My computer may have taken a crap.

[John Schmidt]

Won't boot up, keeps asking for boot disc and has other gooblygook written up there. I've gone into the boot menu at start up but nothing appears changed. It's a Gateway, about 11 yrs. old, never a problem with anything except the operator.    I switched to the "W-10" version a couple years ago when you could get it for free downloaded from MS. Now I'm using my laptop which was used but gone through before I got it last year and had them install a large SSD in place of the turntable HD. It also has W-10 but never got a boot disc in either instance. Hate to unhook everything to haul it in for a ckup, any suggestions....or should I just bite the bullet and replace it. I already have a used Dell with an earlier sysem in it, now sitting in the garage gathering dust...need to get rid of it as well. Maybe this one can take its place. 

[John Schmidt]

Well, I got it working again, not sure why. It was telling me this: AHCI Port O(or zero?) device error.

I shut down and started again, going into the boot menu and this time chose to boot via compact...or something like that, forget the exact terminology. Obviously it didn't start on that cuz it's a desktop PC. But at least I was getting some computer action, before it just sat there and no action at all showing. After a few minutes it stopped so I shut down manually and restarted, still going to the boot menu. Chose the usual HD booting and I'll be danged...away she went. I got all kinds of computer action judging by the light and searching noise and I'm now typing this on the PC. Have no idea what I did, maybe it's time to replace or repair before I or any tech can't access stuff on the HD.

I used to be able to have it automatically backup to my external HD, but it was installed under the old system...W-XP I believe, and doesn't want to work with W-10. If anyone knows the magic words to say to get it to work with "10" please share. For now it just sits and winks at me but won't work to backup.

[scooperhsd]

It maybe some software that won't work with the old external HD or with Windows 10.

New computer - well - that has it advantages, and there are possiblilities for other things, depending on your use. Chromebooks can do what most people use them for, browsing the web, light word processing / spreadsheets, etc. They also boot MUCH faster than most PCs, and they are portable. The flip side is that they are just about useless without a network connection. My experiance here is using a USB memory stick loaded with a version of OS / browser (Google Chrome) on a regular Windows laptop.

If you can tell us what kind of use you do, maybe Serk or me (and maybe some others who are IT types) can give you some better recommendations. If you have some other considerations, please express them as well. New laptops / CHromebooks can be found for less than $300 that most people would find useful.

[John Schmidt]

My use is nothing fancy anymore, got away from the heavy stuff when I retired 16 years ago. Now, it's just the usual nosey browsing, emails, buying/selling....simple stuff, no gaming. I do have a laptop with W10 on it, works great but don't care for it on a daily basis unless traveling. I have a lot of pictures on this unit so wouldn't want to lose them. As for the desktop replacement, I want a large memory & HD, and fairly fast.

[scooperhsd]

With those tasks in mind, I'd recommend a small form factor business type machine, 1 TB hard drive, 8 or 16 GB RAM, and Win 10 (home or Pro) 64 bit. It goes without saying to have plenty of USB2 / USB3 ports. If you need a new monitor, get a 19-24 inch LCD  display. What ever you're using for sound (speakers, headphones) should transfer to the new computer easy enough. Such a computer should be available for $300 - $600 refurbished, more if new. There is not much to choose between the different manufacturers on this type of machine.

You might also consider getting a replacement backup drive (USB3 would be best for speed purposes), along with up to date backup software.

[cookiedough]

yep get those pics and any documents save to a SD card or USB thumbdrive before it is too late.  I bit the bullet on my 12+ year old windows VISTA laptop and bought a W10 similar 17 inch HP laptop.  boy,  this new one is thinner and lighter by about 2-3 lbs. lighter than than my old HP 17 inch laptop which still works.

I tried several times when FREE to go from W vista to W10 and after several hours of running, errored out and would not take W10 so gave up.

[scooperhsd]

Cookie - my wife has an old Dell laptop that came with Vista (we bought it at Sam's), and the only way we were able to upgrade to Win7 was to replace the HD and load fresh. It would probably require the same strategy to go to WIn10, since it won't do that either.

John - you can probably find what you need in a local office supply store (if they are open- otherwise when they do). Or see what you can find on Amazon.

[John Schmidt]

Scooper, this is what has appeared a few times while trying to get it to boot up in the morning: "AHCI Port 0 device error." After a few minutes it will continue if I hit F12 where it will eventually tell me no link established. I left it on last night instead of into sleep mode and it was messed up this morning when I turned on the monitor. Was finally able to get it to boot up after numerous times.

Any idea what it's telling me? I'm thinking if I had a boot disc it would correct itself.

[Jess from VA]

I am a computer idiot, but when I had problems in the past, I could hit (F-something) quickly on startup and start in safe mode.  Fixes and checks and things could be done in safe mode.  The puter ran fine in safe mode, though a bit dumbed down.

[scooperhsd]

Scooper, this is what has appeared a few times while trying to get it to boot up in the morning: "AHCI Port 0 device error." After a few minutes it will continue if I hit F12 where it will eventually tell me no link established. I left it on last night instead of into sleep mode and it was messed up this morning when I turned on the monitor. Was finally able to get it to boot up after numerous times.

Any idea what it's telling me? I'm thinking if I had a boot disc it would correct itself.

I'm thinking it's saying your boot drive is slowly failing. I don't think a boot disc would fix it - you need either a new boot device or a new computer. At 11 years old - your PC has served you well for a long time. But you will probably be amazed on how much better a replacement machine will run.

You could do some looking on the internet for some diagnostics that can be booted from a USB drive (assuming your PC BIOS supports this), or try some of the alternatives that can boot from a USB drive. That would narrow down the actual issue. I have one USB stick that will boot Linux Ubuntu 18.something, and another that will boot a clone of a Chromebook. The Ubuntu one should allow you to copy important stuff to a working backup drive.

[John Schmidt]

I am a computer idiot, but when I had problems in the past, I could hit (F-something) quickly on startup and start in safe mode.  Fixes and checks and things could be done in safe mode.  The puter ran fine in safe mode, though a bit dumbed down.

Couldn't be any more dumb than me re. 'puter issues.  

Guess it's time to go shopping.

[Willow]

I am a computer idiot, but when I had problems in the past, I could hit (F-something) quickly on startup and start in safe mode.  Fixes and checks and things could be done in safe mode.  The puter ran fine in safe mode, though a bit dumbed down.

Couldn't be any more dumb than me re. 'puter issues.  

Guess it's time to go shopping.

Best buy does well for home machines.  Least costly if you only do internet and light word processing is probably a Chrome Book.  You don't really need a tower computer.  Buy a laptop you can take with you when you go and ask for recommendations on a docking port.  That will allow you to use your full sized display and a full sized keyboard at your desk.  If you have more than a couple of USB that you like to hook up (external storage?) a low cost machine may only have two USB ports.  You can buy inexpensively a unit that plugs into one USB port and allows for up to four USB devices to plug in.

If the last machine you bought was 11 years ago you'll be pleased at how much power and storage you can get for a relatively small price by comparison.

[scooperhsd]

I am a computer idiot, but when I had problems in the past, I could hit (F-something) quickly on startup and start in safe mode.  Fixes and checks and things could be done in safe mode.  The puter ran fine in safe mode, though a bit dumbed down.

Couldn't be any more dumb than me re. 'puter issues. 

Guess it's time to go shopping.

I am a computer idiot, but when I had problems in the past, I could hit (F-something) quickly on startup and start in safe mode.  Fixes and checks and things could be done in safe mode.  The puter ran fine in safe mode, though a bit dumbed down.

Couldn't be any more dumb than me re. 'puter issues. 

Guess it's time to go shopping.

Best buy does well for home machines.  Least costly if you only do internet and light word processing is probably a Chrome Book.  You don't really need a tower computer.  Buy a laptop you can take with you when you go and ask for recommendations on a docking port.  That will allow you to use your full sized display and a full sized keyboard at your desk.  If you have more than a couple of USB that you like to hook up (external storage?) a low cost machine may only have two USB ports.  You can buy inexpensively a unit that plugs into one USB port and allows for up to four USB devices to plug in.

If the last machine you bought was 11 years ago you'll be pleased at how much power and storage you can get for a relatively small price by comparison.

If the last machine you bought was 11 years ago you'll be pleased at how much power and storage you can get for a relatively small price by comparison.

This post says it all - time for a new machine of some sort.

It sounds like you could mostly get by with a Chromebook. If you really want a Windows PC - I'd do the laptop, with a "dock" or USB hub that you use for a USB mouse / keyboard, along with an external storage for backup and maybe your printer. Laptops nowadays almost universely have WiFi builtin.

[John Schmidt]

I currently have a Lenovo Thinkpad laptop. A refurb, has W-10 Home, i5, 8GB ram, 400something SSD, 64 bit OS. Works fine but hate the small keyboard, I use it mostly for travel. Guess I'm a bit old school since I prefer a desktop tower for home use, currently have a 21" monitor and a newer set of speakers. If I find a good deal on one I'll probably have the vendor do the move for me, last time I had a heck of a time transferring everything myself.

Best Buy has a couple that look interesting, both Dell Optiplex. One is i7 w/16 gb ram, 2tb HD which is more than I'll ever use. $468.99. Second one is a refurb, i7 w/16gb ram, 1tb SSD. $567.99.

OfficeMax had one also. Dell Inspiron 3670, 8th gen. i5, 12gb ram, 1tb hd. $599.99. Capacity of 1TB or greater is well beyond my needs but if it's part of a decent price/deal, I'd take it. Continuing to look at local repair/refurb locations. Although the current unit is a refurbed Gateway, it has served well for about 11 years. However given a choice, I'd prefer new this time if the price is right.

[scooperhsd]

I remember when I bought my first "home" computer in 1990 - AST Premium 386SX-16 MHz, 1 MB of ram , 40 MB harddrive, and 15 inch CRT display, for the "bargain" price of $3000 + tax. You get so much more today it's not even funny.

[Willow]

John, a good docking station will let you use the screen you have and a full sized keyboard.  I think you should be able to get one that will use your speakers.   It also allows you to store data on the laptop so you'll take it with you when you travel.

[John Schmidt]

I plan to look around more but right now is a bad time, example...Best Buy won't let people in to browse. Office Max has limits on #s of customers, might ck. Costco over the weekend. Had a local repair shop I wanted to visit but not open. Guess I'll just have to wait.

Question: given a choice with similar capacity, would you go with an SSD or stay with the "turn table" hard drive?

[Jess Tolbirt]

i dont like ssd's.. i prefer the turn table ones. ssd is solid state and can be glitched very easy. if a glitch happens on the HHD at least its still available to be used. if your boot sector is going bad you can install a new drive with an operating system on it and slave the one you have now so that way at least you can still still get to your pics and stuff.

[scooperhsd]

SSD is great for boot disk / apps, not so great for data (like pictures) - you want to be able to recover the pictures (as well as have your backup drive).

[Bret SD]

John, I'm a 'never windows' guy, for legacy hardware you can't beat Linux, it's come a long way, has great security and superior speed and reliability. You can download it for free and try it before installing.
I'd recommend Linux Mint, or Peppermint.. they're very user friendly.

Other than that I use a chromebook as Willow suggested, best bang for the buck in laptops I think.

Bret S

[Rams]

I sincerely hope you got this situation cleared up.
With the toilet paper hoarders, that situation would really stink.

Rams