Please recommend me a decent repairable mod-able desktop computer

Chevy-SS

Chevy-SS

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
310
My wonderful (but ancient) primary desktop computer is still solidly running Win7 Pro, which is a wonderful OS. But it's seriously outdated, and I'm running out of supported programs, haha. Plus I'm concerned about online security. I have repaired and rebuilt it numerous times, always with the help of the geniuses on this forum, so a big THANK YOU to everyone here, for all the great years from this warhorse of a computer. 👏

I have zero desire to start using Win11, but sometimes there's no other option. So I'm gonna buy a fairly decent Win11 desktop computer. I want something that is easily repairable and up-gradable, so a big roomy case is important. Also, it needs to run a 2560x1600 DVI monitor. Plus, I like to clone spare SSD's as my backup plan, so I want it to be able to easily do that. I don't need any peripherals. I don't do any gaming at all, but a gaming computer might be more suited (access, upgrades, repairs) for me than a standard business desktop. Price point should be up to $3k. I'm not sure about differing versions of Win11, but I would want a 'better' version.

I would just start shopping on my own, but I know I'd buy the wrong one. I need some of the pro advice from you guys. Many thanks!!! 😉
 
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At $3k you are paying a lot of tax for someone else to put the PC together. Are you excluding building your own?
 
HeavensCloud said:
At $3k you are paying a lot of tax for someone else to put the PC together. Are you excluding building your own?
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Thanks............. Actually, I was gonna edit the post to say that I'm open to building my own. I've built a few, but I don't consider myself an 'expert' at all. If I built my own, I could pick and choose exactly what I want/need. But I'm very weak when it comes to choosing the right ingredients.

But yeah, I'm totally open to a build.
 
pendragon1 said:
yup. build one and get a new monitor.
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I know you're like a total guru around here, and you've helped me in the past, for which I'm grateful, many thanks. (y)

In your apparently infinite computer wisdom, can you maybe point me to a build, something between $2k and $3k, with a list of fairly standard parts, and a standard large case that offers easy access - biased mostly towards fast business use and 'maybe' a little gaming at some point. I'm looking at the "build a PC" section on Newegg, but DAMN there's sooooo much to choose from, it's overwhelming.
 
Chevy-SS said:
I don't do any gaming at all, but a gaming computer might be more suited (access, upgrades, repairs) for me than a standard business desktop.
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Could you give a little more details on what the heaviest computer task look like ?

Maybe a simple Intel 245k with its iGPU would do the trick ? Or you need a discrete 3d card level of power ? If everything you do kind of still work on a windows 7 era computer I am right to assume you do not need anything high end ? Anything recent will be a huge upgrade, specially if you were not already on an SSD harddrive, the gap between today low end and high end would be lost on that subjective experience ;).
 
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Chevy-SS said:
I know you're like a total guru around here, and you've helped me in the past, for which I'm grateful, many thanks. (y)

In your apparently infinite computer wisdom, can you maybe point me to a build, something between $2k and $3k, with a list of fairly standard parts, and a standard large case that offers easy access - biased mostly towards fast business use and 'maybe' a little gaming at some point. I'm looking at the "build a PC" section on Newegg, but DAMN there's sooooo much to choose from, it's overwhelming.
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id decide how much gpu you want first and work backwards from there, they are the priciest part now.... intel or amd preference?
 
LukeTbk said:
Could you give a little more details on what the heaviest computer task look like ?

Maybe a simple Intel 245k with its iGPU would do the trick ? Or you need a discrete 3d card level of power ? If everything you do kind of still work on a windows 7 era computer I am right to assume you do not need anything high end ?
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I'm not doing anything very intensive these days. No big spreadsheets, no gaming. Mostly just lots of backing up, moving lots of data around, cloning SSD's. Honestly, this old Win7 Pro setup is so nice, I'd be happy with it, but Win7 support is being dropped by most of the things I use.

My system info in pic below:

System Info1.jpg
 
you could always put 10 on a new ssd and keep running it...
or the 245K suggested above would be a good starting point and youll end up under 2k(use igpu). as for case, im kinda partial to phanteks, great bang for buck, the G500 series is a good option.
 
You do not need a GPU for what you describe, cpu can still come with nice iGPUs these days (like you have on your i5), for what you describe a 14100, 32gb of ram, money of good harddrive, keyboard, monitor could be the way to go.

You could try win10 on your computer before if you do not mind, see if it will get too slow, 32gb, 2000 Single thread passmark, 5000 MT, lot of people bought recent laptops weaker than that.
 
Now I don't know where you live and I am a meth-speed reader so forgive me if I missed it.

But now-a-days at that budget you can pretty much walk into any ABT, any Best Buy or any CDW. Buy the best gaming PC they got and get a extra/deeper warranty on it and its perfectly fine.

Now I agree with most other people here that for that price you can build amuch better one yourself or pay someone not a corporation that will do it much better and has a lot less crap on it.

But hey, it's your money and time.
 
pendragon1 said:
you could always put 10 on a new ssd and keep running it...
or the 245K suggested above would be a good starting point and youll end up under 2k(use igpu). as for case, im kinda partial to phanteks, great bang for buck, the G500 series is a good option.
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LukeTbk said:
You do not need a GPU for what you describe, cpu can still come with nice iGPUs these days (like you have on your i5), for what you describe a 14100, 32gb of ram, money of good harddrive, keyboard, monitor could be the way to go.

You could try win10 on your computer before if you do not mind, see if it will get too slow, 32gb, 2000 Single thread passmark, 5000 MT, lot of people bought recent laptops weaker than that.
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LOL, I gotta admit, I've got like 3 spare SSD's, and the Win10 idea might work.

Can I purchase a Windows 11 Pro license and use it to install Windows 10 Pro?? Looks like a $199 download at Microsoft. Is this the best way to try Win10??

Thanks
 
you can try it without purchasing it at first (if it is still work, you will have an unactivated windows that do not let you change the background and other marginal limit like that):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10#34de222e-6944-44aa-8f45-8e96988880a4

It is likely that you do not need the pro version, usually the pro added feature look like this:
Domain Join, Group Policy Management, BitLocker, Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE), Assigned Access 8.1, Remote Desktop, Client Hyper-V, and Direct Access
 
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yup that^^^
you can test it with a watermark and limited customization options almost indefinitely. if youve got a spare ssd, id build a usb installer and put it on to try. if youre gonna buy a key, id still get pro, and you can always source one elsewhere for cheaper...
 
LukeTbk said:
you can try it without purchasing it at first (if it is still work, you will have an unactivated windows that do not let you change the background and other marginal limit like that):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10#34de222e-6944-44aa-8f45-8e96988880a4

It is likely that you do not need the pro version, usually the pro added feature look like this:
Domain Join, Group Policy Management, BitLocker, Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE), Assigned Access 8.1, Remote Desktop, Client Hyper-V, and Direct Access
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Thanks for the link. I grabbed a USB drive and then downloaded the 'tool' that would create the installation files, but the 'tool' wouldn't run on my computer, I got this error message (below). My system and computer should easily handle Win10. Oh well...... Now I'm afraid to go and buy the Win11 Pro download from Microsoft for $199, because that might end up giving me the same error, and then I'm stuck trying to resolve that issue with Microsoft.

Win10 error.jpg
 
Chevy-SS said:
Awesome, thanks!!

Do I need to perform these operations on my Win7 Desktop, or can I use my Win10 Laptop??
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if you have a 10 laptop just use it to make the usb, its faster. just select "for another system" during setup and it will make a generic installer.
 
Chevy-SS said:
Thanks for the link. I grabbed a USB drive and then downloaded the 'tool' that would create the installation files, but the 'tool' wouldn't run on my computer, I got this error message (below). My system and computer should easily handle Win10. Oh well...... Now I'm afraid to go and buy the Win11 Pro download from Microsoft for $199, because that might end up giving me the same error, and then I'm stuck trying to resolve that issue with Microsoft.

View attachment 715093
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I have had issues with the USB installs too from time to time. Now if you think your going to have this build for a long time and use it a lot then I would reccomend just buying a physical Disk of windows 11. Can still find them on Amazon.com and Newegg.com.
 
StevenJamesBorchard said:
I have had issues with the USB installs too from time to time. Now if you think your going to have this build for a long time and use it a lot then I would reccomend just buying a physical Disk of windows 11. Can still find them on Amazon.com and Newegg.com.
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Thanks..... I read somewhere that a Win11 installation disk allows you to install Win10, but it's only for a short time, which seemed ridiculous. But the bottom line is: my hardware is about 9 years old, so it won't work with Win11 unless I get creative, with things I don't know much about.

I have created a Win10 installation USB, based on the above instructions from pendragon1, and I'm gonna try it out on a spare SSD. If I can get Win10 working on this old computer, I will go and pay Microsoft to activate it and become "Genuine", so that I have full features and Win10 support, well, as much support as they're giving on it now, lol.
 
I made the Installation USB, and tried to run it. But I got this error message (pic below) right in the beginning. I am trying to do the new install onto a Samsung 2T SSD, which contains a complete cloned copy of everything on my computer (from about 12 months ago). Do I need to somehow reformat this SSD?? I don't need any of the files, I was assuming that the Install would just wipe the SSD clean, but it's always dangerous to 'assume' anything.

Thanks

MBR partition table.jpg
 
you could do it in the command line, but has this is not your OS drive, you can also do it in your regular session from the disk management

​

Steps to Convert the Disk to GPT:​

  1. Open Disk Management:
    • Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
  2. Locate the Disk:
    • Find your SSD in the list. Make sure you select the correct drive.
  3. Delete Volumes (if needed):
    • Right-click any partitions on the SSD and choose Delete Volume. (Be aware this will erase all data on the drive, so back up important files first!)
  4. Convert to GPT:
    • Right-click the disk (the label on the left, e.g., "Disk 1") and select Convert to GPT Disk.
 
Thanks LukeTbk , you're a life saver. I have zero clue as to what those acronyms mean.

Much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Chevy-SS said:
I made the Installation USB, and tried to run it. But I got this error message (pic below) right in the beginning. I am trying to do the new install onto a Samsung 2T SSD, which contains a complete cloned copy of everything on my computer (from about 12 months ago). Do I need to somehow reformat this SSD?? I don't need any of the files, I was assuming that the Install would just wipe the SSD clean, but it's always dangerous to 'assume' anything.

Thanks

View attachment 715234
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delete them both and then just click next, it will format the drive properly for you.
 
Yep, it worked! I have Win10 Pro working just fine on my main Desktop. I went and activated it already, cost me $199, but way less than a whole new computer. 👍👍👍

pendragon1 and LukeTbk - I can't thank you guys enough. If you ever get to the Newport, RI area, let me know via PM or something, because I am definitely buying you a beer or two!! 🍻
 
Chevy-SS said:
Yep, it worked! I have Win10 Pro working just fine on my main Desktop. I went and activated it already, cost me $199, but way less than a whole new computer. 👍👍👍

pendragon1 and LukeTbk - I can't thank you guys enough. If you ever get to the Newport, RI area, let me know via PM or something, because I am definitely buying you a beer or two!! 🍻
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good stuff. if that key is a retail one from MS, its also good to use for 11. so if and when youre ready for that leap, on a new machine of course.....
 
Chevy-SS said:
Yep, it worked! I have Win10 Pro working just fine on my main Desktop. I went and activated it already, cost me $199, but way less than a whole new computer. 👍👍👍

pendragon1 and LukeTbk - I can't thank you guys enough. If you ever get to the Newport, RI area, let me know via PM or something, because I am definitely buying you a beer or two!! 🍻
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Have fun with power shell and the services GUI! :D
 
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