Issues with new computer

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
My old all in one HP finally died-it lasted close to 6 yrs

I bought this 'new' slightly used PC from a place for cash. It had been 'pre leased' so it was cheaper. I was shown documentation where the thing was manufactured this yr.

It is another HP all in one, I understand the inherent issues with an all in one, but the last one did go for quite a while, mostly without issues

this one is telling me "activate windows/ go to settings to activate windows"

ok, this is what i get "we can't activate windows on this device right now. you can try activating again later or go to the Store to buy genuine windows. error code 0x800704CF"

does this mean this PC has a "bootleg' copy of windows on it? some other issue? any info would be great so that I can at least SOUND like I know what I ma talking about when I return this thing on monday--thx

upload_2017-6-24_20-56-27.png
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
You can contact Microsoft to verify but it is probably bootleg. If so just wipe it and run Mint.
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
Linux Mint- sorry.

https://linuxmint.com

Alternately, try Elementary OS

https://elementary.io

Be aware in both cases these are Linux, so there may be driver issues and such depending on your hardware. The alternative is to contact MS, verify if it is indeed bootleg and if it is buy a Windows license.
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
Linux Mint- sorry.

https://linuxmint.com

Alternately, try Elementary OS

https://elementary.io

Be aware in both cases these are Linux, so there may be driver issues and such depending on your hardware. The alternative is to contact MS, verify if it is indeed bootleg and if it is buy a Windows license.

yeah....here is what I am thinking happened

whoever was leasing this thing did something to it that effected the hardware. besides the license issue, i started getting thermal shutdown warnings, and then at diff times the thing would flash and then restart randomly without doing an updt or anything. then i started getting arnings that diff programs 9or whatever) were failing due to 'unspecified failures with your system". like the 'RADEON WATTMAN' failed becasue of this.

idk what that is, but i took it back, they insisted that I did something to it. they even said-after i left it there for them to check-that my trying to download linux was the REASON for the issues!!!

basically, i think someone knows it is a dud and they are just trying to dump it on somebody, but they could just get it coded out and return it for credit

and they don't seem to understand that when their first leasee registered the PC and the license on it, and then when they got it back and wiped it without making a copy of the license (they insisted their was still a MS sticker with the license on the PC shell! Nope--thats like so 2007 or something! ) then the license is gone.

it took them calling HP to verify this-even though i didn't get the terms right, i was basically correct.

got my money back

i bought my first laptop instead

it is a lenovo ideapad 320-15abr

https://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-ideapad-320-15-inch/preview/

idk who is paying over $400 for it; i got mine from WMART for $305 with tax

i don't like laptops because of the keyboard placement. so i hooked up my old keyboard and mouse and put the laptop up on a monitor stand! working great so far in this setup

any calls on how long this laptop may last depending on the brand/model and my basic homeowner use (no gaming, no heavy streaming ,etc)?
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
I am a 'animal' who sometimes requires validation! Especially with tech stuff idk much about :) so someone please feel free to say something!!!
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
Ideapads are okay machines. Not as durable as ThinkPads but then again no other laptop matches ThinkPads in the build department.
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
Ideapads are okay machines. Not as durable as ThinkPads but then again no other laptop matches ThinkPads in the build department.

and I KNOW it is a very broad question but given its specs, etc, how long is the expected lifespan of one of these things?
 

Lord Ba'al

Well Known GateFan
and I KNOW it is a very broad question but given its specs, etc, how long is the expected lifespan of one of these things?

I was trying to look up the specs for your lenovo ideapad 320-15abr but this model does not appear to actually exist. At least Lenovo doesn't seem to know about it. Please do the following.

  1. Type in "dxdiag" (without the quotation marks) in your Windows search field and hit the Enter key.
  2. If it asks if you want to have checked whether the drivers are digitally signed, select "yes", or "no" whichever you prefer.
  3. A window will pop up showing details about the components of your system.
  4. Select the option to save all information.
  5. Store it as a text file in an easy to reach location.
  6. Open the text file.
  7. Copy all. (Ctrl + A then Ctrl + C)
  8. Paste all of it in your reply here.

That way we can have a look at what we're dealing with here.
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
I was trying to look up the specs for your lenovo ideapad 320-15abr but this model does not appear to actually exist. At least Lenovo doesn't seem to know about it. Please do the following.

  1. Type in "dxdiag" (without the quotation marks) in your Windows search field and hit the Enter key.
  2. If it asks if you want to have checked whether the drivers are digitally signed, select "yes", or "no" whichever you prefer.
  3. A window will pop up showing details about the components of your system.
  4. Select the option to save all information.
  5. Store it as a text file in an easy to reach location.
  6. Open the text file.
  7. Copy all. (Ctrl + A then Ctrl + C)
  8. Paste all of it in your reply here.

That way we can have a look at what we're dealing with here.

just going by what is printed in the user's manual--but here is all the 'geekspeak' for you :) thanks!


------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/29/2017, 16:05:16
Machine name: LAPTOP-0IIQ0F56
Machine Id: {452DB902-0A98-4012-BCDB-007893B8E7E2}
Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 14393) (14393.rs1_release.161220-1747)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: LENOVO
System Model: 80XR
BIOS: 5RCN15WW
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU N3350 @ 1.10GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.1GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3920MB RAM
Page File: 3453MB used, 1874MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 12
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
Miracast: Available, with HDCP
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Not Supported
DxDiag Version: 10.00.14393.0000 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_5A85&SUBSYS_39BF17AA&REV_0B
Device Status: 0180200A [DN_DRIVER_LOADED|DN_STARTED|DN_DISABLEABLE|DN_NT_ENUMERATOR|DN_NT_DRIVER]
Device Problem Code: No Problem
Driver Problem Code: Unknown
Display Memory: 2088 MB
Dedicated Memory: 128 MB
Shared Memory: 1960 MB
Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: CMN15DB
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (60.003Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\igdlh64.inf_amd64_90817af34f3d377a\igdumdim64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\igdlh64.inf_amd64_90817af34f3d377a\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\igdlh64.inf_amd64_90817af34f3d377a\igd10iumd64.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\igdlh64.inf_amd64_90817af34f3d377a\igd12umd64.dll
Driver File Version: 21.20.0016.4627 (English)
Driver Version: 21.20.16.4627
DDI Version: 12
Feature Levels: 12_1,12_0,11_1,11_0,10_1,10_0,9_3,9_2,9_1
Driver Model: WDDM 2.1
Graphics Preemption: Triangle
Compute Preemption: Thread
Miracast: Supported
Hybrid Graphics GPU: Integrated
Power P-states: Not Supported
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/8/2017 8:00:00 PM, 94226920 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: Unknown
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-19C5-11CF-0966-AF19B0C2D835}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x5A85
SubSys ID: 0x39BF17AA
Revision ID: 0x000B
Driver Strong Name: oem6.inf:5f63e53438f3d47b:iBXTD_w10_DS:21.20.16.4627:pci\ven_8086&dev_5a85&subsys_39bf17aa
Rank Of Driver: 00D10001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeWMV9_C ModeVC1_C
DXVA2 Modes: DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_VLD DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_IDCT DXVA2_ModeVC1_D2010 DXVA2_ModeWMV9_IDCT DXVA2_ModeVC1_IDCT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_Progressive_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Multiview_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeHEVC_VLD_Main DXVA2_ModeHEVC_VLD_Main10
Device Name: HIDI2C Device
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
i could only post a portion, GF's would not let me post any larger amount of text

hopefully it is the important part
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
i could only post a portion, GF's would not let me post any larger amount of text

hopefully it is the important part

It's TMI (too much information), but the relevant info is there. Just the System Information part is relevant. But Lord Ba'al did give a good suggestion, since it outputs the system info. :) I hate to tell you, that computer is probably close to death. You can extend it's life with some inexpensive tweaks, as long as the motherboard is still okay. That means you have not seen more than a couple of blue screens in the past year or more.

WHY:

Relevant info is (my comments in blue):

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU N3350 @ 1.10GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.1GHz This is very slow, and it is only a dual core. In comparison, most smartphone processors are faster.
Memory: 4096MB RAM This is passable, but because of the below info which shows that the graphics card shares some of this, not so good.
Available OS Memory: 3920MB RAM

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics Very limited graphics capability, uses shared memory.
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
DAC type: Internal

Display Memory: 2088 MB Part of this is shared system RAM. Not good.
Dedicated Memory: 128 MB :apathy:
Shared Memory
: 1960 MB
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p)
(60.003Hz) Not full HD, this is okay if you are okay with it.

RECOMMENDATION:

Install Linux Mint 17.3 on it (not the newest one which is 18).

You will bring it back to life and it will feel MUCH more powerful than it is.
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
OM he just got it on sale at WalMart.

That is a very low end machine. The N3350 is the Kaby Lake version of the Celeron, which means that the 1.1 Ghz is not its real frequency but rather its "rest" frequency. It's "burst" frequency is 2.4 Ghz. So that is not horrible. But the only 4 GB of RAM in conjunction with integrated graphics means that for anything over a light load it is going to max the RAM out and start paging off of the hard drive. And at only $300 I bet that laptop has a slow as a slug mechanical HDD.

Sorry about the geek-speak - just saying this is a super low end machine only good for reading email and browsing. Mint 17 requires 2 GB of RAM so it is passable through pushing the limit (just like Win 10 which likewise needs 2 GB of RAM). Between the two though, Mint probably is going to be a bit more efficient on such low end hardware.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm guessing the RAM is soldered on and possibly the HDD is too. If not just popping in 4 more GB of RAM would do wonders.
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
low end machine only good for reading email and browsing

that is pretty much all that i do anyhow :)

i don't even really use YT on here, I do that on the ROKU tv


the thing is:

i am (obviously!!! if you haven't figured this out about me by now, well.....) not into using any computer for really anything but very basic stuff--no gaming, no photo shopping no writing code, no none of that stuff you guys do!

I am getting pretty tired of buying computers that are basically meant to throw away for higher and higher prices each time

the HP23 I had was --IMO-a very reliable machine and I believe I owned it for a good 5 yrs or more. I paid -I think,around $600 for it new. I knew the issues with all in ones, so I didn't buy a cheaper one for that reason

in fact,about the same time, I bought a dell all in one for my son. it cost around $350 and lasted for about 15 months!

I would really like another HP23 but I can't find one around here

I am limited to walmart and office depot for choices. of course there is online as a last option

i do know a guy who builds gaming computers- he made one for my son and its pretty damned cool. my son has no issues with speed or memory or graphics or any of the other stuff he prattles on about. maybe when this laptop dies, i 'll have him build me a good desktop

but then its back to a tower/monitor configuration-and that is space needed that i am no loner really wanting to dedicate to that.

so, i think in our ever expanding throw away society- I made a decent buy, for my needs

thanks though for the information!! :loyal:
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
Hey, if those are your uses then it is a good buy.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
OM he just got it on sale at WalMart.

That is a very low end machine. The N3350 is the Kaby Lake version of the Celeron, which means that the 1.1 Ghz is not its real frequency but rather its "rest" frequency. It's "burst" frequency is 2.4 Ghz. So that is not horrible. But the only 4 GB of RAM in conjunction with integrated graphics means that for anything over a light load it is going to max the RAM out and start paging off of the hard drive. And at only $300 I bet that laptop has a slow as a slug mechanical HDD.

Sorry about the geek-speak - just saying this is a super low end machine only good for reading email and browsing. Mint 17 requires 2 GB of RAM so it is passable through pushing the limit (just like Win 10 which likewise needs 2 GB of RAM). Between the two though, Mint probably is going to be a bit more efficient on such low end hardware.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm guessing the RAM is soldered on and possibly the HDD is too. If not just popping in 4 more GB of RAM would do wonders.

I agree with this (the bolded), and also your comments. It has the same power capability as a netbook, so it will be okay for most things. I recommended Linux because Linux does not load up it's system folders with a bunch of logs and it does not have it's internet browser integrated into the OS and a host of other things that make it a better foundation for such a machine. With Chrome on it, he will be able to watch all the online streaming stuff, surf here (of course), watch YouTube and Hulu and also use the LibreOffice that comes with it. :) It stays stable longer and does not lose speed over time like Windows does.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
I think, for me, anything else would be like going deer hunting with a machine gun or fishing with dynamite :)

It will be fine for how you use it. Windows on it might get slower over time (WILL get slower over time).
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
I agree with this (the bolded), and also your comments. It has the same power capability as a netbook, so it will be okay for most things. I recommended Linux because Linux does not load up it's system folders with a bunch of logs and it does not have it's internet browser integrated into the OS and a host of other things that make it a better foundation for such a machine. With Chrome on it, he will be able to watch all the online streaming stuff, surf here (of course), watch YouTube and Hulu and also use the LibreOffice that comes with it. :) It stays stable longer and does not lose speed over time like Windows does.

i am already using chrome

if i install linux mint, hw to go about getting windows off the machine?
 

YJ02

Well Known GateFan
and, it is a laptop, so i have low expectations (i have never liked laptops)
 
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