Installing Windows 10 on old laptop

[76561198299299775]

A friend of mine has Windows 7, maybe 32-bit (haven't taken a look at it yet), on an old laptop from 2011. He's not re-installed windows since 2011. He's not tech savvy, his Windows is slow and has a lot of junk on it, so I suggested to do a clean install of 10.

Two questions. 1. He doesn't have the product key but his Windows is legal, so I'm assuming his key is stored in his bios (or wasn't that the case yet back in 2011?). How do I confirm this?

2. If it turns out he has 32-bit, can I acivate 64-bit Windows 10 on it (assuming his system is 64-bit capable)?

[C2Dan88]

1. There should be COA sticker attacked to the laptop underneath or within the battery compartment when removed. It will contain the product key. If not you can install a product key finder to know your Windows 7 key.

2. I do not think so with OEM copies of Windows 7 you can only upgrade to Windows 10 that is same version/bit as the OS you are currently using. This may be different if you are using a retail (boxed) copy of Windows 7 (as it came with both 32/64 bit CDs in the box).

If your friend has a bit of spare cash you may find reinstalling the OS will not be enough. I suspect it is the HDD that is slowing the OS down. Typically laptops come with 5400rpm HDD which are very slow. I would recommend upgrading the HDD to a SSD which will give a definate speed boost.

[76561198299299775]

Thanks. I forgot about those stickers and finders. That should probably do it. If not, I think I'll just assume the key is embedded in the motherboard and Windows 10 will activate fine.

Yeah, I told him that about HDD. Also, in my own experience cheap laptop HDDs start failing after 4, 5 years, so it's time to replace it anyway.

[[☥] - CJ -]

You can use the program Speccy to obtain the Windows key
The sticker is usually on the bottom of the laptop, or in the battery compartment

But if hes able to get into his windows and install speccy he can just get it that way

Just download the Win10 tool and do an upgrade that way if need be, then you wont need a key. you can then use speccy to get the Win10 key after its installed.

BUT, before you do anything.
He should goto the laptop vendors website to make sure it has Win10 drivers available, Network/Ethernet drivers, and Soundcard drivers along with anything else that may be needed, just incase.

After Win10 is installed, since its an old laptop he should consider doing a Clean Install, so anything he wants to keep should be backedup some where. If it asks for a key when doing the clean install he can enter the key he got from Speccy.

[DawnWarrior]

You don't need a product key, just install Windows 10 32 bit over the old Windows 7. Then create a bootable Windows 10 64 bit and perform a clean install. When it asks for your key when you perform the clean install say you don't have one an it will work. More info here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-migrate-to-windows-10-64-bit-from-32-bit/40d90c4e-8845-4bcb-bb2f-aeab312caf74

[[☥] - CJ -]

he can use his win7 key to register Win10, they are allowing Win7/8 keys to register it with the latest upgrade tool so he may as well do it and get it over with.

all he needs is Speccy to get the key if he cant find the sticker, then just use that key to register it, if he doesnt do a normal upgrade.

[Seven7]

Installation W10 on an old laptop completely useless idea.
Say your laptop full model - so you do not waste time trying to install the operating system that is guaranteed to not work properly, and full functional
or re-install W7 or Linux - xUbuntu ideal distro for computers, released between 2004-2016 especially old laptops from 2004-2012 with 0.5-3Gb RAM

[DawnWarrior]

Originally posted by Seven7:

Installation W10 on an old laptop completely useless idea.

He said it's a 2011 laptop and his friend is not tech savy. Windows 10 works great on old laptops. He already has Windows 7 and if it's working on Windows 7 32 bit it will fly on Windows 10 64 bit. I have a 2011 laptop with 4 Gb ram and when I switched from Windows 7 32 bit to Windows 7 64 bit the laptop was working faster and better because it could accessed more ram. And when last year I switched to Windows 10 64 bit the laptop didn't become faster but Windows 10 was better in everything than Windows 7. It's just a better ,more secure OS. There is absolutly no drawdawn in switching to Windows 10. And why do you recomand him a Linux when he said his friend is not tech savy?

[Kathryn Morningstar, A Conqueror]

Trust me buddy, that thing will explode if you put win 10 on it.

[[☥] - CJ -]

i put Win10 64bit on 2 Netbooks both have 2GB of RAM, which are weaker than a 2011 Laptop
They do JUST Fine and even better than on Win7

As long as the Laptop has Win10 drivers for what i mentioned above it'll do just fine.

[76561198299299775]

Thanks for the answers. I think it'll be alright now. I doubt 10 will not have the correct network drivers, but I'll check the vendor to be sure. (Windows 10 actually seems pretty good with drivers. In fact, on my own old laptop, Windows 7 and 8 did not install drivers for my network card, but 10 did.)