Where is best to go for new desktop advice?

jenniewb

I am looking for a new desktop, (will be a christmas gift so still time to wait/plan).

I currently have a Dell Dimension C521 and its basicly too slow. It also has corrupt this and that and many other things, doesn't do sound input via microphone (again corrupt)...its just a joke! Also tells me it has no space when checks reveal that infact it has only half the space used up. Then there are the constant "windows is not responding" or "oops! Chrome snapped" depending on what I have tried to use. I just seem to get problem after problem and just now tried toget some advice on a new computer from Dell...really beggers belief as to how bad the sales custmer care was! Dell will not be an option for me.

Where is best to go for inpartial computer advice? Being that I will need the best price I am thinking its best to go with a chain-company as they would be able to offer this. Feels wrong to get loads of advice from an independant store and then go off to a chain for a cheaper price deal.

PC world doesn't seem well liked here! Is there anywhere else?

Am ignoring Which? reports which have Dell most highly rated for customer service, seriously, if this is right then we're all doomed!

SteveJH200

I've always found Dell computers to be quite good. Never had to deal with their Customer Service though. The problems with your current Dell are software related so a reload of the operating system and drivers from the Dell web site would bring it back to new.

Your independant store may be a little dearer but if they are local then it's not far to go for warranty work. There have been quite a few recent posts asking the same question as you so maybe a search will give you a few pointers.

Wannie_2

Probably just need more RAM and a Factory Restore. You could do it all yourself for £20 or less.

How much RAM is installed currently?

closed

15 minutes doing a backup and factory restore will probably solve all your problems

or follow previous advice and post hijackthis log, installed ram.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3235692

moonrakerz

What do you want to do with this PC ?

If you just want a general purpose, internet browsing, e-mailing, "Word" coping PC - then to be honest, there really isn't much difference between any of them.

To be even more honest, DON'T be frightened away from PC World (or anywhere else) by the bad reports on here. For every bad report you see on here (and some of their after-sales service is pretty dire !) there are thousands of people who have had a good financial deal and no problems with the hardware.

My last 3 PCs have come from PC World, purely on the basis of price (usually a special offer/end of range), all different makes. Never had a problem of any sort.

The present one is just over a year old. I wanted a reasonable amount of RAM, for dealing with a lot of large photographs, to get a machine with this increased spec increased the price of the machine by several hundred pounds. I bought the "bog standard" machine and bought more RAM (not from PC World) for about £50 - problem solved.

Just about any shop will NOT give you impartial advice - try and decide what you want - then just do a "price hunt".

DCFC79

Id try a reinstall first to see whether it would help which wont cost anything to try.

grizzly1911

As moonrakerz says take a look in PC world, take their advice have a play note down the specs you like and then shop around see what else is around.

I am sure you will be able to "grade" your wishlist against budget quite easily.

I have a Dell that has needed some attention and extra RAM but goes pretty well after 5 years. "Closed" has helped too.

I also have 2 HPs which are probably 3 years old (older teenagers but kept clean by me) and they are no where near as good IMO.

jenniewb

Wannie wrote: »

Probably just need more RAM and a Factory Restore. You could do it all yourself for £20 or less.

How much RAM is installed currently?

This I have done more times then I can count. I've only had the computer for about 4 years yet have done a factory restore at least 10 times, it never improves.

I have tried and tried over, the microphone issue cannot be resolved and other hardware items can also not be installed as a result of the same corrupt issue. I have gone to the websites suggested by the computer and still things cannot be installed due to a corrupt message. I wasn't aware of warrenties or such when I first got this computer, assumed as it was outside of 30 days I was not covered, Dell really ripped me off: told me it was a hardware issue but that they could not repair it for free and I'd need to have them fix it by sending it back: at my expense for work and sending it to them. I had thought this was covered in the year insurance they had almost forced me into buying but it turns out that insurance was only for the speakers, mouse and keyboard and not the hardware on the computer.

Its also too slow for me. Starting up the control panel for example takes a good 30 minutes.....then there are the "windows is not responding" messages (again more times I can count). I have had to learn alot very quickly which has shown me that errors I am getting are way above and beyond anything I can fix, that there are areas of the computer that simply are not working.

The RAM? Its 1GB.

jenniewb

Just to add, this computer has been getting slowe and having more frequent technical software errors (not responding messages which used to happen every few days now happen about 10-15 times a day, and I only use the computer once a day maybe twice at weekends!) I also have things freeze on me for about 5 minutes about twice a day.

-I have tried hijack this before, many times and showed up nothing.
-I have done malware scanning things many times, gave up having it on my computer last month infact as it hadn't shown up anything for the past year and I didn't want to repurchase (yes I have had the free version before also but was assuming if there were still issues that maybe it was just the malware not picking anything up so went ahead and paid!)
-Also have virus protection, do scans daily.
-Defragging I do monthly.
-I have wiped and started again many many times over and never makes any difference. Computer seems fast for about a day before I reload IE or Chrome (tried either) and then just seems to decide to start p*ssing around hovering with that stupid little blue circular thing.....(sorry, just get frustrated just thinking about it!)

Called Dell, told me I'd need to pay for a whole load of things and that it wasn't the software (they did a reinstall for me remotely twice on two separate occasions). They tried to sell me a whole load of things which I just didn't have the money for so I didn't take them up on that.

I need to use the computer just for general daily things: internet, running 2-3 applications at the same time (ie WMP and itunes and IE) for not freezing, for watching streamed programmes, for downloading normal amounts of music faster then it does (its the recognising I have put in a CD which takes the longest, can take up to 20 mins for it just to 'click' that I have infact placed a CD into the driver). I like to use graphics to look at and create images as I have studied art and continue to be interested in the subject. I also have a heart rate monitor which I am supposed to be able to transfer data to the computer with. Corrupt stuff on my computer is always the message I am getting: it transfers data via a microphone (which also does not work). The model is the Polar F7 if anyone was wondering.
I don't play games, I don't upload videos, I don't use skype and I don't run a business. I'm just an average user but am very dependant on the computer and use daily.

From what I can work out, the computer I have is not fit for what I need it to do. I'd go as far as to say not fit for purpose but I'd guess it could be useful for my father who will be ending up with the machine when this one is replaced, he only uses email and google searches things.

santer_2

Have a look at the options for build your own, this has the advantage of getting a good case, motherboard, CPU, power supply to start and an adequate amount of RAM, and then adding RAM, graphics and sound cards if and when needed.

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/pcs/

Or a ready made system here

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/home/

Decide on a specification and then post it here to see if anyone can offer advise on improving it and possibly the price, PC Specialist and Novatech will also offer advice if you e-mail them with a list of things you would need the PC for.

keith1950

Hi, just to clarify things....have you done a factory restore or have you just used system restore ??

Have you used the recovery disc that you received with the computer?