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Taming a Windows-8 desk-top PC
John_Pierpoint
Posts: 8,391 Forumite
Taming a Windows-8 desk-top PC
Up to now I have been using a PC running Windows XP. As well as being an obsolete operating system, it has now been infected by a Trojan virus; AVG has [supposedly] identified it but cannot cure it.
By chance another elderly relative has a spare PC, following the death of herhusband.
This pre-ownedPC is less than 18 months old and has lain unused for almost 9 months [She has a laptop and a tablet.]
So far, I have done what I can to check it out:-
Windows8@2012.
Windows rating 4.4 [out of 10].
Intel( R ) Core (TM) i3-3220 CPU @ 3.30 GHz.
Installed Memory 4.00 GB (3.70 GB usable).
64bit OS X64.
No pen or touch input.
Disc drive: ST500 DM002 - 1BD 142
Supplier: DinoPC.com [an internet seller.]
*****- DC737 = Windows activation key 14/04/13
It is clear that the poor chap managed to do little more than set up the system.
The only personal data is family photos, plus initial plans for a holiday, followed by initial details of appointments for what turned out to be his terminal illness.
However the PC us set up with AVG (2013) [paid for version ?]
The Internet Service Provider is AOL [Memories of FreeServe, which deeply embedded itself into its host PC ?? ]
The lock screen [fortunately] seems not to be used as the screen of “tiles” is presented, but of course it welcomes me as a deceased male.
I think it was networked to the wife’s laptop, but seems happy to ignore themissing connection.
It has a tome called Microsoft Step by Step guide to Windows 8 supplied with it [Iguess this manual was used to set it up. But it covers tablets etc. as well.]
Thefirst steps look like:
1. Doing some sort of back-up.
2. Cleaning off AOL – my current ISP is TalkTalk.
3. Cleaning off AVG ready to install a free virus checker.
I would like to master this task myself and avoid carting the CPU (tower) down to the computer shop.
Any help and suggestions?
Up to now I have been using a PC running Windows XP. As well as being an obsolete operating system, it has now been infected by a Trojan virus; AVG has [supposedly] identified it but cannot cure it.
By chance another elderly relative has a spare PC, following the death of herhusband.
This pre-ownedPC is less than 18 months old and has lain unused for almost 9 months [She has a laptop and a tablet.]
So far, I have done what I can to check it out:-
Windows8@2012.
Windows rating 4.4 [out of 10].
Intel( R ) Core (TM) i3-3220 CPU @ 3.30 GHz.
Installed Memory 4.00 GB (3.70 GB usable).
64bit OS X64.
No pen or touch input.
Disc drive: ST500 DM002 - 1BD 142
Supplier: DinoPC.com [an internet seller.]
*****- DC737 = Windows activation key 14/04/13
It is clear that the poor chap managed to do little more than set up the system.
The only personal data is family photos, plus initial plans for a holiday, followed by initial details of appointments for what turned out to be his terminal illness.
However the PC us set up with AVG (2013) [paid for version ?]
The Internet Service Provider is AOL [Memories of FreeServe, which deeply embedded itself into its host PC ?? ]
The lock screen [fortunately] seems not to be used as the screen of “tiles” is presented, but of course it welcomes me as a deceased male.
I think it was networked to the wife’s laptop, but seems happy to ignore themissing connection.
It has a tome called Microsoft Step by Step guide to Windows 8 supplied with it [Iguess this manual was used to set it up. But it covers tablets etc. as well.]
Thefirst steps look like:
1. Doing some sort of back-up.
2. Cleaning off AOL – my current ISP is TalkTalk.
3. Cleaning off AVG ready to install a free virus checker.
I would like to master this task myself and avoid carting the CPU (tower) down to the computer shop.
Any help and suggestions?
0
Comments
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Copy the photos and any important data. You can do this with a USB Flash drive or DVD or external hard drive.
Take a note of the Windows 8 product key, if you don't have a disc with the key written on it.
You can use this utility to retrieve product keys before running the Factory restore.
Factory Restore/Clean Install.To reset your PC
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the top-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click Update and recovery, then tap or click Recovery.
Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Note
You'll be asked to choose whether you want to erase data quickly or thoroughly. If you choose to erase data quickly, some data might be recoverable using special software. If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes recovering data less likely.0 -
The most important thing for you to do is to get it upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 so get it all updated in Windows update and then go to the store to download the 8.1 upgrade.
8.1 is a complete rewrite of the OS (8 is NT6.2, 8.1 is NT6.3) so it is a big old file at nearly 4GB so it may take a while depending on your connection. It will rename your old Windows directory and install a new one but it does it all for you so you don't have to worry about anything. The one thing it does do is keep all of the data.
M$ did a good job of fixing a lot of the issues in 8 with 8.1 so I would really recommend doing this and after that you should find 8.1 a quick and clean OS.
Also OEM Windows 8 PCs don't have a product key on them as it is stored in the BIOS to my knowledge but you should be able to create recovery media from somewhere on the system which will do all the work for you if you do want to blank.0 -
Many thanks to both of you for your thoughts.
It is looking like tomorrow will be the first day of autumn with rain all day, so I will explore your suggestions then.
Foregive me if I seem tardy in responding as I am using a neighbour's connection and don't want to overstay my welcome.0 -
John_Pierpoint wrote: »Many thanks to both of you for your thoughts.
It is looking like tomorrow will be the first day of autumn with rain all day, so I will explore your suggestions then.
Foregive me if I seem tardy in responding as I am using a neighbour's connection and don't want to overstay my welcome.
Follow the suggestions in order of posting. Take details of product keys, back up data, Factory Reset and then upgrade to 8.1 Update 1.
If it is a DINO PC, the Product Key may be on the side of the case.0 -
Be aware that once you have updated to 8.1, you will lose the ability to create a rescue media set.
I found this out myself.
Also, if you don't have an install DVD and the installed version is an RTM build rather than a retail version, you will need to find and download an iso of the RTM build (HP have one available).Never Knowingly Understood.
Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)
3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)0 -
Be aware that once you have updated to 8.1, you will lose the ability to create a rescue media set.
I found this out myself.
Also, if you don't have an install DVD and the installed version is an RTM build rather than a retail version, you will need to find and download an iso of the RTM build (HP have one available).
Retail and RTM are the same. What is important is the SKU.
You should still be able to create Recovery Media even after the upgrade.0 -
NiftyDigits wrote: »Copy the photos and any important data. You can do this with a USB Flash drive or DVD or external hard drive.
Take a note of the Windows 8 product key, if you don't have a disc with the key written on it.
You can use this utility to retrieve product keys before running the Factory restore.
Factory Restore/Clean Install.
Ah well it is not raining here yet, infact the sun is shining and the temperature is still 20 something.
Would I be right in thinking that this utility can be downloaded to my neighbours PC, which is not Windows 8 but "Vista" and then taken round to my place on a "memory stick" - specifically a 32GB "SanDisk" about two years old ?0 -
Maybe get an external SSD for your backup and use it for daily use when you're up and running. I tried AVG but it wasn't for me, how do you find it?0
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John_Pierpoint wrote: »Ah well it is not raining here yet, infact the sun is shining and the temperature is still 20 something.
Would I be right in thinking that this utility can be downloaded to my neighbours PC, which is not Windows 8 but "Vista" and then taken round to my place on a "memory stick" - specifically a 32GB "SanDisk" about two years old ?
Eighteen months old and running Vista??
Yes, you can put that utility on a USB drive.
Have you backed up the important data on your XP machine? Perhaps we can run a Factory Restore on both machines at the same time.
Is that the only 'memory stick that you have?0 -
NiftyDigits wrote: »You should still be able to create Recovery Media even after the upgrade.
Having just done a restore on my desktop, I can confirm this is true, I did have to download 8.1 again though.0
This discussion has been closed.
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