Please Share Thoughts on Laptop Options

MrsWenger

Hi everyone, happy New Year. I would like to ask for guidance in relation to my current laptop please.
I have a HP Pavilion dv6 which is 10 years old and works well. It has 3GB of memory, a 320GB HDD and Windows 7. I also have Norton anti-virus which is due to renew this week. I only use it occasionally for emails and Office documents such as Excel and Word. 

Could/should I update this to Windows 10 or should I buy a different laptop? If I can upgrade my current laptop to Window 10 can anyone suggest how best to do this please?

grumpycrab

A number of options, including buy a new laptop and keep existing as a spare/backup (10 years is quite old for a laptop).  Your decision comes down to how much money you want to spend AND how much time you want to put into the process.
2  main options with going to Windows10.
1. upgrade existing. slow, tedious (have you got plenty of space?;), **backup data and license keys first**
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21065140/how-to-upgrade-microsoft-windows-7-10-free-os
2. clean install windows10 to a new SSD and, while you're at it, you really need 4GB memory (ignore those saying you need 8GB).  lots of advantages, the main one being you keep you old HDD safe as an archive.

EDIT: stop paying for Norton.  You don't need it for home use with Windows10.

MrsWenger

Thank you for the reply Grumpycrab. 

I’ll cover the easy part first; I knew I wouldn’t need Norton for Windows 10 but thank you for mentioning it. Part of the reason for my enquiry was linked to it being due for renewal.
I will check available space but I think there is a lot available still. Thank you for the link about the Windows 7-10 upgrade process. 

If I chose option 2 I would obviously need to buy a SSD HD and memory. Could you please tell me if I buy a new 4GB of memory or add to the existing? Do I need special tools for a HP laptop? Would the process be to install the memory and SSD HD then transfer data from the old HDD via a caddy? I consider myself to be reasonably practical but is it a complex process? 

I am not adverse to buying a new laptop if need be. As I said, I don’t use the laptop much so it is really to store photos, use Office documents on and share those documents by email. I have an iPad which I love but I can’t justify buying a MacBook and I understand that Office for Mac is different anyway. I have Office Pro Plus 2016 so I don’t have to pay annually for O365.

grumpycrab

MrsWenger said: I consider myself to be reasonably practical but is it a complex process? 

(PS.  There's a lot of blank lines at the end of your post.)  Sounds like you're up for it!  I'm not necessarily the best person to lead you through the process, but best to start off with full HP model number.  Chances are that memory and disk will be accessible through a service hatch.  Again, 10 years is quite old for a laptop but if you think its in good condtion (e.g. does fan make a lot of noise?)  it may be worth having a play.

EDIT: dv6 may be enough.  Straight away you can have a look at where memory and disk go.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFne0j8g97M

HereToday

MrsWenger said:

Hi everyone, happy New Year. I would like to ask for guidance in relation to my current laptop please.
I have a HP Pavilion dv6 which is 10 years old and works well. It has 3GB of memory, a 320GB HDD and Windows 7. I also have Norton anti-virus which is due to renew this week. I only use it occasionally for emails and Office documents such as Excel and Word. 

Could/should I update this to Windows 10 or should I buy a different laptop? If I can upgrade my current laptop to Window 10 can anyone suggest how best to do this please? 

Best way, as suggested, is a clean install to a solid state drive.
There are a few things that you need to do in preparation.

First is to obtain a USB Flash drive of a least 8 GB in capacity. You will erase everything on the flash drive during the process, so copy off anything you wish to keep.

Then; 

Creating the Windows 10 USB flash drive

1. Visit the Microsoft Media Creation Tool website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
2. Click Download Tool Now.
3. Save the Application.
4. Plug your USB Flash Drive into the PC where you saved the application.
5. Run the Application.
6. Accept the EULA
7. Select Create installation media for another PC and click Next.
8. Choose the correct settings for your version of Windows 10

• Language (Country)
• Windows 10
• 64-bit (x64)

Click Next.Select USB Flash Drive and click Next.Select the Flash Drive and click Next.

Allow the application to complete. You will be prompted when it is finished and has successfully created the bootable drive.

Doess the COA sticker on the underside of your laptop indicate Vista or Windows 7?

debitcardmayhem

Thank you for the reply Grumpycrab. I’ll cover the easy part first; I knew I wouldn’t need Norton for Windows 10 but thank you for mentioning it. Part of the reason for my enquiry was linked to it being due for renewal.

Don't let it auto renew

MrsWenger

Thank you for your replies Grumpycrab and HereToday. The information you have both provided is very helpful.

Corrected the spacing on original post
I am not adverse to having a go if it is relatively simple; I certainly don’t want to lose photographs etc!
HereToday, it’s definitely Windows 7. The stickers says WIndows 7 Home Prem.

MrsWenger

Hi Debitcardmayhem, thank you for the post but I don’t have Norton set to auto renew. 

debitcardmayhem

MrsWenger said:

Thank you for your replies Grumpycrab and HereToday. The information you have both provided is very helpful.

Corrected the spacing on original post
I am not adverse to having a go if it is relatively simple; I certainly don’t want to lose photographs etc!
HereToday, it’s definitely Windows 7. The stickers says WIndows 7 Home Prem.

For a relatively small cost you can buy a USB Caddy for your old disk, 1 to keep all one copy of your data but please tell me you have other copies of your photos etc, I should be horrified for you if you haven't.

MrsWenger

Hi Debitcardmayhem, thank you for the information.
They are backed up to an external device so no issues there 
Going to spend the evening looking at options and reading the links shared elsewhere in the thread. 

HereToday

MrsWenger said:

Thank you for your replies Grumpycrab and HereToday. The information you have both provided is very helpful.

Corrected the spacing on original post
I am not adverse to having a go if it is relatively simple; I certainly don’t want to lose photographs etc!
HereToday, it’s definitely Windows 7. The stickers says WIndows 7 Home Prem.

Home Premium gets you Windows 10 Home.

Professional and above gets you Windows 10 Pro...which is preferable.

Check your PM messages for instructions on how to get to Pro, as opposed to Home.