PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: mistybear on April 15, 2010, 14:32

Title: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 15, 2010, 14:32
I hated being without my computer when I visit my mother, and thought of taking my desktop and monitor up there...... well, it's just silly.

I get lots of emails from shopping sites that I'm a member of, and occasionally there is actually something I'm interested in.

And from what I've been told, this one (http://www.emachines.com.au/em/product.do?ctx1w.att21k=2&LanguageISOCtxParam=en&sp=page7l&link=ln40l&CountryISOCtxParam=AU&ctx1l.c2att1=92&kcond4l.c2att101=72205&CRC=185389752) is the best I could get for the price, which is $499 after cash back.

It has a T4400 cpu, not the 4300.

It will take me a while to get used to it, and windows 7. It took me 10 minutes to find out whether this was a 32 or 64bit os, as I can't find anything.

One of the first things I did was download FF, and I ended up saving it to my desktop as I couldn't find my program files....

Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Sandra on April 15, 2010, 14:39
They will be hidden MB. Open a folder and go to Organize then Folder and Search Options then View then tick and apply the Show hidden files option.
That should show you your program files.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 15, 2010, 14:47
Thanks Sandra.  :)

A friend of Michael's accidentally disconnected themselves from the internet and didn't know how to reconnect. I'm not sure if these hidden functions are a good idea.  ::)

What's your preference, XP, Vista or 7.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 15, 2010, 14:54
What fun!  You'll be a Windows 7 expert in no time, Kate!   :woot:

Obviously, you know where to come if you need any help breaking it.   :)x
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 15, 2010, 14:57
Obviously, you know where to come if you need any help breaking it.   :)x

I have Michael for that......   but if that fails, I know where to come.  ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Clive on April 15, 2010, 19:08
What's your preference, XP, Vista or 7.

You might like to read THIS  (http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/general-tech-discussion-news/ms-sees-windows-7-leap-but-xp-workhorse-refuses-to-die/) thread Kate.  I currently run XP on my desktops and 7 on the laptop.  When I'm in London I use Vista.  I still prefer XP!  ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: sam on April 16, 2010, 00:11
http://www.ubuntu.com/  :laugh:
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Sandra on April 16, 2010, 13:09
I think I am leaning towards 7 as being the best MB. I have installed it on my laptop but I have only been using it for a couple of weeks so its still early days for me, although I have installed it on several peoples PCs a few months back and they all like it. I like Vista too, still using it on my main PC and havent had any problems with it for the last few years. I still have XP on my other PC but will probably be upgrading both PCs to 7 when I get the time.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 16, 2010, 13:47
I've yet to see 7 in action, and wouldn't bother upgrading my existing PC, as long as XP continues to be supported.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: sam on April 16, 2010, 14:21
and then you are going Linux right?  ;)
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 16, 2010, 16:27
Naah, Simon's a Linux Liberal. ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: sam on April 17, 2010, 05:32
Naah, Simon's a Linux Liberal. ;D

 :laugh:
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 09:26
;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 17, 2010, 10:28
I think I am leaning towards 7 as being the best MB. I have installed it on my laptop but I have only been using it for a couple of weeks so its still early days for me, although I have installed it on several peoples PCs a few months back and they all like it. I like Vista too, still using it on my main PC and havent had any problems with it for the last few years. I still have XP on my other PC but will probably be upgrading both PCs to 7 when I get the time.

I quite like it, but I am having trouble finding stuff. Not folders, as I followed your instructions and that worked. I couldn't figure out how to get to msn messenger, but I only use it occasionally anyway.
We have had other changes, new ISP and router and I'm in the process of changing my details for another forum that only accepts none free email addresses. Which is fine, but if I want to change my password for my account, I have to change the routers password as well. What a bloody pain.

I have been using the laptop for the last couple of days and I went to use the PC and it won't boot?

Michael had the opposite last weekend, his kept rebooting every 30 seconds.
 
A good clean out and and putting everything back in seemed to work for his, perhaps I need to do the same.  :dunno:

I just had a look at an email that Clive sent me....  :pmsl:  if I knew how to post a mpeg file I would.

Perhaps that's what my PC needs........   my laptop isn't in need of a good clean, yet!  ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 14:20
I just had a look at an email that Clive sent me....  :pmsl:  if I knew how to post a mpeg file I would.

It's probably filth, or he would have posted it on here!  ;D

Quote
Perhaps that's what my PC needs........   my laptop isn't in need of a good clean, yet!  ;D

Now you have the laptop, it might be a good opportunity to back everything up from the PC, then format it and reload Windows.

Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 17, 2010, 14:27
It's probably filth, or he would have posted it on here!  ;D

It was surprisingly very clean, just ask Clive.  :)x


Now you have the laptop, it might be a good opportunity to back everything up from the PC, then format it and reload Windows.

Oh Michael, I have a little favour to ask.......  ;D

Actually, I do need it, as it has just about everything I need on it.  :(
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Clive on April 17, 2010, 18:17
It was surprisingly very clean, just ask Clive.  :)x


 o:)  o:)  o:)
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 17, 2010, 18:44
Makes a change.  ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Clive on April 17, 2010, 20:17
I couldn't possibly comment.   ;D
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Sandra on April 18, 2010, 01:15
I quite like it, but I am having trouble finding stuff. Not folders, as I followed your instructions and that worked. I couldn't figure out how to get to msn messenger, but I only use it occasionally anyway.


You wont find msn messenger as I dont think its included by default now MB, same as mail and movie maker.
If you go to All Programs I think you will find a link to Windows Live. Go there and you can download the extra programs you want, messemger is now windows live messenger.

Anything else you cant find just type it in the search box at the bottom of the start menu and it should put a link up for you.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 18, 2010, 15:53
It opens everytime I log on now. You can always tell when Michael has been using your computer.  ::)

I've also found that I can easily access it through my hotmail account.


I found out why my PC wouldn't boot, I pulled the graphics card out last night and the fan had come away from the card. I have no idea how that happened, but I couldn't see how I could fix it.
We took the graphics card out of Michael's old medion pc and put it in mine.

Within 5 minutes I remembered why I bought him a new graphics card. It was making a horrible low humming noise, and within 30mins my computer froze.

I think there is an issue with over heating an their fans not being very effective, but I found a solution.

(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi70.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi84%2Fmistybear_2006%2FP4180632.jpg&hash=b5800028222a360bf1c2fcc5481646022545a4b7)
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 18, 2010, 15:59
A bucket of ice works quite well, Kate.  :o:
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 18, 2010, 16:00
Very intuitive!  :thumb:
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 18, 2010, 16:11
A bucket of ice might be next Rik, or the fridge as it's just on the other side of the door.

Very intuitive!  :thumb:

We do this every summer with Michael's PC, as his gets very hot. That massive graphics card he has and 3 HDDs. I just bought him another HDD, a 1.5TB.

I will have to get another card for it, and soon, as I can't be without that computer. This is a nice toy
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Simon on April 18, 2010, 16:19
I have to agree, Kate.  I also have a laptop, and treat that more of a toy.  I nearly always use my main computer, as that has everything on it.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 18, 2010, 16:29
That's the key, isn't it. Our main machine is set up just how we like it and with everything on it.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 18, 2010, 16:30
Exactly!

Funny thing is, this has a bigger HDD. I really should get another HDD for my PC.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 18, 2010, 16:37
More RAM, faster processor, bigger hard drive, it's a never ending cycle.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 18, 2010, 16:48
Well, it was with Michael's, but as he's working now, and that I have replaced just about everything on his PC, it's now his problem. I'm done!

My monitor died a couple of weeks ago, so Micheal got his spare TFT monitor back from a friends place where he keeps it for laning. Well I decided to keep it and we went halves in a Dell 23" widescreen that he can keep over there, as I won't let him take his other Dell monitor that I bought him.

$600 monitor is not going to be dragged back and forth.  ::)

And I think I know what was wrong with my monitor, it was the graphics card, the vga port on it.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 18, 2010, 16:59
It might be quite cheap to get that fixed, Kate.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: sam on April 18, 2010, 17:04
It might be quite cheap to get that fixed, Kate.

if you can find someone who has a clue what they are doing... repair men are far and few now.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: Rik on April 18, 2010, 17:06
Tell me about it. :(
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: mistybear on April 18, 2010, 17:10
I'm hoping to pick up a cheap graphics card. I'm not going to try and get it fixed as it probably will cost more.  ::)

Mine was a 6 series, and I certainly don't need anything fancier than that, just more reliable and better cooling.
Title: Re: I bought a laptop.
Post by: sam on April 18, 2010, 17:12
yeah sounds good... though I'd misinterpreted that then - I though you meant the vga port on the monitor had given up the ghost.