Older Laptop using Vista

[V40TC]

I am looking for advice in sorting this Compaq laptop
it has original Vista loaded,
has not been used for a couple of years
I cannot seem to get any updates on it and get it to connect to the BB.
Is it viable to get a copy of windows 10 loaded
the Laptop seems to have a decent battery etc still.
I could do with a working laptop it the near future over the desktop at home.

[alorotom]

It’s going to depend on the specs.

The time it’ll take to resolve the issues is it not more viable to simply replace it ... there’s loads of basic laptops out there for peanuts and if it’s that old it’s running vista it’s not going to be anything other than basic spec by current standards?!

[bangerhoarder]

Vista doesn’t qualify for a free update to 10, where 7 does (and still works). You’re therefore looking at a Linux distro or a Windows license (at a cost). It’d probably want a RAM upgrade (most machines of this age max out at 4GB, some will take 8GB).

It’ll be running a HDD, and it’ll be rubbish. An SSD is cheap.

So, about £50 in parts to make it useable, and a choice of OS. I’ve done just this on old laptops with good results, but that’s at work where XP OEM and up qualifies for a Windows 10 license.

[Drive Blind]

to make it useable i'd go for an ssd and linux install. Linux mint is my preferred distro.

Saying that, I imagine it'll be useable for basic stuff only. eg browsing and email.

Vista is what? 2007/2008 era?
Do you know the spec of the laptop? cpu + memory ?

[Derek Smith]

Drive Blind said:

to make it useable i'd go for an ssd and linux install. Linux mint is my preferred distro.

Saying that, I imagine it'll be useable for basic stuff only. eg browsing and email.

Vista is what? 2007/2008 era?
Do you know the spec of the laptop? cpu + memory ?

Spec is the critical question. You might struggle with Win10.

I'd support buying an SSD, a 250gb can be had for under £30. It'll zing.

I used one in a laptop of similar vintage, removing a 120gb HDD. I went with Linux; used it for browsing, email, writing - Libra is fine for most people - and such, with the ability to use the toilet in Starbucks without taking the laptop with me, the only risk on returning being two 12-year-old laptops on the table.

[bangerhoarder]

I will mention again that I put Windows 10 on a Core 2 Duo laptop after upgrading the CPU to a T7200, RAM to 4GB and an SSD. That thing is from 2006, and is somehow still working (and performing rather well). 10 isn’t that heavy on hardware, if you trim it down a bit.

[AJB88]

Stick a SSD in it, 8GB ram and put ElementaryOS on it (Linux) or even Neverware Cloudready (ChromeOS)

[V40TC]

specs:

Specifications: -15.4″ WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView (glossy) Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) -
Intel(R) Pentium(R) dual core processor T2310 (1.46 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB) -
1GB DDR2 System Memory (2x 512MB) -
Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 -
Broadcom(R) 802.11b/g WLAN -
Fujitsu MHY2120BH 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive -
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7560A 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support -
6-cell, 44 watt-hour Lithium Ion Battery -Windows Vista Home Premium

Model is C773EA

[SteBrown91]

Intel pentium? Bin it

[Derek Smith]

V40TC said:

specs:

Specifications: -15.4? WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView (glossy) Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) -
Intel(R) Pentium(R) dual core processor T2310 (1.46 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB) -
1GB DDR2 System Memory (2x 512MB) -
Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 -
Broadcom(R) 802.11b/g WLAN -
Fujitsu MHY2120BH 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive -
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7560A 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support -
6-cell, 44 watt-hour Lithium Ion Battery -Windows Vista Home Premium

Model is C773EA

It's not, shall we say, class of the field. It is useable though if, as suggested, you put an SSD in it and a lightweight OS. Adequate for browsing. I donated a slightly superior Dell to a grandchild for lockdown home schooling. It was perfect for what he needed. That was just with the addition of a 250SSD and Linux.

[bangerhoarder]

The CPU on this age of machine is easily swapped, if so inclined. They’re often very cheap on Ebay. Even so, the T2310 is 64 bit and dual core, and will run a modern OS. Slow, though.

Same with the RAM, though with DDR2 you won’t find larger than 2GB modules. The chipset may well support and utilise faster modules for a small speed boost too.

[Drive Blind]

it's up to you - how confident are you upgrading the hardware?

I'd get a new 120Gb SSD off Ebuyer for £20 and put linux on it. See how it goes.
Then you need to look at upgrading the RAM, that would involve Ebay,

The oldest PC I see in regular use is an E7500 core2duo with 2Gb ram.

Let us know what path you choose

[hyphen]

alorotom said:

It’s going to depend on the specs.

The time it’ll take to resolve the issues is it not more viable to simply replace it ... there’s loads of basic laptops out there for peanuts and if it’s that old it’s running vista it’s not going to be anything other than basic spec by current standards?!

+1

Perhaps boot linux via USB stick.

[AlexC1981]

Drive Blind said:

it's up to you - how confident are you upgrading the hardware?

I'd get a new 120Gb SSD off Ebuyer for £20 and put linux on it. See how it goes.
Then you need to look at upgrading the RAM, that would involve Ebay,

The oldest PC I see in regular use is an E7500 core2duo with 2Gb ram.

Let us know what path you choose

At least it has SATA and not an IDE drive! An E7500 scores over twice as high on benchmarks than his current processor does.

It will need about £35 spent on it to make it usable I think.

£20-£25 for a cheap SSD
£5 for a T7500 (same family of CPUs so might work, but might not! Make sure it is the socket P version and check/update your BIOS before you do anything.)
£5 for a 2x 1GB sticks of DDR2 laptop RAM

Windows 10 will work with 2GB RAM and the SSD will help. You can get Windows 10 keys for a couple of quid on ebay, but as said by others, you would likely get a better experience with a free lightweight Linux distribution.