Buying a new Home PC - advice needed please

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gordy7
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#1852142 24-Aug-2017 21:24

Sounds like the computer needs a bit of a dung out.

- Clearing browser history.

- Running Ccleaner and removing unwanted stuff and doing a registry cleanup.

- Maybe running a malware removal program.

- Making sure Windows is up to date.

- and as someone else has noted.... a good blow out of the fan and vents.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

ChristineNZL

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#1852150 24-Aug-2017 21:45

Thanks. We will try some more of those. Hubby has done quite a lot of them already. The blow out seems to be about the only one he hasn't done other than replacing things.

Gordy7

gordy7
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#1852151 24-Aug-2017 21:53

Reading your original post again, it looks like you are quite prepared to spend some money.

For $1500 to $1800 (or even the $1300) you would certainly have a much higher performance computer.

- no need to analyse your old computer.

- Less technical hassles.

- a clean machine ready to go.

- no need for a novice upgrade :-)

So it comes back to deciding on a computer... others would be better to advise than me.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

ChristineNZL

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#1852189 25-Aug-2017 07:03

Thanks Gordy,

I guess what we really don't want to do it spend too much on this one and still have it die. It looks like it is close to $200 to get Windows 10 plus whatever all the other fixes would cost. At the moment the machine is running fine - I didn't even have to wait for Chrome to open up this morning which is a first! So maybe we'll hang off in the meantime and try some of the easier fixes (although as I said we've done the majority of them), back up everything, move as much stuff off it as possible to clear up some space and see how it goes. In the mean time I'll also make notes of what we should be looking for if we do need to replace it and keep at eye out for good deals.

Everyone's help has been greatly appreciated as always.

ChristineNZL

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#1852193 25-Aug-2017 07:16

Oh I spoke too soon. Literally one minute after posting that I went and looked at a different website and everything froze again and I had to reboot. I only have one webpage open and Outlook Express.

So if we replace it the main things we want are storage and speed. The only person who plays games on it is my 13 year old who plays Overwatch and occasionally Sims. So a computer that can handle those would be good. We have an all-in-one but are happy to get something different it just seems like that's what the more traditional stores sell these days. Ideally I'd prefer to spend under $1500.

xpd

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#1852232 25-Aug-2017 08:49

If its currently running Windows 7, it should upgrade to 10 for free, just need to download the installer from Microsoft.

XPD / Gavin

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Gordy7

gordy7
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#1852290 25-Aug-2017 09:02

Some other things you might try with your old computer:

Task Manager... Right click on the task bar and select the performance tab... see what various things are doing...

Speccy... Do a Google search... It is a Windows app from Piriform.... Run it and look at the storage and SMART characteristic of the hard drive... should all be good.

Maybe you should be using Google Chrome for a browser... Internet explorer may have problems.

Running Windows 10 and the games... Windows does have a compatibility mode which may work.

I believe that you can still download and Install Windows 10 for free... You may be able to use/Activate Windows 10 with your earlier Windows Key... or have some Accessibility option running in your old Windows... If you don't or can't Activate Windows 10... there will be some limited/non-usable Personality options...

Good luck...

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

ChristineNZL

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#1852293 25-Aug-2017 09:06

Thanks. We have Windows 8.1 apparently. Google Chrome is the browser I use. I think my husband has done almost everything mentioned other than taking the back of the computer off. We'll try and clear up some more space by moving all the photos to an external hard drive and deleting what else we can.

xpd

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#1852336 25-Aug-2017 09:44

(Shudder) Def upgrade to 10 ;)

XPD / Gavin

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#1852348 25-Aug-2017 10:01

Just did a Google search for the oldest Core i3 processor on a Wiki web site... Was first released on Q1/2010... so the computer maybe old but not that old!

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

rb99

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#1852407 25-Aug-2017 11:03

Just as a general note, it might be worth remembering, should you decide to put an SSD in you're existing computer and it doesn't help, you can, of course, just take it out again and add it to (almost) anything new you buy.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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linw

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#1852583 25-Aug-2017 14:10

What I would do first:-

Download Malwarebytes and ADWCleaner from bleepingcomputer.com. Install and run Malwarebytes and let it clean anything it finds. I would not be surprised to find many PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). Keep running Malwarebytes till it finds nothing. Then run ADWCleaner as it often finds some stuff MBAM misses.

These actions can make a HUGE difference to performance. It is useless looking at other things until you know your comp is free of crap.

Next, you can still upgrade this comp to win 10 for free. I have done this recently. MS is probably still keen to get all comps on 10.

Now, after spending nothing, you can re-evaluate your options.

If it is still 'cranky' you might need further skilled assistance.

If you give your daughter a malfunctioning comp, it is not much of a gift!

But, I have to add, when I do this work, I always take a full image of the disk drive to give a fall back position in case something goes wrong. The image virtually never gets used, but.......

ChristineNZL

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#1852713 25-Aug-2017 16:19

Thanks. We've already done Malwarebytes and some cleaner thing and something else (Pil...something). We'd only be giving it to our daughter instead of getting rid of it. We have no plans for her to get her own computer (other than her school laptop) so it would be a bonus for as long as it lasts. Anyway, we'll look in to the back of it to see if it needs a clean plus see if we can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, clear some more photos and files on to our external hard drive and see how it goes. It's still good more than it is bad so hopefully it can last a bit longer. We think we've had it for about 5 years.

1101

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#1852717 25-Aug-2017 16:29

It could be that the Hard Drive is starting to die. That would explain slow speed & freezing/crashes .
If not it needs a wipe & reload . You can probably do that yourself , just backup data first
HP's often have a recovery option that wipes & restores to as per new .

SSD's tend to be smaller in capacity, so any reasonably priced SSD simply wont be big enough given your current Hard Drive is near full.
SSD install into an allinone isnt allways so simple. Some All in ones simply arnt designed for SSD's & really need to be hacked in there
the HD cradle isnt designed for a SSD's small size : from experience :-)

You wont really be needing 16G of RAM in a new all in one PC. 8G should be enough. Its not a high spec system anyway, so no need for 16G .
If you really need 16G RAM, then an all in one is not the right choice for you.

Finally, the old style PC box + Monitor is usually better value for money, more reliable, easier/cheaper to repair or upgrade, than Allin1
Get a PC box with Monitor. :-)

Gordy7

gordy7
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#1852731 25-Aug-2017 16:41

Maybe your old computer is like this inside.....

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

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