Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2014, 23:13:30

Title: Fake Software
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2014, 23:13:30
Some time ago I acquired an Advent laptop but could never get it to work properly so it's languished at the back of a wardrobe.  ::)

The last couple of days I thought I'd have another go, so I restored it to factory condition, uninstalled the BullGuard antivirus that was preinstalled and installed Microsoft Security Essentials. I then ran a full scan and got a message that counterfeit software had been detected.  ::)  :-\

Although the laptop works, it is incredibly slow and takes ages to do anything!  ::)  What to do?  :-\
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: dbug on 14 July 2014, 00:08:54
Junk it and buy a newer one ;)
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: biggriffin on 14 July 2014, 07:04:42
If i pay postage,can i have it foc :)  :y
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 08:53:39
If its i3 or i5, it may be worth resurrecting. If so, see how much RAM it has, whip off the certs, and rebuild from a generic DVD.

If its older, its done its time TBH. It has to be able to run Vista or later, and as Win7 has marginally less hardware requirements to run at a sensible speed, that is likely the OS you're aiming for.
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 14 July 2014, 10:17:42
If i pay postage,can i have it foc :)  :y

Nice try biggriff!  ;D
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 14 July 2014, 10:55:13
It's 2 GB RAM, 320GB Hard drive and has Windows 7 Home Premium, but I think it's a fake version.  :-\
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 14 July 2014, 11:55:22
It's 2 GB RAM, 320GB Hard drive and has Windows 7 Home Premium, but I think it's a fake version.  :-\


format it .. and re-install win 7 from a known working cd ..  :y
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 17:10:49
It's 2 GB RAM, 320GB Hard drive and has Windows 7 Home Premium, but I think it's a fake version.  :-\
Know what cpu and chipset it has?
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 14 July 2014, 17:37:53
It's 2 GB RAM, 320GB Hard drive and has Windows 7 Home Premium, but I think it's a fake version.  :-\
Know what cpu and chipset it has?

Er...  :-[ 

The processor is an Intel Celeron T3100, and the chipset..... Is that the memory? 2GB DDR3 RAM or Graphics card? Integrated Intel Mobile 4 Series.  :-\ The laptop is an Advent Modena.  :)

This is going to be a learning curve for this particular luddite!!  ;D
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: aaronjb on 14 July 2014, 18:15:22
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 18:20:02
Series 4 chipset is still usable, but the Celery ain't. That's why its slow, nothing will fix that I'm afraid.

An SSD will improve boot times, but its throwing good money after bad, sorry.
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 18:22:40
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..
Says me...   ...both my main desktop and my primary laptop are 965 chipsets ;D ;D

But both have half usable processors, and SSDs, and highly optimised builds, and not worth replacing at this stage for me.
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: aaronjb on 14 July 2014, 18:30:39
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..
Says me...   ...both my main desktop and my primary laptop are 965 chipsets ;D ;D

But both have half usable processors, and SSDs, and highly optimised builds, and not worth replacing at this stage for me.

And here's me complaining that this laptop is Ivy Bridge and not Haswell.. ;D
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 18:35:25
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..
Says me...   ...both my main desktop and my primary laptop are 965 chipsets ;D ;D

But both have half usable processors, and SSDs, and highly optimised builds, and not worth replacing at this stage for me.

And here's me complaining that this laptop is Ivy Bridge and not Haswell.. ;D
Mrs TB's is Ivy Bridge, and a 3rd gen i3 (as opposed to my 965/Core2 duo), and leaves mine for dust. To the point I saw the new version of hers for under £300 delivered and nearly splashed my cash...   ...but mine is plenty fast enough, so I came over all sensible ;D
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 14 July 2014, 20:31:56
Opps, spoke to soon, Mrs TB's laptop SSD has just died. She ain't happy....   ....not helped by me stating that mine works perfectly ::)
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: biggriffin on 15 July 2014, 06:59:17
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..

my laptop is 2004. Running windows 7. It works. And my car is 12 years old. So your point is.
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: aaronjb on 15 July 2014, 11:31:35
2008 vintage, then.. well past it's sell by date..

my laptop is 2004. Running windows 7. It works. And my car is 12 years old. So your point is.

My point was exactly what I said, I'm not sure where any ambiguity crept in? A 2008 laptop is well past it's sell by date.. I wouldn't bother wasting a ton of time reinstalling an OS on a laptop that will end up slow and annoying to use when there are inexpensive alternatives for sale that will come preinstalled, preconfigured and be a darned sight faster.

And you can't compare IT equipment to cars, so that's a strange comparison to make..
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 15 July 2014, 17:41:08
I don't understand that because it's old it won't work?  :-\ 
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: TheBoy on 15 July 2014, 18:36:57
I don't understand that because it's old it won't work?  :-\
Too old to run a modern OS. It may have just about run Win7 when new - although Advent ones were usually hampered due to design compromises - but Win7 has grown in the 5 years its been available, as have all the applications you run under it. The fact its a Celeron makes it even less suitable now.

I can talk you through an OS reinstall, assuming Advent have the drivers, but its always going to be desperately slow. Throwing out the harddisk and shoving in an SSD will help, but that CPU will always make it painful.

Sorry, I know its not the answer you wanted.
Title: Re: Fake Software
Post by: aaronjb on 15 July 2014, 18:38:01
It might work (probably will) but it'll probably also be pretty slow .. for me it'd be unacceptably slow, for you maybe not. Horses for courses, I suppose :)

If it runs Win7 now, though, it should reinstall fine.

Or .. what TB said ;)