home access laptop help

kate0112

I've got one of these Home Access laptops from Comet-an ACER which is running increasingly slowly and keeps freezing, crashing, locking out websites in a perfunctory and irrational manner and this evening has failed to save a quantity of coursework.
I am beginning to think that it is more trouble than it is worth and would like at the very least to disable/remove NetIntelligence and possibly install Ubuntu/Linux, Firefox etc.
Btw-I can't find my original activation key/ parental password.

Wannie_2

kate0112 wrote: »

I've got one of these Home Access laptops from Comet-an ACER which is running increasingly slowly and keeps freezing, crashing, locking out websites in a perfunctory and irrational manner and this evening has failed to save a quantity of coursework.
I am beginning to think that it is more trouble than it is worth and would like at the very least to disable/remove NetIntelligence and possibly install Ubuntu/Linux, Firefox etc.
Btw-I can't find my original activation key/ parental password.

Probably best just to run a Clean Install of Windows 7, wiping out all of the rubbish installed.
This will involve a clean install using a Windows disc and downloading the Drivers from the ACER website.
Will run much better than before.
You may like to add an extra RAM module to speed things up further. I recommend at least another GB module to take it to a minimum of 2GB RAM. Pay no more than £10. Example here
Full model number and version of Operating System?

I'm guessing Acer Extensa 5235 901G16Mn Windows 7 Professional?

Drivers to be found here

With a clean install and the extra RAM, it will appear a different machine altogether. We'll talk you through it if you need assistance.

rmg1

I had the same problem with NetIntelligence on my neighbours laptop.
You can retrieve the uninstall password after you've had the laptop fro 12 months (it's part of the HA contract).
After the 12 months is up, you can log on to the NetIntelligence website and it will give you the password for uninstalling.

candtalan

[QUOTE possibly install Ubuntu/Linux, Firefox etc.
Btw-I can't find my original activation key/ parental password.[/QUOTE]

If it boots from a live CD then trying Ubuntu is very easy even without messing about with the existing installation. Unless you *know* it will not boot from CD or Live CD, then download Ubuntu etc
www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download
I suggest the 10.04 version just now, but its your choice.
use it as a 'live' CD to test the machine etc

Neil49

Here is a summary of a review for this laptop from Tech Radar -

"The Toshiba Satellite Pro L450-13R is a usable machine, but unless your performance requirements are anything but basic, then you're going to find the machine slow to use due to its low powered components."

I think that goes a long way to explaining why it's so slow - it is slow!