- Go to HP's support website, enter your machine serial and find the downloads page. Download and run/install the latest system BIOS for your specific laptop. There will be instructions. Follow them to the letter.
- HP's have onboard diagnostics. Not entirely sure which key brings up the boot menu (ESC I think?) but the option should be in there. Run it and make sure the hardware is still good.
- Got any canned air? Hold your breath and blow out the fan thoroughly from both directions.
- 8GB of system RAM is plenty for your uses so forget about upgrading it and save your money.
- Look to see how much space is being taken up on that 1TB drive it came with. It's possible if not probable that you're not using anywhere near that much. Unless you're a movie/picture/game hoarder, 500GB is usually plenty. This gives you cheaper options.
- Back up all your stuff. Ask around if you need help.
- Is it running Windows 10? Great. If not...
- Is it running Windows 7/8/8.1? Find the license key sticker. It may be under the battery if it's removable. Take a good clear pic of it.
- Either way, find out what flavor of Windows it's running. 32bit (doubtful) vs 64bit. Home vs Pro.
- Replace that old 2.5" spinning hard drive with a 2.5" SSD in the size of your choice. $50-$65 for a good 500GB model, $100 or thereabouts for a 1TB. Easy but beyond the scope of this.
- Reinstall Windows 10 in the correct flavor using this tool and instructions HERE . Activate 10 with the 7/8/8.1 license key if necessary. Easy but also beyond the scope of this.
- Enjoy getting a few more years out of that laptop with minimal time and money invested. You may even enjoy the process and learn a thing or two.
New Lap Top.......suggestions please.
- Thread starter totegoat
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mine must be breaking down from all the hammers banging on it.
Nice!
Shoot, I still see the old HP 4xxx series printers working in almost every office I've ever been to. The M402 series seem to be a favorite as well.
We have a bunch of 4xxx printers at work. In fact at one point a few months back I needed a printer for a specific piece of legacy HP software, and it was easiest to make an HP printer work for it. I asked and they said "Oh yeah, we have probably 20 of them sitting here and probably better than 100 across campus. People sometimes want newer ones, but these things won't die."
They did dump a few 6 series LaserJets a while back that had just worn to the point that they would no longer reliably feed paper. I actually asked and was allowed to scavenge the JetDirect interface cards out of them. The JetDirect cards can be installed in HP 6890 Gas Chromatographs to add ethernet communication to them. Agilent(the former HP test and measurement division spun off into a separate company) will sell you a JetDirect card that's a bit slicker and easier to use, but it's $1K vs. a freebie from a junk printer.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Based on the products I have experience with I’d avoid any HP or Dell products. I’m strictly Apple now though so I won’t have to worry about it. I’m currently saving up for a MacBook haven’t decided whether I want the Air or Pro yet. If going with Windows then Lenovo because my Lenovo is currently 6 years old and still going great.
MacBook Air M1 cant go wrong, can be bought for as little as $899 on sale at Best Buy at any given time, including today 7/24/21
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FWIW, I wouldn't buy anything other than a Mac for myself, but if I needed a new Windows laptop I'd buy a Thinkpad T series and not think twice about it...
WALMART.com
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
If you don't have a budget and it seems you're after longevity and in for a change, why not jump into Mac world as suggested above?
I try to keep costs low and buy refurbs and have never had an issue in almost 20yrs of doing so.
My last two notebook purchases were Acer Chromebooks. 315 series. Very nice machines for under $200. I won't buy another windows machine unless I have to.
I try to keep costs low and buy refurbs and have never had an issue in almost 20yrs of doing so.
My last two notebook purchases were Acer Chromebooks. 315 series. Very nice machines for under $200. I won't buy another windows machine unless I have to.
just instal linux on the current one, and i'll be good to go for a while. Windows it to resource heavy. if you need windows only apps you can run them in a Virtual machine called openbox.
else i'd really look at an apple. MAcbook Pro. you need windows spcific apps you can use openbox for a VM or you can dual boot.
else i'd really look at an apple. MAcbook Pro. you need windows spcific apps you can use openbox for a VM or you can dual boot.
If you need VMs, M1 honestly isn't the way to go now on a new Mac.
My old 2012 MBP(which was my primary computer up until February of this year) is still in regular use for the stuff I need to do in VMs, although increasingly I've gone to just running computers that can do stuff natively rather than through a VM if I'm going to have to use a separate computer. I have an old Dell from work for Windows, and use a 2008 MacBook Pro for Snow Leopard(which I was using to run PPC applications).
Seems it should be nice and fast. Just sucks Intel 10th gen chips in laptops top out at only 4 cores. AMD has 6 and 8 core laptop chips out that are just as efficient as an Intel 4 core.
HP enterprise / business class stuff is quite good.
Their consumer products are absolute junk… to top it off their customer service is horrendous and deliverered with a condescension and rudeness… never ever again…
Their consumer products are absolute junk… to top it off their customer service is horrendous and deliverered with a condescension and rudeness… never ever again…
To be fair Intel did upgrade to Xe graphics on this laptop and it has 16GB ram and 512GB SSD. It should last a while for office machine although the graphics and raw power is no match for 6-8 core Ryzen, or any laptop with a dedicated GPU like the gaming or workstation laptops. They are likely not needed for non gaming or non engineering use anyways.
Don't toss the old laptop away yet though, it likely can be fixed or upgrade or sold for some decent value in the shortage these days.
if you like HP this model would save you some green.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-15-6-...did=&affiliates_ad_id=567111&campaign_id=9383
$429
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-15-6-...did=&affiliates_ad_id=567111&campaign_id=9383
$429
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