Question help with an upgrade

[Anaquix]

Hello, so in September I ordered a STGAubron PC from amazon without even looking it up (like an idiot), but it was my first pc, and I didn't know what I was doing. Now after looking the brand up, I've come to realize that the parts are old and in need of an upgrade to properly run, since the computer is crashing. However, I'm not too sure what parts need upgrading; I believe it's the motherboard and maybe the CPU but I'm not certain, so I came here for a second opinion.

Here's the model I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLVN79HZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If anyone can give me tips that would be greatly appreciated 😀

 

[stonecarver]

I've come to realize that the parts are old and in need of an upgrade to properly run, since the computer is crashing.

First can you describe what the issue is with he crashing.


AKA booting?

Gaming?

Freezing?

Not the most horrible specs but without knowing more information and what is the issue besides buyers remorse.

 

[Anaquix]

Well, it boots up alright no problem there but its starts when I play the sims or any game really. It freezes, flashes green or white for a few seconds before freezing entirely. No music, mouse movement, nothing...I just force reboot and try again, but it does the same thing.

 

[Lafong]

Has it ALWAYS had the problems you describe?

Or was it fine for a while and your problems are a new development?

I wouldn' necessarily assume you have a hardware problem.....pending what else you can tell us.

 

[Anaquix]

It was fine when I first bought it, the problems only started about a couple of weeks ago. whenever I play games (mostly the sims) I usually add mods, but I always make sure that they're up to date. The only other thing is that windows 10 won't activate on it so I was thinking if I upgrade the PC, it could fix both problems.

 

[Lafong]

Did you buy it with an activated Windows 10?

Can you explain how Windows became unactivated, assuming it ever was? When did that happen?

 

[Anaquix]

When I bought the PC, it didn't say anything about it being activated or not, but when I tried to activate windows, it said it wasn't activated but the key was used on another device. I troubleshooted it but told me it couldn't do anything and to buy a genuine copy of windows.

 

[Lafong]

When I bought the PC, it didn't say anything about it being activated or not, but when I tried to activate windows, it said it wasn't activated but the key was used on another device. I troubleshooted it but told me it couldn't do anything and to buy a genuine copy of windows.

The ad for the PC that you linked said it has "Windows 10 Home".

It may or may not have been activated the day it arrived.

If it is not activated right now, that would indicate to me that it was either:

Unactivated when it arrived.

or

Later became de-activated.

My guess at this point is that you never had a legit Window license. That's a guess.

Since you bought it, have you ever attempted to reinstall Windows from scratch?

Have you been receiving regular Windows Updates since September? That's normally an automatic thing, not something you request.

 

[Anaquix]

I have been getting regular updates, heck my last update was 12/11/24

 

[stonecarver]

the problems only started about a couple of weeks ago. whenever I play games (mostly the sims) I usually add mods,

Mods could be the issue.

Depending where they came from.

 

[Anaquix]

They came from the sims resource or patreon

 

[Lafong]

Since you bought it, have you ever attempted to reinstall Windows from scratch?

If you are not activated now and cannot activate, that will likely be a major problem going forward.

 

[Anaquix]

No, I haven't tried. I thought I could through Cortana, but it wouldn't let me, so I came here.

 

[Lafong]

No, I haven't tried. I thought I could through Cortana, but it wouldn't let me, so I came here.

Cortana would be the very last place I would look for install help....if you want to do it at all. We could help you, but I'm not saying it is necessary. Yet.

There's no point in a reinstall if you don't have a valid license. If push came to shove, that will cost you up to 100 plus, depending on your source. Some sources are bogus.

 

[Anaquix]

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lafong]

How do you know you are not activated right now?

 

[Anaquix]

I'm looking at the activation section in my settings and its saying "windows is not activated"

 

[Lafong]

I'm looking at the activation section in my settings and its saying "windows is not activated"

You don't know if it ALWAYS said that, but it may have. Correct?

What is shown on screen when you attempt activation?

Do you have any knowledge of a "Product Key", a 25 character series of numbers and letters? If you have those numbers, say so.........but DON'T post them here.

 

[Anaquix]

It may have I don't know. When I set it up, I didn't have it connected to Wi-Fi yet, so I continued without it.
The only thing showing of the key on the screen is the last five digits of it.

 

[Lafong]

It may have I don't know. When I set it up, I didn't have it connected to Wi-Fi yet, so I continued without it.
The only thing showing of the key on the screen is the last five digits of it.

Show us the last 5 digits.

 

[Anaquix]

they are MY47D

 

[Lafong]

they are MY47D

I thought you might have a so-called "generic" key, but I don't that is one of them.

You say:

"When I bought the PC, it didn't say anything about it being activated or not, but when I tried to activate windows, it said it wasn't activated but the key was used on another device."

I'd take the red part to be true. If true, it means Microsoft says that key is already in use. That's commonly done with semi-shady PC builders to hold their prices down so you'd be more apt to buy from them.

Your situation is:

1; if hardware is bad, a clean Windows install won't solve it. Your hardware will still be bad.

2; if hardware is good, a clean Windows install and attempted activation should still fail because your license is invalid.

3; you might have software issues related to gaming, mods, Patreon, and the rest of it. Even if you solve those issues, you still have the activation issue...and possibly hardware issues.

You could buy a new valid license and reinstall Windows. That won't fix hardware issues.

What's your natural inclination? Is cost a factor to you?

Is time spent a factor to you? You could spend 50 hours fiddling around and get nowhere.

Do you knowingly have any "System Restore" points?

 

[Anaquix]

I would cost is a factor to me, I don't want to spend too much, but I don't know about System restore points.

 

[Lafong]

System Restore is a way of setting your PC to some point back in time....weeks or months. It won't fix hardware issues.

In your case, you'd like to go back to before your problems began 2 weeks ago.

BUT it is not perfect. It will only "fix" some things not all things. It sometimes fails to complete. Even if it completes, your issues may remain.

You may or may not have any System Restore points.

Unless your activation issue began 2 weeks ago, I wouldn't think System Restore would help you at all with Windows activation.

You could complain to whoever you bought the PC from. There's some chance they will co-operate. I wouldn't count on it.

There's a few things you can do to test hardware. Not a whole lot. You'd probably still be wondering and have to make possibly shaky inferences. Replacing hardware part A may do you no good at all. How far and for how many hours are you willing to go down that rabbit hole?

I'd guess you should plan on buying a new Windows license at a minimum

 

[Anaquix]

I'm willing to basically do anything to fix this computer. I don't care how long it takes; this is my first pc, and I will do everything I need to do to fix these problems.