Is Xtra PC Scam [Updated 2010] – Read Review Before Buying >> Here you read about how you can improve the speed of your computer and also Read about all your FAQs answered. Do you use a flash drive?
We have all felt the pain of an aging computer, it gets slower and slower by the day, and you hardly get any work done. You also probably thought of buying a new one, but the thought of dropping down a significant amount of money on a new machine is very daunting. There has to be a way to make your old computer fast, and thankfully we are here to tell you about it right here.
There was a time your computer was speedy and reliable, but over the years, with updates, software installations, and other changes to the system, it just starts getting slower and slower.
Thankfully, a new product has launched recently and is giving new life to ancient machines. That’s not all; it’s making them faster than ever before and more secure. But the real deal about this new device is its affordable price.
This review would like to introduce you to Xtra PC, a USB-like device that speeds up your computer and makes it feel like new again. Here is what you need to know about Xtra PC before you buy:
What is Xtra-PC?
The device that we just praised is called XTRA-PC, and it can give brand-new life to your old PC. XTRA-PC is a pocketable USB drive that you can easily plug into your PC via a standard USB port. The small device is capable of bypassing your operating system and loading a feature perfect Linux operating system that is free from the shackles of your old one.
Xtra PC is not a new computer; instead it is a USB-like device that you plug into your computer to enhance its performance and speed. With this nifty little gadget, you’ll gain speed, efficiency, and a better computer usage experience. Better yet, unlike buying a new computer, this one is a completely affordable alternative. You can finally experience the optimal computer usage experience without having to spend an additional hundreds of dollars to attain that end goal.
Xtra-PC is a small USB PC stick that works by bypassing your computer’s operating system and using a new one to make it faster.
On the outside, it looks just like an ordinary flash drive, but it’s the inside that works wonders. It is powered by Linux which replaces your slow Windows OS. The result is blazing-fast speeds without having to upgrade anything in your hardware.
If you’re not really tech-savvy, worry not because it is user-friendly and doesn’t require a complicated setup. Insert the USB PC stick into a port, then follow the on-screen prompts to set it up. Your computer also has to be rebooted for it to work. After that, you can start using your PC as if you just bought it in mint condition.
The great thing about it is that it doesn’t just work on old computers, but also on those with missing or faulty hard drives. Because it functions as a USB PC stick and runs on a completely different OS, your existing files won’t be altered and you will still be able to access them.
Every computer in the world uses some type of operating system that runs the device. The most common are Windows from Microsoft and iOS, which is the operating system used by Apple computers. Both of those systems charge a licensing fee and come loaded with software and programs that you’ll never use. Xtra-PC allows you to bypass that operating system and instead use Linux as your OS. This is the same OS that many professionals use today. In our Xtra-PC review, we’ll take an in-depth review of this device and look at all the available versions of the product.
Features of Xtra Pc
Here are some of the best features of owning an Xtra-PC and the advantages that come with it.
- Easy To Use – Getting started is very easy. All you have to simply insert your Xtra-PC into a USB port. And then restart your computer. Click on the boot menu option, and it is done.
- Affordable – Why should invest in a new computer when you can completely transform your old computer into a new one for just a few dollars.
- Good Stewardship – Convert your old computer with Xtra-PC into a new one. You do not need to buy a new PC – just turn your old PC into a useful PC again by using this Xtra pc USB in a computer.
- 30-Day Guarantee – Additionally, If you are not satisfied with the service of Xtra Pc for any reason. simply send it back and you will get a full refund.
- Low-Cost – It only costs around $35 for the base model so you can avoid spending hundreds of dollars buying a new computer. No Operating System No Problem. If your computer doesn’t have an operating system, you don’t have to worry about anything. Xtra-PC will work perfectly fine with that PC as well.
- Plug-And-Play – Xtra-PC is a plug-and-play device that you only need to plug into a USB port, and that’s about it. There is an extra step of booting to the operating system on the Xtra-PC, but you don’t have to do anything physically for that.
- Works with Windows or Mac PCs – Is your computer is 12 years old? If yes, you are good to go. If it’s newer, that’s all the better, but you don’t even have to worry about a decade-old computer not working with Xtra-PC. The best part is, even if you are using a Mac or a Windows computer, both will work the same with the device.
- Use Your Old Files – If you have data on your old hard drive that you want to access, Xtra-PC will help you access it without any additional software. Any songs, videos, or files you want to retrieve, you can easily do that. There are no extra steps involved here, your old hard drive will show up automatically, and you can access it normally.
- Comes With Linux – Linux has been proven to work faster and is virtually virus immune, so you don’t have to worry about your privacy or security.
- Free Software – There are a few free software included in the bundle so you can get down to work as soon as you plug it in.
- File Recovery System (For Pro Version) – Xtra-PC can help you recover files from your old computer. You don’t have to mourn the loss of photos and family videos now. There is a high chance Xtra-PC will be able to recover them.
In this Xtra Pc review article, we will also discuss the pros and cons of using the device.
Additional features
Extra PC didn’t market these features. But we believe that they’re worth mentioning since they’re extremely useful. Most Xtra-PC reviews don’t mention these either.
Privacy Protection
If you’re a penny-pincher, you’ll be amazed at how much you can get for your money’s worth with this gadget. Bet you didn’t know that this USB computer stick can also be used for protecting your privacy.You can surf the internet without leaving any traces of your activities on the computer. Indeed, as long as you’re using it, you won’t be accessing anything from your old OS.
So how exactly does it do that? Since you’re using the Linux OS instead of your old Windows or Mac OS, you don’t leave any trace on your computer. Everything remains only on the USB stick.
So, you’re free to do online activities that involve sensitive information such as sending emails and checking your bank account.
Worrying about compromising your privacy and security will be the last thing on your mind.Plus, as long as you have the USB computer stick with you at all times, your data is safe and secure.
However, if you want to take this feature to the next level, you can use a VPN that’s compatible with Linux. This way, you’ll always be extra protected when you connect to the internet.
Safety from malware
Another good thing about it is that you can surf the internet without getting infected by viruses and malware.
Once again, this is thanks to the OS of the USB drive. Linux, like macOS, is a system well-protected against viruses (but not totally immune to them).
Benefits of using Xtra PC:
- It helps in improving the speed of the PC or Laptop
- Xtra PC will work as an additional storage gadget
- You can bring your old PCs to life
- It also allows recovering deleted files
- You can enable your computer to update itself with all the latest versions
- You can visit multiple various websites
- It has apps already added into it which you can use
- You can buy the storage size of your choice or requirement
How Does Xtra-PC Work?
One of the biggest reasons why we love XTRA-PC is how easy it is to use. You will, of course, still need your old computer, even if it doesn’t have a hard drive. Then you’ll plug the XTRA-PC into a USB port, don’t worry, any modern computer will have the port readily available either on the front or the back. You can even use it on a laptop with a USB port.
Make sure your computer is completely turned off and not put on sleep. Insert the XTRA-PC into the USB port and turn on the computer. However, be ready to press a specific button so that you can boot from the XTRA-PC.
In layman terms, it means you’ll be loading the operating system that saved on the XTRA-PC instead the one from the hard disk of your old computer. To do this, you’ll have to press a button which is usually displayed on the very first screen that comes up when you turn the computer on.
You’ll need to insert the Xtra-PC USB stick and then turn on the computer. From there, you’ll see a start-up screen and can just hit the boot menu key to proceed.
Most computers will tell you to press F9, F11, F10, and F12, DEL or ESC keys. After you’ve pressed the appropriate key, you’ll be guided towards a boot menu. Here you need to select the XTRA-PC in the options, and that’s about it. The XTRA-PC will boot up rather quickly merely because it is devoid of any bloatware or manufacturer software.
Immediately, you’ll notice a huge difference in terms of the boot-up speed of your computer. With the Xtra-PC device plugged in and up-and-running, your computer will load so much faster, and it comes with a lot of the same features and functionality you’ll know and love from your regular Windows or Mac set-up too, so you can install a lot of the same programs and use your computer just like before.
There will be a few Windows-specific programs that aren’t quite compatible with your new, speedy, Xtra-PC OS, but you can easily find alternatives that work just well and offer the same basic features and functionality.
As you can see, the results have been pretty impressive.
- Windows boot time: 252.80 second
- Xtra-PC boot time: 26.13 seconds
There are no doubts, that Xtra-PC loads way faster (almost 10 times faster) than the original Windows operating system, but this isn’t all. We tested Xtra-PC with all the usual tasks.
How Can You Use Xtra-PC?
Using Xtra-PC is as easy as using a flash drive or a thumb drive to look at treasured photos. Once the product arrives, you need to remove the drive from the packaging and turn on your computer. You can then insert the drive into an available USB port on your computer. It’s helpful to close any running programs before you insert it. It can take a few minutes for your computer to recognize the drive, but it will then bring up a window that asks what you want to do with that device. You’ll want to click the prompt that allows the drive to run and download Linux on your computer.
The whole process should only take a few minutes, but it heavily depends on your internet speed. If you have a slower speed, it can take an hour or more to download it. You mustn’t leave your computer during this process because multiple windows will ask you different questions. When the computer nears the end of this process, you should notice some changes to your homepage or screen. Once Linux downloads, you can use that OS to do some work from home or anything else you want to do with your computer.
Where Can You Use it?
Just about everything! With Xtra-PC, there’s simply no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer – only to have it peter out on you in another year or two. It makes no sense. But getting Xtra-PC does (which is why the big computer companies are so against this incredibly powerful little device). With Xtra-PC you’ll be able to…
- Surf the web
- Read and answer e-mails
- Watch movies
- Listen music
- Play games
- Create and edit spreadsheets and text files
Xtra-PC performed very well, across all the tasks, proving the operating system has been configured aiming to maximum speed, and packed in the proper way, so the user doesn’t need to lose time looking to install any further software. The only missing software we would love to see already loaded is Skype, but you can easily install it as you normally do on your Windows or Mac.
Can You Use Xtra-PC on Any Computer?
While the makers of Xtra-PC claim that it can work with most types of computers and even those that don’t have hard drives, there are some system requirements to use any version. It will only work on computers with a 700 MHz microprocessor or higher. You also need a 2.0 or a 3.0 USB port and a minimum of 512 MB of RAM. The maker of the product recommends that your computer have at least 2 GB of memory. The computer also needs a graphics card capable of supporting HDMI, DVI or VAG.
The computer should have a BIOS that gives you access to the computer and lets it work with a USB drive. As you’ll insert the device into a USB port, it can only run if you can launch the program from that port. You also need some type of network card, but the device works with both wired and wireless cards. After you install and begin using Xtra-PC, you can work without connecting to the internet first. You can only install it if you have an internet connection though. This is because the device will use the internet to ensure that you have the most updated version of the OS.
Where to Buy?
We found Xtra-PC devices available for sale on multiple websites that include Amazon. Most of the reviews posted on Amazon are quite poor though, and many of those reviews focus more on the site than on the product. We also found that Amazon allows third-party sellers to list the product for sale. When you buy from a third-party seller, you might get a used USB drive that someone already used on a different computer or one that lacks the original packaging. The best reason to buy Xtra-PC from Amazon is that you can get the product for a little less than it sells for on the official site.
The official Xtra-PC site also offers a discount for those who buy in bulk. You’ll pay full price the first product, but you then get a 40% discount that applies to all other products purchased at the same time. This is a great way to gift holiday gifts for tech lovers in your family. All purchases made through the official site come with a 30-day money-back guarantee too.
How to Setup Xtra PC
My Xtra-PC Turbo arrived in the mail within two days of ordering it, so that was a nice surprise. Sure enough, opening the package revealed a tiny USB device. (So small that it barely sticks out the side of my Samsung netbook — definitely a big plus since I’ve broken my fair share of protruding USB devices.) It came with simple instructions on how to get my PC to boot from USB instead of the hard drive.
On first boot, Xtra-PC walked me through an easy one-time setup process to get things going. The only obstacle I hit was that I got stuck at a license-acceptance prompt because it took me a minute to figure out that I needed to use the Tab (or Arrow keys) instead of the mouse to highlight the “accept” button. (It was like a quick trip back to the ol’ pre-mouse days of DOS.) That was a bit funky, but everything else was easy-peasy from there. The Xtra-PC OS automatically recognized in installed the correct drivers and software to run my wireless internet adapter, CD-ROM, display, and all other necessities. Initial setup took about 10 mins from start to finish.
If you’re a techie like me, you’ll recognize that Xtra-PC is basically a custom version of the Linux operating system. Linux is known amongst geeks for being rock-solid, considerably faster, and far less vulnerable to viruses than Windows. Running Linux squeezes extra performance out of older processors, which is big part of Xtra-PC’s “secret sauce.”
How Much Is This Going To Cost Me?
This is not a joke. Xtra-PC is only $34.99! That’s right – ONLY 35 bucks!
There honestly is no good reason not to try Xtra-PC.
You can get Xtra-PC direct from the company’s website here. Make sure to buy it from the official site as there are many knockoffs on the market today.
So, Are You Sitting On A FAST Computer (But Just Don’t Know It?)
Now that you know about Xtra-PC and what it can do for your old computer, the question isn’t, “Do you have an old, slow, useless computer sitting around?” The question is, Do you have a FAST, ready-to-use computer that you need to go find and resurrect?
Start enjoying that lightning fast computer as quickly as possible by following these steps:
- Step 1: Order Xtra-PC and get it delivered in 3-5 days.
- Step 2: Plug it in and reboot your computer.
- Step 3: Sit back and enjoy your like-new PC.
Which machines is it compatible with
The Xtra-PC will work on all machines that originally used Windows Vista, Windows XP or Windows 7 which can boot to USB. The machines need to have been made after 2004, earlier versions may not work.
Mac computers made after 2011 should also work with the Xtra-PC, just follow the instructions for your Mac to boost the USB.
Even without a hard drive, the Xtra-PC works just fine. If you want to use a wireless mouse and keyboard just ensure that they have a USB dongle or receiver that works well with Xtra-PC. Once inserted into the USB port, they will be immediately detected with no configuration required.
Types of Xtra-PC Products
Though people love to talk about Xtra-PC online, you might not realize that they refer to all products with the same name. This company makes three different products that include the Xtra-PC Turbo 16, which was the first and original one released.
Xtra-PC Turbo 16
If you want to get an idea as to how Xtra-PC works and want to save a little money, you might try the Turbo 16 first. Though it retails for $49.99, it is usually available for $34.99 from the official site. This model does a good job of improving your computer speeds but lacks the features found on the more expensive versions.
Xtra-PC Turbo 32
The Turbo 32 increases the speed of your computer by 1.5 times what the Turbo 16 can. Retailing for $89.99, you can buy it from the official website for as little as $49.99 plus shipping and handling. In addition to helping your computer run faster, this model also comes with 32 GB of extra storage. You can keep family photos and important documents secure on the drive.
Xtra-PC Pro
If you want the best Xtra-PC product and don’t mind paying more, then the Pro is the best model for you. It retails for $159.99 but often goes on sale for $79.99. When you buy the Pro model, you also get free shipping and handling in the United States. The Pro doubles the speed of the Turbo 16 and gives you an impressive 64 GB of storage for videos, photos and other files. It also comes with file rescue software, which usually costs $99 on its own. This software lets you restore some of the files on old computers and make copies of those files.
Our Final Thoughts
If you want to know how to speed up old PC, you don’t need to go through such extreme lengths to bring it back to its glory days.
Sometimes, you can’t really trust the tech shops because most of the time, they will try to trick you into buying more things that you don’t even need. I have had a lot of friends who were forced to spend hundreds of euros just to fix their old devices and bring them up to speed. But it is always better to persist in looking for better ways to do this.
Xtra-PC is a nifty device that is not only affordable but also gives a real and noticeable upgrade to aging hardware. It is better than spending money on an entirely new PC and can help you do your day to day tasks in a timely fashion.
Important Information!
Special Sale:
As of Saturday, October 5th 2019, you can still get an Xtra-PC with 16GB of storage for 30% OFF! For only $34.99, you can:
- Resurrect your “dead” computer
- Save money on diagnostics and repairs
- Keep all your files and favorite programs
- Get up and running in minutes!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two very simple ways to boot your PC to Xtra-PC:
1. Use the boot key to start Xtra-PC:Turn off your PC. Insert the Xtra-PC stick into a USB slot. Turn your PC on and hold the boot key on your PC for 1-2 seconds (most manufacturers use F12, F11, F10, F9, F1 or ESC). When the boot menu is displayed select USB HDD (or something similar).
2. Set your PC to boot to USB:Turn off your PC. Turn your PC on and hold the setup key on your PC (most manufacturers use F1, F2, ESC, F9, F10. It’s usually displayed on your screen when the screen first starts.). When the set up menu is displayed, look for the boot menu. Change the boot priority to select boot from USB as the number one priority. Save your changes. Now when you restart your PC it will automatically look for Xtra-PC. This will not affect your Windows operating system. Your PC will boot normally into Windows if Xtra-PC is not in a USB slot.
Yes. We have, however, seen that Macs before 2011 might not boot to USB. If you want to use Xtra-PC on a Mac, follow the instructions provided for your Mac to boot to USB.
No. Xtra-PC runs from the USB and does not touch or modify the existing files in any way.
Yes. The hard drive can be accessed from the old computer from Xtra-PC , making all of those files available if you choose. For detailed instructions on accessing these files, refer to the Xtra-PC Support Knowledge Base.
Yes! Xtra-PC runs from the USB drive, so your computer doesn’t even need a hard drive to work like new using Xtra-PC.
No. Photos, music, DVDs, document creation and editing can all be done without an internet connection. However, an internet connection is required for the initial set-up.
Turbo has 16GB of storage. More than enough for storing photos, files, music, movies. This is the same amount of storage as most Chromebooks. Pro has 64 GB of storage for most any need.
Yes. Xtra-PC runs from the USB drive, so it can be used with computers that have viruses, or even those that are missing a hard drive.
No, but most of those programs have online equivalents that are easy to use, with capabilities that are just like Windows programs.
Yes, we designed Xtra-PC to allow users to easily add programs.
There are a number of wireless mice and keyboards that use a USB dongle or USB receiver that work well with Xtra-PC. To use these, simply insert into the USB port, and your mouse or keyboard will be detected immediately, with no configuration needed.
Yes. Full instructions for this are provided in the Xtra-PC user guide.
Yes.
Not at this time.
Xtra-PC can run on a wide variety of desktop, netbook, and laptop computers.
Xtra-PC runs on most computers that are twelve years old or newer. Better performance will be seen on computers that are newer.
Yes. You can use Xtra-PC without a wireless connection for applications such as watching DVDs, playing music CDs and MP3s, viewing photos, using OpenOffice, and more. However, if you want to access the internet using your laptop, you can use a wired network connection if it’s available. Or you can buy a USB wireless adapter for as little as $10 that simply plugs into the USB port on your laptop. An example of a wireless USB we have tested using Xtra-PC is Panda Wireless PAU03.
Even without an internet connection, Windows often becomes slower and slower over time, resulting in very long boot times and causing programs to load and run slowly. And even if your Windows computer isn’t connected to the internet now, most likely it was at some point, causing it to be exposed to malware and viruses that could dramatically compromise your computer’s performance. Also, the Xtra-PC operating system is specifically designed to run efficiently on outdated hardware and requires far fewer computer resources than Windows XP or Windows 7, resulting in Xtra-PC booting and running much faster than your Windows system.
There are many factors that go into performance, so comparisons are difficult. If your old computer had malware, bloatware or viruses, you should see a marked improvement in performance. Xtra-PC Turbo will definitely show improved speed performance compared to your old PC.
We have done extensive testing of USB memory devices and have selected the ones we use to optimize performance. Your performance will vary depending on your configuration of memory, processor, video card, bus speed, etc. Sometimes the USB might seem slower than running from a hard drive, particularly in intensive disk type operations. But other times after items have been “cached” into memory, you will see better performance.
Yes- unopened Xtra-PC products can be returned for a full refund (less original shipping charges) within 30 days of ship date. Defective products can be returned for a full refund (less original shipping charges) within 30 days of ship date. Follow the returns process at: https://www.xtra-pc.com/refund-policy/
Laptops, desktops, and netbooks made in 2004 or newer should work fine with Xtra-PC.
Your computer must be able to boot from USB. Most computers made after 2004 will boot from USB.
Most Apple computers made after 2010 should work. Apple computers must be able to boot to USB by pressing the option key at start up.
You will need a wireless or lan internet connection to enjoy all the amazing features of Xtra-PC.
Xtra-PC works on all the computers made starting from 2004
No, once you’ve done the initial one-time setup process, you go easy-peasy.
Yes, you can use it with as many computers as you want.
Absolutely nothing. Xtra-PC doesn’t modify any of your files. You can leave them on the original hard-drive or move what you want on Xtra-PC. They will be accessible in either way.
A very valid concern because not a lot of people are familiar with Linux. However, the user interface is intuitive enough that you have no trouble learning how to use it in a few hours. If you are familiar with Windows or Mac-based PCs, you’ll be using Linux in no time at all. Although there is a learning curve associated with it, it is not steep at all.
Yes, we did not doubt that it will work correctly. There are a ton of reviews and testimonials from actual customers online for you to check as well.
