Using an old laptop

BFBW

FlorayG said:

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!

I wouldn't. You have been given some misleading advice. Your old laptop is fine and secure. It likely does need an inexpensive upgrade to an SSD(costing as little as £15), if it is running the old spinning disk type, but that is all.
There is absolutely no reason why you need a new laptop for the tasks described.

BFBW

FlorayG said:

GDB2222 said:

FlorayG said:

I don't understand any of this because for the last few years obviously my company has done all updates etc. What is Linux? What does it replace? What do I need it for? Thank you

You asked a simple question, namely whether you can use your old laptop safely. If you want the simplest possible answer, then it is no. An 8 year old laptop will not be secure and you should buy a new one.

There are alternatives to buying a new one, but they are not simple. 

Ha ha yes I did, but you don't know what you don't know until someone tells you!

The problem is that they have misled you. An eight year old laptop is as safe as a seven year old laptop or even a six year old laptop.. Full stop.
Please don't believe anyone who doesn't provide an explanation of why they suggest that your laptop is unsafe. It is completely normal. In fact the laptop I am currently using is from 2013, so that is twelve years old. I'm running the latest version of Windows 10. There is full support for that available until October the 13th 2026.
So perhaps the person who suggested that your laptop is unsafe, can explain to us knowledgeable folk, their reasons why. 

FlorayG

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!

I wouldn't. You have been given some misleading advice. Your old laptop is fine and secure. It likely does need an inexpensive upgrade to an SSD(costing as little as £15), if it is running the old spinning disk type, but that is all.
There is absolutely no reason why you need a new laptop for the tasks described.

Now you have to explain what an SSD is and why I need one please....

BFBW

FlorayG said:

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!

I wouldn't. You have been given some misleading advice. Your old laptop is fine and secure. It likely does need an inexpensive upgrade to an SSD(costing as little as £15), if it is running the old spinning disk type, but that is all.
There is absolutely no reason why you need a new laptop for the tasks described.

Now you have to explain what an SSD is and why I need one please....

First the make and model number of your laptop.
But, in short, if your laptop doesn't already have one, it makes your laptop faster and more efficient. Bringing it in line with the latest tech.

FlorayG

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!

I wouldn't. You have been given some misleading advice. Your old laptop is fine and secure. It likely does need an inexpensive upgrade to an SSD(costing as little as £15), if it is running the old spinning disk type, but that is all.
There is absolutely no reason why you need a new laptop for the tasks described.

Now you have to explain what an SSD is and why I need one please....

First the make and model number of your laptop.
But, in short, if your laptop doesn't already have one, it makes your laptop faster and more efficient. Bringing it in line with the latest tech.

Toshiba SatelliteC50-A-157

BFBW

FlorayG said:

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

BFBW said:

FlorayG said:

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!

I wouldn't. You have been given some misleading advice. Your old laptop is fine and secure. It likely does need an inexpensive upgrade to an SSD(costing as little as £15), if it is running the old spinning disk type, but that is all.
There is absolutely no reason why you need a new laptop for the tasks described.

Now you have to explain what an SSD is and why I need one please....

First the make and model number of your laptop.
But, in short, if your laptop doesn't already have one, it makes your laptop faster and more efficient. Bringing it in line with the latest tech.

Toshiba SatelliteC50-A-157

That's as old as my device It's worth doing if you have someone in the family that could do it for you(yourself included if you are willing to give it a go) 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kc_XN6-g5Sg

Worth the mentioning, as the classic money saving solution. Total cost from as little as £15 to £20. It's good to get the most out of your current device if possible.

That way you could take your time in making a decision about what to choose as your new device.

Eyeful

FlowrayG:      No one has given you misleading information.

1. Microsoft's official date for stopping security updates for Windows 10 operating system is  still 14 October 2025.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/windows-10-is-losing-security-support-in-october-aZV723o24RP9

2. As I stated before, your Windows 10 computer may not be suitable for updating to Window 11. This is because Microsoft has introduced new hardware requirements. If your computer does not have the necessary hardware, then you will have problem with Windows 11.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/check-if-a-device-meets-windows-11-system-requirements-after-changing-device-hardware-f3bc0aeb-6884-41a1-ab57-88258df6812b


3. The options I mentioned to you in my first post still stand.

debitcardmayhem

Eyeful said:

FlowrayG:      No one has given you misleading information.

1. Microsoft's official date for stopping security updates for Windows 10 operating system is  still 14 October 2025.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/windows-10-is-losing-security-support-in-october-aZV723o24RP9

2. As I stated before, your Windows 10 computer may not be suitable for updating to Window 11. This is because Microsoft has introduced new hardware requirements. If your computer does not have the necessary hardware, then you will have problem with Windows 11.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/check-if-a-device-meets-windows-11-system-requirements-after-changing-device-hardware-f3bc0aeb-6884-41a1-ab57-88258df6812b


3. The options I mentioned to you in my first post still stand.

Buy a chromebook ? really I suggest trying chrome flex no cost.
The laptop may not be suitable for Windows 11 , says who it’s a 3rd gen i3 , sith and SSD and 4 gb more memory it will run 11 I have an i5-24xx lappy which runs quite happily on 11.
Not misleading but perhaps misguided

Eyeful

debitcardmayhem said:

Eyeful said:

FlowrayG:      No one has given you misleading information.

1. Microsoft's official date for stopping security updates for Windows 10 operating system is  still 14 October 2025.
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/windows-10-is-losing-security-support-in-october-aZV723o24RP9

2. As I stated before, your Windows 10 computer may not be suitable for updating to Window 11. This is because Microsoft has introduced new hardware requirements. If your computer does not have the necessary hardware, then you will have problem with Windows 11.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/check-if-a-device-meets-windows-11-system-requirements-after-changing-device-hardware-f3bc0aeb-6884-41a1-ab57-88258df6812b


3. The options I mentioned to you in my first post still stand.

Buy a chromebook ? really I suggest trying chrome flex no cost.
The laptop may not be suitable for Windows 11 , says who it’s a 3rd gen i3 , sith and SSD and 4 gb more memory it will run 11 I have an i5-24xx lappy which runs quite happily on 11.
Not misleading but perhaps misguided

1. If you had read through all of my posts on this subject, you would have seen that one of the options I suggested, was to to download and install either Linux Mint or Zorin distros (both also free).

2.  Your suggestion of ChromeOS is just another Linux distro.

3. Buy a Chromebook, was then suggested as an option should the OP not what to download and install any Linux distro. 

So there is no misguiding going on.

Eyeful

debitcardmayhem said:

The laptop may not be suitable for Windows 11 , says who it’s a 3rd gen i3 , sith and SSD and 4 gb more memory it will run 11 I have an i5-24xx lappy which runs quite happily on 11.
Not misleading but perhaps misguided

Q. Who says Windows 11 may not be suitable for an old computer?
A. Microsoft . That's why I left the Website link for the OP to read and check out.

Until the Microsoft PC Health Check is run on the OP computer, none of us knows if it is suitable for Windows 11.
If you do download Windows 11 on to an unsuitable computer and get it to run, you do not know if it is running correctly, introducing bugs or security holes that you are unaware off. I certainly would not care to take that risk, though others may wish to take the risk.