How do I upgrade from Vista to Windows 10

[Blberry1207]

I need to upgade my current operating system from Vista to Windows 10.  Do I need to install 7 and then install 10?  Is that expensive to do or would I be money ahead purchasing a new desktop?  My HP is 8 years old.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Since the free upgrade to W10 from W7/W8.1 ended last July, there would be no point in buying W7 (if you can still buy it), and then buying W10.

You can purchase W10 and do a clean install.

The only thing is... HP does not support your PC with W10 drivers, so there is a good possibility that everything may not work correctly, or at all.

Here is some general info regarding upgrading your PC to W10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> My HP is 8 years old.

To make a comparison, if your automobile's tires are 8 eight years old, would you expect to get 3 or 4 more years from them, if you put $120 US into repairing other parts on your automobile?   Doubtful!

Similarly, your computer's disk-drive and motherboard and power-supply are 8 years old -- well past the end-date for HP's warranty. If any parts are going to fail, it will be one of these 3 parts.

I would not spend $120 on a new copy of Windows, without also spending $80 on a new disk-drive. 

So, I would be spending over $200 (after taxes).

Compare that $200 to accessing:  www.bestbuy.com   (in the USA) and searching for "refurbished desktop computer".

You will find "refurbished" computers, running Windows 7 or Windows 10, for under $100 (before taxes),

which include a keyboard & a mouse.

You should be able to resuse your monitor, and maybe your printer, web-camera, and scanner. 

Yes, $100 -- less than a "bare" license for Windows 10.

Also, those computers will be faster than yours.

Finally, your current computer probably is clogged with 8 years worth of dust, which tends to make the computer run "hotter", and heat is not good, inside a computer.  Should you pay a technician $30 to $50 to disassemble it, and clean it?  Probably not!