file to the desktop there, and then copying it to your own thumb drive so you can take it home with you.)
What you are downloading is AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0.138. If you do this sometime in the future, the version number may well have changed by that time, and that's okay, just go ahead and download.
When you are finished, you will have the AVG Free V8 install file on your desktop. Stay tuned for more.
Friday, July 11, 2008
AVG Free Version 7.5
From the AVG Free Forum July 9, 2008:
"AVG 7.5 Free - Support ends 31/08/2008
"AVG 7.5 Free - Support ends 31/08/2008
Posted by: michaelhd - AVG Team (IP Logged)
Date: July 9, 2008 04:07PM
Support for AVG 7.5 Free Edition is planned to end on 31st August 2008.
No more virus updates are planned for after that date.
Note that no more 'program' updates are due! Only virus updates will continue until the end date.
AVG 7.5 Paid version will be supported until 31/12/08."
It looks like it is time for us to move on now to AVG FREE Version 8. Over the next few days I will post steps you can follow to install Version 8.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Microsoft sets XP SP3 automatic download for Thursday
If this article is correct, you have until 1 PM Eastern time TOMORROW to take the action I prescribed in this blog on May 7. That action will let you avoid the download of XP SP3. I still believe XP SP3 needs another few months before I will download it willingly.
Microsoft sets XP SP3 automatic download for Thursday
Friday, July 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Mission Accomplished!
On June 23 I wrote "I am planning to replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive. To do this I will need to make an exact copy of my current C drive on the external 250GB drive. For this I will use Norton Ghost. After making the copy, I’ll physically replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive and hope I can then reboot my machine from the new internal 250GB drive. I will hold onto the 80GB drive, probably inserting it into the enclosure now housing the 250GB drive. The 80GB drive will be a good place to carry another backup copy of MY DOCUMENTS (all of my data)."
Two days ago I completed this task, though not exactly the way I had planned. Not surprisingly, Norton Ghost did not do the job for me. I have become accustomed to being disappointed with Symantec products over the years, and Norton Ghost didn't let me down! It did not perform as advertised, and after two days on a Norton Ghost forum where the best Norton Ghost minds tried their best to help me, I decided to download and try Acronis True Image Home Version 11.0. This program was hyped as one which would do exactly what I wanted to do, and was available on a 15 day free trial. It did the job very quickly (15 minutes) and smoothly and had an intuitive user interface, one even I could understand (unlike Norton Ghost).
So now I have my 250GB drive as my internal system drive and my 1TB drive as my external drive for backups and for my ever-increasing libraries of videos, music, and photos.
Two days ago I completed this task, though not exactly the way I had planned. Not surprisingly, Norton Ghost did not do the job for me. I have become accustomed to being disappointed with Symantec products over the years, and Norton Ghost didn't let me down! It did not perform as advertised, and after two days on a Norton Ghost forum where the best Norton Ghost minds tried their best to help me, I decided to download and try Acronis True Image Home Version 11.0. This program was hyped as one which would do exactly what I wanted to do, and was available on a 15 day free trial. It did the job very quickly (15 minutes) and smoothly and had an intuitive user interface, one even I could understand (unlike Norton Ghost).
So now I have my 250GB drive as my internal system drive and my 1TB drive as my external drive for backups and for my ever-increasing libraries of videos, music, and photos.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Windows XP Departs: Good Riddance or Sad Farewell?
June 30 has come and gone, and so, for the most part, has Windows XP. You can read the pros and cons of this departure in this PCWorld article.
Friday, June 27, 2008
AVG Free Edition Version 7.5
The updates keep rolling in. I got one on 6/26 and one on 6/27. I am hopeful that the bulletin board post that I have posted herein earlier is correct, and that 12/31/2008 is the correct end of updates for us.
It is terribly annoying that AVG continues to send those pop-ups warning of the end of updates on 6/25.
I am planning to create a video, or several smaller videos, of the Version 8 installation process. I have been installing Version 8 on customer machines as I service them, and I have had no problems to date. I will keep you posted.
It is terribly annoying that AVG continues to send those pop-ups warning of the end of updates on 6/25.
I am planning to create a video, or several smaller videos, of the Version 8 installation process. I have been installing Version 8 on customer machines as I service them, and I have had no problems to date. I will keep you posted.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Redundant?
Okay, I am being redundant I know when I ask you to be redundant or, in other words, to have a backup plan for your data. So many times I hear from customers that they have a problem with their PC and, when I ask them if they have their data backed up, the answer comes back as "no" probably 90% of the time!
PLEASE, do yourself a big favor and create a plan for backup. The data you should be backing up includes most everything contained in your MY DOCUMENTS (XP) folder or your DOCUMENTS (VISTA) folder. Included therein should be all of your digital photos, music, and movies or videos. If you have an office product (MS Office or Open Office, etc.) all of the documents, spreadsheets, presentations, publications, etc. that you have created and saved will also be there.
It is not terribly difficult to learn how to back up this data to a CD or a DVD or to an external hard drive or even, on a somewhat temporary basis, to a flash or thumb drive.
So make a commitment to do this on a regular basis, but at least quarterly, PLEASE!
If your e-mail is important to you, you can easily back that up as well. The method used will depend on how you process your e-mail (Outlook, Outlook Express, etc.). If you have questions about this, please write.
PLEASE, do yourself a big favor and create a plan for backup. The data you should be backing up includes most everything contained in your MY DOCUMENTS (XP) folder or your DOCUMENTS (VISTA) folder. Included therein should be all of your digital photos, music, and movies or videos. If you have an office product (MS Office or Open Office, etc.) all of the documents, spreadsheets, presentations, publications, etc. that you have created and saved will also be there.
It is not terribly difficult to learn how to back up this data to a CD or a DVD or to an external hard drive or even, on a somewhat temporary basis, to a flash or thumb drive.
So make a commitment to do this on a regular basis, but at least quarterly, PLEASE!
If your e-mail is important to you, you can easily back that up as well. The method used will depend on how you process your e-mail (Outlook, Outlook Express, etc.). If you have questions about this, please write.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Migrating from Firefox Version 2 to Version 3
Okay, I'm trying something new, and my first foray into the world of video is only mildly successful. It would be better if I could better capture the screen so that you could actually read it. However, as I look at it, I find that maybe my narration will somewhat make up for it - at least in this simple case.
If you are a Firefox user, or even if you are not, you may find this helpful. For you current users, you will find this a very easy upgrade. It is fast and straightforward. Even if you don't want to upgrade at this point in time, you may find the video useful. The bottom line is that this is an easy upgrade and one you can implement without worry. The new version looks very much like the old.
If you have never used Firefox as your browser, you may want to install it even if you later decide not to make it your default browser. You can also follow the video's instructions. Firefox will copy all of your Internet Explorer (IE) Favorites so the end product will look much like IE.
I welcome your feedback, so please write with comments.
If you are a Firefox user, or even if you are not, you may find this helpful. For you current users, you will find this a very easy upgrade. It is fast and straightforward. Even if you don't want to upgrade at this point in time, you may find the video useful. The bottom line is that this is an easy upgrade and one you can implement without worry. The new version looks very much like the old.
If you have never used Firefox as your browser, you may want to install it even if you later decide not to make it your default browser. You can also follow the video's instructions. Firefox will copy all of your Internet Explorer (IE) Favorites so the end product will look much like IE.
I welcome your feedback, so please write with comments.
Monday, June 23, 2008
1 Terabyte Hard Drive
A terabyte (TB) is 1000 Gigabytes (GB). A GB is 1000 megabytes (MB). A MB is 1000 kilobytes (KB). A KB is 1000 bytes or characters in computerese. (In actuality, a KB is 1024 bytes, but normally rounded off to 1000 for ease of computation.) I used to teach this stuff at SeniorNet, and never felt that the magnitude of these numbers ever sank in.
A TB is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes or characters! Now that's a lot of zeroes, and I have gone over that string several times to make sure I have it right! :-)
I have been waiting for what seems like a long time to buy a hard drive with a 1TB capacity. They have been around for a while but rather costly, and I had decided that when they were priced lower than $200 I would buy one. Well, thanks to Costco and one of their coupons, I purchased one last week for $199!
It is a Western Digital My Book Home Edition External Hard Drive. It comes in its own enclosure and attaches to a PC via a USB cable (it can also attach using FIREWIRE or eSATA).
I have plans for what I am going to do now that my desktop, with its internal 80GB hard drive and its external 250GB hard drive, have this new capacity available to me. Both my internal and external drives have been pushing the limits of their capacity. I have used the 250GB drive for backups mostly, maintaining several backups of my data at any one time.
I am planning to replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive. To do this I will need to make an exact copy of my current C drive on the external 250GB drive. For this I will use Norton Ghost. After making the copy, I'll physically replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive and hope I can then reboot my machine from the new internal 250GB drive. I will hold onto the 80GB drive, probably inserting it into the enclosure now housing the 250GB drive. The 80GB drive will be a good place to carry another backup copy of MY DOCUMENTS (all of my data).
I have already moved my My Documents folder to the external 1TB drive. To see how to move the location of your My Documents folder, see this handy Microsoft link:
Below is what my 1TB drive looked like after I formatted it, getting rid of all the annoying "management" software included by Western Digital:
You can click on that image above to see the full sized version.
More on this subject as I progress with the above plan. If you have any questions, send me an e-mail.
A TB is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes or characters! Now that's a lot of zeroes, and I have gone over that string several times to make sure I have it right! :-)
I have been waiting for what seems like a long time to buy a hard drive with a 1TB capacity. They have been around for a while but rather costly, and I had decided that when they were priced lower than $200 I would buy one. Well, thanks to Costco and one of their coupons, I purchased one last week for $199!
It is a Western Digital My Book Home Edition External Hard Drive. It comes in its own enclosure and attaches to a PC via a USB cable (it can also attach using FIREWIRE or eSATA).
I have plans for what I am going to do now that my desktop, with its internal 80GB hard drive and its external 250GB hard drive, have this new capacity available to me. Both my internal and external drives have been pushing the limits of their capacity. I have used the 250GB drive for backups mostly, maintaining several backups of my data at any one time.
I am planning to replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive. To do this I will need to make an exact copy of my current C drive on the external 250GB drive. For this I will use Norton Ghost. After making the copy, I'll physically replace the 80GB drive with the 250GB drive and hope I can then reboot my machine from the new internal 250GB drive. I will hold onto the 80GB drive, probably inserting it into the enclosure now housing the 250GB drive. The 80GB drive will be a good place to carry another backup copy of MY DOCUMENTS (all of my data).
I have already moved my My Documents folder to the external 1TB drive. To see how to move the location of your My Documents folder, see this handy Microsoft link:
How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
Below is what my 1TB drive looked like after I formatted it, getting rid of all the annoying "management" software included by Western Digital:
You can click on that image above to see the full sized version.
More on this subject as I progress with the above plan. If you have any questions, send me an e-mail.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Revitalizing an aging notebook on the cheap
This is a very good ComputerWorld article for those of you who own aging laptops and are also do-it-yourselfers (DIY). Even if you are not a DIY, I think all laptop owners will find this article interesting.
For what it's worth (FWIW), I installed Ubuntu on an aging laptop and was very impressed. It is free and installed easily. It uses very little of your aging system's precious resources. If all you want to do is web browsing and e-mail, then you should consider Ubuntu for your aging laptop. This is covered in some detail in this ComputerWorld article. I should add that Ubuntu comes with Open Office already installed, so the machine is also equipped to do word processing, spreadsheets, etc. You can learn more about Open Office here: http://www.openoffice.org/
For what it's worth (FWIW), I installed Ubuntu on an aging laptop and was very impressed. It is free and installed easily. It uses very little of your aging system's precious resources. If all you want to do is web browsing and e-mail, then you should consider Ubuntu for your aging laptop. This is covered in some detail in this ComputerWorld article. I should add that Ubuntu comes with Open Office already installed, so the machine is also equipped to do word processing, spreadsheets, etc. You can learn more about Open Office here: http://www.openoffice.org/
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Do not pay for AVG!
Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to be bullied into paying for AVG anti-virus. Those of you who are on AVG Free Edition 7.5, stay there until further notice. As already stated earlier, not even AVG knows the real answer - apparently - about when virus definitions will stop coming for 7.5. If it does stop on 6/25, I will advise you as soon as I know. Even if that should be on 6/25, there is no need to panic, and there is no need to pay!
If support for 7.5 does stop soon, we can all go to AVG Free Edition 8.0. The key word there is FREE! I have downloaded, installed, and uninstalled Version 8 several times on several of my machines. There is nothing to fear about Version 8. Yes, it's a little bigger, a little slower, and more intrusive, but it works and is far better than the fee-based alternatives like Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc.
Earlier posts herein tell you where you can download Version 8, so if you feel worried about all of this (you shouldn't) and somewhat adventurous, go ahead and download it and install it.
However, I recommend sitting tight for the moment with your version 7.5, as I am doing.
If support for 7.5 does stop soon, we can all go to AVG Free Edition 8.0. The key word there is FREE! I have downloaded, installed, and uninstalled Version 8 several times on several of my machines. There is nothing to fear about Version 8. Yes, it's a little bigger, a little slower, and more intrusive, but it works and is far better than the fee-based alternatives like Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc.
Earlier posts herein tell you where you can download Version 8, so if you feel worried about all of this (you shouldn't) and somewhat adventurous, go ahead and download it and install it.
However, I recommend sitting tight for the moment with your version 7.5, as I am doing.
Firefox Version 3
Firefox Version 3 has just become available. I don't normally get excited about products I haven't tested and used myself, but I am looking forward to this. It has been a long time coming, and there has been lots of hype about it.
If you are not a Firefox web browser user, perhaps you should give it a try. Firefox has been my browser of choice for several years now.
If you are not a Firefox web browser user, perhaps you should give it a try. Firefox has been my browser of choice for several years now.
Firefox Version 3 Reviewed by CNET
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
AVG - the saga continues
Like many of you I keep getting the pop-up informing me that support for AVG 7.5 will end on June 25. This could be true but it also could be a horrible case of creative marketing gone wrong. This is the latest from the AVG Free Forum:
Re: AVG 7.5 FREE, ending or not?
Posted by: michaelhd - AVG Team (IP Logged)
Date: May 29, 2008 01:54PM
Hello all,
Two points to discuss here.
Firstly, like all companies we have to develop a strategy to get our users past the end of old windows editions. MS will stop supporting these older operating systems and we need to move along and provide software that works best on the newer OSs.
Secondly we need to encourage users to upgrade to our newer products so that we can remain focused on a select number of products, and keep improving these products.
The result is ever-changing dates for releases, end of support dates, end of definition updates downloads etc, etc. its not chaos - but the different dates and changes do cause unwanted confusion.
As you will all remember from AVG 7... There will be a final date, then a REALLY final date. We will be fair to our customers and we will give due notice of changes that may seriously affect the users.
May 31st is VERY close. I can assure you that this date will not be the end of 7.5. However the 31.12.08 date is not cast in stone - though I consider it a solid date. AVG may bring termination of specific sevices or products forward, but if we do we will do so responsibly and by giving fair notice.
We will make official announcements HERE on this forum and on our corporate website, and resellers will be emailed directly.
I apologise for the differing information given by sales and by other sources, but I stand by the 31.12.08 date for now, and will put any changes here.
Thanks to all for bringing this matter up.
As you can see, even within the AVG corporate structure there is apparently division. This is not good for their company, nor is it good for us, the users.
I continue using AVG 7 and still see regular updates coming in. However, please read my May 24 post on this subject. Version 8 is solid and performs well, and you should not hesitate to download it and install it if you are uncomfortable with this whole scenario.
As an option, you can continue to watch here and I will give you the latest news. The installation of Ver 8 is not difficult, but Ver 7 continues to be my choice until I know more.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
PC World - How to Get and Keep Windows XP After June 30 2008
I continue to be skeptical about the future of Microsoft's Windows Vista, but encouraged by news articles such as this one from PC World that inform readers about loopholes, or ways in which one can still buy a new PC with Windows XP. This article also confirms earlier posts indicating that Windows XP will be supported through 2014. If I needed to buy a new PC today, I would try very hard to find and justify the cost of a machine that has the XP downgrade feature, as explained in this article. And I'd use XP, knowing that I had the ability to "upgrade" to Vista at a later date at no extra cost.
PC World - How to Get and Keep Windows XP After June 30 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
AVG
I had been running AVG Version 8, without the Link Scanner, for about 3 weeks, and had no issues with it. I could tell it was larger and less nimble than its predecessor, Version 7.5. The full system scan, run daily at 5 AM, was taking over 2 hours, vs. just around 1.5 hours on Version 7.5. For this reason and also thinking of all of you who may read this blog and are running version 7.5, I decided to go back to Version 7.5.
So this morning I uninstalled version 8, telling it to keep all of my settings (hoping that 7.5 might pick them up - it didn't!), and went to http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/ where I downloaded the last 7.5 version.
I installed 7.5 and it went smoothly as usual. I checked for updates and found one. I changed my schedule settings and also the e-mail settings to remove the e-mail certification, and am back in business. If the AVG Free Forum is correct, I will continue to get updates through 12/31/2008. I will post again in a couple of days to update this status.
If you are one of those who like to have the latest and greatest, than go right ahead and install Version 8. As I said I had no problems with it, although I ran it without the Link Scanner feature. It is bigger and a little slower, and although I did not measure it, I am sure it uses more system resources that version 7.5.
I intend to stay on 7.5 on my main machine (a desktop), and do some more testing with version 8 on my laptop.
So this morning I uninstalled version 8, telling it to keep all of my settings (hoping that 7.5 might pick them up - it didn't!), and went to http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/ where I downloaded the last 7.5 version.
I installed 7.5 and it went smoothly as usual. I checked for updates and found one. I changed my schedule settings and also the e-mail settings to remove the e-mail certification, and am back in business. If the AVG Free Forum is correct, I will continue to get updates through 12/31/2008. I will post again in a couple of days to update this status.
If you are one of those who like to have the latest and greatest, than go right ahead and install Version 8. As I said I had no problems with it, although I ran it without the Link Scanner feature. It is bigger and a little slower, and although I did not measure it, I am sure it uses more system resources that version 7.5.
I intend to stay on 7.5 on my main machine (a desktop), and do some more testing with version 8 on my laptop.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Time-Warner’s (TW) Roadrunner - Update
In my post of April 4, 2008, I wrote "The next level is called Road Runner High Speed Online and is their standard offering. Advertised speeds are 5 mbps download and 384 kbps upload."
I have tested out the speed of this service using speedtest.net and found that TW is indeed delivering what they promised. My download speeds are consistently very close to 5 mbps and my upload speeds are very close to the 384 kbps advertised.
So far I would have to say that I am pleased with this level of service, especially since I know that if I need better I can upgrade to the TW Turbo level and get 10mbps download speed.
If you are experiencing speeds from TW radically different from these, please let me know.
I have tested out the speed of this service using speedtest.net and found that TW is indeed delivering what they promised. My download speeds are consistently very close to 5 mbps and my upload speeds are very close to the 384 kbps advertised.
So far I would have to say that I am pleased with this level of service, especially since I know that if I need better I can upgrade to the TW Turbo level and get 10mbps download speed.
If you are experiencing speeds from TW radically different from these, please let me know.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Best Buy testing free e-waste recycling program
Here is some good news from the Best Buy company. Although it won't be piloted in our area, it's nonetheless a good thing, and let's hope it succeeds and we see it in all markets. This AP article is from money.cnn.com:
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Under pressure to help dispose some of the electronic waste it helped create, Best Buy Co. is testing a free program that will offer consumers a convenient way to ensure millions of obsolescent TVs, old computers and other unwanted gadgets don't poison the nation's dumps.
The trial, expected to be announced Monday, covers 117 Best Buy stores scattered across eight states that will collect a wide variety of electronic detritus at no charge, even if the Richfield, Minn.-based retailer didn't originally sell the merchandise.
The pilot stores are in Best Buy's Northern California, Minneapolis and Baltimore markets, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Depending on how the test goes, the nation's largest electronics retailer may expand the recycling program to all of its 922 stores in the United States.
"We want to take the time to learn if we can handle this before we go any further," said Best Buy spokeswoman Kelly Groehler. "We know the need is there and the waste stream is there. We think everyone needs to bear some responsibility for this _ consumers, retailers and manufacturers."
As it is, Best Buy's test is believed to be the most extensive free electronics recycling program to be offered by a major retailer so far.
Consumers will be able to bring in up to two gadgets per day at the participating Best Buy stores. The list of acceptable items includes computer processors, computer monitors and televisions with screens up to 32 inches. Console televisions, air conditioners, microwave ovens and other large appliances won't be accepted.
Best Buy agreed to set up the recycling trial after a social responsibility group, As You Sow, submitted a proposal that would have asked the company's shareholders to endorse an electronics recycling program. As You Sow withdrew the proposal after Best Buy indicated it was already exploring ways to expand its existing recycling programs.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Conrad MacKerron, director of As You Sow's corporate social responsibility program. He is hoping Best Buy's recycling trial will prompt other major electronics retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Circuit City Stores Inc. to set up similar programs.
The disposal of electronics waste has become a more prevalent problem in recent years as technology's relentless advances turn cutting-edge devices into relics every few years.
That has threatened to create environmental headaches because the old stuff contains lead and other hazardous materials that aren't supposed to be put in the trash.
All Best Buy stores already have been accepting some electronics waste _ such as cell phones, empty ink-jet cartridges and worn-out batteries _ for several years. The retailer also will haul away old appliances and television sets when customers pay to have a replacement delivered to their homes.
Many community groups, local governments and recycling specialists also offer to accept electronics waste, often for a fee.
But environmentalists are worried about what will happen as more consumers replace their existing TVs to prepare for the scheduled February 2009 shift from analog to digital broadcasting.
Although old TVs will still be able to receive the digital signals with the help of a converter, millions of consumers have simply been buying state-of-the-art TVs _ a trend that has helped boost Best Buy's profits.
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Under pressure to help dispose some of the electronic waste it helped create, Best Buy Co. is testing a free program that will offer consumers a convenient way to ensure millions of obsolescent TVs, old computers and other unwanted gadgets don't poison the nation's dumps.
The trial, expected to be announced Monday, covers 117 Best Buy stores scattered across eight states that will collect a wide variety of electronic detritus at no charge, even if the Richfield, Minn.-based retailer didn't originally sell the merchandise.
The pilot stores are in Best Buy's Northern California, Minneapolis and Baltimore markets, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Depending on how the test goes, the nation's largest electronics retailer may expand the recycling program to all of its 922 stores in the United States.
"We want to take the time to learn if we can handle this before we go any further," said Best Buy spokeswoman Kelly Groehler. "We know the need is there and the waste stream is there. We think everyone needs to bear some responsibility for this _ consumers, retailers and manufacturers."
As it is, Best Buy's test is believed to be the most extensive free electronics recycling program to be offered by a major retailer so far.
Consumers will be able to bring in up to two gadgets per day at the participating Best Buy stores. The list of acceptable items includes computer processors, computer monitors and televisions with screens up to 32 inches. Console televisions, air conditioners, microwave ovens and other large appliances won't be accepted.
Best Buy agreed to set up the recycling trial after a social responsibility group, As You Sow, submitted a proposal that would have asked the company's shareholders to endorse an electronics recycling program. As You Sow withdrew the proposal after Best Buy indicated it was already exploring ways to expand its existing recycling programs.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Conrad MacKerron, director of As You Sow's corporate social responsibility program. He is hoping Best Buy's recycling trial will prompt other major electronics retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Circuit City Stores Inc. to set up similar programs.
The disposal of electronics waste has become a more prevalent problem in recent years as technology's relentless advances turn cutting-edge devices into relics every few years.
That has threatened to create environmental headaches because the old stuff contains lead and other hazardous materials that aren't supposed to be put in the trash.
All Best Buy stores already have been accepting some electronics waste _ such as cell phones, empty ink-jet cartridges and worn-out batteries _ for several years. The retailer also will haul away old appliances and television sets when customers pay to have a replacement delivered to their homes.
Many community groups, local governments and recycling specialists also offer to accept electronics waste, often for a fee.
But environmentalists are worried about what will happen as more consumers replace their existing TVs to prepare for the scheduled February 2009 shift from analog to digital broadcasting.
Although old TVs will still be able to receive the digital signals with the help of a converter, millions of consumers have simply been buying state-of-the-art TVs _ a trend that has helped boost Best Buy's profits.
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