Small laptop

[Ian Nelson]

wrong about the dark web bit .... I was letting my imagination run free ....  here's the microsoft link

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro
cheers, Ian

seems it's set to stop you using it as a normal operating system .... maybe that's why it has been hacked ... however
there is also Windows Embedded CE
I'll have another try
cheers, Ian

[farmeroman]

What about an external CD/DVD drive?
Used for loading software on disc/saving info to disc.
 Brian
CCL computers are local to me and offer a good service.

TBH CD/DVD drives are no longer necessary and most small laptops would not even have one as they are far too thin. It's definitely not worth carrying an external drive DVD drive around with you either.

A high capacity USB SSD drive is far better and more reliable anyway.

[farmeroman]

Forget Curry's entirely and browse somewhere like https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/

Not necesarrily to purchase from (although I do like them), but at least to look at the range available.

[Deirdre784]

You may have to use TOR ( anonymous) Browser and sail blindly into the DARK WEB to find a copy for downloading .... are you feeling adventurous enough ?
cheers, Ian

Um no 😀 thanks though

[Deirdre784]

Forget Curry's entirely and browse somewhere like https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/

Not necesarrily to purchase from (although I do like them), but at least to look at the range available.

Thanks, not planning to buy from Currys but local shop and wanted to actually see the options before looking online. 

[Deirdre784]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Winner looking like an Acer Aspire 5 14’’ screen, intel i7 processor, 1TB SSD, 8GB RAM, full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution, upgrade to W11 (and a USB card reader!). Will keep the iPad for casual use too.

[andrewalston]

There is a bare bones Windows operating system called Windows PE although I have never used it because I never buy new computers.

The PE stands for Pre-installation Environment. It is intended to provide minimal drivers to enable the Setup things to run. It's what you see when you install Microsoft Windows from XP onwards.

It can be used for other things; for example there is a Hirens Boot Disk which uses it to launch various repair tools.

However is is not intended for end users. You need a fair bit of knowledge to set it up.

[Deirdre784]

In case anyone is following this. The laptop arrived last Friday and was great. But on Saturday it started with the blue screen message.....'your device ran into a problem and needs to re-start....' This happened a few times before it went through recovery / diagnosing / automatic repair modes which failed. Turned off and tried again, this time it started ok but couldn't connect to the internet. Sorted that and all was ok for the next few days, but the same thing happened again this morning. Rang Currys and it's apparently a problem with the ACER drivers when upgraded to W11 (I didn't do this, it was already loaded). So I'm having a refund, and the hunt starts again (but not an ACER).

[Ian Nelson]

I bought the Computer ACTIVE magazine ( issue 630 ) and it featured several ways to Install and re-install Windows etc!
It also gave step by step instructions to download and install Zorin OperatingSystem and Tails ( see E. Snowden) the anonymous Op System combined with TOR anonymous browser. (The Onion Router ).

My troublesome Windows 10 installed on my wee Lenovo Ideapad was hogging 24 Gb of the available 28 Gb so was having to go.
I installed Zorin OS ( FREE Lite version) and it flies along without any issues at all.  Pages on Websites flick over immediately and GIMP features when Restoring pix just buzz through.
I also have a version on a USB Memory Stick so I can use ANY computer and have a copy of TAILS on another Stick.  Before BLOWING WINDOWS 10 away I copied all my files to the 3rd USB Memory Stick in the TESCO pack of 3.
If you have bought the USB stix anyway - why not give it a go with ZORIN - it will only cost you some time.
It comes preloaded with Mozilla Firefox Browser, Thunderbird email client, GIMP for Art & Photo work and you choose whichever Search Engine you prefer.  I defaulted to GOOGLE for now.
Cheers, Ian

www.snipca.com/41509 for Zorin CORE Lite