computer question

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Those who still have Windows 7 can get Windows 10 without purchase. Google it and you will find it. Uncomfortable about the conversion? PM me if you want help.

Before jumping in to that conversion, make sure the computer has the hardware horsepower (memory, disk space, CPU) to handle Windows 10. Hardware also has a shelf life. Some old components just may not provide complete modern functionality even if the software is new. You might cram Windows 10 onto your old platform and have expensive or unfixable hardware issues down the road. Windows 10 will actually check capabilities on your old system and, I believe, will not install on a substandard system. However, it could still install and not work quite right on some hardware.

Economical new laptops sell at Best Buy for $200 - $400, desktops for a bit more. However, even more powerful systems are pretty affordable these days.

I'm not saying it can't be done. I upgraded my laptop from Windows 7 to 8.1 to 10 but I had a high end laptop with cutting edge functionality and excess of capacity. Even so, I upgraded to a solid state hard drive for better performance.

I'm just encouraging not to be penny wise and pound foolish.

Good Luck!

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Before jumping in to that conversion, make sure the computer has the hardware horsepower (memory, disk space, CPU) to handle Windows 10. Hardware also has a shelf life. Some old components just may not provide complete modern functionality even if the software is new. You might cram Windows 10 onto your old platform and have expensive or unfixable hardware issues down the road. Windows 10 will actually check capabilities on your old system and, I believe, will not install on a substandard system. However, it could still install and not work quite right on some hardware.

Economical new laptops sell at Best Buy for $200 - $400, desktops for a bit more. However, even more powerful systems are pretty affordable these days.

I'm not saying it can't be done. I upgraded my laptop from Windows 7 to 8.1 to 10 but I had a high end laptop with cutting edge functionality and excess of capacity. Even so, I upgraded to a solid state hard drive for better performance.

I'm just encouraging not to be penny wise and pound foolish.

Good Luck!

Good advice.

When 10 came out I tried the then free upgrade from 7 to 10 on an older Dell laptop. The upgrade failed and turned the dell into a paperweight. I replaced it with a Toshiba Satellite with built-in 10. My current desktop is an older HP running 7. I plan to replace it with a new desktop running 10.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Before jumping in to that conversion, make sure the computer has the hardware horsepower (memory, disk space, CPU) to handle Windows 10. Hardware also has a shelf life. Some old components just may not provide complete modern functionality even if the software is new. You might cram Windows 10 onto your old platform and have expensive or unfixable hardware issues down the road. Windows 10 will actually check capabilities on your old system and, I believe, will not install on a substandard system. However, it could still install and not work quite right on some hardware.

I agree with Jeff. However I updated old systems from 7 to 10 and notice an improvement in performance. But not always the case.
Old systems with XP and earlier are not a good candidate. Although I did upgrade a couple with good results. (High end systems).
Always make sure you have the latest drivers from the device manufacturers before the upgrade. Saves a lot of headache. Upgrading the drivers from the computer suppliers are based on the current os and not the devices.

Some third party software may not transfer properly. I practice jotting down all the software installed, delete them before the update and reinstall. This provide a lot cleaner install.

Windows 10 defender is right up there in quality with paid antivirus software, I see no need to download another one.

Same as the disk cleaner. The built in cleaner does a pretty good job.

The only utility software you may need is a registry cleaner. I choose Wise Registry Cleaner.

Yes, computers are a lot cheaper these days. Normally computer manufacturers will auction off overstock on their websites, eBay and Amazon. You have to search often. My present laptop is a Dell XPS with 15" display I picked up at an auction for $300. Normally goes for a grand!

There are GUI interface software out there to make W10 feel like W7. But never tried them.

[DickR]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

......
Some third party software may not transfer properly. I practice jotting down all the software installed, delete them before the update and reinstall. This provide a lot cleaner install.
....
There are GUI interface software out there to make W10 feel like W7. But never tried them.

I finally gave in last winter and replaced a 1G RAM XP desktop with an 8G RAM Win 10 one. I had a Fortran compiler on the old PC, but I knew that some old installation CDs built back in the days of XP won't install on newer versions of Windows. I copied the entire directory structure of the installation from the old PC to a flash drive, then directly onto the new PC. It runs correctly, and I was happy about that, but this might not be the case with all applications simply copied over.

One thing I absolutely did not like with Win 8.1 and 10 is the clumsy desktop, with those awkward large rectangles instead of the old familiar icons. Sure, the large "medium" sized icons can be changed to "small," but you lose the titles, without which so many icons are useless. I downloaded and installed the free "Classic Shell," my desktop looks the way it did before, and the Start button brings up the familiar menu list.