Trying to update an old laptop - some questions

SurferDan

Before spending on extra RAM and/or a SSD I would suggest giving your laptop a good clear out ie
Remove all unnecessary software
Remove junk files / temp files / old windows installation files / thumbnail cache etc
Stop unnecessary start up items
Stop programs running in the background that aren't being used.
Turn off unnecessary windows services
If you don't play games turn off game mode
Make sure you're running the latest versions of the software you are using
Run a virus / malware checker to see if an infection is slowing down your laptop
Defrag the HDD 
Clean the fan intake and outlet 
A programme such as Glary Utilities (free for home use) will do most of the above automatically for you. Plus there are lots of tutorials on the internet to show you how to do the above.
Certainly worth a try before spending any money plus if you clone your existing HDD to a new SSD you're just transferring the problems to the SSD.

You will be surprised what a good spring clean can do. 

cerebus

Far easier just to do a clean install of windows 10 on a new ssd and clean the internals and replace the thermal paste 

You could do a dual boot of Linux mint too , I really enjoy using that Linux and it makes my 13 year old pc zip along 

cerebus

I use to have an old Sony vaio laptop with a duo core and I'm sure the max memory it could take was 4gb - might be wrong though 

Crucial mx500 ssd will certainly speed up your machine 

spaceboy

Am I best to do a fresh Windows 10 install or clone the old one? The SSD arrived today.

The laptop originally had Windows 7 so now sure how it works will it just accept 10 with the Windows 7 key?

cerebus

Do a fresh Windows 10 install, you will be amazed at the speed difference

The windows key is in your bios so should install no problems 

Bonhomie

spaceboy said:

Am I best to do a fresh Windows 10 install or clone the old one? The SSD arrived today.

The laptop originally had Windows 7 so now sure how it works will it just accept 10 with the Windows 7 key?

Fresh install. 
Follow these steps in order to preserve activation and then to apply it after the clean install: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/23354-clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

Bonhomie

cerebus said:

Do a fresh Windows 10 install, you will be amazed at the speed difference

The windows key is in your bios so should install no problems 

That's wrong. Only correct from Windows 8 devices onwards.

facade

I don't think win 7 stores a digital licence,

BUT

If you upgrade the existing licenced installation to win 10 it will acquire a digital licence when it connects to t'interweb- type "about your pc" in the search bar, open it  click on "change the product key or upgrade your edition" and it will tell you win 10 is activated with a digital licence.

Once this happens, you are free to do a fresh install of win 10, and when you get to "enter your product key" click "I don't have one" It will then retrieve the digital licence from Microsoft.

Why bother?

Well if your pc has the installation it came with, it will have a different software key to the one on the label. That means the one on the label is still unused (but it would be very naughty to use it on a different pc )

cerebus

Bonhomie said:

cerebus said:

Do a fresh Windows 10 install, you will be amazed at the speed difference

The windows key is in your bios so should install no problems 

That's wrong. Only correct from Windows 8 devices onwards.

Might have not read he had windows 7...

However windows 7 product key will activate windows 10 just type the windows 7 key in when the install asks for it

No need to do anything long winded and faffy 

Bonhomie

cerebus said:

Bonhomie said:

cerebus said:

Do a fresh Windows 10 install, you will be amazed at the speed difference

The windows key is in your bios so should install no problems 

That's wrong. Only correct from Windows 8 devices onwards.

Might have not read he had windows 7...

However windows 7 product key will activate windows 10 just type the windows 7 key in when the install asks for it

No need to do anything long winded and faffy 

His device is not activated with the Windows 7 product key in the first place. The point of doing something "long winded and faffy" is for a sure back up method of activation. 
Maybe you can go back to the other thread and explain about upgrading to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home using the existing licence.