Need a laptop sharpish

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Discussion

boyse7en

Original Poster:

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Missus has bought a Sage accounts program to do some book-keeping work, and it won't install on my PC (throws up a couple of errors that relate to .NET and stuff)

She needs this fairly quick as it is for a VAT return or something like that.

So, anyone recommend a Laptop?
Min spec 2Ghz processor, 2MB RAM, 2GB HD.
Needs to be available in a couple of days...

Dell is the obvious choice, but are other brands (Asus, Acer, Toshiba...) a better bet? Never had a laptop so not sure of the hierachy of brands

strudel

5,888 posts

226 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Seems a little overkill to buy a new pc when it's a software issue that can probably be resolved through a little patience.

What exactly is the error it's throwing up?

rossmc88

474 posts

159 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Dell aren't that great anymore, same with HP. I recommend Acer, Asus or Samsung these days and also fit a solid state hard drive, the Samsung 840 Evo is good. Ebuyer is a good place to buy from.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
rossmc88 said:
Dell aren't that great anymore, same with HP.
Based on?

We sell thousands of pieces of Dell kit on a weekly basis, and very rarely do we get any grumbles. HP's support leaves a little to be desired but it's not catastrophically bad...

boyse7en

Original Poster:

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
strudel said:
Seems a little overkill to buy a new pc when it's a software issue that can probably be resolved through a little patience.

What exactly is the error it's throwing up?
I agree with you 100%, but I spent about 3 hours last night trying to sort it out to no avail. I can't spend hours trying to fix it and not get a result as she needs to get the work done.

Haven't got exact details of the faults, as I'm at work, but after a Google search one recommended repairing the Net 4 Client, which wouldn't re-install. And installing an updates MSXML.msi, which made no difference.

As an aside... despite her account being set as admin, we can't read the CD the program is on. Have to log-in to my account to be able to read the CD contents. Anyone know whether there is a security setting to turn off CD access on some account in Windows XP SP3?

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Lenovo.

boyse7en

Original Poster:

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Loads of the cheaper laptops seem to be 1.8 or 1.9GHz, so don't come up to spec frown

How about this one?
http://www.ebuyer.com/629704-hp-250-g2-laptop-f7x9...

HP 250 G2 Laptop

Intel Celeron Dual core N2810
4GB RAM + 750GB HDD
15.6" LED Display
Webcam + Bluetooth
Windows 8.1 64bit
£219


Lenovo's cheapest over-2GHz one is quite a bit more pricey

Lenovo IdeaPad G500 Laptop

Intel Corei3 3110M
4GB RAM + 1TB HDD
15.6" LED
DVD Writer
Windows 8.1 64bit

£329

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Im assuming you went through the help?

https://support.na.sage.com/selfservice/viewConten...

or

resetting the updates?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us

Seems a bit cheaper, though maybe not as easy as paying for a new laptop that might not (read won't have) .Net on it as standard anyway, so will still have to install the framework to get sage running.

boyse7en

Original Poster:

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Du1point8 said:
Im assuming you went through the help?

https://support.na.sage.com/selfservice/viewConten...

or

resetting the updates?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us

Seems a bit cheaper, though maybe not as easy as paying for a new laptop that might not (read won't have) .Net on it as standard anyway, so will still have to install the framework to get sage running.
The Sage software never installed, so the Sage help page there isn't applicable. It brings up the errors
The second link is for Win 7, 8 and 8.1 so won't work for me on my XP machine.

I'm not doubting the possiblity that I can get it working on my PC (I've had plenty of worse situations to get through over the years on a PC!) it is more a timing problem. HMRC will issue a fine if the figures aren't in on time, so I have got to be able to guarantee that I can get the software working in time for her to do the figures.

For information, one error is:
Component Error Returned the Following Data Transfer error:

Media Name: DATA

Component:

File Comp:

File:

Error: -1603"



Searching that error came up with the Microsoft advice of running a repair on the .Net 4 module, which I did (no effect), or to uninstall and re-install the .Net 4 Client (Completed the verification process, then hung on re-installation, had to re-boot machine). Every time I try something, I have to re-try the Sage installation process, which takes about 15 minutes, to see if it has made any difference, so it is a bit of a long drawn-out process.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
There's an Inspiron 15:

http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch...

£285+VAT and Delivery?

Meets all your requirements.

Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to seize the opportunity to lose Windows XP anyway.

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
As time is critical you should be aware that it can take a few days for a PC to arrive from DELL.

Perhaps something available for collection like this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/lap...





Edited by nyt on Monday 28th July 12:01

boyse7en

Original Poster:

6,671 posts

164 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
nyt said:
As time is critical you should be aware that it can take a few days for a PC to arrive from DELL.

Perhaps something available for collection like this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/lap...





Edited by nyt on Monday 28th July 12:01
That looks a good bet (purple is her favourite colour too) except that it is only a 1.8Ghz processor, not the 2GHz min stipulated in teh Sage software spec list frown

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
nyt said:
Perhaps something available for collection like this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/lap...
With the 1.8GHz processor that isn't as fast as the minimum recommended...

Sheepshanks

32,540 posts

118 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Randomthoughts said:
Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to seize the opportunity to lose Windows XP anyway.
I'm hoping the machine isn't connected to the internet - it's pretty dodgy doing business related work on an XP machine now.

Snag is anything new is likely to be Windows8 so there's going to need to be a steep learning curve to get stuff done in a couple of days.

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
1.8Ghz processor, not the 2GHz min stipulated in teh Sage software spec list frown
Oops ... missed that.

Of course the missing 0.2Ghz won't really make any difference, but I understand your point about wanting to meet their specifications exactly.

So, perhaps:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/lap...
or
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/lap...

You have checked that sage supports Windows 8.1?


Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm not sure the 1.8ghz will be that critical to the software running - I can't remember the last windows software that refused to install due to lack of processor speed.

If you are close to cclonline or scan.co.uk you can drive to them and buy one over the counter.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Latter is still a 1.8GHz processor to all intents and purposes, and if you want support you have to toe the line, as irrelevant as 0.2GHz seems they may have a genuine reason for that. We all know they probably don't, but it tends to be easier to say 'yes, it meets all of the specifications' than argue the case with Sage if you have an issue.

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Randomthoughts said:
Latter is still a 1.8GHz processor to all intents and purposes, and if you want support you have to toe the line, as irrelevant as 0.2GHz seems they may have a genuine reason for that. We all know they probably don't, but it tends to be easier to say 'yes, it meets all of the specifications' than argue the case with Sage if you have an issue.
Given they aren't going to support an individual machine - they aren't providing that kind of support - it's a moot point.

nyt

1,803 posts

149 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
Randomthoughts said:
Latter is still a 1.8GHz processor to all intents and purposes,
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2392905.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

2.1Ghz .. but quite possibly slower in real life than the I3 based 'puters above wink

But certainly more than fast enough for what you want.

Though, to save the extra £100 I'd be tempted to call Sage and ask if they really care about the 200Mhz.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Monday 28th July 2014
quotequote all
nyt said:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

2.1Ghz .. but quite possibly slower in real life than the I3 based 'puters above wink

But certainly more than fast enough for what you want.

Though, to save the extra £100 I'd be tempted to call Sage and ask if they really care about the 200Mhz.
Sorry, I meant the former. Stupid tabs the wrong way around...