Computer is DEAD- looking for best laptops??
 

Got the dreaded Smart hard Drive Error (301)
I been having issues, but it has come to an end. I should of found a way to backup my hard drive. files and pictures are gone it seems.
I went on Youtube (on my brothers computer) and tried this method:
Pressing ESC during reboot, choose f9 boot options, then notebook hard drive, then window 7, and start normally, but i could not get that far, as it seems i was having one of those updates/configurations at the same time. So i cant save/backup.
To note: you cant use safe mode neither to recover. Basically its dead, and even if i could access my hard drive, its only temporary, as the hard drive will die.
So, i looked at Staples, a hard drive cost about 75$ it seems, plus labor..
BTW its a 2010 HP laptop Win7 home premium

Should i just buy a new one??? And what you guys prefer???

No recommendations here on a new hard-drive or a new computer, but depending on how valuable to you
your "lost" files and pictures are, you might want to look into a hard-drive data recovery service. Not inexpensive,
to say the least. But if the data is worth it to you, there's that option.

I'm not a computer expert by any means but until one chimes in....

With the computer being 5+ years old already and having to replace the HD probably costing you close to $150+ when it's all done (unless you do it yourself), I'd probably look into buying a new laptop. I've been happy with my Lenovo but I know there are plenty of other options available.

In your search for a new comput I'd go to slickdeals.com (or .net) and check to see what's out there currently on sale.

If your n/b is more than about 3 yrs old I wouldn't spend too much on it. I just upgraded from a decent n/b, and still good n/b, because my screen bracket broke and it would have been very expensive to fix (relatively speaking). Good n/b's can be had for around 500-600 .....I can't say I like Windows 10 though..

i been using the HP's forever, maybe its time for a change. Been thinking of a DELL or TOSHIBA.
I still can access my old job invoices thru emails i sent out. I do use photobucket, but not all the time and use the net54 free space albulm.
I been looking since yesterday, not wanting to jump on the 1st one. Trying to get opinions here.
I dont like the touch pad ones on the market, nor the flip 2 in 1's. Just a basic laptop
I have seen some Bussiness types with in 7 still, or should i go with WINdows 10??
I am lookking around the 500+ range it seems, about what i spent last time, near 600.
Anything than using my brothers laptop, but it does work.
I only have a Staples and a SamsClub here, but will visit a nearby BestBuy, as they have more options

@Plum: defintly will look into that site, Thanks guys

Asus!

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Just spent the last hour looking, never heard of Asus. But they look nice and affordable in the 550-600 range. Nice 8GB and 1TB hard drives, but i just dont like touch-screens, call me old i guess. I did see their 8.1 win and win 10 versions on Bestbuy
Actually i like the Toshiba in comparison to the other 17.3 screens
i used to have a 15", but i like my last 17.3 better and stick with it.
They have 6GB and 750 hard drive and at the 500 tag price
as for HP and dell, they fall short in the with just 4GB with either 1TB HD or 500 HD.
I however went to on Walmart and found some nice ones:
A nice Dell 19.5 but touchscreen with 6GB/500 HD for 439.00
and also had the same Toshiba at the same price 500.00
I also looked on Brandsmart and found some Asus there too!!
but they run on Windows 8.1, prefer Win 10
tho it was a nice 8GB 1TB hard drive, price?? in store only
BTW- also a Intel processor, not those AMD's

I think my mind is set with Toshiba here. Anyone using one?? any reviews

Their prices are high, but I can't more highly recommend Macbooks to friends, family, and peers. I'm on my second Macbook Pro and the first lasted almost eight years (and I moved on from it not because of performance issues, but because it was beat to hell). I've never once worried about virus protection, a slow or under-performing OS, or being outdated. The only issue I've ever had with mine in over decade was a battery that wouldn't keep a charge in my old laptop. I swung it by the Apple Store and conversation went like this:

"I think my battery is fried."
Tech tests it.
"Yes, it's dead."
Tech pulls new battery from shelf.
"Replacements are $60. Do you still have Apple Care?"
"I honestly can't remember if it's expired or not."
Tech hands me new battery.
"We'll pretend it hasn't."

I won't knock PC users, but I promise once you go Mac you never go back.

I never considered that as a option.
I am not settled on anything yet, as i also consider maybe not going laptop at all again. I will look into these macBooks.

Like you I was PC all the way for a long time. Then mine took a nosedive and I went with Mac cause my wife had one.

Never looked back. User friendly, don't have to worry about malware/spyware/anti virus stuff. That alone saves you 200+ yearly

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I went back to Toshiba this time from Lenovo. I liked the Lenovo a little better but the worst thing seems to be Win10. I can't get my external monitor to work after several calls to Tech Support. I am pretty sure it's Win issue and not Toshiba....but it's getting tiring... I will call them again today. I have bought several different vga to HDM adapters and nothing is working....I think Win10 sucks so far.

Keep the sharing going- its helps me out!
I just looked at the Macbooks on Bestbuy...seem a bit expensive from i see 1k+ for one.
I also looked into the All-in-one ----never heard of them-- a computer built into the monitor, Who comes up with that shat!

So, i was browsing the Desktops, How things change, they dont come with monitors.
Now why i see folks with big screens more often.
Dell has a nice setup i5 12GB 2TB hard drive for 529.99 sounds great, then consider a monitor?? another 150-250 dollars, and not so great, If i do that, might as well go Mac.

Arrgh!!! I also found out that Jan, March , June, October are best months to shop for one.

Just like cards eBay is a great option. I bought my Macbook Pro on eBay about 4-5 years ago, all the bells and whistles, 500 GB HD, right around 600.

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You can get an "older" one. with a sandybridge i5 right there between 400-600

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Chris, if you need to recover that hard drive, may I suggest SpinRite. It's a miracle worker.

https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

I've got a Lenova Yoga 2 Pro. It's kind of a cross between a laptop and a notebook. And, I agree with Leon, Win10 sucks...

@JRay; If i can find a MacBook around 600-750 that be great.
@Daryl: Theres no way i can recover it, It wont let me get to the main screen at all. It happened in the middle of updates as well, and it keeps doing it over and over repeatedly. and then reverts back becuz it was unsuffcessful. I tried the tricks i found on Ebay, they dont work at all. (as i pointed out in my main post)

Does Win10 that bad?? I have heard some not-so good things. Makes me try swing to a Mac it seems.
any other stuff i should know before this wekend guys???

Worst case scenario you can buy a Mac, run boot camp and then run Windows 8 and OS X on the same comp. My dads insurance work is PC based so I set him up on boot camp on his iMac. Easy breezy

10 is garbage, but 7 is not bad, 8 is very good

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Never heard of boot camp (besides the Army) but i did use Win 7 on the the dead one, and thought it was decent. My brother here uses Vista. Seems to be o.k., once he got rid of Norton.
I understand, i be looking at Windows 8 then...as i see the base line for a Mac Pro is 1300 dollars. I also read up that Pro is more powerful and has better display than the Air models. Pro come in 13 & 15 inch screens, was hoping for 17. oh well. i can handle a 15 tho.
Maybe i can sell my 48 Leaf Jackie to cover this expense.

I don't know how you feel about new vs used but it's almost like buying a new car with Macz Because Macs aren't susceptible to mal/spyware its not like your getting
something bogged down and beat up like if you bought a used PC
If the GHZ, Ram and HD are there it's gonna be solid regardless of brand new or a 2012 model.

Vista is garbage too, I'd go 7 or 8 if you decide on boot camp, it actually pre set on Macs if I remember correctly (boot camp that is). 17 used to be offered in older versions. My wife had a Macbook G4 17 but that was almost 10 yrs ago. 15 should suffice just fine.

Sorry that's a bit jumbled, on my phone
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i typically buy new, well because of warranty.
I did look at the new ones, but am i correct? theres no hard drive, because it says like 128 GB flash storage. Isnt that like a flash stick drive? or another term they are using nowadays.

I did loook at the refurbished ones on Amazon. Not too shabby. I looked on Ebay as well, most were bidded up towards 8-900 ranges.

Today is the day..I will visit Walmart, Staples, and if nothing go to bestbuy.

Flash storage is a newer thing. It's called an SSD, solid state drive. It's the combination of 4-8 drives that run in congruence with one another. Much more efficient than a lunky single HD, much faster. SSD is the future.

Sounds like for your purposes id go with a 256 or 500 GB SSD if you can, maybe 2.4ghz (i3 or i5) or faster, 8-12 RAM and you'll be sitting pretty.

New does come with the warranty per se but you can add apple care to any device even used.

Refurbished isn't bad either, eBay still may be your best bang for the buck, just be thorough and good luck!!!

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I STOLE THIS ONE!!!

I went to Staples and all I saw was Windows10...so I asked the tech guy for Windows 8 stuff and he took and browsed on their store computer.
I found one: 15.6" for 629.99 (retail 679.99)
It s the HP 15-ab065us
Look this BABY UP--it has i5 intel 2.2 ghz , 1TB hard drive, 6144MB ddr3 sdram, windows 8.1

BABY was stored in the back and on top marked 'CLEARANCE' because they only display Win10's.
I got this one for 299.99 and it came with a 50$ rebate.
I was OMG!! 250 bucks

To make my day better, I sold my 48 Leaf Jackie today.

Oh wow, yeah that's the steal of the century! Congrats

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Yes it is.
Its it taking a bit to get accustomed..the web address crap is at the bottom, instead of the top.
It comes with many Apps, that I am not used to. Plus it does store documents and photos on cloud, since I had to create a Microsoft account.
I like it, but still have 1 issue, trying to find the word processor/spreadsheet so I can type documents up (like Microsoft Office). I cant find it yet.

You can modify all your browser settings. If you hit the windows button the keyboard it will pull up your start menu, then just search "Microsoft word/powerpoint/outlook" etc

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Should pull it up no issue

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Weird I guess...I found a free trial for Microsoft Office (like my old one) which would cost 99 dollars/year
I also got this 30 day trial for foxit phantomPDF, other than that, its wordpad. Which does work for me.
I must be missing something. I guess I keep on looking.

Believe it or not some Microsoft based products do not come with office pre-installed...I sounds like that may be the case here...

Wordpad has compatibility issues with most other word processors.

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My previous HP lasted for about 5 years, no major problems until it died. I have another HP now that I'm happy with.

Glad to hear man!! Again congrats on a great deal

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Congrats, Chris! Great deal.

I bought myself an HP ProBook 450 G1 about two years ago from New Egg, and got 1/3 off of the $800 + system. I love it. It's a real powerhouse. Every few months, I back up my files to my external HD, and restore it to factory settings.

This one use that Cloud One Drive Storage, so next time, I wont lose anything I guess.
The other day, I went and got Microsoft Office 2016, which cost like 160, but atleast its NOt a 1yr subscription. And I was able to switch my Kaspersky over from my old one.
I love it, Its so much quicker, not sure if I love the Apps thingy as much.
Everything is a new experience.