Another computer issue thread

Its pretty simple. If you want to give it a go i will explain.. if you dont.... i wont



Though i'm sure i can find a linky for you somewhere...

 

Being a complete computer numpty, that sounds interesting to me, but would I be likely to mess up my computer if I try do this, with no knowledge of what I am doing?

 

Most laptops come with a back up partition and built in software.

If you have a copy of a windows CD it is even better - eg if you bought the cd to upgrade to windows 7. You simply insert the disc and enter your license key.

If you mess about you can **** up. I had to buy a new windows copy as I messed up chanign hard drives and the license key printed on the sticker under the laptop rubbed off.


Slightly off topic, but if you really want to speed up an old laptop you only use for the usual tasks, I would buy an SSD. These replace the spinning hard disc with flash memory, which is much faster (and durable). They are much faster and used in macbooks for a while and most new high end laptops.

They mean faster loading times, more responsive etc. Only issue is if you want double the capacity, you pay almost double so only suitable if you don't need more than 120/240GB.

 

Yes. A better bet would be to find a reputable computer shop local to you and ask them how much they charge to service a PC.

 

Thank you gentlemen, I think I'll take your advice UEA :sign15:

 

Does it involve interfering with any hardware, or is it just done through the control panel/ etc. ?

 

Really, if you're just reinstalling windows, going to a "Computer expert" is a rip off.

All you have to do, is put a cd in, reinstall windows and follow the wizard.

The upside is you get to start fresh, the downside is you lose anything you had on there, unless you back it up. You could store stuff on cloud, or just buy a USB with around 8GB-16GB Storage (they're very cheap) and stick stuff on that.

 

That's easy for you or I to say, but for someone of an older generation who hasn't been brought up on computers, they probably won't have a clue whatsoever. (No disrespect)

 

Yeah I absolutely do understand that. But they manage to come on this forum and post, like I said you just follow the wizard clicking a few buttons along the way.

 

And if something goes wrong? A phenomenon hardly unheard of when it comes to Windows. I could do it easily and have done more than once but only because I'm confident in what I'm doing.

 

Some people use the forum, and know how to post, but that's it, ask them to do anything else even SLIGHTLY out of those comfort zones, and they're completely lost.

I think people our age take the abilities you grow up learning for granted maybe?

 

your computer is made by Anya Incorp is it not?

 

Not at all. But how did I learn about computers? I did not go to computer school. Heck, IT lessons in school were and still are completely useless.

Almost everything I've learnt is self taught. If I had a problem, I tried to solve it myself. With Google and Youtube, it's really, really easy to find out how to do anything. You can even get a video tutorial to show you step-by-step how. Any problem you have, other people on the internet have had. There will be a solution out there.

All that I'm saying is, if you put a little bit of time in, you'll reap the rewards. If you go to a professional every time you have a problem, you'll lose a lot of money.

 

Grab a group of people in their 50s or older, and do the above, I'm quite confident if they don't know how to do something to start with, they won't be able to self teach, and will more than likely do more damage than good.

Generations grow up around things, they subsequently naturally know how to use things of that age, my granddad and people of his age, knew how to do most car mechanics themselves, because they grew up doing so, but their dads wouldn't have had the foggiest what to do under a bonnet.

Some new emerging technologies will come when we have kids or grandchildren, and the large majority of people won't have a clue what they're doing with it, bar people like yourself apparently.

There is of course the fact that a group of forum members isn't really a fair representation of a broad span of people from a similar age range, if you took 100 people from aged X to Y, 90 of them probably wouldn't even know what a forum is, and 96 would probably break something when trying to fix a computer.

 

I would never ask someone to build a computer from scratch. I wouldn't ask them to do technical things. But the process of reinstalling windows is designed for people who don't know what they're doing. Just like most programs, it's all visually represented in a way that is easy to understand. "Click here to install", "next" etc. You put the cd in, read what the words say, and click a button. It does everything else for you. If you manage to do it wrong, which is not impossible, what have you lost? You've already wiped your hard drive, you can just do it again.

I do get your point, really, I do. Can I do car mechanics? No, and I'm not saying I'm in some way above everyone else (that said, I would like to think that I'm going to try and keep up with technology) But installing Windows is not car mechanics . All that scares people is the risk of something going wrong, because they don't understand what they're doing. But there really is not much risk at all.

 

is true about age - i hate computers - makes me larf that so many of the young thick canuts going to feckin university or youngsters working in shops can't feckin add up in their own heads.

useless braindead canuts...

computers were put upon the older generation as are mobile phones etc - it takes enough time to learn how to use, so feckin repairing and or making good etc is too scary.

wait til you get old - you won't know how to change the carbondetermined univiction chord in the battery in your automatic metal hand arse wiper, called Arsen. Patent that idea somebody and become very rich...

 

wat if ur blind - feckin discrimination now... fml

 

If you're partially sighted there are settings to help you. But if you've lost your legs eyes completely.... then fml.

 

is it in braille?

 

Software only Alban..

Big question is did your pc come with the Windows discs? and do you still have them? (you can without also but a bit more involved)
Its also easy to back up your computer so there is no reason to lose anything. In fact you should be backing up all the time anyway.


NB I'm 48 & despite these ageist comments above i managed to re-install windows.

 

I'll have a look for these discs on the weekend so I'll let you know by then

 

I love Chrome, but I have on some occasions had issues playing video because they have "updated" the built in Flash Player.
Try running youtube in a different browser and see if it cures the problem. If so, I might be able to help fix Chrome for you...