Lappy is Samsung NP350V5C with Core i7 processor. I assume it to be 64 bit, no idea how much memory is installed but it doesn't struggle to do what I use it for, until now that is.
Interesting that Fasthosts have taken their eye off the ball but I can't see how that is causing the issues the machine clearly has.
I know about the Linux Mint repurposing, I have a number of machines already upgraded. This single lappy is the only Windows system I have, I use it for email, which could be migrated to Linux Mint and for updating several GPS systems for flying and driving. Last time I asked Garmin didn't have a Linux option for downloading and installing fresh databases.
Do you know different? Happy to ditch Win8 as soon as.