My HP 250 G5 doesn't do anything

[SamTattam]

I have recently bought a HP 250 G5 (December 2016). It runs as fast as a '95 desktop. It needs the internet to do ANYTHING. Nothing will open without a product key. It won't play discs, infact the only thing that came with the computer that will work is solitaire...

I am severely regretting buying this but don't have the money to replace it so is there anyone here that could make this worth my money?

[mdklassen]

The specifications for your computer are at: http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04934827.pdf

The CPU could be anything between a dual-core Intel® Celeron® N3350 at 1.1 Ghz to dual-core Intel® Core(tm) i7-7500U at 2.7 Ghz.

That is quite a range.

Your video could be either:

* 15.6" diagonal WLED   HD Anti-glare Slim (1366 x 768) SVA

* 15.6" diagonal WLED FHD Anti-glare Slim (1920 x 1080) SVA

Your disk-drive could be:

500 GB 5400 rpm SATA (7/9.5 mm)

500 GB 7200 rpm SATA (7 mm)

1 TB 5400 rpm SATA (9.5 mm)

1 TB Hybrid

Solid State Drives1 (HP 250 G5 only)

M.2 SATA-3

128 GB SATA-3

256 GB SATA-3

1 TB 5400RPM SSHD w/8GB NAND (9.5mm)

Certainly, having a 5400 RPM disk-drive is 25% slower than a 7200 RPM disk-drive.

Can you please tell us your actual specifications?

Also, start "Windows Update" -- I think that your computer is downloading many updates as a "background" process, thus consuming most of your Internet speed, and keeping your disk-drive quite busy -- to see if it is updating.

I think that once Windows Update has finished, and you have rebooted your computer, it will run much faster.

[mdklassen]

> Nothing will open without a product key. It won't play discs.

You received a product-key for Windows.

It seems like you are trying to use a "30-day-free-trial" version of Microsoft Office.

Since you purchased it two months ago, you are being "nagged" to convert the "trial" version to a "full" version.

What type of disks?  Commercially-produced CD-ROM music disks? 

Commercially-produced DVD video disks?

[SamTattam]

I have hardly used the computer since I bought it because of how slow it runs. When I open word it comes up with a choice of try, buy or use product key. 

As for the disc, so far I tried one DVD and it wouldn't play it, keep saying I needed internet access.

[SamTattam]

I don't have any of that information. It came with a simple instruction pamphlet (like how to plug it in to charge and how to turn on/off) and a piece of paper with international phone numbers on it.

The serial code is CND6415MN6.

 As for the upgrades, it says there is one to download, I have tried to download it twice but it has failed both times.

[SamTattam]

The update left is called HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI.

[mdklassen]

> I have hardly used the computer since I bought it because of how slow it runs.

What are the specifications:

* CPU model and speed,

* amount of RAM,

* speed of disk-drive (5400 RPM? 7200 RPM? SSD?)

To repeat, the first few days that it is connected to the Internet, Windows Update is running in the background.

This process consumes a considerable amount of the available resources: CPU, disk, Internet,

leaving you with a "slower" computer.

From the Settings control panel, open the POWER control, and set the computer to "never turn off".

Then, launch Windows Update, and leave the computer alone overnight, connected to the Internet,

to download and apply all the updates from Microsoft, and to reboot.

After the reboot, it should be much faster.

> When I open word it comes up with a choice of try, buy or use product key. 

To repeat, your "30-day trial period" for Microsoft Office has expired.  To keep using Word, which is part of the Microsoft Office package, you need to buy and enter a product-key.  Your local computer-store can sell you the correct product-key -- it would be best to take your laptop to that store, to get the correct key for your version of Office.

> As for the disc, so far I tried one DVD and it wouldn't play it, keep saying I needed internet access.

Either Windows Media Player needed to download some software to update itself, or it was trying to connect to an online database, to download "album-title" and "track-title" information from a database.

P.S. Laptop computers run more slowly when running on battery power, to extend the charge in the battery.

Connect it to AC power when running Windows Update.

[SamTattam]

So I've basically completely wasted my
Money. I don't have internet at home and giving me programs that I have to buy is a pretty harsh scam.

I am by no means a rich person, I had to scrap and save so I could replace my old laptop which was a HP Pavillion. That's why I went with HP again but this is just heart breaking. It's like buying a car and then being told I have to pay extra to get the wheels.
Thanks anyway...

[mdklassen]

> giving me programs that I have to buy is a pretty harsh scam.

The first time that you launched Microsoft Word, you must have clicked "I agree" to start the 30-day free trial. 

That is not a "scam".

Anyway, Windows 10 has a "Reset my PC" option, to restore Windows 10 to its "fresh-out-of-the-box" status.

Disconnect from the Internet, and launch this option, to reset your PC.

Then, after it reboots, test-drive it at its original speed -- do this BEFORE connecting it to the Internet.

Then, configure the "power" settings to "never turn the computer off".

Connect to the Internet.

Launch Windows Update, and let it run for literally hours.

After the updates are completed, restart it.

Test-drive its current speed.

[SamTattam]

I haven't started any free trial so no I haven't agreed to anything at this point in time.
I haven't gone past the try, but, product key promp.