Consider the benefits of upgrading to the May 2019 Windows 10 release.
Consider the benefits of upgrading to the May 2019 Windows 10 release.
Hey there! I noticed my 10-year-old laptop is using Windows 10 1607 (Anniversary Update). I was thinking about updating to the upcoming Windows 10 release in May 2019, but I learned some issues and performance drops similar to what happened after the last updates in 2018 (Windows 10 1803 & 1809). So I’m trying to figure out whether it’s best to update or not. My brother’s laptop from 2017 with a 7th Gen i5 is also on Windows 10 1607, and he’s planning to upgrade soon. Could you help me decide? Thanks! AKSHAYROG
Can we find the details about this? It's incredible that a 10-year-old laptop is still running Windows 10—something I barely managed, and honestly I’d prefer Windows 7. Regardless of the specs, I’d suggest sticking with it, but you can always test it out and come back to Windows 10 later if you don’t like the latest version. Windows 10 can revert to earlier updates within about a week or so.
It’s actually straightforward: avoid “Check for updates.” Let Microsoft choose when to disable your operating system. The first Core i CPUs were released a decade ago and can run Windows 10 if you provide enough RAM.
I understand, I've attempted it too, but I've also encountered mobile laptops using Windows 10 on these early CPU models (it was probably an i7 with a 620MHz or similar). They often struggle and can be nearly unusable despite running. I suggested downgrading to Windows 7, which showed much improved performance for Office 2007 and Firefox Quantum. I wouldn't say they're fully capable, but they do have limitations. For desktops, they can be slow—my Sandy Bridge i3-2120 with an SSD performed well, and now I'm running a Sandy Bridge Xeon. Ten years seems like a long time, but I'll update my notes, thanks for the feedback.
The laptop runs a Core 2 Duo T6670 with 4GB RAM and a WD 5400 RPM hard drive. It's a Lenovo ThinkPad SL400. After installing the latest updates, my brother's machine is a 7th gen Core i5 with 7200u and 6GB RAM, paired with an Nvidia GeForce 920m and a 1TB Toshiba HDD. The DVD Rom drive was swapped for a 250 SSD. Please share your thoughts on the updates if you went for Windows 10 1803 or 1809.
The hard drive is the main reason for failure. I ran Windows 10 on a Core 2 Duo system. It had a GeForce 730 with driver support because Intel’s built-in graphics lacked drivers, and it needed DVI input while the system only supported VGA. The setup used an SSD, which was quite powerful. For basic tasks it worked fine. I also own a laptop with a first-generation Core i series CPU in a low-end laptop featuring a basic GeForce card. I installed an SSD there; although it’s slower than the desktop version, it still functions adequately. It supports 1080p streaming on my TV and handles it smoothly. An SSD is beneficial if you have enough space. If storage isn’t a concern, a 120GB SSD is affordable. You don’t need high-end specs—your CPU is the biggest limiting factor. But even with a 7200RPM HDD, performance improves significantly. Ensure the system uses AHCI and SATA-2 support. Avoid buying cheap SSDs, as they might lack DRAM or use slow chips, which won’t be noticeable.