Need computer advice please!

[herbalhippie]

So I'm running an HP desktop from roughly around 2009. Has Athlon 620 quad core processor, 6 GB memory, 640 GB hard drive. This has been fine for what I needed it to do.

Ready for an upgrade.

Costco had an HP computer on sale about a week ago. I picked it up to catch the sale price but didn't set it up because I have 90 days to take it back and I was going to wait and see what else Costco had that might go on sale.

Paid $399 for this

https://www.costco.com/hp-pavilion-desk ... 25712.html

I was looking at a Dell too, but it didn't really catch my attention. I only got an HP because that's what we always had when the kids were growing up and after. The Dell is at the far upper end of my price range and looks like I just missed a $200 off sale.

Now there a Lenovo I've been watching that just went on sale today for $500.

https://www.costco.com/lenovo-ideacentr ... 20762.html

So. Should I keep the HP or take it back and get the Lenovo? I can't make up my mind!

Also, reviews say that the HP is loaded with bloatware and the Lenovo has minimal. When I got my HP around 2009 from Staples, I paid them to set it up and remove all the bloatware and the antivirus that came with it that I didn't want. I think it was McAfee.

[beathappening]

Try this

[herbalhippie]

You're no help.

[oohger]

The amount of memory (12GB), ssd drives (256 GB), disk capacity (1 TB) and the processor (Intel core i5)
would make the extra $100 well worth it. Should be very quick with no need to upgrade in the near future.
Not an expert here. Unfortunately, i'm the goto for my flip-phone family. Good luck. The 11 year run between computers is amazing to me.

[herbalhippie]

The amount of memory (12GB), ssd drives (256 GB), disk capacity (1 TB) and the processor (Intel core i5)
would make the extra $100 well worth it. Should be very quick with no need to upgrade in the near future.
Not an expert here. Unfortunately, i'm the goto for my flip-phone family. Good luck. The 11 year run between computers is amazing to me.

Yeah, it's kind of amazing to me too. And it still works good, just a wee bit slow on startup.

So I ordered the Lenovo on sale and I've got 90 days to return it to Costco. I'm going to watch and see if this Dell goes on sale in the meantime.

https://www.costco.com/dell-inspiron-de ... 01785.html

Wait. The Dell has 128 SSD compared to the Lenovo 256 SSD.

What's SSD?

[oohger]

solid-state drive has no moving parts, it's able to read and write data faster than a hard drive. You did great. the computer will work as fast as you can type. saves energy and should last longer. the start-up time with your new computer compared to 11 years ago is gonna make you grin. good luck.

[herbalhippie]

solid-state drive has no moving parts, it's able to read and write data faster than a hard drive. You did great. the computer will work as fast as you can type. saves energy and should last longer. the start-up time with your new computer compared to 11 years ago is gonna make you grin. good luck.

Oohhh excite!!

Thank you!

[BallzDeep9]

So I ordered the Lenovo on sale and I've got 90 days to return it to Costco. I'm going to watch and see if this Dell goes on sale in the meantime.

Either is fine. Both Lenovo, and Dell, have good Customer Support with websites, lots of help docs, even chats... I have a Lenovo laptop, which actually is getting a bit outdated... Check out their website. Any question I've ever had, I have found easy answers by a Search online.

Yes it seems ALL computers these days, come with bloatware and 1st Step is to totally re-format / re-install Windows, and remove the stupid McAfee or Norton crap from 20 years ago! If you never saw the video "How to Un-Install McAfee" ... watch it HERE

[herbalhippie]

So I ordered the Lenovo on sale and I've got 90 days to return it to Costco. I'm going to watch and see if this Dell goes on sale in the meantime.

Either is fine. Both Lenovo, and Dell, have good Customer Support with websites, lots of help docs, even chats... I have a Lenovo laptop, which actually is getting a bit outdated... Check out their website. Any question I've ever had, I have found easy answers by a Search online.

Yes it seems ALL computers these days, come with bloatware and 1st Step is to totally re-format / re-install Windows, and remove the stupid McAfee or Norton crap from 20 years ago! If you never saw the video "How to Un-Install McAfee" ... watch it HERE

Thank you!!

Now I know who to get to talk me through this!

eta: Glad I ordered that computer earlier this afternoon because it appears to be sold out.

[e_poison]

First step is definitely to reformat and remove almost everything the manufacturer installs. This is true whether you go with dell, Lenovo, or HP. You don’t need any of their adware/bloatware junk under any circumstance. It’s fluff and useless.

When I custom built my latest gaming computer, I had only barebones latest version of windows installed on the HD and that was it. No 3rd party junk. Two years later and it’s still running like a pro (can be fully restarted in less than 10 seconds flat).

Antivirus software that comes bundled with new computers is a joke. Remove it immediately. It will slow down your system, nag you every hour to “upgrade”, etc. Basically, it’s garbage, doesn’t work anyway, uses scare tactics to trick new users, and the only reason it comes bundled with your new PC is because the manufacturer has a deal with them.

Believe it or not, Microsoft is on their A+ game lately when it comes to system protection and the antivirus/firewall that comes bundled with windows is better than most paid software and also updated daily to protect against the latest threats and exploits.

[herbalhippie]

When I got my last computer in 2009 I had Staples take everything off. I guess they must have refomatted it? I'm not sure how this all works. All I knew is, I didn't want anything on that computer reminding me with popups every 5 minutes that I needed to spend more money. And I hate both Norton and McAfee, whatever was on there. I just run Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes.

Will reformatting be something I can do myself? There's a new IP fixit company in town that's been advertising on FB the last few days. He said he's do it for about $50. Staples charged me $100 in 2009.

[AppalachianHerbs]

Go for the upgrade. You'll definitely thank yourself later

As for the bloat ware there are tons of easy to find tutorials online for how to clean up your computer when you get a fresh install.

They usually even cover downloading useful tools like CCleaner and changing the windows settings to not spy on you so much.

Hope that helped a little. If you have any more specific questions feel free to PM me! I don't mind doing tech support at all. I'm a BIG pc nerd.

[herbalhippie]

Oohhh thank you! I might take you up on that..

I'll make a post.

PLEASE HELP HIPPIE SET UP HER NEW COMPUTER

We can make it a fun, family day!

[herbalhippie]

So I ordered the Lenovo on sale and I've got 90 days to return it to Costco. I'm going to watch and see if this Dell goes on sale in the meantime.

If you never saw the video "How to Un-Install McAfee" ... watch it HERE

hahahaha ha?

[AppalachianHerbs]

Mccaffee himself is a character. The vice coverage of him and the documentary about him down in south america is just hilarious. He was trying to be like a kingpin down there.

[TST13]

Hey Hippie; I want to make a similar thread myself, except I want to build a PC. The problem is I’ve been away from PCs forever, lol.

Do you game?

[herbalhippie]

Hey Hippie; I want to make a similar thread myself, except I want to build a PC. The problem is I’ve been away from PCs forever, lol.

Do you game?

No, not a gamer, sorry.

[herbalhippie]

Picked up my computer newly de-bloated and de-McAfeed and I think I'm going to unplug the old and plug in the new.

[herbalhippie]

Okay well I think I have my speakers plugged in. Is a musical note with an arrow pointing away mean music out I'm assuming? My old HP is like freaking color coded and the Lenovo is not.

Keyboard in. I think.

Mouse in. Maybe.

[herbalhippie]

Something else in I have no idea what it is.

Oh I know what this is it's my internet connection!

[herbalhippie]

I think this thing with the little screws on each side is my monitor.

[herbalhippie]

Damn, this computer is FAST.

Now, how the f*** do I use Windows 10? Where are my things and my other things?

edit: I can't find all the things.

[herbalhippie]

I don't like Windows 10 AT ALL.

[Babel-17]

I use StartIsBack.

https://startisback.com/

[herbalhippie]

What is that? Is it like an operating system?

And....I finally found one of my things. Windows 10-ing is hard.

[AppalachianHerbs]

You will get used to it. Glad that you are enjoying the new snappy set up though!

[herbalhippie]

You will get used to it. Glad that you are enjoying the new snappy set up though!

Took me a half hour to get the VPN on this thing.

[Babel-17]

What is that? Is it like an operating system?

And....I finally found one of my things. Windows 10-ing is hard.

It more or less restores the feel of having the Windows 7 desktop and Start Menu. Maybe don't even use the free trial though until you have a solid total backup on an external drive.

Microsoft allows us to do Image backups, using separate drives to hold them, by way of "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" in Control Panel. It's for Windows 10 as well, they just use that as its name and it comes with Windows 10.

We used to have pay for that kind of software (Norton Ghost for example, or DriveImage). AOMEI also offers a similar utility for free, but it's a bit more geeky to use. I'd stay clear of it until you're really comfortable with managing your Windows installation. I mention it so as to put Microsoft's utility in perspective.

[herbalhippie]

Yeah I don't really want to do any messing around with it. it'll just probably take me awhile to get used to Windows 10 because I'm old and cranky.

I do have a system restore backup.