Agusts Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 So if I buy a used Windows 10 Home edition notebook, what is the best way to clean it up and more importantly make sure it has no malware, virus or dodgy programs... My main concern would be a low level key-logger that sends back all my passwords to it's creator via the internet ! Is there an easy way to check if any illegal ET calling home that shouldn't be... ? lol Would a free Avast or AVG virus scan + maybe free MalwareByte scan be sufficient...? How about a win 10 reset etc. ? Though I don't want to remove any driver or program came with it originally... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shady86 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Just use the windows 10 reset feature. It works like charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 1 hour ago, shady86 said: Just use the windows 10 reset feature. It works like charm. Or go old school and format and do a complete re-install with DVD/USB thumb. Regardless of whatever method you choose, to be sure of a safe system, get rid of everything software related that came with a used computer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stud858 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Or the laptops factory reset partition. Google which key to press on startup, for the particular model number, to bring up reinstall menu. Usually a function, fn key. If partition doesn't exist then try as above posters say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Well, I have to see if re-install partition is there, but I doubt I get windows 10 product key with the sale, and not sure if that re-install requires it, although most notebooks are OEM with operating system, it maybe built-in, so using a re-install partition may not need product key, but a full format and re-install from USB would want it (no DVD on these small ones). This is all a bit risky though, might just go with Win 10 reset and delete all files and apps etc... Unless something dodgy is put on MBR or root sector, then it's hard to detect. Any free tool that check and detects those...!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 30 minutes ago, Agusts said: Well, I have to see if re-install partition is there, but I doubt I get windows 10 product key with the sale, and not sure if that re-install requires it, although most notebooks are OEM with operating system, it maybe built-in, so using a re-install partition may not need product key, but a full format and re-install from USB would want it (no DVD on these small ones). If W10 is already installed and activated, the machine will retain the activation. As long as it is the same version of the operating system being installed. Type "winver" (without the ") into search to see what version is installed and go to Control Panel\System to see if it is activated. If you need to do a fresh install from DVD/USB, the best way to download the correct version is to use the W10 Media Creation Tool and download to your machine before formatting. You can install straight from here or create a bootable USB drive to install later. If installing straight away, select the option to 'keep nothing'. Link for the creation tool is: https://www.microsoft.com/th-th/software-download/windows10 Using this method you definitely won't need a product key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stud858 Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 47 minutes ago, Agusts said: so using a re-install partition may not need product key, but Certainly not needed. By far the best and easiest way to get the computer back to the way it was out of box. Fresh windows, drivers installed, old stuff gone. And legit with key preinstalled. Nothing to lose, check the model number and key press needed. Then if not successful use the other more difficult and time consuming methods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerbeez Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Better still, download and install the 'registered' Windows 7 which is still easily available... then go to the Microsoft site and upgrade to Windows 10 PRO for free. Completely legit and the shady guys at Redmond don't mind a bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Thanks for the replies, very useful... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 4 hours ago, killerbeez said: Better still, download and install the 'registered' Windows 7 which is still easily available... then go to the Microsoft site and upgrade to Windows 10 PRO for free. Completely legit and the shady guys at Redmond don't mind a bit! I think the free upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 was for a limited time and no longer available...!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Agusts said: I think the free upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 was for a limited time and no longer available...!? Actually it still works. Not from the computer updates but by downloading the Windows 10 Creator App and opted for "Upgrade this PC now". I upgraded two laptops today from Win 7 Pro to Win 10 Pro - no problems. Indicates digital licence activated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerbeez Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 15 hours ago, Agusts said: I think the free upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 was for a limited time and no longer available...!? It still works. So long as the servers see the Windows 7 Ultimate/Pro/Home version as 'registered' you can easily and legally upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10. You may be thinking of the "Assistive Technologies" version of the free upgrade which has expired and is no longer available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 21, 2019 Author Share Posted February 21, 2019 Yes, thanks. I also read on the web that you can just enter a valid Windows 7/8/8.1 product key for Windows 10 installation and it accepts it...! I think Microsoft now makes most of it's money from cooperates and cloud and doesn't care much about us mortals...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 If you are going to run a clean install anyway, use the opportunity to swap the old mechanical hard drive for a solid state drive. You won't regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerbeez Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 11 hours ago, KneeDeep said: wap the old mechanical hard drive for a solid state drive Preferably NVMe. Much faster than a regular SATA 6GB SSD drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stud858 Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 If you replace out the hard drive be aware that you'll lose the factory restore partition and will need manual install of windows. Worth it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaeng Mak Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Boot and nuke. Use with caution: https://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 9 hours ago, killerbeez said: Preferably NVMe. Much faster than a regular SATA 6GB SSD drive. Erm....no. The laptop will need to be compatible with such a drive. Even if it has a slot for an M.2 drive, that won't necessarily mean that it is compatible with NVMe. Since they are writing about 'used', the likelihood is small. Let's see if they actually come up with a model number of a likely purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerbeez Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 2 hours ago, KneeDeep said: The laptop will need to be compatible with such a drive. You're right... I'd forgotten that it was a used laptop. ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorecard Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Not my subject. I'm guessing the OP isn't looking for the highest specs / speciality notebook, if he was I assume he would buy new. So what's the difference in price between a good new machine and a good quality second hand, probably not too old so that there's a lot of compatibility plus costs of upgrades e.g. SSD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerbeez Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 I'd steer clear of used notebooks. They're unwanted, usually for a reason. Buy new and if possible, upgrade the memory... and of course, stick in an SSD. A 480GB HikVision SSD is great and less than 2,000 baht. (Notebooks come with skimpy amounts of memory because Microsoft sells the retailers a cut-price license version of Windows.) The Aspire E 15 offers excellent bang for your baht. You can also add another 4gbs of memory and replace the HDD with an SSD. In fact, if you're not using the CDRom player, you can put the 1TB HDD in a caddy that fits in that slot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stud858 Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 3 hours ago, killerbeez said: In fact, if you're not using the CDRom player, you can put the 1TB HDD in a caddy that fits in that slot! Nice one. AliExpress has them for a few dollars. Just ordered one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 4 hours ago, killerbeez said: I'd steer clear of used notebooks. They're unwanted, usually for a reason. Buy new and if possible, upgrade the memory... and of course, stick in an SSD. A 480GB HikVision SSD is great and less than 2,000 baht. (Notebooks come with skimpy amounts of memory because Microsoft sells the retailers a cut-price license version of Windows.) The Aspire E 15 offers excellent bang for your baht. You can also add another 4gbs of memory and replace the HDD with an SSD. In fact, if you're not using the CDRom player, you can put the 1TB HDD in a caddy that fits in that slot! Your post contains some rather dodgy statements The used notebook statement is really nonsense. But then you go a step further by recommending a low quality SSD; https://ssd.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest/540039/HS-SSD-C100 As if you are suggesting that something new, cheap and nasty is better than high quality second user. If 480 GB of storage was needed, I would most certainly pay the 350 baht extra for a Crucial MX500; https://www.invadeit.co.th/product/solid-state-drives-ssd/crucial/mx500-500gb-2-5inch-internal-ssd-ct500mx500ssd1-p034804/ that to go with some cheap and nasty no-name SSD. https://ssd.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest/418385/CT500MX500SSD1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 Well, my criteria were FHD 14" screen, light and at least 4GB RAM, really wanted portable one rather than a powerhouse, and , more importantly, not expensive... I looked at used notebooks and it was hard to find this type, they are some modern ones that have come out last year or two, use mobile Intel Atom processors with low power consumption, no fan because they don't get hot, okay , they are not running fast, hence useful for light use only, these are like: Asus E406MA Lenovo SP130 Acer Swift 1 SF114 All have new mobile Intel N2000 processor I went with the last one Acer, as it has IPS screen and 802.1ac WiFi that others don't, I may be able to increase the 4GB RAM if needed and their 128GB SSD, probably not right away... I found a below price one on Lazada for pay on delivery, I just hope there is not something dodgy about it and I need to check it properly on arrival - if I can...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 https://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/HS-SSD-C100-480GB-vs-Crucial-MX500-500GB/m540039vsm418385 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Grumpy Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 On 2/20/2019 at 2:19 AM, Agusts said: So if I buy a used Windows 10 Home edition notebook, what is the best way to clean it up Put Windows 7 on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, Agusts said: Well, my criteria were FHD 14" screen, light and at least 4GB RAM, really wanted portable one rather than a powerhouse, and , more importantly, not expensive... I looked at used notebooks and it was hard to find this type, they are some modern ones that have come out last year or two, use mobile Intel Atom processors with low power consumption, no fan because they don't get hot, okay , they are not running fast, hence useful for light use only, these are like: Asus E406MA Lenovo SP130 Acer Swift 1 SF114 All have new mobile Intel N2000 processor I went with the last one Acer, as it has IPS screen and 802.1ac WiFi that others don't, I may be able to increase the 4GB RAM if needed and their 128GB SSD, probably not right away... I found a below price one on Lazada for pay on delivery, I just hope there is not something dodgy about it and I need to check it properly on arrival - if I can...! You bought something with a Celeron CPU from 2013?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agusts Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 1 hour ago, KneeDeep said: You bought something with a Celeron CPU from 2013?? I think it's based on Celeron technology, but these are the latest low powered Intel processors... My bad, the correct name is Intel Pentium Silver N5000, quad-core... Here is the specs: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/GB/content/model/NX.GZGEK.001 This is really like a tablet in a notebook shell, what I need... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Christmas13 Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 easy to clean just ask my daughter Fleissige handwerker 009.mpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KneeDeep Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Edited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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