Technical Test Thread

Hazel b said:

Thanks Tiger, will keep this in mind.   Any that we have looked at has Windows 8, but surely we should be able to find a Windows 7 one somewhere.

I think they still do Windows 7. There was one much loved programme (viz sidekick) which I could not get to run on Windows 7 but other than that it was fine.

Other decisions

1. What processor to buy....how many core? (i5 or i7?)

2. How much RAM  (You can never have enough RAM) (I have 16 GB)

3. Size of hard drive  (no problem nowadays)

 

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Tiger - OH has looked into it a bit, and has come up with specification as you have stated above I7, 16 G Ram and doesnt matter hard drive size as I cannot remember how many Gbs had on my computer I was not even close to filling it.  

However only some repair shops local, not anyone who would build a computer and do not want to travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh.    Had a look in PC World this morning, but as Chloe says after sales appalling, plus really do not wnt to buy there.    Will go out this afternoon and have a look again. but getting Windows 7 seems not a choice, all computers we looked at this morning, even laptops all were running Windows 8.    OH says he knew about USB 3 too.     Chloe you mentioned Argos, well havent checked them out but can say we have had good after sales with them, have taken both a TV and an IPOD back and they replaced both with new products.  

Kate2 thanks for your suggestions too, pity there isnt the computer shops around now to pick from, I can remember when Dell and other computer Manfs had stores, now nothing to pick from.    Have bought a few electrical items from John Lewis, so will check them out too. 

 EJ's Memorial  Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023

If you put windows 7 laptops into Argos search box you will still find some. Am sure there must be other places selling them too. Know what you mean though, they are really pushing Windows 8 aren't they? Is it a laptop you are after or a desktop Mary?

Chloe its a desktop PC I want.      Still nothing with Windows 7 though apart from on-line, and would prefer to see what I am buying.  However the guy in the Sony Centre told us that you can run Windows 8 to act like Windows 7, not quite sure what he meant by that LOL....  

Unknown said:

Chloe its a desktop PC I want.      Still nothing with Windows 7 though apart from on-line, and would prefer to see what I am buying.  However the guy in the Sony Centre told us that you can run Windows 8 to act like Windows 7, not quite sure what he meant by that LOL....  

Remember I mentioned Windows 7 professional? Well apparently you can run it to emulate XP

Not sure how you do it though. If I had known that in time I would have bought it because it could have been handy.

I know what you mean Mary. I like to go and look at things before I buy them too, though I will buy online if I know it is the one I want. I often shop around and reserve online and collect instore. Obviously there are less problems with returning something to a shop than returning to somewhere online. Well apart from PCWorld that is :)

As for 8 running like 7, I have seen that too somewhere online. Didn't look too closely into it though.

Unknown said:

Hi Mary

IF it was just your hard drive that broke, do you have a windows operating system disk, if so you could get a hard drive for your desktop

Doggie, that was the problem though the computer came loaded with Windows XP and we had no recovery disc.    I think its well and truly goosed.  

Unknown said:

Doggie, that was the problem though the computer came loaded with Windows XP and we had no recovery disc.    I think its well and truly goosed.  

I do not suppose that you know the codes of the XP operating system you got?

We have bought a lot from the local Sony Centre, laptop, TV's and Music Centres, and their customer service is very good.    They said they would build a desk top to our own specification, only thing is would be an all in one, the one we saw today is also a HDTV, and touch screen as well.   They said they would price match anywhere else on line, the guy even checked in front of us and saw that John Lewis was giving 2 years guarantee and he said they would do that as well.   The only other place locally that we could see any computers was Curry's/PC World and dont want to go down that route.     So looks like it will be the Sony Centre.   Have a few friends who recommend a Mac, but not sure I want to change that drastically, although they do look nice LOL....

No dont know the codes Tiger.     The Sony we looked at comes pre-loaded as well but the guy said they would do a back up of the Operating System to disc for us so we would always have it.  

Unknown said:

No dont know the codes Tiger.     The Sony we looked at comes pre-loaded as well but the guy said they would do a back up of the Operating System to disc for us so we would always have it.  

Is there not a label attached to the computer case with the codes on it. There should be.

Now if you had the codes then all you need is an XP disk and a new hard drive and you could get the old machine up and running again.