Computer question

[Monty]

I've had this desktop for around 5 years and it's been the best one I've ever owned, but I'm seeing things that may indicate it might need to be replaced.  Finding one won't be an issue as I'll just get a more current version of what I had.  Here's where it gets tricky:  I hate Win10. When it comes to computers I don't need more complexity, and I'm hopeless at playing the how-do-I-do-this-now game.  My current computer came with it, but my "computer guy" found some kind of workaround software that makes my setup look more like, say, Win7 (much more intuitive).  Unfortunately, he says the stuff he installed was taken off the market. 

Dumb question:  Would it be possible to use a thumb drive or something to capture this modified OS and put it on the new machine?   If not, is there any chance there's another Win10 modifier that will keep me from going insane trying to relearn everything?

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm not crazy about Win10 either, but it becomes second nature after using it for a while. There are plenty of how-tos available online if you get stuck.

If you really just prefer to stay with the look and UI of Win7 (which I liked a lot), here's an option...

https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/

 

Here's more...

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-make-windows-10-feel-more-like-windows-7

Edited December 15, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[peteski]

No, you can't save installed version of OS from one computer and  do a fresh install on another (unless the hardware is identical).  Even then, it would likely need some tweaks.

 

What makes you think that you need new PC?  I still have a tower-type PC I built in 2004 (yes 16 years ago) and I still use it daily.  It runs Windows 98SE and it it has a WiFi card, so it is on my home network.  I do not go out on the Internet (browsers are too old to work properly), but I it accesses some network drives with my other drivers and it has a network  printer configured (so other computers can print to it).  I use it for my hobbies. It has Corel Draw, Helicon Focus, and the Alps MicroDry printer attached. I do all my hobby decal designs on it.

I also have couple of older Dell laptops. One Runs Windows XP, and the other one (I'm accessing this forum on) runs Windows 7.  It all works perfectly fine.  I have to use Windows 10 at work and I'm not a fan if it.  XP and 7 are my favorite versions of MS Windows.

If you just need to reinstall Windows 7, I'm sure you can find legitimate copies of it on eBay or Amazon.  Yours is 5 years old? That's still a "baby" in my book.   If it is a desktop, if some components are failing, then can be easily replaced. There are lots of used PC components available.  If you like it - keep it!

[Monty]

I'm concerned about this computer because one of the things I initially liked the most about it seems to have succumbed to...something.  When I first bought it, I could hit the power button and be fully operational in about 40 seconds.  Now it takes several clicks and 2-3 minutes just to bring up my Google Chrome page.  I know virtually nothing about computers, but it makes me wonder if some sector on the hard drive is failing.  

[peteski]

  On 12/16/2020 at 4:48 PM, Monty said:

I'm concerned about this computer because one of the things I initially liked the most about it seems to have succumbed to...something.  When I first bought it, I could hit the power button and be fully operational in about 40 seconds.  Now it takes several clicks and 2-3 minutes just to bring up my Google Chrome page.  I know virtually nothing about computers, but it makes me wonder if some sector on the hard drive is failing.  

Expand  

It is probably not the hard drive.  It is what computer geeks call "cruft".  Basically all the Windows updates and all the applications (and browser add-ons) that get installed slow the computer down. That is the layman's explanation.  Doing a clean full reinstall of the OS would likely get the computer working faster.

You could try few simple things to clean things up without reinstall, but I'm not sure if that'll help much:  Left-click on the Start menu button, then type in "clean", then select disk cleanup.  Run that couple of times.  Next, again in the Start Menu type in "defrag" and select Disk Defragmenter, then run it on your drive C. If it is enabled to run automatically and shows 0% fragmentation on the listed drives then there is nothing to do.  If not, select the OS drive (probably C or D) and defragment it.

If you fee adventurous, there are free hard drive diagnostic programs available. The one mentioned in https://www.howtogeek.com/134735/how-to-see-if-your-hard-drive-is-dying/  looks legit.

Edited December 17, 2020 by peteski

[blunc]

Another problem to look for is that your computer will slow down when the hard drive starts to get "full", five years of updates can really fill up your drive with updates that get used once but never remove themselves after they install.

When your hard drive gets to be 90% full, it will start to run out of places to put temporary files that it creates every time you go to the interwebs.

Performing the clean and defrag should help a lot. Be aware that if you have never performed these actions in the life of your computer, that it may take a while for these actions to complete. IMPORTANT: Do the clean first and then the defrag.

When performing the Disk Cleanup, be sure to click all boxes that refer to temporary files, there will be a box of the cleanup window that says "Clean up system files", perform this also...it will clean up gigabytes of space on your hard drive.

If you decide to get a new computer, the program Classic Shell is a free program that will make Win10 "look" like Win7, I used to use it but am now used to Win10 and don't need it. You can get it here:  http://www.classicshell.net/

Note that the developer stopped working on it at the end of 2017, so there will be no updates or fixes created for it unless other users do the work and post it to that site.

Edited December 20, 2020 by blunc
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