PC Tech Thread

Looking at bikes in the web.
Looking at folk cycling while on the turbo via Trainerroad.
Simple Office type tasks.

Not exactly a Power user.

I have an external DVD drive I can Connect.

I suspect that might have the same problems as a USB stick - i.e. may not talk to the rest of the hardware without drivers

Want to upgrade an old-ish Win7-machine of a friend with a SSD.
Aiming for 128GB one as it will suffice for the OS and few programs, and he doesn't want to invest much.
Thing is: the current HDD is 1TB (though only a small portion is actually used), so cloning the whole thing to the SSD is not an option.

Is it possible to partition the current HDD and only clone the needed partition to the SSD (might be able to get it below 128GB)?

Other option: starting with a fresh Win7 installation on the new HDD - thing is: there's no DVD, only a recovery partition on the current HDD - is it possible to clone this to the SSD, and use it to install Win7 ?

Thanks for any help! Got the feeling this isn't that hard maybe but I can't figure it out atm..

What version of Win7 is it? I have an ISO for Home Premium and a disc for Pro if either are useful.

Depends how old the laptop is too, might be ok if it's an older USB chipset (not USB 3).

hmmmmm.

Any suggestions?

Magnets

Any suggestions?

Srsly tho - magnets.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MJUALSA

It'd be pretty New spec. Its a 18mm thin, 1.4kg ultrabook style Laptop. Seem like a great spec for 650 euro.

13.3" Full HD LED 1920x1080 16:9 Matt IPS skjerm
◾ 5. gen Intel Core™ i5-5200U prosessor 2.2GHz ~ 2.7GHz, 2 kjerner (onboard)
◾ 8GB DDR3 1600MHz SO-DIMM RAM
◾ 128GB SSD
◾ Intel HD Graphics 5500, DirectX 11.1 kompatibel
◾ Bluetooth 4.0
◾ 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n trådløst nettverkskort, Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160
◾ 10/100/1000Mpbs nettverkskort
◾ HD Webkamera
◾ HD Audio, stereo høyttalere
◾ Innebygget mikrofon
◾ 1 x HDMI utgang
◾ 1 x USB 2.0
◾ 1 x USB 3.0
◾ 1 x Mikrofoninngang
◾ 1 x Hodetelefonutgang
◾ Minnekortleser for SD/MMC

I have never had any probs installing W10 from USB and thats on Mac and Mackintosh so should be fine on a simpler set up....

Just shove Windows 10 on it, it's possible to get a cracked version from certain places online.

Installing from USB is easy, just make sure the default boot location is from the USB in the BIOS settings. Although I think some more modern BIOS's have proper functionality for choosing to install from USB.

Ah that's good to know, I spend ages trying to figure out the error when installing win7 with a USB3 chipset, as the error text says something completely unrelated! There are tools to fix it but it's another layer of complexity and a lot of time.

Thanks, I'm not in the UK though..

@Sumo @Smallfurry
If you have Win7 then just install Win10 with the 7 key.
W10 is still a free and legit upgrade from 7.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Cheers but the cable already has those on.

I've installed various versions of Windows from USB. Later versions I think do it automatically, Win 7 has a utility on the MS website somewhere to create a bootable USB.

Well, the ISO is on my FTP server if you want, the disc I can't help you with.

I thought I had read somewhere they they stopped doing the free upgrades from Win 7. I never had a legit version of 7 to check.

Good to know. Cheers.

Not quite ended yet

Right this all sounds promising. I may just flash the plastic at this Laptop. Seems to be a Nice spec for my needs. I have an external harddrive, and an external DVD drive. So dont need hese as such in the Laptop. So was hoping for a SSD drive. Its an all aluminium cover, 18mm thick, and 1.4kg. So its going to be Nice for travelling etc. I cant see anything better.

Was just a bit concerned of the lack of OS.

13.3" Full HD LED 1920x1080 16:9 Matt IPS skjerm
◾ 5. gen Intel Core™ i5-5200U prosessor 2.2GHz ~ 2.7GHz, 2 kjerner (onboard)
◾ 8GB DDR3 1600MHz SO-DIMM RAM
◾ 128GB SSD
◾ Intel HD Graphics 5500, DirectX 11.1 kompatibel

Its basically 650 euro.

Anything better/cheaper I should be considering first?

Cheers

I'd say put Ubuntu on it just to be awkward but Trainerroad won't work then.

Trainerroad is the thing stopping me from just getting a powerful tablet.

Probably for the best though.

Trainerroad works on a virtual box*

Zwift, on the other hand, does not

* (although videos can be a bit jerky -something to do with x-windows & GL drivers, apparently, and who has time to trancode things to find something that might work)

Linux >>>

Windows. Just feel the love.