16-06-2022, 09:31
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#1
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To err is human
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cornwall
Age: 80
Services: yearly MOT
Posts: 7,227
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Is my laptop doomed?
Recently I have been having problems with my Acer laptop, it's a few years old. Start up takes 10 minutes, buttons on task bar not working ie speakers, battery etc. I have run Malwarebytes for viruses, emptied the cache, removed various apps, and did a disk clean up, and maximised the drives, but nothing seems to work. Would resetting it work, or is there anything else I can try? I would hate to lose all my photos etc, is it on it's way out? Help!!!!
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16-06-2022, 09:42
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#2
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cf.mega poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Up North - Where It's Grim
Age: 56
Posts: 2,344
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
I'd connect an external drive (portable HDD, usb data stick etc) and get a copy of all the stuff I didn't want to loose, then if it does die or you need to wipe it clean and start again you've not lost everything. And I'd do it sooner rather than later. Depending on how much stuff you've got that you want to keep, I'd also think about cloud storage - if you've got a Gmail account you get a few gig of cloud storage so you could consider that.
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16-06-2022, 09:59
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#3
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cf.mega poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kairdiff-by-the-sea
Age: 68
Services: TVXL BBXL Superhub 2ac (wired) 1Tb Tivo
Posts: 9,813
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
I've seen a few laptops that were overheating due to gunge in the cooling systems. A PITA to sort out as it can mean total dismantling, so I pointed the owners to a local guy who specialises in the task.
But I do see a lot of laptops and PCs with loads of stuff loading at boot. And that chews up RAM as well as slow the boot.
Depending on how much stuff you want to save from the machine, it could mean using an external hard drive, or as I do, USB memory sticks. I have automatic daily backups of critical files to 3 USB sticks using the freeware FBackup.
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16-06-2022, 12:02
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#4
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Just a Geek
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,602
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
you can do a reset and select save user files. Are the photos in Pictures in my docs or some other folder?
Best course is to back up somewhere if possible but if not the reset and save is an option
The simplist thing to try is set up a new user and see if that fixes it. Corrupted User files can cause all sorts of issues
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16-06-2022, 12:08
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#5
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Hello !
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Somewhere
Services: Sky, AppleTV, Netflix
Posts: 16,637
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
I'd agree with GrimUpNorth. Connect a removal USB drive and copy over anything you want to save.
Windows can slow down / get corrupted over time so I always recommend a full re-install of Windows every couple of years.
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16-06-2022, 19:25
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#6
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Dr Pepper Addict
Cable Forum Team
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Nottingham
Age: 61
Services: Flextel SIP : Sky Mobile : Sky Q TV : VM BB (1000 Mbps) : Aquiss FTTP (330 Mbps)
Posts: 27,754
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Every couple of years seems a bit extreme, I've run laptops and desktops for many years without such issues. Laptops do seem to suffer more than desktops.
__________________
Baby, I was born this way.
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16-06-2022, 20:02
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#7
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Just a Geek
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,602
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul
Every couple of years seems a bit extreme, I've run laptops and desktops for many years without such issues. Laptops do seem to suffer more than desktops.
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Ironically one the worst places you can use a laptop in on your lap
People also use them on their beds. Just sucking in all that dust and such
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17-06-2022, 08:09
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#8
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To err is human
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cornwall
Age: 80
Services: yearly MOT
Posts: 7,227
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Thank you all for your replies. I'm back in action again, copied my photos and documents onto a memory stick. Then went to settings/recovery/reset, took the best part of the night but it reloaded Windows. Now works a treat but I have to start again with my Bookmarks and installed apps, however I can take my time doing that.
Btw it didn't delete my photos.
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17-06-2022, 10:41
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#9
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Just a Geek
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,602
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
I did say you can reset and save user files
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18-06-2022, 08:49
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#10
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To err is human
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cornwall
Age: 80
Services: yearly MOT
Posts: 7,227
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaymoss
I did say you can reset and save user files
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You did Jaymoss, and I followed your instructions, thank you. Also documents were also not deleted as well as photos.
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18-06-2022, 10:59
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#11
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Just a Geek
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,602
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinky
You did Jaymoss, and I followed your instructions, thank you. Also documents were also not deleted as well as photos.
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Excellent stuff
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18-06-2022, 13:31
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#12
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Dr Pepper Addict
Cable Forum Team
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Nottingham
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
I dont know what browser you use, but Firefox allows you to save [export] your bookmarks, and reimport them later, others may do this as well (too late now of course, but perhaps useful for the future).
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Baby, I was born this way.
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18-06-2022, 13:43
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#13
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Just a Geek
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,602
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Firefox and Chrome sync does it all automatically and will restore once logged back in (including extensions and settings)
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18-06-2022, 19:27
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#14
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To err is human
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cornwall
Age: 80
Services: yearly MOT
Posts: 7,227
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul
I dont know what browser you use, but Firefox allows you to save [export] your bookmarks, and reimport them later, others may do this as well (too late now of course, but perhaps useful for the future).
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaymoss
Firefox and Chrome sync does it all automatically and will restore once logged back in (including extensions and settings)
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Blimey you are so clever, hence the reason I keep coming back here year after year
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01-07-2022, 16:41
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#15
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cf.member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: UK
Services: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+
Posts: 1
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Re: Is my laptop doomed?
A very slow computer may be a sign of a failing hard drive (assuming your Acer has a HDD). It might be worth testing it - SeaTools or WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic are free and will test any HDD.
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