Windows 7 - free/cheap upgrade to Windows 10?

Frozen_up_north

Regarding web browser choice, it’s a personal thing. As are web search tools. Edge/Bing sell your details via Microsoft, Chrome via Google, etc. I personally prefer Firefox and DuckDuckGo (private search engine).

The a/v built into Win 10 is perfectly adequate. There are additional features built into some paid for a/v packages, I have a multi-user package from Bitdefender which was about £6/PC for a year (only buy one year at a time).

You can buy an external drive housing/caddy to use your old drive, plenty on eBay.

Skype is built into Win 10, it’s one of the Microsoft apps, sadly Win 10 comes cluttered with junk apps, some are easier to scrap than others. Cortana can be turned off easily in Win 10 Pro, not so easy in Home.

Re: the Office key, ask Microsoft. They can be helpful. Do you really need M/S Office? Almost everyone finds the free Libre Office will do all they need, in some uses it’s superior to Excel, pivot tables used to be a lot easier for example.

Marilynruth

Hello.

Thanks for the post

EveryWhere

DIYhelp76 wrote: »

Hi,

A huge thank you to everyone, especially Everywhere for all your advice and help on this thread.

I'm amazed to say it all seems to have worked and already seems incredibly faster. Will monitor it and then decide whether to add RAM later.

Just a few more queries please and then I can leave everyone in peace!

1. It comes with Edge as a browser. I used to use Chrome. Is Edge good/okay or should I download Chrome and Mozilla as I had before (Mozilla as a back up really, never used).

Utilise whichever you like.

2. Office Professional 2013 - I bought this through work under the Home User Programme in 2014. Still work for same employer. I have my key and have re-downloaded it from my site. However, it is asking me to "Activate Office" before a certain date to continue using it. For this, it asks me to enter the email address associated with the subscription. I put in my work email address but then it asks for a password - I have no idea what this is and it won't let me re-set - says "contact your administrator". Is there a way to fix this? It also gives the option of "entering your key instead" but that doesn't seem to work.

What doesn't seem to work?

3. Mindful that I don't want to start re-clogging the system up - what should I download in terms of anti-virus, ad blockers etc?

A good Browser will block Ads by default or allow you to add extensions that do so for you.

4. I have the old hard drive still with all my stuff on it - I think it's possible to buy something so I can still use this as a storage back up - pls can someone advise how/what else I'd need to buy - some kind of housing and a USB cable?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-External-HDD-Enclosure-USB-SATA-Hard-Drive-Black-Caddy-Case-for-Laptop-PC/192934660120
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-3-0-2-5-Inch-Hard-Drive-Enclosure-SATA-HDD-SSD-Caddy-Case-For-LAPTOP-PC-UK/233311294096

5. Skype - it seems to have this built in - not sure if built into Windows 10 or part of Office Professional. Can I just rely on this without downloading Skype App itself?

It's part of the Windows 10 installation

Again, thanks for everyone's time and patience!

..........

RumRat

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Regarding web browser choice, it’s a personal thing. As are web search tools. Edge/Bing sell your details via Microsoft, Chrome via Google, etc. I personally prefer Firefox and DuckDuckGo (private search engine).

Just for clarity....DuckDuckGo uses Bing search results. If you want untracked Goggle search you can try StartPage.com.

DIYhelp76

Hi Everywhere

Many thanks for your replies, all noted.

Re what is not working on Office Professional, it allowed me to download it afresh using the key they provided me when I purchased under the HUP. It has downloaded fine and the applications work, however Word says across the top of the page "PRODUCT NOTICE: Word hasn't been activated. To keep using Word without interruption activate by 16 October...".

I haven't opened the other programs yet (Excel) etc., but assume it will be the same for them.

When I go to try and activate it there is the option to use the key again but that doesn't work as it just takes me to a page to download afresh again.

DIYhelp76

Thanks for the posts - Never heard of DuckDuckGo but just by virtue of its name I feel I should use it! Will check it out.

DIYhelp76

No worries - just phoned Microsoft and they talked me through the issue, so all fixed now. Fantastically helpful Microsoft team in India who were able to sort everything.

All up and running now!

poppellerant

I use Firefox as my web browser for at least 10 years and I use an add-on called uBlock Origin to fend off most adverts.

Some people will tell you to use Opera, Chrome, Edge or other variants. But Firefox seldom gives me any bother and the ability to customise it pretty much how I want it appeals to me.

EveryWhere

DIYhelp76 wrote: »

No worries - just phoned Microsoft and they talked me through the issue, so all fixed now. Fantastically helpful Microsoft team in India who were able to sort everything.

All up and running now!

You can run as many Browsers as you like. Even at the same time. That's why it's a good idea to have more RAM. It will stay snappy that way.
For the cost involved, it would almost be silly to not do so.

DIYhelp76

Many thanks.

I will definitely consider the new RAM but at the moment the speed change is literally like a step out of the dark ages!

I'm so glad because was seriously thinking I might have to get a new laptop but just for the £65 investment in the SSD I think/hope this laptop should last many more years. Plus the drive came courtesy of Amazon vouchers from the Santander refer a friend scheme, so all good!

To anyone else who is considering buying a new laptop for similar reasons, I'd say definitely give this upgrade a go - I was worried I might botch it up but it was much easier than I feared, with all the help and guidance on here.