Author Topic: DanG Laptop (Read 5083 times)

Magicman · « **on:** September 16, 2016, 08:58:42 PM »

Died. The leds that should be blue are now yellow. It does not go through it's normal startup. I did the stuff like unplugging and removing the battery but it just goes back to not coming on. I used it this afternoon to upload a couple of pictures and make a couple of posts.

I'll have to use this old Dell until I can figure out what to do or more accurately, who to take it to. I have not been able up upload pictures on this one since I did the Win10 thing. $:-\$

OlJarhead · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2016, 09:53:03 PM »

Start by getting rid of 'the win10 thing'

Magicman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2016, 10:03:32 PM »

Well this old HP apparently overheard me saying something about "waste management" and decided to start working again. I was on the other laptop looking at refurbished units when the yellow led's turned blue and it booted up. I guess that it was just going through some kind of updating or something.

OJH, this one is still a Win7, the backup is Win10. Anyway, at least for now, I am back up and running, and I did not actually do anything.

clearcut · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2016, 01:21:22 AM »

The beginning of the end?

One thing to try if it does it again is to boot in Safe Mode. The procedure varies with manufacturer and operating system. Sometimes an automatic update will kill a driver. Safe Mode loads only what is necessary.

Magicman · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2016, 07:23:47 AM »

I have always know that anything that "fixes" itself does not stay fixed. Yup, it is dead again this morning. $:-\$

I Googled "safe mode" and the instructions said, F8. I never get a splash screen, advanced option screen, or any screen for that matter, Just black. I stuck the backup disc in the drive before as well as after I try to boot up. I hear it click but still nothing.

Ox · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2016, 07:30:42 AM »

Whenever I had a computer do stuff like that it was always the hard drive. Of course this is where all the stuff you want to keep is stored. Unless you're smart (unlike me) and save important stuff on another drive or disk or something.

Why is it a computer "disk" but a field "disc"? Or am I wrong or backwards...?

thecfarm · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2016, 07:35:28 AM »

I'm a waitin for my dinosaur desktop to die. It grinds away and freezes up for ½ hour at a time. I mostly only do the FF, Anything else and it goes belly up and starts to grown. Forget Facebook.

We really hand onto it just to print out recipes for the wife.

Magicman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2016, 07:48:18 AM »

It just started up. There are no sounds so I have no idea what is happening or not happening on the inside.

I guess that I had better start looking for a new laptop again.

Ox · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2016, 08:01:52 AM »

Another thing to note: these computers will "dust up" and won't cool properly. A little compressed air in and around all the cooling vents sometimes works wonders. They'll heat up and stop working sometimes...

Magicman · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2016, 09:35:44 AM »

Yes they will and it is incredible how much dust/lint will accumulate on those cooling fins. You would think that there would be a small cover to remove rather than having to remove the entire lower panel.

I have booted and shut down once more, and am satisfied that this thing needs either repairing or replacing. Since a shop charges $100-$200 just to open the cover, replacement is probably the best option. I just hate the startup/initializing process. $:-\$

clearcut · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2016, 10:30:03 AM »

If you're replacing, consider a Chromebook. Unless you have Windows specific software, or do video or major photo editing, you might find Chrome OS useful.

For web surfing, email, simple word processing, and spreadsheets Chromebooks just work. Updates and backups are automatic, and the Google keeps malware away. Your documents are accessible from any computer. Chromebooks go from off to ready in seconds.

Because Chrome OS is so lightweight, an inexpensive computer that would gag on Windows runs Chrome effortlessly. I would suggest 4GB of RAM and 32 GB storage though. These can be found for about $200.

I have one for the kids and it works great.

No Microsoft Office, except the web version which I don't like. Some people object to be so heavily reliant on the Google.

With the right voodoo, most Chromebooks can dual boot into Linux.

Worth considering.

OlJarhead · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2016, 10:52:17 AM »

I use Linux on my laptop. It's an older one I was given with a bad hard drive, so I found a hard drive (nephew had one) and got linux on it...never fails, always works....free.

Too easy

Magicman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2016, 12:29:29 PM »

I have an old Dell laptop at the Cabin that I was using for picture viewing and storage. The power receptacle went bad so it has not been used in several years. I wonder if the hard drive would fit in this HP? Just as information, I refreshed my backup disc last week.

Ox · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2016, 12:30:08 PM »

I too run only Linux. Hard to beat, IMO.

Magicman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2016, 01:48:37 PM »

A trip to Wally was a bust. 13"-14" is large enough so there was really nothing there for me to decide on.

Magicman · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2016, 03:13:33 PM »

OK, so I found a flow chart to show me exactly how to upload pictures with the Win10 thing.

Everything is perfectly clear and very easily understood.

OlJarhead · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2016, 03:29:30 PM »

Quote from: Magicman on September 17, 2016, 12:29:29 PM

I have an old Dell laptop at the Cabin that I was using for picture viewing and storage. The power receptacle went bad so it has not been used in several years. I wonder if the hard drive would fit in this HP? Just as information, I refreshed my backup disc last week.

probably but you'd have to change some drivers etc in order to get it work properly with a different MoBo and graphics card etc

Magicman · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2016, 09:47:40 PM »

I was just sorta thinking out loud. I guess when laptops die they make good trot line weights.

I installed the "classic shell" on this laptop today and found my pictures and was able to upload and post so at least I am not dead in the water. It also has my Excel and Word that I use quite a bit so whatever I get I do need those programs. I see where MS will rent it to you for an annual fee, but I would much rather buy the program and be done with it.

Ianab · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2016, 10:50:08 PM »

Unless you specifically need Word and Excel, you can download and install Libre Office. It basically works the same and can open and save MS Word and Excel files.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

Works under Windows, Linux or Mac.

clearcut · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2016, 01:36:45 AM »

Google Docs and Sheets do a pretty nice job of translating Word and Excel documents also.

I really dislike Excel 2016. It messed up my work flow. Creating new files from templates became a multi-step, error prone process. Ugh. With 2011, New File from Template was in the top toolbar and the last template used was selected. Click / Return.

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Author Topic: DanG Laptop (Read 5083 times)

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