The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Resetting Laptop, help!

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by RalphIII, Jan 26, 2010.

  1. RalphIII

    RalphIII Newbie

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello,
    I am considering selling my laptop and need some input. I recently purchased a used Gateway MX 7527, 2.6ghz, 120gb hard drive, 1 gb ram, Windows XP Media Center installed. It was reset and in excellent condition. Questions are as follows.

    1) Are the dual core processors that much better than the single core's? I also and soon afterward bought a used Toshiba laptop for my father; 2mhz dual core, 2gb ram, 250 gb hard drive and Vista installed. It seems to run smoother and everything loads much faster! If the dual core is that better I will definetly sell mine and look to upgrade. The media card slot uploads pictures 4 to 5 times faster alone which is a big deal to me (photographer).

    2) What is the significant cause of his computer running faster/better than mine? Is it because of the processor, the Ram or because Vista is somehow better? Would increasing my Ram to 1.5 gb show much improvement?

    3) What is the best free program for cleaning all personal information off of the computer if I do resale? Keep in mind I do not want it to be so destructive that it loses computer programs and/or drivers, etc.

    4) I also have a concern with resetting due to following. My computer was listed as a MX 7515 but all information points to MX 7527? It has a 120 gb hard drive versus 100gb and the better video card and as noted on system. The system states 111 gb or 120xxxxxxxxxxxxx bytes. I assume this is correct for 120 gb hard drive?

    With such, I am worried the previous owner made some upgrades and I may lose or have issues after a factory default? Is that a legitimate concern and should I somehow backup the computer data itself before defaulting? If so, how?

    I was given a owner-created DVD which states "Gateway Bootable Windows XP + Gateway folder (user guide, drivers, etc)". Will I use this in also resetting the computer and should I be concerned if it does not have all details? There is a Windows XP Media Center Edition, GATEWAY, COA sticker on the DVD sleeve, none on computer itself.

    In short I want to reset the computer and insure all personal info is cleaned off.

    5) Lastly, which is best; Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7? Thanks
     
    RalphIII, Jan 26, 2010
    #1