Advice about refurbished laptop, please.

Retired_at_55

that wrote: »

There is a little bit we have not told you, we left out the elephant in the room. "take ages to 'load' and often the little circle kept going round and round for what seemed to be a long time". Your helper should have immediately thought spyware and crud, not new PC time. If you do not know, and surmised that this is your only way out, well that is fair enough. Only when you mess up do you grow.

Lazy bar-stewards like me would put on malwabytes, cccleaner, and delete cache, spyware and temp files - guess about an 80% fix, and it would run faster, with little physical work.

the next step up would be to wipe the hard disk, as the not so lazy EveryWhere stated.

Finally the peak performance would be a new ssd drive and a software re-install.

Most people know and have performed these steps to varying degrees on their own PC their own PC at home, nearly as common as buttering bread, and that should have been their advice, before recommending a 'new PC'

Thanks very much, that. I'm going to print a copy of your reply and, when I have time, go through the steps, one by one - as carefully as I can - until I understand and learn. I don't think I have any 'origional' disk for Windows - but, once I have time, I'll have a good look. I'll be extra careful with the refurbished Dell one when it comes.

I found the You Tube link about installing an SSD interesting. I am eager to learn but would be a nightmare student!

Thank again.

Retired at 55

EveryWhere

You have neglected supply the model number underneath, as requested.
I recommend that you swap the internal hard drive for an SSD anyway. It's really not difficult with your Toshiba and you have the video guide.

It will be good practice and you'll have a useful machine as a back-up.

But before you do that, you need to create your Recovery DVDs. This is a Windows 7 installation DVD, replete with all necessary Drivers(and unnecessary bloatware) that you can create with your Toshiba device. You'll need a few blank DVD-R or DVD+R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVEnH6fOfxI

Come back with the model number.

It might appear daunting, but in this case it's all relatively straightforward. It would be difficult to mess anything up and even then it can only be something like losing the screws.

[Deleted User]

EveryWhere wrote: »

You have neglected supply the model number underneath, as requested.

Do you realise how you come across on here? Who are you to speak to the OP in a patronising and arrogant way?

I'm sure Retired at 55 is more than capable of swapping a HD out. However, are they going to have the tools to do it? Are they going to know what drive to buy, where to buy it from? What happens if there are installation issues with the DVD and Windows fails to boot properly? What about all the data on the old drive that might need migrating?

Retired at 55 - if you want to experiment on your old laptop then you should! Its good fun - I've built loads of PC's and learned a lot about common issues that cause them to slow down.

If you want less hassle though, just buy a new machine, reset your old one (follow the instructions in Windows) and perhaps give it to charity or sell it on Ebay.

Good luck!

that

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

Thanks very much, that. I'm going to print a copy of your reply and, when I have time, go through the steps, one by one - as carefully as I can - until I understand and learn. I don't think I have any 'origional' disk for Windows - but, once I have time, I'll have a good look. I'll be extra careful with the refurbished Dell one when it comes.

With your new PC, you should make a usb recovery drive, or cd. Keep it in a safe place and dont loose it, Make more than one if you wish
https://www.howto-connect.com/create-usb-recovery-drive-in-windows-10-step-by-step/

The next thing you should learn is how to backup and restore, which there are loads of posts in this forum.

Microsofts free a/v is more than adequate, and there is no need to buy antivirus.

I would suggest installing the free LibreOffice as a word processor and spreadsheet suite. Also I would recommend getPaint.net for pictures and photo stuff.

An odd program it the MS free panorama stitcher, but personally have found it handy on more than one occasion https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/computational-photography-applications/image-composite-editor/

For electronic books the free Calibre trader is great https://calibre-ebook.com/

for video 2 free good ones put them both on : vlc: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
MPC-HC https://mpc-hc.org/ .This one is better at handling the higher quality films with a greater data rate

If you record a video in high quality on some mobiles, many laptops and PC cant handle the amount data captured by the phone. The video either will not play, be choppy, jumps, blackish negative type screen with poor sound. Do not be disappointed and there could be ways to make it work

Put two different type of web bowser on your computer, because if one gets messed up and broken there is always a second one.

good luck with your new purchase!

PS. be aware that you old PC may contain personal data and passwords that even if deleted may be recoverable. Dont just give the old one away, or dump it.

EveryWhere

camelot1971 wrote: »

Do you realise how you come across on here? Who are you to speak to the OP in a patronising and arrogant way?

I'm sure Retired at 55 is more than capable of swapping a HD out. However, are they going to have the tools to do it? Are they going to know what drive to buy, where to buy it from? What happens if there are installation issues with the DVD and Windows fails to boot properly? What about all the data on the old drive that might need migrating?

Retired at 55 - if you want to experiment on your old laptop then you should! Its good fun - I've built loads of PC's and learned a lot about common issues that cause them to slow down.

If you want less hassle though, just buy a new machine, reset your old one (follow the instructions in Windows) and perhaps give it to charity or sell it on Ebay.

Good luck!

Seems something has your nose out of joint. In addition, you don't appear to be following the thread and you are giving horrible advice.

First you espouse that it won't take ten minutes to change drives and now this new nonsense about needing tools.
You need a single screwdriver to remove and replace the drive.
Indeed if he shows any interest in doing the job, he will be advised what to buy and where to buy it. No need to spell that out now.
If there are issues when it comes to installation, he can write to us from his new DELL laptop.

Old data will all be on the old HDD. Put into a £4 caddy to create an external HDD. Job done.

Lastly to your horrible advice to Factory Restore the laptop and give it away or sell it on eBay.
Really bad idea, as any personal and sensitive data on the HDD will remain recoverable.
What is (follow the instructions in Windows) supposed to mean? Is that supposed to be helpful? That is not how it works. They will need Toshiba specific instructions.
Perhaps giving technical advice is not your forte.
You appear to be trying to ingratiate yourself to the OP by looking for perceived offence and now falling over yourself to offer advice however flawed.

Perhaps better to leave it to the experts.

Retired_at_55

EveryWhere wrote: »

You have neglected supply the model number underneath, as requested.
I recommend that you swap the internal hard drive for an SSD anyway. It's really not difficult with your Toshiba and you have the video guide.

It will be good practice and you'll have a useful machine as a back-up.

But before you do that, you need to create your Recovery DVDs. This is a Windows 7 installation DVD, replete with all necessary Drivers(and unnecessary bloatware) that you can create with your Toshiba device. You'll need a few blank DVD-R or DVD+R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVEnH6fOfxI

Come back with the model number.

It might appear daunting, but in this case it's all relatively straightforward. It would be difficult to mess anything up and even then it can only be something like losing the screws.

The Model is L830-16W and Part Number is PSKF2E-01U00FEN. I won't attempt anything just yet although I am keeping all the information for when I feel able and have more time to enjoy attempting it.

Retired at 55.

Retired_at_55

that wrote: »

With your new PC, you should make a usb recovery drive, or cd. Keep it in a safe place and dont loose it, Make more than one if you wish
https://www.howto-connect.com/create-usb-recovery-drive-in-windows-10-step-by-step/

The next thing you should learn is how to backup and restore, which there are loads of posts in this forum.

Microsofts free a/v is more than adequate, and there is no need to buy antivirus.

I would suggest installing the free LibreOffice as a word processor and spreadsheet suite. Also I would recommend getPaint.net for pictures and photo stuff.

An odd program it the MS free panorama stitcher, but personally have found it handy on more than one occasion https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/computational-photography-applications/image-composite-editor/

For electronic books the free Calibre trader is great https://calibre-ebook.com/

for video 2 free good ones put them both on : vlc: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
MPC-HC https://mpc-hc.org/ .This one is better at handling the higher quality films with a greater data rate

If you record a video in high quality on some mobiles, many laptops and PC cant handle the amount data captured by the phone. The video either will not play, be choppy, jumps, blackish negative type screen with poor sound. Do not be disappointed and there could be ways to make it work

Put two different type of web bowser on your computer, because if one gets messed up and broken there is always a second one.

good luck with your new purchase!

PS. be aware that you old PC may contain personal data and passwords that even if deleted may be recoverable. Dont just give the old one away, or dump it.

It would be too much for me to try just now although I hope to take time in the future to work on it, thank you.

Retired at 55

Retired_at_55

EveryWhere wrote: »

Seems something has your nose out of joint. In addition, you don't appear to be following the thread and you are giving horrible advice.

First you espouse that it won't take ten minutes to change drives and now this new nonsense about needing tools.
You need a single screwdriver to remove and replace the drive.
Indeed if he shows any interest in doing the job, he will be advised what to buy and where to buy it. No need to spell that out now.
If there are issues when it comes to installation, he can write to us from his new DELL laptop.

Old data will all be on the old HDD. Put into a £4 caddy to create an external HDD. Job done.

Lastly to your horrible advice to Factory Restore the laptop and give it away or sell it on eBay.
Really bad idea, as any personal and sensitive data on the HDD will remain recoverable.
What is (follow the instructions in Windows) supposed to mean? Is that supposed to be helpful? That is not how it works. They will need Toshiba specific instructions.
Perhaps giving technical advice is not your forte.
You appear to be trying to ingratiate yourself to the OP by looking for perceived offence and now falling over yourself to offer advice however flawed.

Perhaps better to leave it to the experts.

From where I am just now it would definitely be very wise for me to leave it to the experts. I do hope to learn, once I can address it properly, and the information here, which I will definitely keep, will help me in the future.

Although I find my lack of skill frustrating, it must be frustrating for others more technically minded to believe how difficult it can be when folks like me can so easily miss the obvious.

When asked at first I thought the Part Number was different from the Model No. and that is why (#10) I only put the top part - omitting the PSK Part Number. I am learning.

The Dell will be plenty to keep me occupied in the near future.

Please don't think I am at all unappreciative because that is not the case at all.

Many thanks indeed.

Retired at 55.

EveryWhere

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

The Model is L830-16W and Part Number is PSKF2E-01U00FEN. I won't attempt anything just yet although I am keeping all the information for when I feel able and have more time to enjoy attempting it.

Retired at 55.

Still amply specified. Just needed that solid state drive and a clean install. Then you would see the thing fly.
Just begin a new thread when you are ready to have a go. It's quite simple and not at all technical.
Then we can put together a step by step guide. No need to flood yourself with information now, which ends up putting you off.

But the thing that you should do now is to make the Toshiba Recovery DVDs as aforementioned, as that should have been done soon after you purchased the machine.
Not an issue, but you should do it now and put them aside for later.

EveryWhere

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

From where I am just now it would definitely be very wise for me to leave it to the experts. I do hope to learn, once I can address it properly, and the information here, which I will definitely keep, will help me in the future.

Although I find my lack of skill frustrating, it must be frustrating for others more technically minded to believe how difficult it can be when folks like me can so easily miss the obvious.

When asked at first I thought the Part Number was different from the Model No. and that is why (#10) I only put the top part - omitting the PSK Part Number. I am learning.

The Dell will be plenty to keep me occupied in the near future.

Please don't think I am at all unappreciative because that is not the case at all.

Many thanks indeed.

Retired at 55.

Not an issue, I should have stated Part No.
You can do this, as we won't just be leaving you with a block of information, expecting you to follow it.
It will be a simple step by step guide and now that you have the DELL, you be able to keep in contact for each step.
As you've posted the Part. No. it's possible to give you more exact instruction when the time comes
Once you've done it you will feel much more confident.
Again, just begin a thread when ready to tackle it.
But don't neglect to create to utilise the TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator to create a Recovery USB Flash drive or set of DVDs.