How To Choose?

[woodelf]

My local - I stress local - "go to" techno guy on hearing about the probs I'm having with my desktop pc re the erratic switching off and on and the "grinding" sound at start-up on tower - both probs I've written about here in AB - advises I back-up on an external device (which I do) and then consider bying a replacement computer! The thing is, I wouldn't know how or what to look for and as he is booked up for months in remote work, I haven't got anyone to ask or help in how to choose and what to look and ask for in a new pc. I'm not interested in anything to do with games or gaming, just a basic pc; emails, documents, websurfing, playing the odd CD and DVD. I guess I would prefer a tower, but I already have keyboard, screen, mouse, etc, but I suppose a new pc would mean new kit like that...I just don't know...and there's the sizes of RAM and other such stuff to think/know about too, but I wouldn't know how to do all that or...all I do have is the itinerary of the "nuts and bolts" which went into my custom built pc. Can anyone help? Ta Muchly Indeed, Keep Well All.

[davebro]

IMHO get yourself a decent make mid-range laptop. Others will have more specific suggestions.

[aelmpvw]

you could buy just a tower and use your existing keyboard, screen, mouse, etc

[woodelf]

Okay Aelpvw, please could you expand on the tower buying possibilities...would Amazon be a good place for me to start looking or some other site with more detailed information. - and Dave, buying a laptop would mean me learning a whole lot of new commands etc and navigation for my screen reader. Many Thanks Both though.

[woodelf]

My apologies to you Aelmpvw, I missed out the m of your name.

[aelmpvw]

opinions obviously differ but I've never had any problems with Acer computers bought from Argos

[woodelf]

Okay A, I'll have a look at those for starters!

[goodgoalie]

Buenchico on here (who knows about these things) always recommends the refurbished computers from this company:

https://accomputerwarehouse.com/

[The Builder]

I have to agree with Goalie. I've bought two from them (thanks to Buenchico.)
It seems to be a small office. As long as they're in the office, you can actually ring and talk to someone to discuss what you need.
I certainly didn't get any hard sell when I spoke to them.
You can choose either new or refurbished.

[woodelf]

Ta for that GG - a recommendation from Buenchico is Totally Well Worth looking into, so I definitely will!

[woodelf]

Another recommendation!...Ta Very Much Builder, I'll need to see their site first though to see if they've got an email address, so I can write my needs, easier for me to write it than say it!

[The Builder]

Just click on "contact" at the top of the home screen Wooders ;o)

[woodelf]

I got the site Builder and the contact, but it has one of those forms which doesn't seem to like my screen reader and isn't very compatible (edit field) with it, so I'll have to write to them instead - and it seems they are 20 mins away from where I used to live when I lived up North!

[The Builder]

Ordinary email Wooders?

[email protected]

[Barsel]

You can buy just the tower without the other things you already have.
If you have a look at these towers at PC World and click on their specifications, you could make a note of what you want from the tower, or you may just find something that suits you here.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tower-pcs/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/317_3055_30057_xx_ba00010707-bv00308577/1_20/price-asc/xx-criteria.html

[woodelf]

Very Many Thanks for the email Builder...may I call you Bob?...sorry if it's an old joke - or no joke at all - I aint good at those, as LIK will no doubt tell you!...I'm just so pleased at getting some really good info here! - and that includes you too Barsel!

[Barsel]

You're welcome woodelf, hope you can find what you are after.

[barry1010]

How old is your computer, woodelf?

[woodelf]

Custom built in 2014, but then had a repair due to massive corruption to hard drive in 2017, with reinstall of Win10 on a new 1TB hard drive.

[woodelf]

Hi Builder, I forgot to ask...the two pcs which you bought from that AC company, were they new or refurbished?...and why two?....both necessary or did one conk out? Just asking and better to be safe than sorry!

[CrapAtCryptics]

Grinding at startup appears to indicate either fan or hard disk issues as they are the only moving parts - replacing either of these in a tower is a fairly simple process - videos on youtube. Back all your personal stuff and passwords etc first. The fan may be causing the shutdown if its overheating.