computer program help needed

I'm a total computer illeterate. I'm looking for a cheap and simple inventory program, that will run on an older laptop with Windows XP.
I have a ton of car parts. some new, most old/used, 99% mopar. I'm in the process of organizing them, and would like to have a computer inventory, that can show price paid, when/where purchased, and location, such as building, and bin/shelf.
Any recomendations. Thanks.

Charrlie_S said:

I'm a total computer illeterate. I'm looking for a cheap and simple inventory program, that will run on an older laptop with Windows XP.
I have a ton of car parts. some new, most old/used, 99% mopar. I'm in the process of organizing them, and would like to have a computer inventory, that can show price paid, when/where purchased, and location, such as building, and bin/shelf.
Any recomendations. Thanks.

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Charlie, for building spread sheets to do a computerized inventory you want an Excel program. There are sites that you can go to on the internet and down load free copies of Excel that are compatible with XP, but in your case I would not do that. In todays world I would not download from any site unless my anti virus and operating system was up-to-date. The problem with your XP operating system is that Microsoft no longer provides updates and patches for XP, so it is very vulnerable. Hackers and internet thiefs look for operating systems like XP to exploit. If you have an up to date anti virus, you may be OK. But I don't know that there are anti virus programs that support XP,,.

In your case I would look for a local independent second hand computer store or computer repair store, they may have a copy of XP - Excel they could load on your computer.

If you do get Excel, I would be more than happy to help you get started using it.

Any version of Excel will work. You can still buy CDs on ebay etc.
Office 95 is probably the newest version you can buy that you own outright and completely. It should include excel - just ask or be sure its a version that does (Pro?). don't pay more than $25. Or you can go back further. I don't see any real improvements between Excel 5.0 and Excel in 95 or newer.

That said, you might be just as well off with a 3x5 card system, perhaps with book or a spreadsheet.

Spreadsheet will let you sort or group any column you want. More advanced programing can be done with 'macros'. Not too hard to learn those. And that's where the vulnerbility is if you shared spread sheets. Bad guys use the macro function to hide commands. Don't use or open an unknown spreadsheet or spreadsheet template.

It sounds like what you really would like is a database program for inventory. To do that yourself is a big jump in skill level. Bet there is some older ones out there, might even print index cards and such.

Open Office is a free program downloadable from an honest uninfected website, runs on XP and has a spreadsheet program almost exactly like Excel that does all the same things.
www.openoffice.org

(They also have online support communities if a person needs help.)

Charrlie_S said:

I'm a total computer illeterate. I'm looking for a cheap and simple inventory program, that will run on an older laptop with Windows XP.
I have a ton of car parts. some new, most old/used, 99% mopar. I'm in the process of organizing them, and would like to have a computer inventory, that can show price paid, when/where purchased, and location, such as building, and bin/shelf.
Any recomendations. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Notepad, built into the windows program

Excel or an equal equivalent. I use Excel to create spreadsheets to track my ammo. By some add to it, shoot some subtract from it, keeps me somewhat organized as to what I have on hand.

I'm sure it will work well for you.