Which version of Windows should I install on this laptop?

[Diego T.]

Hey boys and girls!!!

I have a laptop that originally came with Windows Vista, but now is running Windows 8.1

The laptop runs OK but sometimes the performance is sluggish. I don't have anything weird installed, just the plain utilities and Office 2013. Not even an antivirus.

Here are the specs of my laptop with an AIDA64 report:

Which version of Windows should I use on this laptop? Which version of Office and which Antivirus for my system to run smoothly and not stutter?

Computer:
Computer Type ACPI x64-based PC (Mobile)
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center
OS Service Pack -
Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.17351
DirectX DirectX 11.2
x

Motherboard:
CPU Type DualCore AMD E-450, 1646 MHz (16.5 x 100)
Motherboard Name Toshiba Satellite L745D
Motherboard Chipset AMD Hudson-1, AMD K14
System Memory 7782 MB (DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM)
DIMM1: Kingston HyperX KHX1866C11S3/4G 4 GB DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM (13-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (11-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (10-10-10-29 @ 848 MHz) (9-9-9-26 @ 763 MHz) (8-8-8-24 @ 679 MHz) (7-7-7-21 @ 594 MHz) (6-6-6-18 @ 509 MHz) (5-5-5-15 @ 424 MHz)
DIMM2: Kingston HyperX KHX1866C11S3/4G 4 GB DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM (13-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (11-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (10-10-10-29 @ 848 MHz) (9-9-9-26 @ 763 MHz) (8-8-8-24 @ 679 MHz) (7-7-7-21 @ 594 MHz) (6-6-6-18 @ 509 MHz) (5-5-5-15 @ 424 MHz)
BIOS Type Insyde (08/08/2011)

Display:
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6320 Graphics (384 MB)
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6320 Graphics (384 MB)
3D Accelerator AMD Radeon HD 6320 (Wrestler)
Monitor AU Optronics B140XW01 V6 [14" LCD]

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ AMD K14 - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter Conexant Cx20585 @ ATI Hudson-1 FCH - High Definition Audio Controller

Storage:
IDE Controller AMD SATA Controller
Storage Controller Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller
Disk Drive ST9500325AS (500 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA-II)
Optical Drive MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ8A0AS
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 465.4 GB (294.4 GB free)
Total Size 465.4 GB (294.4 GB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Keyboard (Mouse and Keyboard Center)
Keyboard Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Mouse (Mouse and Keyboard Center)
Mouse Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Network:
Primary IP Address x
Primary MAC Address D0-DF-9A-E8-4B-99
Network Adapter Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Network Adapter Qualcomm Atheros AR8152 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.30)
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8188CE Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E NIC x)
Network Adapter TAP-Windows Adapter V9 (x

Peripherals:
Printer Canon iP4200
Printer Fax
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2013
USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller
USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller
USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller
USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
USB Device Microsoft Hardware USB Keyboard
USB Device Microsoft Hardware USB Mouse
USB Device Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Detection Driver (USB)
USB Device TOSHIBA Web Camera - MP
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Input Device (Logitech Download Assistant)
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Input Device
Battery Microsoft AC Adapter
Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor Insyde Corp.
DMI BIOS Version 1.20
DMI System Manufacturer TOSHIBA
DMI System Product Satellite L745D
DMI System Version x
DMI System Serial Number x
DMI System UUID x-x-x-x
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer AMD
DMI Motherboard Product Inagua
DMI Motherboard Version Base Board Version
DMI Motherboard Serial Number Base Board Serial Number
DMI Chassis Manufacturer AMD
DMI Chassis Version None
DMI Chassis Serial Number None
DMI Chassis Asset Tag No Asset Tag
DMI Chassis Type Notebook
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 2 / 0

[dMog]

upgrade your memory and get an antivirus and malware...if it running win8.1 now you should be good with that or get a copy of win7

[Diego T.]

Computer has 8gb of RAM

[Ponting]

Automatic maintenance when idle is touted as a key Windows 8.1 feature. This performs key maintenance tasks like disk defragmentation, disk error checking etc, when the system is idle. While this may sound very attractive, laptop users as well as those with not-so powerful machines may not like the very idea of whirring fans and spiked up CPU usage when they are not even using their PC’s.

You may want to check //www.nsaneforums.com/topic/222515-prevent-idm-other-programs-from-dialing-home/page-88?do=findComment&comment=860190

[Kalju]

Mostly good, but why WMC and Office 2013?

[dcs18]

Which version of Windows should I use on this laptop? Which version of Office and which Antivirus for my system to run smoothly and not stutter?

Which Windows depends upon the User - not the hardware. For the tech savvy, the 8.1 Update 2 - for others, Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 would be more suitable.

Office 2013 Pro is the fastest and most full-featured suite.

Your hardware can support any AV - the choice depends on you not others and the tech savvy might do without an AV.

[slipk487]

Upgrading to a sdd is about all you really could do.

[rudrax]

Hey boys and girls!!!

I have a laptop that originally came with Windows Vista, but now is running Windows 8.1

The laptop runs OK but sometimes the performance is sluggish. I don't have anything weird installed, just the plain utilities and Office 2013. Not even an antivirus.

Here are the specs of my laptop with an AIDA64 report:

Which version of Windows should I use on this laptop? Which version of Office and which Antivirus for my system to run smoothly and not stutter?

Computer:

Computer Type ACPI x64-based PC (Mobile)

Operating System Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional with Media Center

OS Service Pack -

Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.17351

DirectX DirectX 11.2

x

Motherboard:

CPU Type DualCore AMD E-450, 1646 MHz (16.5 x 100)

Motherboard Name Toshiba Satellite L745D

Motherboard Chipset AMD Hudson-1, AMD K14

System Memory 7782 MB (DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM)

DIMM1: Kingston HyperX KHX1866C11S3/4G 4 GB DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM (13-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (11-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (10-10-10-29 @ 848 MHz) (9-9-9-26 @ 763 MHz) (8-8-8-24 @ 679 MHz) (7-7-7-21 @ 594 MHz) (6-6-6-18 @ 509 MHz) (5-5-5-15 @ 424 MHz)

DIMM2: Kingston HyperX KHX1866C11S3/4G 4 GB DDR3-1866 DDR3 SDRAM (13-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (11-11-11-32 @ 933 MHz) (10-10-10-29 @ 848 MHz) (9-9-9-26 @ 763 MHz) (8-8-8-24 @ 679 MHz) (7-7-7-21 @ 594 MHz) (6-6-6-18 @ 509 MHz) (5-5-5-15 @ 424 MHz)

BIOS Type Insyde (08/08/2011)

Display:

Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6320 Graphics (384 MB)

Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6320 Graphics (384 MB)

3D Accelerator AMD Radeon HD 6320 (Wrestler)

Monitor AU Optronics B140XW01 V6 [14" LCD]

Multimedia:

Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ AMD K14 - High Definition Audio Controller

Audio Adapter Conexant Cx20585 @ ATI Hudson-1 FCH - High Definition Audio Controller

Storage:

IDE Controller AMD SATA Controller

Storage Controller Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller

Disk Drive ST9500325AS (500 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA-II)

Optical Drive MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ8A0AS

SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:

C: (NTFS) 465.4 GB (294.4 GB free)

Total Size 465.4 GB (294.4 GB free)

Input:

Keyboard HID Keyboard Device

Keyboard Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Keyboard (Mouse and Keyboard Center)

Keyboard Standard PS/2 Keyboard

Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Mouse Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Mouse (Mouse and Keyboard Center)

Mouse Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Network:

Primary IP Address x

Primary MAC Address D0-DF-9A-E8-4B-99

Network Adapter Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter

Network Adapter Qualcomm Atheros AR8152 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.30)

Network Adapter Realtek RTL8188CE Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E NIC x)

Network Adapter TAP-Windows Adapter V9 (x

Peripherals:

Printer Canon iP4200

Printer Fax

Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer

Printer Send To OneNote 2013

USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller

USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller

USB1 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - OHCI USB Controller

USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller

USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller

USB2 Controller ATI Hudson-1 FCH - EHCI USB 2.0 Controller

USB Device Microsoft Hardware USB Keyboard

USB Device Microsoft Hardware USB Mouse

USB Device Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Detection Driver (USB)

USB Device TOSHIBA Web Camera - MP

USB Device USB Composite Device

USB Device USB Composite Device

USB Device USB Input Device (Logitech Download Assistant)

USB Device USB Input Device

USB Device USB Input Device

USB Device USB Input Device

Battery Microsoft AC Adapter

Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

DMI:

DMI BIOS Vendor Insyde Corp.

DMI BIOS Version 1.20

DMI System Manufacturer TOSHIBA

DMI System Product Satellite L745D

DMI System Version x

DMI System Serial Number x

DMI System UUID x-x-x-x

DMI Motherboard Manufacturer AMD

DMI Motherboard Product Inagua

DMI Motherboard Version Base Board Version

DMI Motherboard Serial Number Base Board Serial Number

DMI Chassis Manufacturer AMD

DMI Chassis Version None

DMI Chassis Serial Number None

DMI Chassis Asset Tag No Asset Tag

DMI Chassis Type Notebook

DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 2 / 0

That's where AMD CPUs breaks people's heart. You can instal any OS in your system.

[davmil]

Upgrading to a sdd is about all you really could do.

Agreed. Good deals are starting to show up @ Microcenter & Frys if you're in the States... especially if you don't need huge amounts of space (eg <128GB).

[Ballistic Gelatin]

Win7 x64 with Office 2013 Professional 32-bit.

[H4rDw4rE]

Once AMD ... never AMD:D

You have very good machine except one thing...it's and AMD cpu which is (regardless people says that mobile AMD is good) tottaly crap.

I'm afraid you can't do much about that problem.

Only thing, like others say, you can do is to replace HDD, or possibly defragment often you current HDD.

And never again buy laptop with AMD chip!

[VileTouch]

sell it and buy/steal a desktop with an intel processor. all laptops, specially higher end ones are notorious for overheating...and there's nothing to do about it, it just comes with the increased power, you can't break the laws of physics.

well, yes, there is something that prevents overheating in a laptop. making it less....powerful? or making it much bigger to allow airflow and proper heat sinks to be installed...you know, like a...desktop?

[Diego T.]

Got nomoney now for any SSD :(

Also if I install an AV my system stutters when I scroll down on website in Chrome and Word.

I'll try to defrag a log I'll try for that since I'm tempted to go down to Win7 but I don't want to.

[H4rDw4rE]

Got nomoney now for any SSD :(

Also if I install an AV my system stutters when I scroll down on website in Chrome and Word.

I'll try to defrag a log I'll try for that since I'm tempted to go down to Win7 but I don't want to.

Well, amd is bad but no sure that it is so bad to make your laptop unusable.

I think you should check your installation and drivers.

Can you run live linux distribution and check how it run with linux (you can use ubuntu, mint etc, they all support live boot) and report back.

If it make trouble with ordinary things I just ask myself how it would run some heavy flash video....

[Diego T.]

I removed Windows 8x64 and I am using Win7 x64 now.

I have to say that performance is waaaay better and the compuer does not feels slugish even with Eset Smar Security installed and some additional program.

[H4rDw4rE]

Then you should stick windows 7.

Just proved that it is grat OS :D

Just kidding.

I think you should write down what drivers you are using with Win 7 and find it for Win 8 if you decide to switch to Win 8 again.

On all machines where I installed Win8 I have never spotted that erraticaly behaviour like you do.

Win 8 acts almost same as Win 7 so there is some catch you still did not find...

Drivers make troubles too often...