I'm currently using a fairly old laptop, I'm very, very happy to use it. It is a DELL Latitude E6520 with Windows 7 SP1 64bit, so yes… The laptop itself has been around 10 years, after a broken HDD, on which I also had Windows 7, but 32bit, I'm approx. Switched to an SSD in 2018. Now to the real question: In many ways, the laptop is simply better than other laptops, the keyboard looks like it did on the first day, the CD / DVD drive proves to be very practical, I know, apart from me, no one uses CDs anymore… The In any case, the screen is more than satisfactory, high-resolution, high and low brightness levels, anti-glare, on these points my new Lenovo ThinkPad T450 can't even keep up. The DELL also gives a very good sound. In any case, it always takes a minute to start up until he is really "awake" and has completed jobs, but it takes about 5 minutes. Even so, the 4 GB RAM sometimes (but actually quite rare) and the Intel i3 do not prove to be that fast. To the question: I was going to switch to a different operating system at some point, but first of all I don't know whether he is going to pack Windows 10, Windows XP would run very well, but that would be rather counterproductive, since I (obviously) still work with him Internet work. Yes, I know I could switch to Linux, but would somehow like to stay on Windows (7). But I installed Linux on my ThinkPaf T61 with Windows XP and Windows 2K Server. Apart from the supposedly too low performance, he also installed a very old SSD that only holds 50 GB, so I could use almost no memory on Windows 10 without a new hard drive. I would still have a Windows 7 there anyway, but somehow I don't feel like reinstalling all the drivers. What would you do?
Thanks for your answers, sorry for the length of the question! : /
Windows XP no longer has a reasonable browser. Windows 7 no longer delivers security updates. If you get on well with Windows, I see no reason to switch to Linux.
Install an additional 4GB of RAM so that you have 8 GB and upgrade to Windows 10 for free.
Can you switch to Win10 for free?
Yes with cmd command youtube
Switch to another notebook.
At least as far as Windows 10 and lying around are concerned. It costs maybe 10 euro on Ebay. So that would be no problem an OS for 10 euro is almost as good as one that you have lying around.
Linux is probably not that good for your case. The change is quite clear and (at least earlier) Linux is not so laptop-friendly. On the other hand, for a device with your age, all drivers should now exist. That would certainly be possible. The space is no problem either.
If you really want to keep it, XP is probably the best choice. Then buy a professional virus scanner (also on ebay manufacturers' sites are too expensive) and the PC is safe enough for home use.
Oh yes, the CDRom is probably not a big problem either. There are also external drives for a few euro. For playing music e.g. Wouldn't you need that internally because there's enough space on the HDD to take hundreds of songs with you (not yours with another notebook).
Hope I could at least help you a little.
Yes, you can still upgrade for free.
You can also get a fresh Win10 directly from MS: https://www.microsoft.com/.../windows10
After installation, buy an OEM key for 5, - Taler from the bay, and activate Windows, the arbor is fat ;-)
Yes, it's still free. Do you have a so-called "product key"?
In addition to Windows 10, you would also have the option to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or possibly a Linux.
Under Windows 8.1 you can set up a start menu with the program Classic Shell or Open Shell and it can be used like Windows 7, except that it is Windows 8.1. Support will continue until 2023.
Thank you for your detailed reply!
How can I say… I hate external drives and have had (very) bad experiences with them. -> When I wanted to install my Office XP on the T450, I needed a few attempts because the drive switched off every 10 seconds and then switched on again and everything was closed again. But could also be due to this Sch *** HP, another bad manufacturer. I can do without expensive antivirus, but thanks anyway. Are browsers still available for Windows XP?
No, I have to buy it, right? But in 2016 (?) It was free, wasn't it?
Degree, when I get used to the new, I have to change again, preferably not, thanks anyway! And I can more than do without these damn Windows 8 (.1) tiles.
Well I don't get to see the tiles until I call them up.
You only need the key if you are installing Windows fresh from a USB stick. If you do the trick that you first install the upgrade over an existing Windows 7 with a valid key, the key is converted into a "digital key", and future reinstallations of Windows are possible without entering a "product key".
Otherwise you can also use Magical Jelly Bean Key Finder to read out the product key. Yes, the campaign was in 2016, but was prolonged secretly without marketing, the limitation of offering Windows for free only 1 year after it appeared was a total disaster for Microsoft.
Okay, well then… Maybe I'll really try it. Can I still get my Office XP there?
Hm, I don't know that but maybe it works with the compatibility mode.
Omg, that's too much software at once for my mind. XD I'm more of a hardware type, but I'll let your comment go through my head.
Gives a good program startisback, then the start menu looks like win7 and the tiles are gone.
They also took the "entry-level model" with the i5 … Price at that time was a little under 1,300 thaler…
Just install Windows 10 over Windows 7, that's the recommended way. Download link here: https://www.microsoft.com/.../windows10
OK. But at least once Windows 10 on the T450 drove me insane, from version 1709 I couldn't open Outlook 2002 anymore! Then I spent hours looking for a file that fixed the whole thing again.
Then mine is probably low-low end! But I've survived the last decade very well with him. : 'D Oh yes… You seem to be very familiar with PCs and the like. : For about a year now my screen has not held very well, the cover on the right has not lost its grip, instead some part of the standard display is pushing the cover away, do you know how to fix this?
A little tension has to be from time to time… ^^
Every computer now and then has a little "life of its own" (lol).
There's also a lot of old software that no longer runs on Win10. Then you can look for an alternative, or try the XP mode, or install a VM… Only for the old program…
But hard work will not work with such an old Läppi anyway…
In any case, it works on Windows 10, of course I can't say with Windows 8.1. : I
Okay, thank you for your helpfulness!
I know a lot about PCs, but not really about Läppis…
My son-in-law would be the right person to contact… Or you can open a thread here: https://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/notebooks-und-netbooks/109
I learned the most from the PCGH forum in the first few years.
My thread: https://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/komplette-rechner-zusammenstellung/229690-die-pcgh-bastler-vor-ort-hilfe-bei-montage-und-problemen.html
You will be right there. : 'D
I've already tried VM, it's not mine, but you can use it.
Up until two years ago, he was still working with his hardware, you don't believe that. SketchUp, GeoGebra and everything possible side by side, and that with 4GB RAM. According to a few websites, the T450 has already occupied 4 GB by 8 GB.
The problem with Outlook even had quite a few. : /
Okay thanks!
That would be a good opportunity to install the modern Linux Mint Cinnamon (the most popular Linux) for free and to take advantage of Linux. The installation and use is about beginner level, Win7 is just as easy to use as Mint. The configuration of the computer is completely sufficient, 2 GB RAM are sufficient, the installation needs about 8 GB on the disk, although Libre Office is included. VLC, Media, Thunderbird, Firefox, Audacity, Gimp, PDF creation, games, partitioners, Rhytmbox and many others are included. The well-equipped app shop is already set up.
Linux does not require a payment license, activation key, account, driver, registration or virus scanner.
The bootable ISO file is available for free download at linuxmint.com, or in a Linux magazine as a DVD, or as a USB stick at IXSOFT. YouTube has good instructions on how to create a DVD or the USB pen and the installation is running, also on the website is a guide.
Fortunately, Linux is LIVE-capable, which means that when Mint is booted from the boot medium, the Linux desktop appears (without installation) and all Linux programs are fully usable. If you want to install Mint, just click "Install" on the desktop - the same 5 questions have to be answered as with Win. Even my children get along well with it - just give it a try, many things are much better solved than with Windows.
Since you do not know Linux, I recommend the compact overview on the German site whylinuxbesserist.
Mint runs smoothly on all my computers.
Linux automatically offers a dual boot installation if any other operating system is found. From now on, the OS can be selected when switching on (Windows or Linux).
