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Post by Pinwig on Dec 22, 2022 18:03:37 GMT
I admire your optimism!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 30, 2023 22:25:14 GMT
I've got Ralph's laptop here.
Took FOREVER to boot up which is suggesting HDD issue, windows install or not enough processor/memory
Win 11 - anyone recall the min specs?
HUGE HDD, nearly 700gb+ free So not a space issue which I thought it might be.
His software distribution/downloads folder was near empty suggesting that whatever else has been going on Windows Update has tidied up behind it
CCleaner's worked on it tonight, both file cleanup and registry. Both removed substantial amounts.
Will look again Saturday. Any tips or advice that do not involve the words "level" & "diagnostic"?
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 30, 2023 22:59:21 GMT
Specs are:
A "compatible" 1 GHz or faster dual-core 64-bit processor from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm
4GB of RAM
64GB of storage
UEFI Secure Boot supported and enabled
A Trusted Platform Module (TPM), version 2.0
A DirectX 12-compatible GPU with a WDDM 2.0 driver
A 720p display larger than 9 inches in size
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 1, 2023 6:12:16 GMT
Ta. We'll get the precise spec off it shortly
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Post by Pinwig on Jul 1, 2023 13:04:03 GMT
A "compatible" 1 GHz or faster dual-core 64-bit processor from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm There are some restrictions on this. Artificially placed IMHO because my computer may be a bit old, but it's perfectly capable and I can't upgrade to Win 11 purely because the CPU isn't recent enough, even though it's an i5 quad core running at 3.4Ghz. |
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Stomski
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Post by Stomski on Jul 1, 2023 21:19:40 GMT
Phil - have you got a decent size usb stick hanging around? Install a bootable Linux image and check how well it runs to negate the possibility of HDD causing the slowdown. Also install on a smaller one a bootable memtest (although I had crashes for years on my pc and memtest reported the ram as having no issues. After an upgrade last year, no crashes so make of that what you will) There are some restrictions on this. Artificially placed IMHO because my computer may be a bit old, but it's perfectly capable and I can't upgrade to Win 11 purely because the CPU isn't recent enough, even though it's an i5 quad core running at 3.4Ghz. That's probably the lack of a TPM, rather than the CPU spec. |
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Post by Pinwig on Jul 1, 2023 21:43:18 GMT
*reads*
I see. Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 and that became standard in 2016. Yes, my PC is older than that. That would be it then. The error the check gave me just said the CPU wasn't compatible, that did puzzle me.
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 2, 2023 8:40:52 GMT
Tron fights...for the users!
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 6, 2023 10:23:21 GMT
Phil tried his best but the laptop remains unusable so needs replacing. I need one as a matter of priority for study work, etc as of early September.
I have no idea what to get. I want HD and a webcam for zoom calls and a decent screen size but, er, help?
Not HP. Mrs Ralph and I have both had HP's that flaked out in under 2 years.
-Ralph
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Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
YOU INTERRUPTED MY SPEECH!! But don't worry. It won't happen again.
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Post by Stomski on Aug 6, 2023 11:39:23 GMT
What do you need in terms of windows specific applications?
Would a Chromebook suffice? Even needing to edit Word/excel/PowerPoint you can do in ms office online without need for a paid subscription I believe, or Google docs probably do the job.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Aug 6, 2023 14:03:38 GMT
I'm not sure a Chromebook would be suitable for Ralph and maybe too much change?
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 6, 2023 17:14:56 GMT
I don't understand Windows specs!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 6, 2023 18:04:42 GMT
For starters, look for the following.
RAM - the more GB the better.
Processor - how many cores and how fast are they.
ALSO WITH THIS NEW LAPTOP WHEN YOU GET IT, CLOSE YOUR EFFING TABS. IF YOU WANT TO SAVE A PAGE - THATS WHAT BOOKMARKS ARE FOR.
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 6, 2023 19:09:26 GMT
I just need something with HD, decent sized screen and sound and that can hold up to heavy internet use for researching at PG level.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 6, 2023 19:10:32 GMT
How many cores is good?
How much RAM is good?
I need something that will run fast and well for a three year period.
Budget £300-500 at most.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 6, 2023 19:26:57 GMT
How many cores is good? How much RAM is good? I need something that will run fast and well for a three year period. Budget £300-500 at most. -Ralph Ram - honestly you can get by with 8GB, but would suggest 16GB. cores, I am not as up on, so will let a wiser mind interject. |
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Aug 6, 2023 21:58:36 GMT
You'd get more for your money by having a desktop system. Do you need it to be a laptop?
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 6, 2023 22:16:34 GMT
Yes, so I can take it to libraries.
-Ralph
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Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
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Post by Stomski on Aug 7, 2023 7:49:54 GMT
Assuming Ralph learns to use browser favourites/bookmarks and close his tabs he doesn't need anything particularly powerful (in fact Chrome does something clever with background tabs now).
But having said that, Win11 is probably worthwhile just to future proof it.
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 7, 2023 8:08:13 GMT
When I looked at PCs for my Dad recently I came to the conclusion that for a solid home PC, of the Intel CPUs, I5 is the way to go. I3 is going to be too underpowered and I7/I9 level are only needed for intensive tasks like heavy duty video editing, image processing or being a l33t g4m3r. I think as long as you have a relatively modern I5 CPU, which I think is around 11th/12th generation now, the core thing will look after itself. The sweet spot with CPUs tends to be to get ones that are a year old rather than the most current as they're better bang for buck. Having had a quick look at off the shelf products, you should be able to find an I5 11th gen with 8 or maybe even 16GB ram within the 400-550 budget. That would be a fast and efficient laptop for general use and should stay that way for a few years. If poss go for 1TB of solid state storage, but if you're not really storing large video files then 512GB might make a cheaper option. As for suppliers, I have experience of Dell who make pretty robust machines, but I personally use a company in Bolton called Scan. I've bought PC components to build my own PCs and complete systems from them since the 90s and I rate them very highly. They don't sell crap. I would think something like this would be good (based on an initial glance and not full research): www.scan.co.uk/products/156-asus-x515ea-bq943w-fhd-i5-1135g7-8gb-ddr4-512gb-nvme-ssd-intel-iris-xe-graphics-usb-32-gen1-win1 |
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 7, 2023 8:22:11 GMT
Comes with a bag!
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 7, 2023 8:44:05 GMT
As said, I have not looked at that in detail, but I do trust Scan. Other options are available!
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 7, 2023 15:07:22 GMT
But a bag!
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 7, 2023 17:00:45 GMT
Conversely, I have been fiddling with a Chromebook this afternoon as a relative was struggling to set it up. I was quite impressed. Never used one before. Touchscreen as well as a keyboard and the screen rotated right round onto the back to turn it into a really big heavy tablet. I was quite envious and am considering one as an alternative to my old tablet as that needs replacing. Might just be a bit big and heavy to hold.
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Stomski
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
YOU INTERRUPTED MY SPEECH!! But don't worry. It won't happen again.
Posts: 6,121
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Post by Stomski on Aug 8, 2023 7:39:08 GMT
of the Intel CPUs, I5 is the way to go. I3 is going to be too underpowered and I7/I9 level are only needed for intensive tasks like heavy duty video editing, image processing or being a l33t g4m3r. I think as long as you have a relatively modern I5 CPU, which I think is around 11th/12th generation now, Well this is the rub isn't it, for the mass consumer the product differentiation of CPUs isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days of a simple x86 denomination and clock speed. |
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Post by Pinwig on Aug 8, 2023 8:03:52 GMT
Yes, it's bloody confusing. I used to know where I was with computers back in the day I built my own, but this i-whatever, core this, is very difficult to follow.
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 8, 2023 15:04:40 GMT
Exactly!!!
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 19, 2023 8:49:19 GMT
How do I make CAPS LOCK OVERLAY stop appearing? I did it before and it stopped but now it is has come back after a Windows Update and is driving me up the wall. I can't remember how to fix it!!!
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 19, 2023 9:31:10 GMT
Have you tried a level 3 diagnostic?
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Post by Philip Ayres on Oct 19, 2023 9:46:26 GMT
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