Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread II

Some SSDs come with data migration software, if you plug both the SSD and HDD into a desktop you can run the software which will copy the OS install and everything to the SSD, the you put that into the laptop. If your SSD manufacturer doesn't provide software for this, you can do it with freely available software, it's just a bit more work to make sure the partitions are aligned and such.

Alternatively, if you get Win8 install media from anywhere, you can do a clean install on the SSD in the laptop using the license key on the laptop. You can probably create some recovery media onto a usb key using the OEM tools on the laptop, then use that to install back onto the SSD.
 
Windows Backup should do the job just fine assuming the SSD is big enough. If you have a lot of stuff and your hardware permits, consider a SSD as a system drive and keeping a HD for data.
 
Cool cool

I just checked out our computer store here at work, where I'd get a 5% discount and super awesome financing (1% rate, deducted from my paycheque each month, etc.) and the guy working there recommended

A Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition laptop. The only downside seems that it's a bit heavy and the battery life doesn't seem to be that great..

But it's $899.99 - 5% discount, and the specs seem really good: 1080p "resolution", i7 processor, 8gb ram, 15.6" display, 1TB drive and a 32GB mSATA SSD drive (a cache drive I'm guessing but it doesn't specify), and a radeon HD 7730M 2GB card

This would cost me about $850.. Seems like a pretty good deal, but I'm doing more research and looking around more.

I also like that VAIO that was linked earlier. Is there anything inherently bad about DELL or Inspiron laptops that I should know about?
 
That does sound good, though I've heard bad things about Dell in general and specifically their laptops for overheating.
 
I think this is what I'm going to get. I'll have $25 or whatever deducted from each month's pay over 3 years or whatever .. I will not notice that at all, so it'll be like getting a free laptop. :goodjob: I know that sort of thing can be a slippery slope, but I almost never treat myself to gadgets.. and all in all this thing's pretty cheap..

I went to Costco today and took a look at their laptops and started comparing specs to the Dell machine.. Nothing seemed to measure up and Costco is supposed to have decent prices. I asked a Costco dude some questions and turns out he's a huge gamer - we talked for 20 minutes about laptops.

I now know way too much about laptops, but I guess in the end it was all worth it. Thanks to all who helped, including fat costco gamer guy!

And if anyone sees something wrong with that Dell I picked out, such as the overheating thing (I looked it up and a couple hits came up but not many, so I'm not too concerned), let me know.. I'm putting the order in at some point tomorrow, so there'd still be time to back out.. But I feel like I've done my due diligence and research. It's time to move on and put this damn order in and stop bothering you nice people with my stupid questions
 
Keep it well-ventilated and the fans cleaned out and an eye on the temperature and you'll be fine there :)
 
You could always get a cooling pad to place it on when you are gaming or otherwise engaged in demanding programs.

But yeah, make sure it's fans are clean. Way back when I had a laptop overheat multiple times and didn't clean it(noob). While running it smelt like diesel exhaust cause it was overheating. :|
 
warpus said:
I think this is what I'm going to get. I'll have $25 or whatever deducted from each month's pay over 3 years or whatever .. I will not notice that at all, so it'll be like getting a free laptop. :goodjob:
Click to expand...

You're awesome warpus :lol:
 
Dell is kind of like a roller coaster in terms of their low-end (Inspiron) quality. Sometimes, it's surprisingly good. Other times, it's below average. I can't tell you where it's at now, as I haven't been following laptops closely lately. The only issue I've had with my Inspiron over 5.5 years is that if I don't dust it every year and a half or so, it gets toasty. Though I'd consider 5.5 years ago to be at or at the high point of the Inspiron roller coaster.

On the other hand, even when they're at low points they're probably at least as good of a bit as Acer or HP's low-end models.

Sounds like a decent plan as long as you know you plan to stay with the company for 3 years. I know someone who took a laptop loan at the company I work for but then left 6 months later and had to pay off the remainder of the loan upon leaving (which wasn't really that big of a deal, but that depends on your financial state at the time).
 
I'm want to buy more RAM for my PC. What are the important factors, considering I keep the existing ones in my PC?
 
Okay, all of a sudden, my 32 bit piece of vista crap laptop just simply flat out locks the screen/computer after a few minutes of inactivity, even though I DID NOT CHANGE A SINGLE SETTING AND IT HASN'T BEEN CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET AT ALL SINCE SUNDAY AND THE WIRELESS CARD IS TURNED OFF! So there is no god damn way this could be malware. Period. I've left it idle and inactive numerous times during the week for far longer stretches of time without trouble until tonight. [pissed]

And yes, my sleep and hibernation thingy's are turned off, along with every other thingy that takes me to the pw screen after a while. I like my real-time alien sunsets. :p
 
Check the temperature. Sometimes computers will shut themselves down if they start overheating. Usually they make terrible noises though, but can't hurt to check.
 
aimeeandbeatles said:
Check the temperature. Sometimes computers will shut themselves down if they start overheating. Usually they make terrible noises though, but can't hurt to check.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's how the motherboard on my gaming laptop died, I think. :(

I took it somewhere, and somehow the power switch on the external cooling stand got set to off and I didn't think to check the switch when I got back, and there it went. :(

So nowadays I try to be more mindful of it, and when I got those issues earlier tonight, I checked it and it was on, so I dunno if it was temperature related. :dunno:
 
Is there a way to prevent an application trying to contact a specific website? (Developer went AWOL and website's been taken over by spammers, no option to disable auto-checking for updates, application is an internet tool so I can't just firewall it completely, and haven't found a suitable replacement yet.) I suppose I could edit the HOSTS file, but this seems like a messy workaround.
 
Why can't you use your firewall to block the address your internet application uses to check for updates?

Otherwise try starting the program while your PC is offline, most applications check for updates when they are first launched.
 
Well I looked in Windows Firewall but couldnt see anything.
 
I use Comodo Firewall, it will show you a detailed listing of each and every connection you PC has to the internet and also allow you to manually terminate or block any of those connections you choose.

Comodo Firewall is free and comes from a trust worthy brand in the PC security business Comodo's paid anti virus scored better than most brand named solutions such as Norton 360.

http://www.comodo.com/
 
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