Aging laptop and windows 7

[nellyp]

I have an aging (aged) v5000 that has a celeron processor, and is only able to handle a 32bit system. I am about to upgrade the RAM to 2 GB (the max I believe),  and would like to try to speed it up a bit. To do this I am going to try by completely wiping the hard disc (which has already been replaced previously), and put a new operating system on it. I was wondering if it would be OK to put windows 7 on it (32bit) or wheteher people would advize putting XP back on.

I know this is an old computer (it is not my only one), but I like it and would like to stop the lagging I get.

Any extra advice about suitable hardware, upgrades, or actions would be greatly appreciated too.

Thanks

[IT_WinSec]

Hello,

Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum.

Officially, Windows XP is not supported anymore, therefore officially it will lack Microsoft (MS) updates and further support.

From those you mentioned Windows 7 can be updated and is supported till 2020.

However, for sure your computer will run better with Windows XP - Windows 7 will eventually cause it to slow down.

If we talk about Windows - I'd choose Windows XP.

Please, disable Automatic updates and do NOT install Microsoft updates. However, please, make sure your Windows XP is bundled with Service Pack 3 (SP3) which is the latest one for XP. If you choose XP, make sure you run updated applications (e.g. browsers like Opera, Chrome, Firefox ;  Adobe Flash Player, updated PDF reader, etc.) and updated security suite - e.g. ESET Smart Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Norton Internet Security, etc... Among these ESET is the lightest/fastest.

If you would like to experiment and if you are familiar with another operating system - GNU/Linux based operating systems are free of charge and are open source. Ubuntu or Ubuntu based - e.g. Xubuntu OR Linux Mint XFCE will probably run well on your computer - they are well supported and can be updated. More info on www.linuxmint.com  and  xubuntu.org

or >> https://itsfoss.com/reasons-switch-linux-windows-xp/

>> http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-linux-mint-is-a-worthwhile-windows-xp-replacement/

 The computer is old, though. Do not expect too much of it 🙂

Please, do not hesitate to post again if you need clarification - I am open for discussions.

[WAWood]

nellyp

Just a note of warning -- if you do decide to install Win7.

MS has reached a new LOW and is now tricking folks into upgrading to Win10, and with Win7 PCs this can easily result in a corrupted system.

To prevent that from happening, download and install this utility once you have installed Win7: GRC | Never10  

Good Luck
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[nellyp]

would the free anti-virus be Ok? At the moment i run AVG free alongside IO malware fighter and superantispyware. I would like one optiuon to covber all but i am not sure there is one.

Do you believe that XP will continue to be supported on Chrome etc?

When you say windows 7 will eventually slow it down, does that mean that i will not be able to speed it up again? For instance, if I bought a windows 7 disc and reinstalle it every couple of months would it still be OK?

Finally. My laptop was fine untill about 6 months ago, do you think it could simply be blocked up. I have been told that reinstalling OPs again and again will leave files and block the performance. If I completely wipe the system, do you think it will be better. I am hoping the extra RAM will help, but I am kinda relyinmg on the clean install too

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

I don't know who you're asking -- but will provide MY answers ...

There's no way of knowing Google's future intentions, but at some point, they will drop support.

The only reason I can think of Win7 slowing down over time is disk fragmentation, and that would affect other OS's as well.

I wouldn't keep reinstalling it; just running defrag every few months should be sufficient.

If the PC slows down dramatically, to the point of being unusuable, that generally indicates a failing hard drive -- not excessive usage.

If you're only using 1GB of RAM now, you will see a noticeable performance improvement in upgrading to 2GB -- more than that, not so much, as with built-in graphics, some memory will be used for the video.

Good Luck
========================================================================
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
---------------------------------------------------------------
If my posts helped you, please click the Thumbs-Up symbol on my post to say thanks.
If my posts solved your problem please click "Accept As Solution".
========================================================================

[nellyp]

Thanks a lot, i appreciate your help, and will follow your advice. Now I just need a resource light browser and I can start. I am fed up of Chrome.

[IT_WinSec]

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@nellyp wrote:

would the free anti-virus be Ok? At the moment i run AVG free alongside IO malware fighter and superantispyware. I would like one optiuon to covber all but i am not sure there is one.

Do you believe that XP will continue to be supported on Chrome etc?

When you say windows 7 will eventually slow it down, does that mean that i will not be able to speed it up again? For instance, if I bought a windows 7 disc and reinstalle it every couple of months would it still be OK?

Finally. My laptop was fine untill about 6 months ago, do you think it could simply be blocked up. I have been told that reinstalling OPs again and again will leave files and block the performance. If I completely wipe the system, do you think it will be better. I am hoping the extra RAM will help, but I am kinda relyinmg on the clean install too

---

@nellyp

Hello,

In my opinion you get what you paid for - and AVG is not exactly my first choice of good security. Actually, there are way way better brands, vendors and products. I work in a security team and a security guy I'd recommend you one of these 3 vendors (in the following order) - ESET, Kaspersky or Symantec (Norton).

Google's Chrome browser is no longer supported on Win XP >> https://chrome.googleblog.com/2015/11/updates-to-chrome-platform-support.html

For XP you can choose between Firefox (from Mozilla) and Opera.  Opera is based on Chrome/Chromium's code.

Reinstalling the operating system will NOT block the performance - quite the contraty - it will initially improve it.

By saying that Win 7 will eventually slow down the computer, I meant that if you install it on an old computer with just 2GB RAM and 32-bit Celeron processor , you will eventually start to feel it heavily once you install/use/run 3rd party software (e.g. security.AV) , if you apply Microsoft updates, once you run modern software, somewhat heavier graphics, etc. ... 2GB is the very minimum for today's software environment and is definitely not OK for modern operating system like WIn 7and modern software. My recommendations from previous post above still apply - for this PC with this configuration Win XP will work better or GNU/Linux ones.

Don't hesitate to post again if you need clarifications.

[nellyp]

Thanks again. I am surprised about the eset as it is kind of ridiculed by the peoploe I talkj to. perhapos that is because it is preinstalled on everything here (I'm in Thailand)

I have decided that i will get teh RAM sorted and then use Nuke it(or similar programme) to wipe all the drives and install windows home on my computer. i will then use eset as my security (any preferences for the suite?), and only use firefox for my browser.  i hope that eset will look after all my security (anti virus spyware etc), so I do not need to install anythiung else. I will only use VLC as a player, and not install anything else.

Once this is done I will let you know how it goes.

All I want tis a media player, microsoft works,  something to use to watch youtube, and stream programmes from BBCiplayer, and download some torrents. Hopefull I can wipe everything else off and speed up performance.

Thanks again

[IT_WinSec]

Hello,

You don't need NukeIt or 3rd party solution - just boot from Windows XP installation media and you can delete/format partitions prior to installing Windows XP - actually, this will be necessary as it is part of the installation process. Some pictures and examples can be seen here >> http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Windows-XP

ESET products have always worked well for me - but you can test it yourself for free for 30 days and decide youself. I'd recommend you pick up Smart Security as it is full featured and includes 2-way firewall >> https://www.eset.com/int/home/smart-security/  to increase security and privacy protection. >> http://www.eset.com/us/about/eset-advantage/

You can always use some additional on-demand scanners and programs such as SurfRight/SOPHOS HitmanPro (free for scan), Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free only), etc. You can add browser add-ons such as UBlock Origin , Disconnect.Me , etc to increase web-protection.  I'd also add free program called Autorun Eater  for protection against USB threats.

With regards to browsers, you can test Firefox, you can check Opera, the new Vivaldi, etc... plenty of options.

[nellyp]

I have hit a snag after putting this off for a while. I have wiped my drives to install XP (admittedly on the suggestion of a co-worker), and I have hit a major snag. When installing XP I get a message saying there is no hard drive on my laptop. After some research, it appears that my new hard drive is SATA and there is no way to install XP with SATA off the disk. I have tried clicking the SATA function in BIOS but though it becomes disabled, I just get a new message saying it will not work. I understand that I can install drivers for the SATA HDD while installing windows, but it has to be donme through a floppy drive, which I don't have. Do you think it would be possible to install windows 7 and then install XP over the top of it?