New Pc Question

Venomx999

Looking for a new computer for browsing web and playing music.
Budget is £500 max

What about Mesh or Novatech guys ?
They have some low end ones for like £400

EndlessWaves

Don't buy cheap CD keys.

Windows 10 comes with a built in function to do a fresh install called Reset.

If the install goes pear shaped and won't boot then Microsoft offers the Windows 10 installer for download free from their website. The key is stored in the UEFI storage I believe so shouldn't be required even with a new drive, and it can also be registered to your Microsoft account just in case.

A £185 for a 2012 PC is a little on the expensive side these days, you should be able to find comparable machines for much closer to £100, or machines almost half the age for £185.

Venomx999

Thanks man
So the windows 10 installer from Microsoft, so you put that onto a USB stick and boot from It?

MarkE19

Correct - Windows USB/DVD Download Tool - Microsoft Store

I can confirm that there is no need to enter a license key when reinstalling Windows 10 as the key is stored in the BIOS/UEFI. I even upgraded a Windows 7 PC recently to Win10 and no license key was required, so if you can find a Win7 or 8 PC for less money then go for that and use the Free Microsoft upgrade to Win10.

Mark.

EndlessWaves

The download is a utility that you run which downloads the install files and creates a bootable USB drive or DVD with them.

Venomx999

Bit confused there. So if you cannot get into the o.s for any reason you need to put the download files onto the USB with another computer?

Venomx999

M guessing if I went for a desktop off argos brand new it would come with a recovery disk anyway just for good measure

Abacus

Haven't seen a recovery disc for ages, it is usually a recovery partition on the HDD/SSD which you can boot into if it all goes belly up. (Windows 10 is pretty good at repairing itself though)
The license key is stored on the Microsoft servers, NOT on the computer.
Providing you stick to a reputable site then the cheaper keys are fine, (There is a lot of nonsense spoken about Microsoft licensing out there (Just ask any PC Tec) so don't worry about it.

Bill

Venomx999

Are newer computers more secure than old ones? Even with the same operating system and same anti virus etc? Or is the difference solely in the performance? Thanks

DavidG1

The security mainly comes with the software installed, generally the bog standard hardware makes little difference to security, although faster equipment reduces the hit if you choose bitlocker encryption etc. You can also get addition protection from finger print readers, login via face recognition if you have a webcam etc.

With regard to creating a USB recovery drive you don't even need to use the Microsoft tool, windows 10 will make a recovery USB for you. Type recovery in the start system menu and follow the prompts with the recovery drive app, remember to check mark copy system files