k4rs

There is no need to restore the image before doing a clean install. Windows will create a hash based upon the hardware in your computer. When it connects to the activation server it will see that this machine was previously activated. For that reason installing the new hard drive in another computer will not activate with the image because the hardware is different. Spinrite is a wonderful program, however it will not revive a dying hard drive. It is designed to scan a hard drive and move data from bad sectors to good sectors and then map out the bad. Spinrite will sometimes allow you to recover corrupted data from questionable sectors. The problem is that the cost for Spinrite is more than the cost of a new hard drive. Safe Travels...

According to the HP link, your computer was released in 2012, the same year the hard drive was manufactured. The specifications for it should be fine for Windows 10. I still have a computer that I built in 2012 and it is still performing very well. > I've made a USB to download W10 from that website you linked, or could I simply do a clean install if the old copy is corrupted? Yes, you sure can. As I said before, it is more work but I believe it is the better way. Just keep your old drive and the image backup in case you discover that you missed something important with your data backup. No, I am not tired of the drivel I have been doing computer support for decades both as a business and now for fun. I really enjoy helping others fix their computer problems (although it is more fun in person). Safe Travels...

The advantage of an image backup is that it grabs everything, the operating system, applications, and data. This simplifies the restore. The downside is that any corrupted files from that failing drive will be restored onto the new drive. I know it is extra work, but I think a fresh install is the better way to go. Edit: If that computer was really from 2002, that is XP era. I really suspect it may be very under-powered for Win 10. Safe Travels...

It really depends on how you made the backup. I prefer to boot the computer from a USB stick (or CD/DVD) containing the backup program to both make and restore image backups. There are a number of programs that make image backups. The one I use is Acronis. If you just copied the data files you will need a USB or DVD containing Windows to install on the new hard drive. You can then install application software and restore data files. Let us know how you made your backup and which program you used. That way we can provide better advice. Safe Travels...

You replied while I was editing It is almost certainly time to retire that drive. Safe Travels...

This is sounding more and more like you really do have a failing hard drive. The Reallocation Event Count means that 36 sectors have failed and have been replaced with spare sectors. Here is a link with more info: https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/how-to-fix-reallocated-sector-count-warning/ Glad that you have been backing up your data. While re-reading this thread I see the drive is 7 years old. Three to five years is considered to be the usual life of a hard drive. If you do decide to replace the drive, seriously consider an SSD. They are much faster, more reliable, and while prices are still higher than a conventional drive, they have dropped considerably recently. Safe Travels...

Microsoft does not store a key on the hard drive. Computers that come with Win 10 have a key stored in the bios. Computers that have been upgraded from Win 7 or Win 8.x have a digital entitlement that is stored on Microsoft servers. You can install a new hard drive and do a fresh install that will be activated the first time you go online and access Microsoft activation servers. If you ever need to re-install, you can download Windows 10 directly from Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO/ Safe Travels...

Good News ! Safe Travels...

Evidently dental work can cause infections that affect the replacement joint. My doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics and told me to take them prior to any dental procedures. Safe Travels...

You could add another sound card if you want to continue using your existing speakers. I still believe one of the USB sound devices mentioned previously would be a better choice. They would be much easier to install and are natively supported by Windows. Windows 10 has a long history of driver issues and the USB devices avoid this pitfall. Safe Travels...

I have never used the Beheringer but I believe it should work well. Another USB sound interface that is less expensive and I have had good luck with is from Syba: https://www.newegg.com/syba-sd-cm-uaud-usb-to-audio/p/N82E16812186035?Description=usb audio&cm_re=usb_audio-_-12-186-035-_-Product https://www.amazon.com/external-Adapter-Windows-Microphone-SD-CM-UAUD/dp/B001MSS6CS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2NPCTT0EN79X1&keywords=syba+usb+sound+card&qid=1562438243&s=gateway&sprefix=syba+usb%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-3 Safe Travels...

It sounds to me like your sound card (or motherboard sound chip) got a bad driver update. The USB speakers do not use your existing sound device. It simply bypasses the non-functional hardware. Safe Travels...

Before you give up, you may want to try an inexpensive USB speaker. I have had good luck with Logitech S150 speakers. They do not require extra drivers and have never failed to work for me. https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-S150-Speakers-Digital-Sound/dp/B000ZH98LU/ref=sr_1_4?crid=I35MWIHV66OO&keywords=usb+speakers+for+desktop+computer&qid=1562338114&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+spea%2Caps%2C370&sr=8-4 Safe Travels...

I am quite familiar with what a VPN will and will not do. I also spent decades providing computer support, including networking, in my career. The point I was trying to make is that public Wi-Fi is an attractive target for data thieves. Anything you can do to protect yourself in such an environment is a good idea. As an analogy: If you like to scuba dive in shark infested waters, especially if some fisherman has been chumming, it makes good sense to use a cage. Safe Travels...

As we travel I get many opportunities to connect to campground Wi-Fi. One of the first things I do is to check to see if I am leaking any sensitive data. You would be amazed at the number of people who connect to public systems with file sharing turned on. Not just photos but medical records, tax documents, banking info, etc. These open Wi-Fi systems are a rich harvest for data miners. Like RV, I am a firm believer in using a VPN. Safe Travels...

While my install was not as large as yours, I built a similar rack for my fifth wheel. I used 2 inch square aluminum designed for pool enclosures. I never had an issue for the 12 years I owned that rig. Unfortunately I don't recall taking any photos. Safe Travels...

Before we retired and became full time RV'ers, we had a full motion water bed that we loved. We knew that we could not move it to the RV because of the weight. We tried several air mattresses but they did not work out (leaks, burst when traveling over continental divide at 14,000 feet, etc). We ended up with an 8 inch memory foam that worked out very well. When we downsized from the 5th wheel to our current travel trailer, we discovered that we hated the mattress that came with the trailer. We added a memory foam topper but found that while it was quite comfortable, it would not stay in position and we had to re-position it every day or two. We just purchased another 8 inch memory foam mattress and look forward to using it this summer as we travel the country. It is the same brand that we had before end we expect we will love it also: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BW7H5G6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Safe Travels...

As others have said, this operation is very routine these days. The benefit FAR outweighs the discomfort. I was really surprised at how little pain I had (except for the PT). My wife and the doctor were concerned about my ability to get up and down stairs. They would not discharge me from the hospital until I demonstrated I could. I was walking the hallways the day after surgery and did a flight of stairs on the second. The walker I had been using went into the storage shed a week after I returned home. In other words, don't sweat it. You'll do fine. Safe Travels...

As a side note, Microsoft just certified version 1809 for general release. With the short life cycle these versions get, they are almost end of life by the time most of the bugs are worked out. https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-officially-designates-windows-10-1809-as-ready-for-broad-deployment/ Safe Travels...

In 2001 I had an accident that tore up my right knee. After two surgeries, I was told that they fixed it as best as they could but I was not 100% and never would be. In fact, it would only get worse. A few years later I mentioned to my primary care doctor that I was having some knee pain. He sent me to an orthopedic specialist for a consult. That doctor told me I needed a knee replacement but because of my age I should wait until it hurt so bad that I could no longer stand the pain. I reached that point in 2015. I did some research and found another doctor who specialized in knee replacements. He confirmed that I definitely needed a knee replacement but wanted me to loose some weight before surgery. He gave me an injection to help with the pain and told me to get back with him when the shot wore off. Three years later, and 55 pounds lighter, I had the procedure. I could not be happier with the outcome. The constant pain is gone and while I still have some mobility issues, it is better than it was. As previously mentioned, proper PT (Physical Torture) was a key to a good outcome. As a side note, this was all done with commercial insurance (I am not old enough for Medicare). The medical care that I receive while I was serving in the Army convinced me that I wanted NOTHING to do with the VA. I realize that many years have passed and things change, but recent news articles and some of the stories recounted here make me think I followed the correct course of action. Safe Travels...

RV, I am also a firm believer in VPN's. I have been using PIA for several years. Nord also looks good and can connect 1 more device than PIA but I have never reached the 5 device (at a time) limit. I have configured one or my routers to act as the VPN client, so many devices can be protected with only one connection. The only downside I have found (other than a slight performance loss), is that some sites constantly pop up captchas to prove I am not a robot. I am not fond of Defender because it constantly deletes some of my favorite utilities due to false positives. I have added exclusions but the settings keep reverting to default. At least with Panda I can configure it to ask before deleting a questionable file. I am not sure why I stopped using Malwarebytes. I guess I just felt it was not necessary as 95% of my activity is now on Linux. Safe Travels...

I may need to re-assess my choice of anti-virus products. I am currently using Panda which failed to detect or block a remote access trojan when I downloaded it or when I accidentally ran it while attempting to do a virus scan (long story). Fortunately I noticed the remote access activity moments before someone completed the purchase of downloadable gift cards using my Amazon account. Needless to say, I now have two factor authentication turned on and I have re-installed Malwarebytes Premium (thank goodness for lifetime licenses). In addition to my carelessness in accidentally activating the malware, I failed to immediately disconnect from the Internet while doing the full computer virus scan. I will not forget that lesson in the future. Safe Travels...

I agree with your position 100%. Over the years I saw many of my friends and coworkers die before retiring, or falling over dead 6 months after retiring. One couple that we knew wanted to travel after retirement but disagreed on the best approach. My friend reluctantly gave into his wife and purchased a retirement home here in Florida first. They sold their home in Maryland, purchased a new Suburban and Airstream trailer, drove to Florida and put them into storage while they settled into their new home. A few months later his wife had a serious medical event the prevented travel. Before she could fully recover, he had a medical problem develop also. Several years later they realized that they were never going to be able to travel so they sold the Suburban and Airstream at a great loss (after paying storage fees for years). I decided early on that I wanted to retire early and travel, so I planned my career accordingly. My field of employment was not the best paying, and had less than desirable working conditions, but had great job security and a wonderful retirement program. I also started my own business to earn extra income. By living frugally, following our plan, and a little luck, Toni and I were able to retire when I was 46. We spent 13 years traveling full time before settling down again and becoming long time travelers. The biggest downside to early retirement was losing our job related health insurance. Purchasing our own has been the single largest expense in our budget. With the introduction of Obamacare, we were able to shop around to find a more reasonably priced plan, but the high deductible came back to haunt me last year when I began having serious heath issues of my own. Now I find that I am unable to start drawing social security at 62 as planned because that would cause the heath insurance premium to increase by more than I would be getting from SS. Oh well, we have been getting by with out it all these years so I look forward to drawing a higher benefit once (if) I reach 65 and switch over to Medicare. Safe Travels...

Our garage was 11 feet long. In the front, next to the dividing wall, we had a washing machine and chest freezer. Along the driver side wall was my desk and a food pantry. We also had several storage boxes that got moved around. It was very crowded with the motorcycles loaded but quite roomy with them unloaded. Our motorcycles never "marked their territory", so really not a problem with mess. When I first got the Hustler I ground mounted it. I moved it to the RV when a campground manager worried about someone tripping over the radials. After that nobody ever complained. Last year we downsized to a 27 foot conventional trailer that we use to travel in the summer (4 to 5 months) and do not have room for HF. We currently have a 2 Meter / 70 CM System Fusion (C4FM), a DV dongle for D-Star, and Echolink while we are traveling. 73 es Safe Travels...

There are lots of hams here, but as you noticed, not very active on the forum. Face to face gatherings such as Escapade and Quartzfest are much different. Back to the original question, we also had a toy hauler. I put a desk in the garage for computers and radio gear. My best antenna setup was a Hustler 6-BTV on a homemade tilt over. It was easy up - easy down and performed well on our aluminum 5th wheel. As previously mentioned, fiberglass is more of a challenge. 73 es Safe Travels...