Concrete slabs or French drain for preventing water to infiltrate basement walls

Hi guys First of all I want to make it clear that I do understand the importance of waterproofing below the grade. This post is about a temporary solution till I decide what to do and I have the money and the time to do it. I was talking with a friend about my problem (see my other posts in this forum) and he suggested that actually I only have a surface problem and I should just set precast concrete slabs around the house. I am more inclined toward installing a french drain He is saying that most of the water will be diverted by the precast concrete slabs but I don't think so. In my opinion the french drain has the advantage of collecting the water and taking it away from the wall. This is about the grade level and slightly below it. The concrete slabs will probably divert the water away locally but when the water reaches the outer edge of the slab (the edge opposed to the wall) the water will just enter the soil and from there it can go back under the slab and make it's way to the wall but at a lower point As stadray remarked this is about a concrete brick foundation with possible cracks running from the above the grade window all the way down to the foundation.