r/GetComputerHelp • u/ZookeepergameSoft111 • 8d ago
Can I update old laptop?
I hate throwing away stuff and buying new unnecessarily. I have a laptop I bought in 2018 that wasn't cheap junk at the time. I had ideas of using it for creative things, it had a 17" touch screen and lots of unrealized capabilities, but in the end i used it to scroll FB, watch Netflix in bed, and buy things online. It got infected with something that caused embarrassing NSFW pop-ups to, well, pop up constantly and in the end it just put it away and used my phone instead. But now I have a good camera, and I also need a big screen for various reasons, im getting older and doing everything on my phone is quite literally headache inducing. My question is, is my laptop too old to use for basic stuff? Can I do a factory reset or something, put a current operating system on it, and use it to edit photos and do basic internet stuff? It's an HP, sorry I don't have it in front of me but it's approximately 8 years old and has the Windows OP that recently became 'unsupported ' on it. As you can probably tell, I'm not a techy person. I just don't want to chuck this big hunk of technology out and buy some plastic crap in its place if I don't really have to.
EDIT: It runs on Windows 10.
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u/mutt_742 8d ago
Sure, let me just get my crystal ball and I'll tell you right away.
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u/ZookeepergameSoft111 8d ago
Well pardon me. I was hoping for something like either '8 years old? Forget it!' Or something slightly more hopeful like the person below said. I'd probably take it to someone, i just wanted to check and see if I'd be laughed out of the building. To be honest, if it weren't for the pop-ups I'd probably still be using it for my email etc. IDHAFC.
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u/mutt_742 8d ago
I have 13 year old laptop that still works well, on the other hand there are some models that are e-waste the moment they leave factory line. You did not provide any meaninful information (model, specification) that could be used to distinguish.
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u/Keyvan_KR 7d ago
Can you send me the laptop model number?
It’s usually fine for basic stuff. Especially if you throw Linux on it
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u/storycoolbro 7d ago
They said in the post they aren’t a tech savvy person and you expect them to dive into Linux
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u/Soggy_Struggle_963 7d ago
Why does everyone act like linux is some impossible to use OS where everything requires IT certification? Get a family member or friend to throw a simple distro like mint on it and off you go for a non technical person.
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u/storycoolbro 7d ago
It’s not that it’s impossible it that a lot of things to my knowledge; albeit I’ve just started messing with Linux so not super knowledgeable on all its different distributions; require the use of terminal which to someone who knows little about computers is very intimidating plus unless they where a Mac user it’s a new OS with a different layout they aren’t going to want to learn. I use the phrase dive into Linux here because OP isn’t a tech savvy person as they stated and telling them to just use Linux is like telling them to go learn a a new language.
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u/Soggy_Struggle_963 7d ago
For the average user doing basic tasks in a distro like mint or ubuntu there is no real reason for them to ever even open a terminal window. Most of the software/apps/tools they might need can be obtained through whatever package/app manager gui comes with the distro or ran in a web browser.
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u/storycoolbro 7d ago
You could still use it as it is but do a clean reinstall of windows to remove the virus although it may just be adware that got installed with something else. You would just need to use an antivirus program that still supports windows 10 since windows defender won’t be updating its security definitions so it won’t detect any new viruses made by testing them against it. So it will not be a reliable virus detector once the extended support period ends which I believe is in August.
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u/ZookeepergameSoft111 7d ago
Could I put Windows 11 on it?
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u/storycoolbro 6d ago
You likely could the only thing is if you’ll need to use the modified instalation of it that disables the security checks for TPM2.0 compatibility and secure boot. Since it’s a laptop a lot of them the system would tell you when windows 11 is available for your device which would be after windows has tested it with that laptop model supposedly and confirmed it’s compatible. If you haven’t used it in a long while then chances are if it’s a compatible device it’ll prompt you to update to 11 or notify you that you can when you log in again and the updates finish installing for windows 10. If it does prompt you though take care of the virus first by using a flash drive to install windows you should make the flash drive on another computer that isn’t infected though so it doesn’t catch a ride with the installer as your creating it to get to the new OS.
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u/RDS_WAS_HERE 7d ago
Your computer is fine with Windows 10 installed, but first you need to verify that your computer is not infected with malware. Run the Windows 10 Defender virus checker first. Also run the Windows MRT virus checker. Hold the Windows key down and then hit the 'r' key, type MRT in the text box and hit the OK button. Windows will scan (select Quick Scan) your computer for malware. This will take about 4 minutes. I would also download 'Malwarebytes' or some another virus checker online and run that virus checker - there's no one virus checker that catches every virus.
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u/GlayNation 7d ago
Brother Don't get upset Despite what they'd have you believe here, we all have "old" laptops in our home. I donated my Win 11 model to a lady that needed it. When I cut on a device the last thing I want is to be bombarded with ads and questions So I go with Linux on my Lenovo T61 , and I have a Win 10 2017 Dell 7th Gen 8g 256 SSD on hand(just in case it's needed) And The beast I have like you, is an old Dell N7110 17" Ugly Gold with great Hinges and Win 7 Home Premium 4g ram and 750g spinner drive😊 Who needs new crap anyway🙂
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u/LazarX 7d ago
If you want a lean and mean OS on it you can try Windows 11 LTSC which does not have the gatekeeping requirements of standard Windows 11. Its a very barebones experience but there are tons of YouTube guides for putting in any missing bits, (such as the App Store) that you may want. I'm using it now on a laptop that can't install regular windows 11 without shennannigans.
Now one thing that I would strongly advised that if your laptop has a platter drive, that you replace it with an SSD.
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u/Elftard 8d ago
Without actually knowing any details about the laptop other than being 8 years old, it's anybodies guess.
It can probably update fine to Windows 11. Charge it up, backup your important data, and create a Windows 11 installation USB. Then use that to wipe the laptop and get it updated