Update Install Windows 10 on old PCs on old PCs

Install Windows 10 on old PCs

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Conviene installare Windows 10 su PC vecchi? In questo articolo cercherò di dare una risposta e fare un po' di chiarezza.

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There are some factors to take into account, especially:

  • how old is the computer where you want to install Windows 10;
  • which applications you want to use.

For very pushed applications of video editing, or to use very performing games, it is advisable to use new computers, and also quite performing.

To surf the internet, store and fix photos (even with photo editing programs), use social networks and even for normal use in the office, you can safely use a 5-10 year old computer, installing Windows 10.

They are used cheap, but relatively recent, desktops and laptops, with Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, as well as Dual Core or Core 2 Duo, which can be perfect for installing Windows 10.

Windows 10, start menu, cortana, xbox, music, money, news, get office, onenote

Why you need to install Windows 10 on old PCs

Unfortunately, dated computers and laptops, which have an old operating system installed, start to malfunction. In particular, the defects that can be found are the following:

  • excessive slowness to do any operation;
  • unavailable updates, so it is increasingly difficult to surf the internet;
  • lack of security, due to outdated protection systems;
  • difficulty connecting to WiFi networks.

E' quindi indicato sostituire i vecchi sistemi operativi Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, but also Windows 8 with the new and more performing Windows 10.

Windows 10, lock screen, user, password

What I don't appreciate about Windows 10

Although opinions about Windows 10 are quite discordant, I must admit that I really appreciate the new operating system.

In the various experiments I carried out, I managed to successfully install, although with some difficulty, almost all the applications I used previously, including those officially no longer supported, such as VB6 and Office 2007. I also managed to use drivers from old peripherals, designed for Windows XP 64 bit: my old HP LTO tape drives, with Adaptec SCSI adapters, will still work for many years!

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What, however, I do not appreciate about Windows 10 are the continuous automatic updates. Well, this is really a plague! The computer has to download huge amounts of data from the Internet and, very often, it takes a few minutes to start, but also to turn off, precisely because it is working on updates. I challenge anyone not to get angry when, on the plane, the commander forces the shutdown of electronic devices, and the laptop responds with this screen:

Windows 10, operations on updates, task completion: 30%, do not turn off the computer

Apart from this flaw, Windows 10 remains an operating system also rather fast, as long as you scrupulously follow the suggestions I am going to give.

How to install Windows 10

I do not want to describe in this article the procedure of installing Windows 10. Rather I want to suggest a couple of changes to be made on older computers before installing Windows 10.

Anyone who tries to install Windows 10 without the changes I will indicate, will just waste time!

Non c'è bisogno che prendiate appunti, quello che vi serve è molto semplice:

  • RAM
  • Ssd

Buying, for a few tens of euros, these two components, your computer (or notebook) will be a splinter with Windows 10! In the following photos I highlighted with arrows the SSDs, RAM and also any additional HDDs.

Update Windows 10, lightweight, on old PCs, install SSD solid state disk, increase RAM, Intel I5, Intel I3, Viglen

Speaking of RAM, obviously you will have to use one compatible with the motherboard of the old PC, with a size of at least 8GB. I recommend checking on the manual of the motherboard, or on the website of the manufacturer of the same, what is the maximum amount of RAM memory that can be installed. In fact there might be motherboards that don't support 8GB of RAM. I do not recommend installing Windows 10 on old PCs with only 2 GB of RAM, if not for really quiet use.

Install Windows 10 on old computers, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, SSD solid state disk, increase RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo

Regarding the SSD: if the computer has space to mount multiple hard drives, you can use the SSD only for the operating system and programs, while continuing to use normal HDDs for data. If you use the SSD only for the operating system and programs, 120GB-240GB can be fine.

Se, invece, il computer è portatile e non c'è spazio per un secondo hard disk, occorrerà acquistare una SSD più spaziosa (ma anche più costosa).

Install Windows 10 on old computers, install SSD solid state disk, increase RAM, Intel Dual Core

On motherboards, it is possible that there are more free SATA ports, but with different characteristics - it is good connect the SSD to a SATA III port. SATA III ports can be identified by a different color, or they can be marked with SATA 6G. Consult the manufacturer's manual to find the fastest SATA ports available on your motherboard.

Install Windows 10 old PC, SATA 6G port, SATA III, fast SSD, cable connection, improve ssd read speed hard disk

Già che il computer è aperto per effettuare l'aggiornamento RAM e SSD, I recommend giving it a good clean with compressed air, avendo cura di bloccare le ventole con un cacciavite (o anche con un dito), prima di soffiargli sopra l'aria. Se le ventole non vengono bloccate, infatti, inizieranno a girare molto velocemente sotto l'effetto dell'aria compressa, rovinandosi. E' meglio lavorare all'aperto, infatti l'aria compressa solleverà un gran polverone. Dovrete pulire bene tutte le alette di raffreddamento, le ventole ed i vari componenti, avendo cura di non avvicinare troppo la pistola dell'aria compressa sui componenti elettronici delle schede.

Clean PC fans, lock fan and blow, open computer, clean computer

Ed ecco pronto il vostro "nuovo" vecchio computer con Windows 10!

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Finally, before proceeding to purchase the Windows 10 license, I recommend taking advantage of the trial period granted by Microsoft, in order to be able to evaluate if the performance of the PC meets your expectations.

Update Install Windows 10 on old PCs on old PCs

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