My computer woes
I’ve got a very old computer. By “very” I mean something on the order of seven years or so; I really don’t recall.
I get teased because many of the letters on the keys have worn off. I have a kit of handy sticker thingees you can use to remedy that, although I’ve been dragging my feet at actually fixing it. I touch-type anyway, and as long as I place my hands properly I don’t really run into any problems (in fact, when I learned to type in junior high, a class taught by a very strict teacher, we had IBM electric typewriters that had blank keys, to make sure we learned our stuff properly).
The problem is that my computer has accumulated the slings and arrows of time, and it’s gotten quite balky lately. Yes, maybe I could clean it or clear it, but I’ve become wary of such operations and when I read about them I become more wary. Also, although I use a computer a great deal, much more than the average person, and although I know lots of tricks to get what I want out of my computer, I’m not a techie in any way shape or form and I rely much more on habit. That’s why transitioning to a new computer or any computer change at all fills me with dread.
The cost is the least of it. It’s the decision – which one to get? And then of course the transfer of the information and the customizing of the settings, in addition to learning a new operating system. My computer has Windows 7, and I know that’s not “supported” any more, which might be part of the problem. But learning how to use the latest iteration? Arghhh!
I know all you computer-loving folks will have suggestions. I welcome them although I may not follow them.
ADDENDUM: I probably should have added that I use a laptop, and I travel with it so I don’t like it to be too heavy. However, at home I hook it up to a larger screen for ease of viewing.
I also hate “chiclet” keyboards so that limits it considerably unless I get a separate keyboard, and that’s bulky. In addition, I dislike Apple products. I used to have a Mac and I hated it the entire time i had it (4 years) and never ever got accustomed to it.
I’m not the easiest person when it comes to computers.
Neo,
Laptop or desk top?
It can be a semi important distinction
I’m far from a techie myself but this looks like a good choice:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dEmWvVfEts
Typically the best things you can invest in in a computer in order
1) Overbuy on a processor. It is usually the one component you cannot effectively change. And will the the one that most limits you as programs require faster ones over time to work properly.
2) Buy one with extra slots. Lower budget computers tend to have all of their expansion slots used. Having ones with an extra memory slot and an extra slot for a hard drive is important long term. Minimum 2 total memory slots and one extra 3.5 drive slot.
3) I suggest an SSD drive. They have no moving parts. Are usually 3/4 times faster. And do not require maintenance programs (like defragging). They of course cost more but larger more complicated programs are making this nearly mandatory.
Those are the three basic things to consider. I assume you are not secretly a gamer or user of video editing programing, or bitcoin miner. Which all need more specialized equipment.
Neo, I do I.T. for a living – more than 25 years. I also build and configure PCs on the side for friends and relatives. MANY of whom hate the new Windows 10 (now 11) ‘improved’ GUI interface. I HATE Windows 10 GUI and hated 8 too.
I strongly recommend you use “Classic Shell”. A totally free plug in that gives you whatever interface look and operation you wish. So, you can run Windows 10 (or whatever version) and choose whatever you want. I use Classic Shell on every one of my PCs. It is totally free, zero pop ups or spam or whatever, and totally safe. It does prompt every time Microsoft updates their OS version because it sees that as a ‘new’ OS.
Classic Shell:
http://www.classicshell.net/features/
Other than the Windows OS interface, you are more likely to suffer from whatever ‘improved’ version of Office tools you use to edit and create. You may do everything in a browser, but if you do anything in Microsoft Office, the ‘improved’ interfaces in the later versions are a freakshow. There are third party plug ins for Office like Windows, but I have never found a free one that ‘just works’ the way Classic Shell works.
I run a very old version of MS Office that I own and still runs on Windows 10 so that I can avoid the newer Office versions.
I think a new PC is a good idea, if nothing else for reliability (make sure you get one with an SSD disk). And, as someone posted above, laptop vs desktop is a crucial question.
If you have any questions on any of this, please feel free to reach out. I, like you, am very old school even though I do the newest tech stuff computers for my work.
Windows 11 is coming. Sigh.
My last two laptops, including this one, have a screen that only works with the hinge in a couple of limited angle positions. I usually close the screen 2 or 3 times a day, so I’ve stopped doing that.
On this laptop I splurged on a 0.25 TB solid state hard drive and a 1 TB spinning hard disk. All OS files and apps go on the solid state drive, everything else gets spun. Wicked fast and still capacious. Highly recommended.
I use McAfee on this laptop and MS Windows Defender on my desktop. The latter is a mess and I’ll switch it to McAfee sometime soon. Though with McAfee the computer seems to have a mind meld with some people in Bangalore, or something like that; and maybe I control it, or not.
_____
I usually go with a mid-line performance processor (e.g. core i5) but go big with DRAM memory so I don’t have to add later.
Yes, I’ve always use the classic shell on Windows 10, so that isn’t that much different than Win7. I also bought a new MS Office a couple years ago after having used an Office version dating back to the year 2000. That was a pain but oddly, if I keep hitting the old function key combos they started working like the old version of Word and Excel.
I am not a pro, but I was going to suggest Classic Shell also. Actually, I use Open Shell, which is similar, because Classic Shell is no longer being maintained. https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/
Windows 10 will be supported by Microsoft until October 2025. If you want to keep your new computer longer than that, I suggest you buy one that is able to be updated to run Windows 11, which has stricter hardware requirements.
I too am in the computer field, or was. To paraphrase Einstein responding to a student struggling with math: ““Do not worry about your difficulties in computer science. I can assure you mine are still greater.”
I absolutely agree with Mythx on SSD. Eliminating a spinning drive eliminates your biggest risk of catastrophe.
A slight disagreement regarding processor. Unless you’re modeling climate systems or analyzing particle accelerator electron scattering, RAM is more important than your processor. If you don’t do video editing on your computer and have a limited budget you’re better off going with more RAM and one or two levels below the most recent, newest, bestest, fastest processor.
Video cards can get very expensive and even modest models usually come with adequate video (graphics) cards for watching videos. Gamers need high end graphics cards, so a lot of models come with expensive additions, and a lot of store staff push high end graphics cards, but you’re likely fine with a simple, basic card.
Regarding expansion slots, unless you are a hobbyist. If your hope is to never have to take a screwdriver to your case or laptop then you will never use the slots. If you buy a fair amount of RAM you won’t need to expand, unless you are a gamer or do video or sound editing (which I don’t recall you mentioning).
If you have never used Apple stick with Windows or Chrome. Apple stuff works well (and certainly costs a pretty penny), but there’s a significant learning curve to making the switch.
I have fond memories of updating to windows 10. Couldn’t get the old laserjet 4 printer to work. Kept getting a cryptic error msg that I had no idea what it meant. Finaly turned out windows was incompatable with the printer driver. I only discovered that by accident.
Mythx:
I use a laptop, and I travel with it so I don’t like it to be too heavy. However, at home I hook it up to a larger screen for ease of viewing.
I also hate “chiclet” keyboards so that limits it considerably unless I get a separate keyboard, and that’s bulky. In addition, I dislike Apple products. I used to have a Mac and I hated it the entire time (4 years) and never ever got used to it.
I probably should have explained all of that.
Having suffered through Vista and Windows 8, I was reluctant to give up my windows seven laptop with screen held on with duct tape. So much so, I was searching Craigs for a used one.
Bought a cheap Lenovo Laptop with Windows 10 on impulse and have never regretted it. A little different than 7, but easy to adapt to and more memory and speed. Big relief as ya pays your money and you takes your chances with new windows operating systems.
Surprise bonus, lighted keypad.
Rufus,
Gauging the age of her current computer and the price of memory(which is now shooting way way up). I thought maximizing processor as a initial investment while having the extra slots for later (and probably cheaper) expansions would be the way to go.
Then take advantage of the cheaper ram prices then.
Also currently processors are wildly different beasts. Most people view Intel as the most advanced. As it was for a good part of two decades. But the last 3-4 years AMD has quietly become the better product.
I am making the assumption she is using a laptop (as the reference to keys would be irrelevant on a desktop with replaceable keyboard)
Hopefully this helps. I am by no means a pro but I usually set up and modify networks at work.
Personally I have a hate/hate relationship with McCAffe as antivirus. But then I have an unusual tiered browser setup.
I am like you ,Neo, in that I dread transitioning to new phones, computers, tools, etc. Once I get used to something, I prefer to keep it.
Even as I type, I have been procrastinating doing maintenance work on the 2009 Chevy Truck I inherited from my late father. Unlike my 1994 model, and decades of older vehicles, it does not have spark plug wires.
The ignition Coils sit directly on the plugs.
That just ain’t right ! 😉
Appears to be a relatively easy procedure to do from the maintenance book, but I am a creature of habit ! Changed numerous spark plugs and wires over the decades with the old system.
And then there is the new fangled way the front disk brakes and sealed wheel bearings are. I am used to hand packing grease into wheel bearings.
Things, they are a changing.
OK, I’ve been a programmer since slightly after the earth cooled. I had been programming for years before I got my first PC. Best advice I got was, ask yourself what you use or intend to use your computer for, and base your decision on that. If you’re not a gamer or an artist, then you don’t need a ton of disk space or processing power. The main driver of RAM for you will be changes to the operating system. The usability of Macs and PCs have converged over the years, so that now it’s down to annoyances. My home computer and my work computer are Macs, but the client computer that I frequently spend the day working on is Windows. Mostly it’s a pain dragging the mouse to the wrong side for the minimize/maximize/close controls, and remembering things are in different places on the menus, but that’s because I switch back and forth daily.
My wife bought a Mac because, although she was a writer rather than an artist, she had an artist’s eye, and the only monitor that looked “true” was the Mac’s display. The Mac is now 12 years old, but we did have to upgrade her RAM because the new Mac OS’s need much more than she had available. It really wasn’t that expensive (I hear the poor guy that Hunter Biden stiffed is looking for work). Again, know what you do, and ask a computer salesman (or friend) to show you how to do it on your targeted machine/OS, so you can see for yourself.
Second paragraph; second sentence. Is a “thingee” operated by a “thingor?”
You can always tell when someone has gone to law school . . .
neo:
For laptops I’ve been buying Thinkpad T-Series for 20 years and I’ve been pretty happy. They are the road warrior’s machine and hard to kill. I’ve got a T430 I use daily going strong at eight years old. They are known for great keyboards.
Most current laptops have SSD drives as a matter of course, so a new laptop will be light. I’d go for 256 or 512 GB of disk. For memory get 8 or 16 GB, preferably the latter, and a 1920×1080 screen. As TommyJay says, an i5 cpu is good enough. I imagine Windows 10 Home will be sufficient for your needs, though Thinkpads often come with Windows 10 Pro. The current Thnkpad model is a T14 or T15.
One pays a premium for Thinkpads. I get around that by buying refurbs. You may prefer to buy new.
FWIW, that’s how I approach the laptop question.
Whatever you get you’ll probably have to bite the bullet and go to Windows 10. It’s not as bad a change as I feared.
developer now Software Scientist… started in the 70’s…
good luck, you have enough ‘cooks’ in this stew…
Anyone know where the drinks with the tiny umbrella’s are?
Tia!
Neo:
I too hated Apple products. Then I bought an Apple laptop and was impressed with how bulletproof it was. I hated Apple’s policy of not letting people create programs (“Apps”) without working with Apple, but the result is fewer problems between programs. I had a boss who had formerly sold Apple products, so I waited until I was gone from the company before I bought my first one. That was a mistake. I am delighted with the lack of Trojan horses and other invaders. My Mac is lighter than similar Windows machines, which I like. I like the colors of the screen and the brightness. I like the fact that the layout is pretty consistent: the X is in the same place on all programs, and the minimize and maximize buttons are always in the upper left corner.
One thing I didn’t like: it comes without a disk reader or a socket for USB drives. But since I haven’t been able to use them (with minor exceptions) for 10 years now, I don’t really miss them any longer. I didn’t like the fact they cost more, but I now think they are worth the extra price, and I know I replace them less frequently. And upgrading from one Operating System to its replacement is painless, unlike moving from Windows 7 to 8 to 10, and now to 11.
I hesitate to recommend you make the change, but I honestly believe you will come to prefer Apple products.
One last thought….
You are not a casual user. Whatever brand you get, get a model used by business folks or other professionals.
F:
I owned a Mac laptop for at least 4 years, used it every day, and hated it the whole time. For whatever reason I found the whole setup awkward and counterintuitive. I also hate the chiclets keyboard.
No Macs for me!
This talk of hardware made me realize I had no idea what my laptop’s hard drive really looks like. (I had upgraded laptops, which are my main home PC, about a year ago after having soldiered on with a bulky Win7 Toshiba for a long time.) Looking up the specs, I am astounded to find that it’s 30 x 22 x 2.38 mm. Crazy.
After many years of building my own computers, I bought a custom built and have been very happy with it. It is 8 years old, yet faster than some of the most recent hardware out there. I’ve gone through more keyboards than anything else and still haven’t found one I really like. All that aside, I have little to say about laptops. I have one for travel, and that is about it. As long as it has good battery life and isn’t too heavy, I’m happy. One thing you might notice is that touch pads are much better than they used to be and recent laptops support larger screens. My brother bought an LG Gram 17″ last year to replace his ten year old luggable, and is very happy with it. Better screen than his desktop, 2-3x faster, and only 3 pounds.
Neo, do disk cleanup & defrag, run virus scan, turn it off / on. Oh, and spray the heck outa the ‘fan’ gizmo, keyboard and whatever openings you see with canned air. Good to go for another gazillion words.
My laptop is nine years old – I’m on my second keyboard and the paint is gone on some of those keys, too. I’m running Windows 7
My philosophy has always been by a top-grade premium laptop with maxxed-out RAM and great features, and make it last. I also have a guy that works on old computers and he periodically services mine, by that I mean he cleans out the innards and also cleans up the software after I have fully backed it up. When he installs a fresh build, it always runs much better.
If you’re not crunching numbers and mostly just working up the internet and creating text, why not keep your current machine? Find someone that works on computers from a small shop and have him tune yours up and replace the keyboard.
And consider maybe renting an Apple laptop for a while and seeing if it’s a better fit for your than your previous experience. I used Apples years ago and liked them, but Engineering work mandated a Windows machine.
My son, wife and I decided to spend our covid enforced spare time building an iPhone app (it is now ready for launch, hallelujah). We started doing development on Windows 10 and just testing on a MAC (we have several and no I don’t like the GUI). We ended up doing all development and test on the MAC because it was way easier (Microsoft is run by a$$%&*#).
Without knowing the specs of what you are currently using and any relevant cost targets, it is hard to give meaningful advice. I hate to defend the evil Amazon but I find their Amazon Choice usually actually a good choice on the basics for most things.
Re: Keyboards…
Chuck:
I developed an RSI in my right wrist 25 years ago. I switched to mousing leftie and went through a bunch of ergonomic keyboards, split and wavy.
However, what really helped was going to a mechanical switch keyboard w/ a palm rest. I started with a Razer keyboard, which crapped out on me. I’ve been using a Das Keyboard for five years and it’s been great. The touch is wonderful and it never bothers my RSI. (I still have to mouse left-handed.)
I don’t use Excel or Word, I use open source Libre for spredsheets and word type work. Works great and it’s free. No Microsoft.
Chases Eagles:
It would not even have occurred to me to develop an iPhone app on Windows. Of course that’s not going to be as straightforward as developing on a Mac, and not because the folks at MS are unpleasant people. (Do you really imagine those at Apple are any better?)
Ten years ago I developed mobile apps for iPhone on the Mac and for Android on Windows. The latter experience involved far less cursing.
Of course, both development platforms have changed since then, so who knows how things compare today.
However, I do weary of the “Apple is better” refrain from Apple fans. Your mileage may vary.
BTW, I had a developer’s Mac in 1983 before the Mac was formally released. I programmed professionally on the Mac until my company switched me to Windows in 1998. I’m not much of a Microsoft fan, but it gets the job done.
Neo,
Other commenters have given good advice on what to look for in a new PC. I went through upgrading my 10 year old PC last October.
The advice I have (4+ decades in the Data Processing biz … yeah THAT’S how old I am) is to also think about how you plan to transfer your userIDs, settings, and files to your new machine.
I did it myself with PC Mover Software and it’s special USB cable and it went well. Except for the user errors I MADE.
If the blog is a big income source to you it might be worth it to hire a professional to move all your stuff and set up the new box.
I hate to say it…
Stop whining.
Bite the bullet.
Change is good.
Neo, you very obviously still have all your marbles and some to spare + plenty of neuroplasticity, so I’d be remiss to not strongly recommend having another go with a Mac. In a month or two it would be second nature.
I’m no fan of ChromeBooks or Windows Anything because you give up too much in privacy with both. I certainly don’t trust Apple 100% but they don’t do nasty rotten stuff like transmit all of your telemetry back to the Mothership the way Windows does.
That aside:
What Huxley said about Thinkpads T (or X for that matter) Series. I’d dodge the lesser Lenovo Lines. Get one now with Windows 10 and resist temptation to upgrade to Windows 11. Windows 10 is not something I love, but it’s pretty mature and stable.
You’re not going to escape chiclet style keyboards on laptops. They’re here to stay. Only exceptions are some hefty high end gaming laptops which can be purchased with mechanical switch keyboard option.
What Huxley said about mechanical keyboards and palm rests, too. Vertical mouse also very comfortable to use in extended sessions.
Could be a bit more life in Neo’s old laptop… although if battery is beginning to bulge it’s time to dispose of it safely before it decides to explode and burn the house down. Battery replacements for common laptops several years old are not that big a deal.
FWIW, always find the Windows setting which limits laptop battery charge to 80% unless you tell it otherwise — helps keep your battery healthy longer if you (like most people) spend 90% of your time using laptop connected to power at a desk.
Cleaning the dust out of the guts of laptop with a blower as one commenter suggested is good. But don’t just blast the cooling fan and let it spin. Risks damage. Gently hold the fan immobile and blast the dust out. Do not use ‘Liquid Air’… Amazon sells cheap rechargeable electronics maintenance dust blowers.
And getting a maintenance shop guy to repaste the CPU can work wonders. The thermal paste massively improves heat transfer between the CPU and the cooling fan / heat pipes assembly. Over time thermal paste performance degrades. And if CPU gets too hot, it speed throttles automatically and everything becomes more sluggish.
huxley,
We use Visual Studio on both. It actually worked pretty well when it worked. Code ported across the network automagically. Every update broke something though and some of it was intentional on Microsoft’s part. The Android port we hope will be easier as we planned ahead for it.
I am not really a programmer. I moved into technical architecture very quickly.
That TWA800 thread yesterday reminded me what I was doing at that time. I was a senior technical architect on a large scale ERP system. We were completely changing the manufacturing process that was in use at the time. The old process was developed during WWII and we were clean sheeting it. The product line we were modernizing at the time of TWA800 was the 747 line. We were having a lot of performance problems (it was taking more than 24 hours to plan 24 hours of work) and I was the performance manager AKA the designated spear catcher.
@huxley Thanks for the tip on Das Keyboard. Which model do you prefer for your own use? I’m looking for a backlit keyboard for use with linux/windows. I’ve also been using tenkeyless, but maybe going left handed will solve that problem.
The tablets and tablet laptop transformers are convenient.
I prefer transfering the drives to the new computer and cloning the settings or upgrading 7 to 10 to keep my settings.
That stuff shoukd be in the cloud at this point
I use outemu brown switches on mech keyboard for desktop.
I’m a graduate of MIT, class of ’68. I have programmed for 58 years and have built perhaps 50 desktop machines for myself and friends. Since you want a laptop, your choices are limited. You will have to buy it at Amazon, Costco, Dell, etc. I would worry more about the communications package and the software bundle in terms of price. Do you need Microsoft Office? Is it included? What about Adobe systems?
The software bundle is a big cost issue when traded off as cost against your requirements.
Buy the most memory (RAM) you can at your price point. Sluggishness in a computer is almost entirely a function of not having enough RAM. The processor speed is far less important.
If you’re not someone who touches their screen, look for models without that feature–they’re cheaper, but getting harder to find.
Keep an eye on the ports as well. Old fashioned USB ports are disappearing in favor of the newer USB-C. That might not be a problem, but even those are becoming fewer on laptops. You end up having to rely on an add-on block to give you the ports you need, which is more than a little annoying.
One thing I’ve learned to look for–because I use it–is the Windows menu key. Not all laptops have it, and if you use it, it can be hard to adjust to its absence. I am not a fan of reaching constantly for my mouse, and I want keyboard equivalents. The menu key is essentially a mouse’s right-click.
Lot’s of good advice from everyone. My only contribution is to buy from your local computer store. Not Best Buy or another big box place. Most of the small shops will set it up for you and remove many of the useless and annoying programs that clog your RAM and slow everything down. Mine even installs free virus programs. I pick up the computer and everything is installed properly and works out of the box without any grief.
Last year I bought another ThinkPad.
Neo… my two cents…You need to start now while your current PC is still functioning, instead of waiting until is crashes then scrambling to find a workable replacement. Since you make your money off of your PC, I agree you should spend the funds to get someone to assist in the design and operational function of a new unit and can assist in the transfer of files and systems to the new PC. Finally check your Thesaurus for curse words that may be needed during the transition period and or explanation of the latest MS product.
My keyboard is misbbehavingg as this comment is demonstating. I have ceane tthe unk fom under the keys. I have emoved the most uncopperative keys tto cean more thourouhly, and foun the litte nubbie thinggy to be brokken, too. So, I’m taking it to my ocal computer gguy to have the entire keyboard replaced. The keyboard itself is less than $20, then my Acer laptop Win 10 should work like new again.
A year ago, my laptop was slowing down. I had the old mechanical memory drive replaced with a 240GB BX500 solid state drive. The local IT guy transferred everything and set it up with new security. My laptop won’t run Win 11, but it does what I want so the smaller fixes are fine.
Well, I am cheap.
So I have a small 11in Chromebook that fits easily in a backpack for travel.
And I have a Windows 10 laptop for spreadsheets etc. But I use Open Office because it’s free.
Right now I’m switching to a “fanless” PC with Windows 10. And I think I’ll put everything I can, data and programs, on a SSD USB plugin disk.
Dear Neo:
I am an amateur too. But, I have used computers for 30 years and kept our home office up to date.
I have tried to maintain a five year upgrade cycle. Anything shorter is wasteful. Anything longer runs into real obsolescence problems like you are experiencing.
I am not an Apple fanboy. So I have stayed with microworld, as much as I dislike them.
I used to use IBM equipment because I found it to be better built and more durable. They sold out to Lenovo years ago. But, I have found that the Think lines of Lenovo equipment are still well built. Also, they have been very good about warranties.
When I bought new equipment this spring. I bought new desktops and laptops for my wife, our secretary, and me.
For myself, I bought an X1 Carbon laptop. I am sitting on our front porch typing this on that machine. It is really light — 2.5 lbs. It has a full HD screen. Anything higher than HD is too small for me to read comfortably. The keyboard is absolutely terrific. The only fly in the ointment is that it is fairly pricey.
I also bought a desktop. It is a Lenovo Think. I do that because there are still things that a desktop can do that my laptop can’t. The most important one is that I have a 28 in. 4K monitor attached to the desktop on which I can easily keep two big windows open e.g. an editor and a browser.
I know that you will not enjoy using Windows 10/11. 10 can be modded a bit, but let’s be real. They peaked at XP and every system since then has been a little worse.
Sadly the security problems have grown more and more pestiferous, so we are stuck with their latest version whether we like it or not.
You might as well cave in and buy your new machine with 11. As far as I have read it is really not much different than 10 in the user interface, but there are important upgrades in their security model.
Eat your spinach. Feel free to offline me with any questions you have.
TTFN, Walter.
Walter Sobchak:
Thanks. My old computer – the one I’m on right now – is a Lenovo Thinkpad, and if I buy a new one rather than just having the old one cleaned up, it probably will be a Lenovo too.
Thanks to everyone.
It will take me a while to digest all the suggestions.
Buy a laptop that has an adequate amount of memory and storage space. Insist upon a NVME ssd, the’re fast, and size wise how much space do you have now, and how much of it is in use? memory: if your using 8 GB and are OK with that, that’s fine. I’m at the point of suggesting 32 GB but 16 GB should be also OK.
For instance, you have a 500 GB hard drive, and it’s 50% full, a 512 GB SSD will do just fine.
CPU: Intel has slipped quite a bit behind AMD IMO, so my first choice would be an AMD machine. You don’t play games or do intensive graphics? then you don’t need a dedicated NVidia or AMD gpu, whatever is built into the system should be sufficient.
Even 15″ screens are under 4 lbs. Here’s one. Price isn’t bad. I’d like to see Thunderbolt 4, but that’s a quibble.
https://www.newegg.com/indie-black-asus-vivobook-s513ua-ns77-mainstream/p/N82E16834235729
Hold out for Windows 10 pro. Downside to buying now: Windows 11 is coming! One if by land, two if by sea!!
Neo,
Please let all of us know how your replacement/upgrade goes.
I have to say the advice on here has been pretty darn good.
Stay Happy!
Neo – coming in late, but I agree with Lenovo Thinkpad (like you currently have). I’m in consulting and my employer supplies us with higher end Thinkpads. I ended up switching from my Dell habit to a Thinkpad (not as expensive tho). I’m happy.
Well, you never know. I bought my daughter a ThinkPad precisely because Lenovo’s stuff had a reputation for quality. The video went out shortly after the initial warranty expired, and since it’s integrated there was really no fixing it for much less than the price of a new laptop. Whereas I’ve never had problems with any Dell product. I’m totally happy with the fairly beefy Dell tower that I bought last summer. Windows 10, though, is a different story.
Random idea which might help some readers. Anyone getting a new laptop or desktop could also consider keeping their old machine as a spare and doing a trial install of Zorin OS Lite on it:
https://zorin.com/os/download/#lite
It’s a Linux distribution suitable for older machines *and* its UI design deliberately mimics Windows in order to make it easier for Windows users to make the switch. It’s free.
Never try never know. It might just work for some people. The real point is to get a bit further removed from being a slave of Oligarchical Big Tech. Plus you might well find that your old machine runs much faster on it. I’d never recommend any layperson make the full switch to another OS without trying it out for some months — you don’t know when muscle memory will kick in and things just flow in a different OS (some seem to have real trouble with this). Also there’s a non-zero risk of realizing 6 months later that you rely on some software that you only run occasionally which only runs on Windows.
And related to what to do with old machines…. There’s another much more important issue. How do you dispose of one safely without leaking personal data? Topic for another thread one day maybe. A lot of people have come unstuck here in ways big and small. Hunter might laugh it off. We Little People have more to lose by not doing it right.
I’ve never understood why people make such a big deal about the transition between Windows versions. My mother is in her eighties and uses a Windows computer every day for e-mail and web browsing. Her computer is probably a decade old, and came with Windows 7. When Windows 10 was released, I upgraded her OS to that . . . and she didn’t even notice. It had absolutely no effect on her ability to use the machine.
So why did I bother? Because I wanted to make sure that she would continue to get automatic security updates and bug fixes. She doesn’t understand how to manage that stuff, so I automate it as much as I can, and that works much better on an OS that’s still supported.
I don’t know whether her computer is eligible to run Windows 11, but that doesn’t matter, because I can see no reason to upgrade it anytime soon. Windows 10 will be supported for another four years. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Neo: BTW, i bought Lenovo ThinkPad T15s for my wife and our secretary. They are very nice and about as powerful as the X1, but a bit less expensive. Although they weigh 4.4 lbs and the X1 is 2.5 lbs.
Well, really have three options.
1) Clean up your existing computer. This may or may not work.
2) Reload your existing computer. This will almost certainly work.
3) Get a new computer. Since you use a laptop the refurbished path I’d recommend for a desktop isn’t really a good option. Laptop batteries are uslly the first thing to go.
For cleaning up your existing machine you need to remove all unused programs, run a good malware/cleanup program, delete everything from Windows/Temp and the temporary files in your profile (Windows is supposed to do this, but often fails to do so), and clean out your browser(s) cache(s).
While they don’t list AdwCleaner, which I’d recommend, Lifewire has a good article on current malware programs: https://www.lifewire.com/best-free-malware-removal-tools-4771073
For reloading your machine you either need to reload Windows 7 from scratch or perform a factory reset (many machines have this as an option) which will restore it to the way it came when you got it (yes, that means reloading all of the Windows updates, sigh). In either case, back up all your data first so you can copy it back.
As others have suggested, you could also consider changing your hard drive out for an SSD while doing so. There are imaging programs that will copy your entire system over to the new drive for you and a couple of them are free.
Fortunately Windows 7 defrags your hard drive for you, so that’s no longer an essential step in the cleanup process.
Of course you can always try out Linux, but I doubt you want to do that. If you do, email me. Feel free to email with any questions about any of the above too.
Or you can buy a new machine. As others have said, memory is far more important than the processor. Any i5/Ryzen 5 machine with lots of memory and a reasonably sized hard drive should work fine. Do get one with an SSD though, it makes a huge difference.