Do I need to upgrade laptop?
Hi,
I have a 3 year old Acer Aspire 5715z running Windows Vista Home Premium, Specs:
Intel Dual Core, 1.86GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
Up to 358 Mobile Intel graphics media accelerator X3100
3GB DDR2
15.4 inch LCD
160GB HDD
DVD super drive
WLAN
The down sides are the size of the hard drive and that is an IDE HDD. It doesn’t perform as well as it used to. Is it time to upgrade and If so what machine/spec machine would be best.
Just a bit of background info on me, I am 15 nearly 16, getting a job soon (just waiting till 16, already hired, i’m not someone who says they are getting one but hasn’t bothered yet). I love computers and software, Would use it for no gaming and the odd bit of video editing.
I have always liked the thought of custom building a desktop, Is this a good idea and would I be better off with a desktop or another laptop?
Many Thanks
Well if you Wish to Start building one.. Start now 
You Will Find everything you need to know on ‘Google’
Example: http://compreviews.about.com/od/tutorials/DoItYourself_Tutorials_on_PC_Hardware.htm
Your Computer Dont Sound too bad Tbh & Since your ‘Computer Literate’..
Why dont you just try Some Fixes for it’s Slowness..
Run Chkdsk on The Hard Drive.
Defragment the C Drive.
Delete any Un-Required Clutter/Files.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Virus/Malware Removal – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Plug a Ethernet lead from your Router/Modem to the Computer..
Pic -> http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Ki2&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1280&bih=790&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=ethernet+leads&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
Restart and keep pressing F8 Or F5.. Select Safe mode with networking..
When it loads Download & Run -> http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.exe
And TDSSKiller -> http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684
That will Automatically Remove Known Malware Blocking Your Security.
Then Download, Install & Update -> http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
Run MalwareBytes and do A FULL System Scan.. Remove anything it Finds.
Also Run this Online Scanner And Let it Remove Any Findings..
http://download.eset.com/special/eos/esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Remove All Temporary Files – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Download, Install & Run CCleaner -> http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/
Go to Tools, Uninstall.. Uninstall anything you KNOW you dont need.
Also Go to Tools, Startup.. Disable Anything you KNOW you dont need.
Then do Two scans in sections.. Cleaner & Registry.. Remove any Findings.
=========== TRY THIS FIRST – EASY OPTION ==========
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Built-In Recovery – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Restart the Computer.. Keep an eye out for Something like..
‘Press F11 For Recovery’ (It May be in a menu, Ex: Hit Esc To See Post Screen)
(Note: “F11″ Is Merely An Example.. It Could Be Any Key Really)
If you Find it.. You have Built-In Recovery.. Press the key it states Then Choose:
1) System Restore – Restores the Computer to a Previous State By Date.
Or..
2) Factory Reset – Restores the computer to it’s Original Factory Settings.
If You Dont Find This Option The Only way to Restore it would be to..
Insert A Operating System Installation CD, Format Then Install The OS.
Hope it helps