If you are willing to buy a new computer, and don't have time to fix it why don't you take it to someone who does then.

That too.  Besides, sometimes one has to invest a bit of time to keep a computer running well.

That's why my almost four year old laptop is still running pretty damn good despite all the buggy updates.

[tinfoil hat]

the trouble with getting someone to fix your machine.. especially if it's a software issue is someone will be digging through your stuff and there's no way to know if you can trust them.

that said, even if you were to bin the old machine... there's still the issue of getting rid of the data in it before doing so.. [/tinfoil hat]

Computers; even, the apple requires maintenence after awhile that takes time. It sounds like your saying I don't have time to have a computer.

Well the saga continues my friends...

Got a bit too fed up with the machine being slow that I actually downloaded a flavor of Linux called Elementary Linux and actually installed it. Wiped out everything on my hard drive. Of course my data was safe, it gets backed up every 2 weeks so I didn't lose anything. 

But that was a mistake.

Getting drivers to work in Linux was a PITA.
Getting programs installed in Linux was a PITA.
Getting sound to work right was a PITA.
Basically the whole experience was a huge PITA.

Thankfully before I install Linux I had gone to Microsoft's website and downloaded a fresh ISO of the latest Windows 10 system. I spent 6 hours last night reinstalling Windows. I started by installing drivers, Windows had them all in place after the install, they just needed updating. Then I reinstalled the 20 or so programs I use. Then I transferred all my files back over. Spent the last hour or so setting up the system the way I like it.

And it's now really fast. I'm using version 1803. NO bugs so far. The system is pretty responsive, but I'm still gonna put another 4 GB of RAM into it.

The only thing I lost was the restore partition. I don't care about it. HP loaded it down with so much bloatware that I'm happy not spending an hour removeing all the junk. It's refreshing to use a vanilla copy of Windows.

So anyhow, problem solved. Now I'm gonna get some sleep. LOL. 

That's the best way to get your copy of Windows, through MS itself.  That's what I did with my HP 2-in-1 after I had Win 10 installed during Scheduled Maintenance in the middle of the night without my knowledge or consent.  It was just an update over Win 8.1, and I wanted a clean install without whatever sins had occurred in Win 8.1. 

The other thing MS did during the Win 10 installation was wipe my recovery partition, so I couldn't roll back to Win 8.1.  However, I ended up not caring about that.  As you said, Kona, HP installations are full of bloatware, and I never used any of it anyway.

As for Linux, I found the easiest distro to use for drivers and working straight out of the box is Ubuntu.  Mint is pretty good as well.  However, as much as I like those distros, they are not quite mainstream OSes as yet, which I why I still use Windows as my default OS.  I have a Mac Mini with OS-X Yosemite on it, but I haven't used that in a while and won't likely set it up again until we have moved back to Tasmania in a couple of months time.

The extra 4GB of RAM will help your system as well.  However, performing regular maintenance will be a must if you want to keep that machine running well.  IOBit's Advanced System Care is helpful in that aim  There is a free version which performs well, and a Pro version with a few more options and tools, but there are some free stand alone tools that you can downdload via ASC which will also help keep your machine clean, safe and working well... a defragger; a malware fighter; a driver updater and uninstaller.  And of course you already know about Ccleaner.

Anyhow, all the best with it.  

I never did care for IObit's ASC. It does too many things that I do no need nor understand. I stick with Malwarebytes, CCleaner, and Syncback. 

Now if I could just get Windows to work with Gmail in calendar....SMH....

Something to take from this is that learning a new operating system is never easy. I recommend system mechanic. Bit defender for viruses with Ccleaner for cleaning. If you are not using Bitdefender then you should probably buy something for ransomeware. 

For years I used Malwarebytes together with ASC. Never had a problem until the last MB update. Every time I used it MB would take out ASC despite my adding it to an exclusion list. So out the door MB went. I now have iobit's Malware Fighter and it does something MB never did, it tells me when the database needs to be updated with a little pop up on the lower right. I click update and five seconds later all done. Pretty quick. MB never did that. My anti-virus is Commodo and it does something automatically that the other ones I tried didn't. It tends to grab anything it suspects and holds it virtually for me to decide what to do with it. That's pretty cool. All that plus CCleaner and this camper is very happy. 

Glad you got it working properly.

I can't help but notice something odd about this thread though...

?????

There's not a lot you need to understand, really.  ASC has a one-click scan to clean startup items; junk files; registry errors; internet issues and spyware issues, etc.  Basically it keeps your machine clean, tidy and safe.  When used with IOBit's malware fighter and a good antivirus you're pretty much covered, and there is a free vesrion of ASC which would suit your needs just fine.

In ASC's Toolbox there are other tools you can download via the program, one being SmartDefrag, which would help to keep your HDD running smoothly. 

Thing is, if you don't have a lot of time for computer maintenance, ASC's one-click cleanup is the thing for you, and if you need more there is the Toolbox.

Same here, so MB was uninstalled.  Hopefully there's a fix sometime soon, cos otherwise MB is a great defender against the nasties out there.

You don't need fancy looking ASC. Glary Utilities does the same, and is compatible with MB. MB > ASC; if MB deletes ASC, then it has a valid reason for it.
But failure is sadly hard coded into Microsoft Windows. There is no all-in-one application to root failure out of Microsoft Windows. You could simply settle with using CCleaner once a month.

For stability, do not use unstable, untested, rushed OS releases. Get a stable OS ISO which includes all latest updates. And nuke your hard drive and reinstall OS after every 5 months. You also need to learn to configure your firewall properly: block everything you do not need and everything you do not use. You don't even need to have annoying Windows Update service running: hackers will always find a way in if you are such a prized target.
Once you obtain common sense, you will rarely need your anti-virus.

The custom disk images made by factories are horrid trash: throw them away immediately: they are bloated with trash, and have horrible configuration. I once had Fujjiuju laptop which factory disk split physical hard drive into 2 partitions which caused severe system slow down. Also one big name is known for intentionally including spyware in its disk images, to ofc sell collected user data to third parties.

But ofc, if people would be required to pass an exam before allowed behind a computer, then exploiters, parasites, criminals could never earn billions. Your depression makes them happy; handful earning billions > billions of wise.

Probably because it always did it but just recently got on my nerves. 

I've had probably a dozen laptops go through my hands...either mine...or others' to fix.... and every single one of them has been HD-wiped and reformatted so as to avoid the absurd bloat of junk-ware that companies insist on including.

All then run as well as their specs will allow.  Some actually needed the process thanks to fucked-up Win 10 'upgrades'...