Looking to buy new computer

closed

The OP has W7 on at least one machine.

chunter wrote: »

... and hours of service packs and windows updates...
in less than an hour indeed. Don't be driving today. you're still over the limit..

Sober, but thanks for your concern.


I really don't know why this is raised time and time again as a reason not to factory restore, the alternative is to go out and buy a new pc (and do windows updates) or carry on struggling with a machine that's not working properly. Factory restore/reinstall is the obvious quick fix.

updates can be done at leisure, in the background, overnight, they don't have to be watched

pennypincher2013

laptop is more annoying than a big problem but desktop pc is shutting down by itself like it's not getting any or enough electricity to keep on. I suspect this is a hardware problem so doubt factory restore will help.
Laptop is so old, I will have to hunt out original discs.

pennypincher2013

bluesnake wrote: »

I too would skip 7 and go to 8.1, or linux - if you are a real pennypincher

I try my best

LouiseTopp

Hi penny picher and happy new year. I am with Xp (for now) but I am going to going with 8.1 because it still has the start bar as with 8 it doesn't. Would anyone recommend 8.1 please?

NiftyDigits

pennypincher2013 wrote: »

laptop is more annoying than a big problem but desktop pc is shutting down by itself like it's not getting any or enough electricity to keep on. I suspect this is a hardware problem so doubt factory restore will help.
Laptop is so old, I will have to hunt out original discs.

Brand name and full model number?

bluesnake

LouiseTopp wrote: »

Hi penny picher and happy new year. I am with Xp (for now) but I am going to going with 8.1 because it still has the start bar as with 8 it doesn't. Would anyone recommend 8.1 please?

Yes, 8.1 is ok....... providing your hardware is new enough to support it.

Xp was small and light weight compared to 8.1. Xp came on 1cd while 8.1 is a dvd, or two if your version needs the extra language packs. Also many people now use the faster x64 chips, rather than old x32.

I would do a bit of reseach as you may end up buying a new PC that had 8.1 pre-installed

Jivesinger

bluesnake wrote: »

Yes, 8.1 is ok....... providing your hardware is new enough to support it.

Xp was small and light weight compared to 8.1. Xp came on 1cd while 8.1 is a dvd, or two if your version needs the extra language packs. Also many people now use the faster x64 chips, rather than old x32.

I would do a bit of reseach as you may end up buying a new PC that had 8.1 pre-installed

If the OP is upgrading an existing PC, then you can use Microsoft's Upgrade Assistant to check whether it will run Windows 8.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-download-online-faq

This is useful although not 100% guaranteed (it did miss things when I tried it on one PC).

Note that Microsoft recommend upgrading from XP to Windows 8 first, then from there to 8.1, although I'm not 100% sure why.

But you can still find the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade in the shops for less than the 8.1 (non-Pro) Upgrade, so it's not a bad way to go.

The caveat is that the upgrade to 8.1 is a big download.