The Computer Corner
By Charles Miller, April 20, 2007

Just say no to CDs

Last week in this column I recommended that you avoid using the CD that comes with a new digital camera. Understandably, some Atención readers are probably not completely comfortable with my suggestion to ignore the manufacturer’s instructions.

Equally understandable is the dilemma posed by not knowing who can be trusted. I do not lightly recommend that you avoid any manufacturer’s instructions, but I stand by that recommendation. Software provided with most new digital cameras is not essential to its use, and in some cases can really muck up your computer.

While on the subject of CDs to be avoided, there is another type of install disk I urge everyone to avoid like the plague. This disk is the setup CD provided by any Internet Service Provider.

Anyone who has signed up for internet service has probably seen one of these disks. Most internet providers have their own company disk. Earthlink has them; AT&T uses them, as does Telmex. When you sign up for internet service, they give you the disk and tell you to install it on your computer.

Under the best of circumstances this is entirely unnecessary, and in the worst, it can be an unmitigated disaster. Even the tech guys who work for the company will sometimes tell you to dump their install CD.

I believe a recent experience of mine is typical. When I popped an ISP´s install CD into the computer, what came up was a bunch of programs you would not really want to install. These included an out-of-date Adobe Acrobat Reader, an old Apple QuickTime, and Java runtime about two or three versions back. Installing these outdated versions of the programs on top of the already installed newer versions is an invitation to trouble.

The CD also included changing my home page and tampering with other personal settings I would prefer that they had left alone.

The problem is not just limited to out-of-date software. The opposite situation can actually exist when the software on the CD is up-to-date and a user has an antique computer. A six-year-old computer running six-year-old software is often still usable and the old hardware and old software are a good match for each other. If the setup disk installs the latest version of some program such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, it could conceivably render an old computer utterly unusable.

Your ISP is only trying to help by providing the setup CD, and this would be okay if every one of their customers used the same kind of computer and everyone bought a new computer every two years. We all know this is not the case, and so a single setup CD is not appropriate for everyone.

Nothing on the CD is needed, or should be needed to set up your broadband internet access.

In the case of broadband internet provided by cable, you should be able to simply plug your computer into the modem using an ethernet cable and your internet connection will be established.

In the case of DSL or dial-up, you will need to enter your username and password in Windows Network Setup Wizard, but all the software you need is included in Windows XP and none of the software on the ISPs CD is needed.

For at least 90 percent of all users, the safest course of action when you receive one of these CDs from your internet provider is to say “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-101-8528 or email FAQ@SMAguru.com.