Seeking suggestions for laptop to replace dead desktop computer

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

My 10 yo HP Envy 700-210 has had a sudden failure of both hard drives. Working fine at breakfast, clicking and displaying Hard Drive Error msg at noon. No idea why 2 hard drives would fail simultaneously, but it's goodbye to all photos, docs, etc since about 1998. I use the computer mainly for storing and handling photos and videos, editing video, surfing the internet, word processing and email. Not a gamer. The only video games I have played, I dropped a quarter into the slot. (But I can still beat you at asteroids, I have permanent High Score)
As I consider my options, it occurs to me that laptops are now available with the storage and power to do all I did with the desktop and also go on the road (very handy for RV travel). So I have been studying and trying to figure out what to buy before I make the jump. I see a 1TB SSD is available, same size as my old primary drive. I read that DVMe drives run at higher temps and are susceptible to dead segments from frequent over-writing, so is the ordinary SSD a more reliable long-term device? I know, "backup everything", but I want to do all I can to avoid another mass data loss.
Bluetooth and WiFi capability would let me use my wireless big screen monitor, mouse and keyboard, which is appealing to me.
Probably 16GB RAM would be plenty.
Looks like WIN11 is standard, is this the way to go?
What else should I be thinking about?
All comments welcome, you may have an idea that I never considered. THX to all who reply.

 

[Couriant]

Windows 11 will be standard if you want Windows OS. Windows 10 support is end-of-life next year (unless you pay for 3 years for the Extended Software Updates.)

It sounds like you don't do much other than day to day stuff. I would say look a budget type laptop, however don't get any laptop that has a mechanical drive (i.e. a drive that say 5400RPM or 7200RPM). Some budget computers will still have these types, and may not be good if you are constantly on the move.

I don't know if your drives are at fault, it sounds like something else. You can buy an adapter to connect the drives to a USB connection to a laptop to see if you can access the data (or use a LiveUSB Linux OS where you can use Linux without installing it (try before you buy type thing) and see if the drives are accessible).

For data loss protection; if you are looking to get Office, I would recommend the Office 365 subscription as you will get fully fledged software as well as 1TB Online storage to back up to. If you are already in the Apple ecosystem, iCloud maybe an option for online based storage, or at the least get an external drive.

 

[beers]

RAID 1? Might still be able to recover one of them. Depends what actually failed, both croaking simultaneously would have me looking at things like bootloader and underlying file system.

Whatever new replacement depends on your budget.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

RAID 1? Might still be able to recover one of them. Depends what actually failed, both croaking simultaneously would have me looking at things like bootloader and underlying file system.

Whatever new replacement depends on your budget.

Computer shop says both hard drives are bad. Is it common for 2 hard drives to fail simultaneously? And is there any possibility this could have been caused by malware?

 

[Couriant]

Computer shop says both hard drives are bad. Is it common for 2 hard drives to fail simultaneously? And is there any possibility this could have been caused by malware?

It may be possible if both drives are as old as the computer. Since you mention clicking noise, I assume these are mechanical drive. It's more likely to be a hardware failure than malware. Or perhaps either a knock on the computer, or a power surge.... hard to say

 

[lenjack]

Whatever you end up with, be sure to do backups at least weekly. Cheap, some programs are free, easy to use. You don't want to lose all your data again.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

It may be possible if both drives are as old as the computer. Since you mention clicking noise, I assume these are mechanical drive. It's more likely to be a hardware failure than malware. Or perhaps either a knock on the computer, or a power surge.... hard to say

A computer shop guy said possible power surge also. IDK how with a surge suppressor on my meter and no other devices affected, but you make it 2 votes.

Whatever you end up with, be sure to do backups at least weekly. Cheap, some programs are free, easy to use. You don't want to lose all your data again.

Yes, I plan to get a large capacity remote drive for backup, mechanical disk per the advice of the shop that pronounced my old machine DOA. I have dodged so many bullets, so many computers obsoleted or killed by lightning, etc. that some of the lost data may have started out on a 386 machine in the 90s. I'll never live long enough to collect that many photos again. But really, what does it matter? And I still have an old IDE hard drive with the same data up to about 2016, so maybe some chance of future recovery...

RAID 1? Might still be able to recover one of them. Depends what actually failed, both croaking simultaneously would have me looking at things like bootloader and underlying file system.

Whatever new replacement depends on your budget.

Yes, I am dubious about the diagnosis of 2 simultaneous HD failures. I still have the drives and intend to investigate. May put a new HD into the old computer to see if the rest of it really is OK. If it works I can make a Linux machine out of it and try to recover the data myself. I'm looking at getting a big screen laptop for everyday use at this point, still haven't made a purchase because too busy and I have access to Mrs' Chromebook.

 

[Couriant]

A computer shop guy said possible power surge also. IDK how with a surge suppressor on my meter and no other devices affected, but you make it 2 votes.


Yes, I plan to get a large capacity remote drive for backup, mechanical disk per the advice of the shop that pronounced my old machine DOA. I have dodged so many bullets, so many computers obsoleted or killed by lightning, etc. that some of the lost data may have started out on a 386 machine in the 90s. I'll never live long enough to collect that many photos again. But really, what does it matter? And I still have an old IDE hard drive with the same data up to about 2016, so maybe some chance of future recovery...


Yes, I am dubious about the diagnosis of 2 simultaneous HD failures. I still have the drives and intend to investigate. May put a new HD into the old computer to see if the rest of it really is OK. If it works I can make a Linux machine out of it and try to recover the data myself. I'm looking at getting a big screen laptop for everyday use at this point, still haven't made a purchase because too busy and I have access to Mrs' Chromebook.

Do you have your computer connected to Ethernet?

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

Do you have your computer connected to Ethernet?

The dead computer was connected to Ethernet from cable TV modem and Wifi router. This notebook I am using is awkward and unfamiliar. I see that I replied to 3 users and all replies went to you. That's what happens when I am peeking thru a keyhole with ads crowding me off the screen. Not dealing with my computer woes this week, preparing for carpal tunnel surgery by finishing various projects that I will be physically unable to do for several weeks, planning to buy a new laptop while recuperating.

 

[Couriant]

The reason I ask is that a power surge can also come from Ethernet but if your modem is still working then that may be unlikely.

 

[johnb35]

I see that I replied to 3 users and all replies went to you.

No it didn't. I merged all 3 of your posts into 1. You can multiquote in one post. Each member you quote will get a notification that you quoted them.

preparing for carpal tunnel surgery

Just like I can multiquote different sentences from your post. I had right hand carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel and guyons canal surgeries back in February, was a piece of cake. I have to get a nerve test Wednesday for my left hand as it got worse after my right hand surgery.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

As long as we are off-topic, my right hand went through various symptoms over a period of about three years. Immediately after rh surgery, the left hand mimicked the same sequence of symptoms in about three days. Nerve test said advanced carpal tunnel. Weird, the way nerves are interconnected.

 

[johnb35]

Thats usually the way it happens when you can't use the operated hand for some time. My left got worse about a couple weeks after my right hand surgery, just one day the last 2 fingertips went numb and have stayed that way and then at night my whole left hand will get tingly and numb. Right hand was the first 3 fingers and left hand the last 2 so it all depends on what nerves are being compressed.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

Thats usually the way it happens when you can't use the operated hand for some time. My left got worse about a couple weeks after my right hand surgery, just one day the last 2 fingertips went numb and have stayed that way and then at night my whole left hand will get tingly and numb. Right hand was the first 3 fingers and left hand the last 2 so it all depends on what nerves are being compressed.

Some sources say that computer use (keyboard, mouse, touchpad, repetitive motion etc.) may be a contributing factor to CTS. What say you?

 

[johnb35]

Some sources say that computer use (keyboard, mouse, touchpad, repetitive motion etc.) may be a contributing factor to CTS. What say you?

I totally agree with that.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

Thanks to all who offered opinions. I am preparing to order an HP 16" laptop. When I put in the specs I need or want, it comes to about 1/2 the price of the same machine in 17.3" screen size. Not making the choice only for price, the 17.3 is still a small screen compared to the 20" Dell monitor I have been using. Chat operator at HP mentioned that I can connect that monitor via Wifi "if it is compatible w/ WIN11". Duh! I have been caught by obsolescence before, glad she reminded me. So if the old monitor doesn't work I will try using the 36" TV with an HDMI dongle connection if I want big screen. And another factor: the 17.3" machine will just barely squeeze into my metal laptop case, with little or no space for power supply, external DVDRW and multi card reader, etc. The 16" will fit with room to spare and has all the features I need. Considered going desktop again for even greater savings and easier modification like adding drives or RAM, but the clutter of a full sized desktop with peripherals annoys Mrs., and that is an important consideration. I really enjoy the flexibility of this little Chromebook I'm using now, but the tiny screen is made even worse with all the space that Chrome devotes to ads. I feel as if I am peeking thru a keyhole at the Internet. So, it's time to go spend some $$.

 

[Couriant]

I am not sure that the monitor will have Wireless (not necessarily WiFi, but maybe bluetooth) but the laptop should have HDMI or USB-C where you can connect to that (maybe with an adapter if your monitor does not have USB-C or HDMI) for sure so you could use the 200-inch or the TV (though would the Mrs allow you use the TV? ). What model number of the monitor do you have? Should look like Dell E20xxH or something similar.

As to the Chromebook, I am not sure if it works on those but Chrome has AdBlockPlus plugin, which will take care of the ads.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

OK, sorry to be incommunicado for so long (he typed on the backlit full size keyboard of his new laptop). I ordered a computer from HP, and before I had time to post we had a severe storm. Tornados were reported but all I saw was 70-100mph wind, rain & hail. Next morning I saw 5 utility poles down from my back yard. Long story, 16 days later we are back online. 2 days after that the package arrived. And I had to set it up. WIN11 seems to be all about interconnectivity of devices, of which this is my only device. So anyway, this is what I ordered and why that was desirable to me..

HP Pavilion Laptop 16t-af000, 16" Non-touch screen 300 nits 16" because I don't want to touch the screen, and the 17.3" version is about twice the cost.
Backlit fullsize keyboard, I have big fingers and often use the computer in low light.
1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Because I don't foresee needing more space so didn't go 2TB.
Intel WiFi 6E & Bluetooth 5.3 card Because duh
Intel Core 5 120U + Intel Graphics + 16GB onboard Because the specs seemed very comparable and I'm not a gamer.
HP external DVD drive Because it seems like a good idea
UNI 3.0 external USB card reader Because it is cheap and easily replaced. My old HP desktop had internal card reader and WIN10 deleted the drivers. I had to carry my game cam home to download the pics USB.
Seagate 2TB portable HDD Because this adventure has taught me the wisdom of backing up one's data. 5 generations of desktops I can recall, from the 386 machine I paid dearly for in the 1980s to the 486 I built myself, to a couple more home-builts and then back to purchasing prebuilt, and in all that time I only ever lost data by my own stupid mistakes. As to the question of why 2 hard drives failed simultaneously, that is still open to study. I have the old drives and may try some recovery later, too costly these days.
Much thanks to all who commented and made suggestions, and I will be sure I have read all of them. Right now, I need to get back to the job of storm damage recovery.

 

[johnb35]

I went ahead and cut and paste your edit to your post. It would be too hard to for someone to go back and read your edit not knowing where it was at. Editing a post should only happen within a few hours of actually making the original post.

 

[Chas. Steinmetz Jr.]

I went ahead and cut and paste your edit to your post. It would be too hard to for someone to go back and read your edit not knowing where it was at. Editing a post should only happen within a few hours of actually making the original post.

sorry, that just shows how naive i am about internet protocols.