dv7-1055ea RAM upgrade + 64-bit OS upgrade

[shroffn]

Hi. I have a HP dv7-1055ea (product number FP863EA#ABU). I've had it from new for about 13 years. It's original spec and  running Windows 10 Home (32-bit) with 4GB RAM and Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card. I appreciate that Windows 10 support comes to an end in Oct 2025 which is some way away but as this laptop does everything I need  I'm loathe to replace it just because I can't upgrade to Windows 11 (at least I'm told I can't). In the iterim, to maximise performance, what is the maximum RAM I can use with my laptop? Some unofficial websites are telling me 8GB (DDR2 PC2-6400 SODIMM). Also, can I change my OS to 64-bit? Will that help and what are the potential negative impacts of doing this?

Here are my device specifications from the Control Panel 'System' page:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9400 @ 2.53GHz 2.53 GHz
Installed RAM 4.00 GB (2.97 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor
No pen or touch input is available for this display

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 21H2
OS build 19044.1526
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4170.0

Any help/advice much appreciated. Really, don't want this laptop to end as scrap when it works so well.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Your notebook can support up to 2 x 4 GB of DDR2 memory, but you will find it to be very expensive--probably more than your notebook is worth today.

You would have to clean install W10 64 bit.  You cannot do an in-place upgrade from a 32 bit to a 64 bit OS, which means you have to reinstall all of the drivers, programs and your files.

You can install W10 64 bit by using a 64 bit PC to create the W10 64 bit installation media from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

There would be very little advantage to using a 64 bit operating system on such an old notebook because a 64 bit OS requires more memory and disk space to operate than a 32 bit OS does.  Not double, but more.

Since you have 4 GB of memory installed, that would the minimum I would suggest running a 64 bit OS on.

[shroffn]

Thanks for your swift response Paul. I have managed to secure 8GB of RAM (2x Crucial CT51264AC800 4GB DDR2 PC2-6400 SODIMM) for £60 ($80 and change) and they arrive early next week. Worst case, if no noticeable improvement, I am fairly confident of selling the RAM for no loss. Reading between the lines in your response, it seems there is little to be gained from upgrading the RAM and changing to W10 64bit.  Given the choice, would I more likely to be better off with:

1) Keep existing 4GB RAM and 32-bit OS
2) 8GB RAM and 32-bit OS

3) 4GB RAM and 64-bit OS
4) 8GB RAM and 64-bit OS

I do not use the laptop for business, gaming or image/audio processing. Main uses are MS Office, web browsing, Zoom/Teams/Skype and video streaming (Netflix and the like).

If you would be so kind, my other question is what to do when support for W10 ends? Do I just keeping running the laptop on W10 until is finally dies of old age or could its life be prolonged by switching to a different OS such as Ubuntu or similar (which I know absoluetly nothing about)?

Once agin, any advice much appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

That's not a bad deal on the memory.

I would go with the 64 bit OS and 8 GB of memory option.

The one advantage to having a 64 bit OS is nowadays most programs are 64 bit and they run faster on a 64 bit OS.

W10 will be supported through October of 2025.

If you decide to go with W10 64 bit, let me know, and I will give you an easy way to bypass the W11 hardware checks so you can install W11 on your PC if you are interested, and see how it works.

That will extend software support into 2031.

W11 only works on 64 bit OS'.

[shroffn]

I recall making an installation DVD from an ISO file when I first installed W10 on this laptop (a first for me). I'll find the disc and check to see in the 64-bit version is on there first before creating a new 64-bit copy using the link you've sent. Fortunately, my son's recently acquired HP dv14-0009na laptop is 64-bit and I'll hope to be allowed to use that should I need that to create a new 64-bit ISO.

Certainly I would be interested to try W11.  Instructions for this would be appreciated . As guided by the Windows and HP websites for W11 installation, I couldn't find anything to do with TPM or Secure Boot in the laptop BIOS summary/settings that can be accessed when firing up the laptop or elsewhere (but this is new waters for me).

Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Your notebook meets none of the enhanced hardware requirements to get the upgrade to W11 via Windows update.

Here is how to do an in-place upgrade to W11...

First, I would make a system image of the current W10 installation prior to updating to W11, so you can easily reinstall W10 in the future.  I used the free Macrium Reflect software to do that, under the Backup at Home section. 

Along with the system image, make sure you create the bootable DVD or USB rescue drive you boot from to access the system image stored on your portable hard drive.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

To upgrade to W11, read and follow the instructions at the link below.

Windows 11 Upgrade Hack on Any Hardware | Dong Knows Tech

No registry changes needed.  No need to create installation media. 

Just download the W11 ISO file, and the guy's zip file.

Put both of these files in the same folder.

[shroffn]

Hi Paul

So I figure I have two ways to go here after RAM upgrade from 4GB to 8GB:

1) Clean install W10 64-bit. I've already created a new bootable USB with W10 32 and 64 bit on it. See how I get on with this setup.

If laptop seems to be humming along nicely I can be brave and go for....

2) Try the W11 install from the link you gave (thank you)

I've downloaded Macrium as suggested. My laptop has two built in (but removable) hard drives. They are identical and both 250GB. The 😧 drive is where I store any personal files, data, photos, music etc. I have backed this up on to an USB external drive. The other drive is showing several partitions in Macrium:

1) System Reserved, no name, NTFS Active, (35/100 MB)

2) C:, NTFS Primary, (46/223GB)

3) no name, NTFS Primary, (462/537MB)

4) HP_RECOVERY, E:, NTFS Primary, (7.6/9.3GB)

I understand that (2) is where the OS and all my installed software are kept. (4) is the original HP recovery partition. Never had to use it or would know how to. No idea what (1) and (3) are. My question is, in Macrium, which of these partitions should I be making an image of? Is it ok to keep this image on the USB external drive? (I've used 177 of 931GB on this 1TB drive)

I have created a bootable USB for a clean W10 64-bit install as mentioned above. Is this different to the USB rescue drive you mention? If yes, how do I create the rescue drive and can it also be kept on the USB external drive or must it be on its own drive? How large a capacity USB stick might I need for this? 

Many thanks for your continued assistance.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I just make a system image of the entire 250 GB drive you have the OS on.

I would not recommend only backing up a certain partition on it.

You want to be able to restore the current drive configuration using the bootable rescue drive.