I need a new laptop

So my last laptop died and I know next to nothing about what makes them good. My budget is $300. I would like to recover my old data if possible, but I would like to actually play a game on it if possible, something my last laptop couldn't even attempt.

This is the laptop I already have that died. The main reason I was thinking of getting this one was to easily try to recover as much as possible from my dead laptop

https://www.amazon.com/HP-15-bs234wm-15-6-inch-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B07F2TKPFN/ref=mp_s_a_1_3 ?

keywords=hp%2B15%2Blaptop&qid=1571719812&sprefix=hp%2B15%2Bla&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

This is my second choice. It seems to be the same thing but wth a touchscreen

https://www.amazon.com/HP-15-6-Inch-Touchscreen-Pentium-DDR4-2400/dp/B07KDQW7Q1/ref=mp_s_

a_1_6?keywords=hp+laptop&qid=1571720115&sr=8-6

And this is my final choice. This seems like the better laptop but im really not sure. I do REALLY like the lit up keyboard, but im not sure it will be easy to recover files from my dead laptop or not. Also it's in "s" mode which is apparently annoying, but I guess you can switch out of this?

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Display-Graphics-Keyboard-A515-43-R19L/dp/B07RF1XD36/ref=sxin_2_ac_m_pm?ac_md=5-1-

QmV0d2VlbiAkMjAwIGFuZCAkNDAw-ac_d_pm&keywords=laptop&pd_rd_i=B07RF1XD36&pd_rd_r=14fe54db-3549-4d4b-a8e6-c7a59079f58d&pd_rd_w=jLYIl&pd_rd_

wg=BnV6A&pf_rd_p=808372f4-ce06-4458-88ef-16b605aa053a&pf_rd_r=F542WGRWFARTBKA4F7TZ&psc=1&qid=1571720367&th=1
(Had to break the link twice. Sorry)

TLDR: I need a new laptop for $300. The above were my first choices but open to better suggestions. I would like to recover as much as possible from my dead laptop also.

Thanks!

(The links are broken on the first two as well. Stupid limit)

The third option seems like the best. You can easily switch out of S mode.

* bippity boppity boop*

The one with Vega 3 is the best for gaming out of those

However, see if this exists at your Walmart

https://brickseek.com/walmart-inventory-checker/?sku=475791924

I got two Walmarts with them for $250... That'd murder all of those

https://brickseek.com/walmart-inventory-checker?sku=848509404

That's $450 near me but it'd murder the $250 one

Seconded the third option, although the storage is really crap. SSD sure, but if 128 GB is all you get you're not gonna be storing too many games (if triple A) on there. Doesn't look like it supports a second harddisk too.

If your old laptop's harddisk is broken, it's gonna be difficult, perhaps even impossible to get the data back. However, if the harddisk is fine and something else broke, you can just get an HDD enclosure for your old drive and transfer your old data to your new laptop.

easiest way is to get a usb stick of at least 4gb, intsall ubuntu on it (use your new laptop), boot from it in your old laptop and copy across the data bit by bit.

@ davidg4l posted...

Seconded the third option, although the storage is really crap. SSD sure, but if 128 GB is all you get you're not gonna be storing too many games (if triple A) on there. Doesn't look like it supports a second harddisk too.

If your old laptop's harddisk is broken, it's gonna be difficult, perhaps even impossible to get the data back. However, if the harddisk is fine and something else broke, you can just get an HDD enclosure for your old drive and transfer your old data to your new laptop.

So if I got the third option, could I even do the enclosure setup for my old data? Also, is there a way to tell if it's the hardisk that broke?

Data recovery is simple, provided the drive hasn't suffered any physical damage. I don't think those models you have selected will support a second drive, but you could swap out the primary drive for a larger one, but that would increase the cost, and require you to reinstall the operating system.

Don't get Windows 10 S, it is complete shit. If you like third party software, be prepared to abandon it for Microsoft only authorised software, only available through it's store. Say goodbye to Firefox or Chrome. You can disable these checks so you can install third party software, but you really need to know what you are doing, and it can take a while to do.

I would advise you to save a bit more if you can, before purchasing.

LiqiudusSnake posted...

@ davidg4l posted...

Seconded the third option, although the storage is really crap. SSD sure, but if 128 GB is all you get you're not gonna be storing too many games (if triple A) on there. Doesn't look like it supports a second harddisk too.

If your old laptop's harddisk is broken, it's gonna be difficult, perhaps even impossible to get the data back. However, if the harddisk is fine and something else broke, you can just get an HDD enclosure for your old drive and transfer your old data to your new laptop.

So if I got the third option, could I even do the enclosure setup for my old data? Also, is there a way to tell if it's the hardisk that broke?

If the harddisk is not broken, you can do that. Basically you detach the old harddisk, put it in the enclosure (basically this turns you internal disk to an external disk, like a huge flashdisk), plug it to your new laptop and transfer data normally.

I'm not an expert of detecting broken harddisk, but from what I know, you can check it by booting to your bios. To do that, when you turn on your laptop, when the splash screen that shows the manufacturer's logo shows up, press F2 or, F8 or F10 or whatever it is the setup for the manufacturer. Once booted into the bios, check if your laptop detects your harddisk. There should be a disk-related settings tab in the bios.

Or an alternative way that I'm 100% sure will work is just to use the enclosure and check if the harddisk is detected when you plug it in to your new laptop.