-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Computer help please 2025
- Thread starter devonjim
- Start date
Its not by any change the cooling fan full of dust and fluff is it? If not it maybe a hard Drive on the way out. Take a look at the fan first and if not ill point you to a disk checking utility
Smudger
master brummie
Thanks Mort, The pc ( aio ) is not very old, less than a year so i doubt if it`s a cooling fan problem? I`m going to try a usb sound card to see if it improves things. I do miss my music, tried listening to A Lark Ascending & it sounded like a Lark with a sore throat!
Richard Dye
master brummie
If it’s only a year old, I doubt the hard drive because most likely it’s solid state. I think a usb sound card is worth a try.
That's why I refuse to buy anything Apple anymore!It is called planned obsolescence. Also called please spend more money now. iPads are currently on 18.3, and are unfortunately not hackable in the way that computers are to get them up past their scheduled expiry. If the iPad will upgrade, then do it. (Settings - General - Update).
Does your wife use an eBay app? If so, she may have some success using the web browser, safari, which should give a similar experience but perhaps a couple of convenience steps away. If this doesn't work, putting chromeon the iPad and using that may work for her.
Anecdotally, I wanted to resurrect an old iPad, and tried to put one of my usual apps onto it. I got a message from the App Store that it wouldn't load, but I could load an older version that was compatible if I wanted to. Loaded fine, just didn't work. Heyho, back into the old kit cupboard with it.
Andrew.
Smudger
master brummie
Hi jukebox, it seems to be from the computer. I bought a usb soundcard which hasn`t helped at all. I hope i don`t have to take the back off to check the fan? I`m tempted to take it to a computer repair shop & probably get ripped off.
Brummie a long time ago
master brummie
Is it a squeak, rattle, buzz, thump or knock ? Is it there from switch on to switch off, or intermittent, or start sometime after power up ? I presume it doesn’t vary with the volume control. Even if you take it for repair, having the answer to that will help the repairman. In my experience, power supply fans are pretty good, but the fans used to cool the processor directly can be ‘cheap’.
Andrew.
Andrew.
Smudger
master brummie
Thanks for all the advice. It turns out it was something really simple, wind noise from my video doorbell, though why after a couple of years it`s suddenly started interfering with my pc ?
Richard Dye
master brummie
Brummie a long time ago
master brummie
Richard Dye
master brummie
Are you living on a ground fault, joking
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
Eric Gibson
master brummie
I got a free one year security update from Microsoft for Win 10.
Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025. Most users worldwide must enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to continue receiving patches; however, customers in the European Economic Area (EEA) will receive an extra year of free security updates following regulatory pressure.
Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025. Most users worldwide must enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to continue receiving patches; however, customers in the European Economic Area (EEA) will receive an extra year of free security updates following regulatory pressure.
Radiorails
master brummie
The easier way is to ditch Microsoft altogether and switch your o/s to a Linux version such as Linux Mint or Zorin. They are designed for newbies and said to be similar in appearance to windows but without windows hassle. My two desktops and Sony laptop used Linux Mint Cinnamon for 10 years now but as I have progressed I now use Linux Fedora 42 work Station on all three. The advantage is I only install the programmes/apps that I want whereas as Windows is less tolerant deciding your choices for you. Linux is open source meaning free although there is a request for donations but donations are not mandatory in most instances. Most Linux distributions (distros) have a Forum for advice and help.
There are a large number of Linux distros available however I have only mentioned those with which I am familiar. Some are tailored for gaming , others for those people who are pc guru and like experimenting I am by no means a computer geek, but I know one or two BHF members are familiar with Linux and maybe they will add to this post.
There are a large number of Linux distros available however I have only mentioned those with which I am familiar. Some are tailored for gaming , others for those people who are pc guru and like experimenting I am by no means a computer geek, but I know one or two BHF members are familiar with Linux and maybe they will add to this post.
Smudger
master brummie
Is it possible to run Microsoft & Linux on the same pc? I don`t want to knock M/S off my pc then install Linux only to find i don`t like it.
Martyn
master brummie
There are plenty of YouTube videos explaining how to get this free security update and it took me less than a minute:
Radiorails
master brummie
Yes, Smudger, it is, that is how I started with Linux. Download your chosen Linux distro using a purchased, or downloaded from the internet, USB DRIVE or from a dedicated DVD. early during the installation you will be asked how you wish to install Linux.
Usually there are three choices = the one you would choose is INSTALL ALONG SIDE WINDOWS
AVOID THE CHOICE WHICH WOULD DELETE ALL ON YOUR DISK.
Brummie a long time ago
master brummie
You can run Linux on your PC without installing it, this is the best way to try it out. This is done by downloading an ISO file to a USB stick and booting from it. To use more words, go to the website for the linux version you want, (and there are a lot). As @Radiorails said above Linux Mint is a good starter for those familiar with windows. On the website, there will be an option to download an ISO file. Take this option and save it to a USB stick, 8GB or bigger to give yourself working room. There will be detailed instructions on the linux web site on how to achieve this if you need them.
Plug the USB stick into your powered off laptop, then power up using whatever key combination your laptop/computer needs to give boot options, this can be an F key, or the ESC key. Your laptop will boot up from the USB stick, and provided you pick the option to try (not install), you can play to your hearts content, because your normal (windows) hard disk won't be touched by linux. One downside is that your laptop will be a little bit slower because of needing to access the USB stick all the time instead of the hard disk.
Everything should work fine, and if you don't like it, or get in a pickle, then just shut down, pull out the USB stick and reboot normally. Voila, windows just as you left it.
You can do this with most linux versions, and they do vary, with emphasis on different use cases.
P.S. Typed this while Radiorails posted the above, but leaving it here anyway, because we agree.
Andrew.
Radiorails
master brummie
Great, Andrew, you added refinement to my post which can only help.
Keith R
master brummie
All very interesting..............I am at my wits end about this cancelling Windows lark. I know absolutely nothing about all this and couldnt even start to get this Linux even though it seems to be an altenative to actually buying another computer with Win 11.Had a look today and can get one for about 400 but theres some with double memory for 750.
All I use one for apart from forums is for downloading and storing photos and when I bought my PC I asked for a good memory and wasnt impressed with what I got........Looking at the usage on my PC I will be needing to save and delete a lot of pics soon (again) but the other thing is empty and always is....no idea what its for BUT if you say I can pick and choose what to have on the PC with Linux it should free up space for me...Is that how it works ?
Another thing I wanted to ask was if windows are not providing security when 10 goes and it means my pC could be attacked ( along with my Direct Debits etc) would this still be the case if I ran Linux with windows still in the B/G ?
Attachments
Brummie a long time ago
master brummie
Excellent. Bonus points if the external drive is disconnected when not in use. Minimum chance of damage or loss when the computer throws a wobbly, or 'someone' has a look around your computer.
1 terabyte will hold a lot of photos, but years old is a bit of a worry. Hard disks (called spinning rust) degrade with use over time.
The further back in time your photos go, the more valuable they become to you. Review your photos folder periodically to make sure you can read them without issue.
I have a loud drum marked BACKUP, but I won't beat it here, it makes people drowsy.
Andrew.
pjmburns
master brummie
Mine is an ssd but I suppose it depends how old the hard drive is.
Brummie a long time ago
master brummie
Yes, and no. Middling capacity, up to, say, 4TB can be solid state depending on price. Lower priced units in pocket sized cases will be laptop hard disk drives. Larger capacity SSDs tend to be still too pricey for normal home use. Laptop hard disks are fading away now, because manufacturers are putting SSDs in laptops more often as standard.
Andrew.