Upgrade old laptop or bin?

J_B

Thanks all.

She is going to discuss with them over the weekend.

Quote "they only need it for internet as their iPad is giving up the ghost"

Is that a cue for folks to suggest they spend £500 on a new iPad?

OnlyTheBestWillDo

prowla said:

The computer was purchased in January 2011 and has a spec:

• Inspiron N5010 : RETAIL ONLY Intel Pentium Dual Core P6200 ( 2.13GHz, 3M)
• Memory : 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
• Hard Drive : 320GB Serial ATA (5400RPM)
• Wireless : Dell Wireless 1501 (802.11g/n) Mini Card ROW
• Camera : Integrated 1.3 Mega Pixel Camera
• Display : 15.6in High Definition (1366X768) WLED
• Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software

Based on that, it's pretty much obsolete.

Upgrading (with an SSD and Windows 10) would require some work and expense and still result in a slow system.

The screen is not what most folks would call "high definition" these days.

It's more a system for an enthusiast to muck about with upgrading than to give to some folks to use pain-free.

That would just be your opinion. My opinion is that you are very wrong.

The laptop that I am using to post this is of a lower spec and yet it carries out all the tasks that I described earlier, with ease. These are facts and not opinions.

Perhaps you can recommend an alternative costing £17.50 or even £30. 

OnlyTheBestWillDo

jamesd said:

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

There is absolutely no pint in trying to match the capacities of the storage drive. It's not like the parents will need the content of the daughter on their 'new' laptop. So even a 120 GB SSD will likely suffice.
Definitely out of the question to spend £25 on RAM. You do realise this is a money saving forum? First of all 4GB is fine; but if more is required one can obtain a 4GB module for £7: https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=smem2q2aa or 2 x 4GB for £12; https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=smem412800204

I think you didn't read the OP properly. The machine is to be given to someone else. So no need to transfer anything from the old install.

Yes, a 120GB SSD will probably suffice. Not sure that she'd want to try second hand RAM, though it's cheaper than new and new can probably be had cheaper than from Crucial.

I wouldn't want to pass it on with an operating system that's no longer getting antivirus and other fixes, better to take the free Windows 10 upgrade option before passing it on.

If the operating system is being upgraded to Windows 10 it's necessary to do an upgrade install before a clean install so that the Windows licensing servers will recognise the machine as having a valid license.  Assuming you trust the people in the Dell support forum who wrote that. Then I'd also want to go with a clean install. 

I suggest that you go back to read my first post in this thread and the OP before you continue along your path.

"She", no doubt, does not care what goes into it. The cost will likely be the only thing of interest. If money is tight, then just SSD for £17.50. If not so tight and wanting to get the best out of the device without spending too much then another £12 on 8 GB of RAM. Do you really think that someone thinks about spending a premium on new RAM for a ten year old laptop because they "don't want second hand RAM". Did you really write that? The laptop is ten years old. The RAM is possibly newer than the laptop and is likely guaranteed for a couple of years at least

There is no need to do an upgrade install. I did not go into detail as the OP understands what is meant by the GenuineTicket method. It bypasses the need for an upgrade install beforehand.
Even that is not necessary as they could simply use the key on the underside of the laptop for the upgrade. But since I advised the OP to upgrade from 7 Home Premium to 7 Professional(another thing about which he has knowledge) before the clean install to SSD of Windows 10; then the product key on the underside is of no use and the GenuineTicket method should be utilised.

https://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/30/how-to-clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-upgrade/

It wasn't actually a user on Reddit who discovered the method

OnlyTheBestWillDo

GDB2222 said:

I have a similar Dell laptop, but with a N2830 processor, which is a fair bit slower. 

I don’t use it as a machine for every day use, and it would drive me mad if I had to, as it is very leisurely. Plus, the screen resolution is poor.  I take it with me on holiday, for any emergency word processing.

I fitted an SSD, but that made surprisingly little difference.

I suggest the op just upgrades to W10, and passes it on to the parents for occasional use. 

Did you run a clean install to the SSD or clone? Fitting an SSD always makes a difference.
When you actually question the people who makes such statements you realise that they actually had totally unrealistic expectations. They also discount such things as how quickly the device is up and running because before they would go to make a cup of tea when they had a normal hard drive fitted. 

Now you've decided that the parents should use it only occasionally and should not bother to fit an SSD?

What if they want to use it more often, for simple tasks that would benefit from having an SSD fitted? What is your alternative idea? That they shouldn't bother to spend £17.50 and instead buy a more expensive device when they don't even need one?
The P6200 is not the N2830. So why are you advising the OP to not upgrade on the basis of your inferior processor??

I have experience of using a P6200 in a Toshiba laptop with a Toshiba SSD. So I know exactly the performance and the difference in performance. I am also using, right now, a processor similar to yours with a SSD for day to day tasks. Not occasionally, but regularly.

Not opinions or wild guesses, but accomplished facts.

Norman_Castle

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

WaywardDriver said:

Do "mum and dad" have a laptop? Do they want one? If yes and laptop working OK albeit slowly then suggest best upgrade is external monitor and keyboard.

The laptop needs an SSD regardless if it is to be used.

Reading your post and typing this on a laptop fitted with a HDD. It seems to be working.

OnlyTheBestWillDo

WaywardDriver said:

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

WaywardDriver said:

Do "mum and dad" have a laptop? Do they want one? If yes and laptop working OK albeit slowly then suggest best upgrade is external monitor and keyboard.

  

I couldn't find a laugh out loud emoji.

The laptop needs an SSD regardless if it is to be used. I think they can decide afterwards if they would like an external keyboard and monitor. Those are not upgrades.

OK upgrade is wrong term. I was thinking of my experience after recently fitting an SSD to my 5+ year old Dell. Yes it made a large difference to start-up time but there was no discernible difference with standard browsing, spreadsheet, word processing apps. For me, the addition of an external monitor and keyboard gave the largest improvement in useability.
Anyway seems mum and dad using an iPad which implies they use it in different locations so the monitor/keyboard recommendation may not be relevant. That's why discussion is needed before getting tied up with SSD or not - would they be happy with a newer iPad or would they use the extra features of a laptop?

Seriously? All that agonising over £17.50?

OnlyTheBestWillDo

Norman_Castle said:

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

WaywardDriver said:

Do "mum and dad" have a laptop? Do they want one? If yes and laptop working OK albeit slowly then suggest best upgrade is external monitor and keyboard.

The laptop needs an SSD regardless if it is to be used.

Reading your post and typing this on a laptop fitted with a HDD. It seems to be working.

Same processor? I don't think so. But thanks for your useful input. I'm sure the OP has bookmarked it in order to refer back to it when necessary.

OnlyTheBestWillDo

J_B said:

Thanks all.

She is going to discuss with them over the weekend.

Quote "they only need it for internet as their iPad is giving up the ghost"

Is that a cue for folks to suggest they spend £500 on a new iPad?

   You never know with the kind of technical advice offered here these days.

[Deleted User]

Probably one thing that nobody has mentioned is the battery on a laptop of that age, it will not be in good condition unless recently replaced and ok you can probably get a replacement for £15 off eBay but with the other upgrades mentioned above it is quickly adding up to a lot for nothing.

Just my opinion but I'd put the laptop on eBay and you could get £50 for it plus saving the £30 on all the above upgrade costs and that is proper money saving advice.

£80 in the pocket or towards a £200 2nd hand iPad Air 2 for example which sounds like it suits the parents more than a laptop and will easily outperform that laptop for internet use.

Norman_Castle

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

Norman_Castle said:

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

WaywardDriver said:

Do "mum and dad" have a laptop? Do they want one? If yes and laptop working OK albeit slowly then suggest best upgrade is external monitor and keyboard.

The laptop needs an SSD regardless if it is to be used.

Reading your post and typing this on a laptop fitted with a HDD. It seems to be working.

Same processor? I don't think so.

The same as what? Do you think there are magical processors which enable HDD to work?