Help with LapTop replacement

SuiDreams

What do you think re replacment laptop is this a suitable replacement. Thank you

Current specs

Windows 7
Pentium Dual Core T4400 2.20GHZ
4GB RAM
64 Bit
3D Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 1GB
Hard Drive 320GB

New Specs
Windows 8
Quad Core AMD A4-6210 1.8GHz
8GB RAM
64 BIT
AMD A4-6210 Quad-Core Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon(TM) R3 Graphics
Hard Drive 1TB

NiftyDigits

What's wrong with the current machine?

New specs aren't an improvement.

SuiDreams

NiftyDigits wrote: »

What's wrong with the current machine?

New specs aren't an improvement.

Hard drive seems to be failing so looking for a replacement. This was offered to me as a good replacement for what I have current laptop is just over 4 years old. Current graphics card is possibly over kill for what it's now used for but don't want something slower.

SuiDreams

I'll say no to this one in that case and see if I can find something more suitable.

victor2

Windows 8 isn't an improvement over Windows 7 either IMO. IE it's a step backwards!
Just replace the hard drive for now and see how Windows 10 looks once it's released and settled in.

SuiDreams

victor2 wrote: »

Windows 8 isn't an improvement over Windows 7 either IMO. IE it's a step backwards!
Just replace the hard drive for now and see how Windows 10 looks once it's released and settled in.

Is that Easy to do its an old Dell machine, don't think I have the original operating system discs anymore. When is the next version of windows being released? Do like this laptop wish it wasn't having problems.

victor2

SuiDreams wrote: »

Is that Easy to do its an old Dell machine, don't think I have the original operating system discs anymore. When is the next version of windows being released? Do like this laptop wish it wasn't having problems.

I don't know for sure, but would have thought you could take an image backup of the current disk (assuming it is working OK) and restore it onto a replacement drive, without losing any software or data. An external USB drive can be used for the image, and drives are not usually difficult to remove or re-install on a Dell laptop. What model is it?
Someone should be along who can help with more details...


Opinion is that Windows 10 will not be released until late 2015.

SuiDreams

victor2 wrote: »

I don't know for sure, but would have thought you could take an image backup of the current disk (assuming it is working OK) and restore it onto a replacement drive, without losing any software or data. An external USB drive can be used for the image, and drives are not usually difficult to remove or re-install on a Dell laptop. What model is it?
Someone should be along who can help with more details...


Opinion is that Windows 10 will not be released until late 2015.

Its a Studio 1745 with a few upgraded items

victor2

This tells you how to replace the drive, or you can find stuff on Youtube showing you how.

You can probably buy a replacement drive for around £60 from Dell or someone similar. I've used Macrium to image a disk before now, but am not sure if Windows 7 will need re-registering if copied to a new drive. Not a big problem so long as you have the original product key - and a drive to image to/from.

NiftyDigits

SuiDreams wrote: »

Its a Studio 1745 with a few upgraded items

Easy to replace hard drive and to reinstall the Operating System. You can buy the prerequisite disc via eBay. Here for less than £10. But you don't need to do so, as you can download the image for free.
It will be faster than when new, as we won't reinstall unnecessary software.
£60 is waaay too much for a replacement drive. Realistically from £35.
Examples

What makes you think that there is a problem with the hard drive?

Bear in mind that this laptop has space for two hard drives.
Many would recommend that you place an SSD in the main bay. That will speed things up considerably. You can place the old drive in the other bay and move data over as and when, before formatting and using as storage or replacing with a new drive.

Here is a video guide showing how to change the main drive.

SuiDreams

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Easy to replace hard drive and to reinstall the Operating System. You can buy the prerequisite disc via eBay. Here for less than £10. But you don't need to do so, as you can download the image for free.
It will be faster than when new, as we won't reinstall unnecessary software.
£60 is waaay too much for a replacement drive. Realistically from £35.
Examples

What makes you think that there is a problem with the hard drive?

Bear in mind that this laptop has space for two hard drives.
Many would recommend that you place an SSD in the main bay. That will speed things up considerably. You can place the old drive in the other bay and move data over as and when, before formatting and using as storage or replacing with a new drive.

Here is a video guide showing how to change the main drive.

The reason I think its the hard drive is it wouldn't boot up for over 24hrs, lights flashed on, then nothing, whole thing absolutely quite (no sound from the machine at all). and that not the first time it happened. Has the odd crash/freeze up as well.