PC EXPERTS! Need HELP/tech info: Trying to get a job for a homeless guy - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #1 07-12-2010, 03:28 PM

Long explanation in a few words: A homeless guy needs to get his picked-out-of-the-trash laptop to work fast enough with minimum software to create resumes and get a job.

I bought him a wireless card so he can work in Panera or other places with WiFi and the neighborhood watch has "warned" me when they thought they found him sleeping on my patio. I told them he was the handy-man taking a break.

Right now, he's making $20/day picking up bottles while I try to get him some kind of veteran's benefits.

In the meantime, I need to know all the simple tricks and settings to get him PC to work as fast as possible.

Background: He has MS Word earlier version (from me) and the hardeware store owner will accept his e-mails and print his resumes. He has sent out six last week.

OK, what are the best Windows settings to get the max from an old PC? Desktop is almost blank, I think the RAM is 512k it's maybe a Pentium III early version. HD is 4GB, that's all believe it or not. He has floppies from me too.

Is there stuff I could delete from Windows to speed things up?

All advice gratefully received.

#2 07-12-2010, 03:34 PM

Would he be better off with a free email account accessible from the local library?

amosfella · #3 07-12-2010, 03:58 PM

Try puppy linux

strelnik · #4 07-12-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Would he be better off with a free email account accessible from the local library?

Here the libraries require ID that shows you are a homeowner/dependent/bona-fide student. He lives in a dumpster and that doesn't qualify.

No really, he does, I used to leave him food and bottled water there.
He won't go to a shelter, says people stole from him there. He wants to earn some money and have a job.

There's a li mit to how much he can do around my house before the cops come over. Now you see why I bought the retirement house.

okyoureabeast · #5 07-12-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

Here the libraries require ID that shows you are a homeowner/dependent/bona-fide student. He lives in a dumpster and that doesn't qualify.

No really, he does, I used to leave him food and bottled water there.
He won't go to a shelter, says people stole from him there. He wants to earn some money and have a job.

There's a li mit to how much he can do around my house before the cops come over. Now you see why I bought the retirement house.

That's terrible. They'll give library cards to the homeless here in PA. All you need is to tell them your social security number.

Are there any halfway houses in Michigan? Maybe see if the VA can help him get back on his feet.

Computer wise do this:

Start -> run - type msconfig

A window will pop up. Go to services and turn off "Themes". That should help as well. Also go to the display settings and turn off every graphical gizmo possible. That should help speed up some things.

JEBalles · #6 07-12-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

No really, he does, I used to leave him food and bottled water there. He won't go to a shelter, says people stole from him there. He wants to earn some money and have a job..

Not to be rude, but what exactly could they be stealing from him? His bottles? His clothes? He's homeless, sounds like this guy might be a bit off his rocker, so there's a low chance of his retaining a job. Do you know why he became homeless in the first place?

Not trying to dissuade you from what you're doing, it's a selfless thing to do, but you should try to think of the most helpful thing you can do for him.

As for the comp (which could be good for him to have for just about any reason) I'd second amosfella. If there's enough space, that is. I just know that my brother put Linux Ubuntu on our old slower-than-molasses toshiba and it at least made it bearable.

BobK · #7 07-12-2010, 04:45 PM

Barely enough to run XP, better to run WIN2000. Load minimum possible with each program. Load nothing that he doesnt need. That 4 gig will go fast.

TnBob · #8 07-12-2010, 04:51 PM

WIN98 would work nice with 512K.

On the vet side, here is the overview for the new PTSD rules and regs.
http://va.gov/PTSD_QA.pdf

Yes, unbelievable as it sounds ... the very recently touted new program is already in print.

If you have the time, take him to the nearest VA facility and sit with him and the Patient Advocate. Barring that there should be a Veterans Service Officer somewhere in your county.

Id start with the main VA number as there are a lot of understanding vets that answer the main line. 1-800-827-1000

If I can be of more help, PM me

JollyRoger · #9 07-12-2010, 04:59 PM

I am sadly being reminded of a friend of mine who was killed by a homeless person he tried to help. They are homeless because they can't cope with the world, and sometimes it is hard to see the mental illness in people. Be careful.

Just use your own address to get him a library log in, and drop him off there, that's where most of them are anyway. Just make sure that the login information doesn't include anything he can use to check out books, he'll be down at Half Priced Books trading in a grand's worth of books for two dollars worth of wine in no time. Just about every library system in the country requires an 11 digit number to login, that's all you need to give him.

He hasn't pawned that PC yet?

amosfella · #10 07-12-2010, 05:41 PM

Puppy linux installed takes about 60-70 MB, and is fairly full functioning.