shock horror laptop almost failed

indianabones

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

I too doubt anything new in the £200 to £220 range is worth while.

For web browsing? Remember, the user said he only uses it for browsing the net. Can you explain why you think the most basic of system wouldn't be worth his while.


He can consider buying 2nd hand and he'll get something that'll do the job for a fraction of the cost. But if he wants new he doesn't need to spend anything big.


I'd say he'd be completely fine with a tablet/chromebook as well.

barnaclebill

Thanks for the replies, I will look at the available new and used.
The old girl is working well at present but this morning has made me realise nothing lasts forever.
Just one more question if I do a file back up will that include my MS office, and Norton 360 that will install on win 10, I have two 1 tb external drives that do not have much on them, the WD one has a backup program that I have never used. I know win 7 has a built in backup that can do a mirror image that would be no good for win 10 or it can do file back up.

tonyh66

No it will not backup office or Norton they will need to be reinstalled , you will need the key for office. Do you pay for Norton, there are better free alternatives.

chrisw

If you're happy with your current machine you may not need to replace it.

It could have been a one off glitch or maybe the hard drive is in its way out, even though it was replaced four years ago. Consider replacing the hard drive with a SSD for increased speed and it will feel like a new machine.

EveryWhere

Carrot007 wrote: »

Well..., where as with Full HD I would agree (unless something ridiculously small, and even then it's a nicety). IPS? Maybe depends on needs there are advantages and diadvantages to all the screen displays. Which one you go for is not so simple. but feel free to keep generalising with no clarification.

Do you feel yours is a worthwhile contribution or is there no one around with whom you can communicate, so you just felt like writing something...anything?

I wrote "ideally". He stated that he likes a "good screen". No need for me to write a treatise on the different kinds of screens available, nor about the pros and cons of buying a device that boots from PCIe SSD. It was general advice.

Now feel free to quote someone else, since I really have no interest in having aimless dialogue with you. If the OP comes back with a budget, we'll see what is available.

GDB2222

I'll just have my 2p worth:

1. You ought to have some sort of backup regime, anyway. Try using backup and sync from Google, and store your stuff in the cloud.

2. I don't see why you need a laptop. Why not just use a desktop? The big advantage is that, when something goes wrong, you just replace that bit. With your laptop, you are throwing out a really nice screen, just because you are having a problem with the processor part.

You might look at this refurbished Dell PC for £70
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-optiplex-3010-desktop-only-69-3293010

Plus, you'll need a screen. The same website sells a secondhand screen for £100-ish, or you could look around and get something new for not much more.

I'd recommend buying an SSD to replace the hard disk, but I'm not sure what size you need.

Anyway, you can get this all done for under £300, and you're pretty well set for the future.

GDB2222

Just found a perfectly usable monitor for £80, new.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072Z8PPWZ/ref=twister_B07W5HBX68?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

It does seem to me that the sweet spot for value is in a desktop, rather than a laptop, at the moment.

poppellerant

Use Macrium Reflect to make a backup, the free version is more than capable.

I am inclined to think that perhaps a Windows Update has gone bad. Or perhaps your current installation of Windows could be corrupt. But if you are getting a new drive or computer, then don't worry too much about this - just grab your files with Macrium.

Although your hard drive is only four years old, that doesn't mean it can't fail, even if it does seem to be a short life. I would replace with a SATA SSD, but don't cheap out too much on these if you can help it. I swear by Samsung SSD drives and have yet to personally see a failed one, even after a hard life.

This being a forum focussed on saving money, I've suggested a SATA SSD as this is the cheaper option. However there is such a thing as throwing good money after bad. If the drive is all that is wrong laptop, I would buy the SSD. However it might be time for a new computer if other things are starting to show their age, such as the keyboard, trackpad, dim display, DVD drive.

EveryWhere

If you never use a webcam or are happy to use an external when you do, this might be worth a closer look; https://mcscom.co.uk/product/dell-inspiron-15-5548-i7-5500u-2-4ghz-16gb-256gb-ssd-radeon-r7-m270-15-6-fhd-touchscreen-win-10-30day-rtb-wty-mgl953/

Incredibly high spec for the money. Caveat emptor.

EveryWhere

17.3" Full HD screen; https://mcscom.co.uk/product/dell-inspiron-17-5767-i5-7200u-2-50ghz-8gb-256gb-ssd-dvd-rw-radeon-r7-m445-17-3-fhd-win-10-30day-rtb-wty-xmln954-free-wallet-case/

Ok for value. Though not keen on the short warranty.