Upgrading old socket 775 system from Vista to Windows 10. Advice?

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Rob94hawk

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My wife & son use my old socket 775 system for shopping & web surfing. That's it. But the old hard drive took a dump and was going to buy a new SSD along with Windows 10. What is the cheapest 64 bit Windows 10 around? So far I've found this:

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Pro-...0&qid=1559504372&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Don't really need Pro but it seems like a good deal. If there is cheaper I'll take it. Thanks.
 
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Why put windows on it at all if all they do is web surf ?

Where I am you can grab a 120gb kingston (or something like it) SSD for around 20 bucks American.

Install something like PopOS or Mint or Manjaro or even Ubuntu.

They all do the web surfing just fine... all ship with Firefox, with easy to install Chrome/Chromium options.

Windows is nothing but a hassle if all they are doing is web surfing. All 4 of the distros I listed install easier the windows 10 perform better, will not be annoying. And in general you can stop worrying about them visiting the wrong site... grabbing the wrong file or doing much to bork things up.
 
ChadD said:
Why put windows on it at all if all they do is web surf ?

Where I am you can grab a 120gb kingston (or something like it) SSD for around 20 bucks American.

Install something like PopOS or Mint or Manjaro or even Ubuntu.

They all do the web surfing just fine... all ship with Firefox, with easy to install Chrome/Chromium options.

Windows is nothing but a hassle if all they are doing is web surfing. All 4 of the distros I listed install easier the windows 10 perform better, will not be annoying. And in general you can stop worrying about them visiting the wrong site... grabbing the wrong file or doing much to bork things up.
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My best guess is the family members are used to the Windows environment and he doesn't want to risk overturning the apple cart? :D
 
Windows 10 is still free. Just a little annoying if not activated.
 
Chuklr said:
My best guess is the family members are used to the Windows environment and he doesn't want to risk overturning the apple cart? :D
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You would be surprised how easily web surf type PC user are to switch. Install gnome... turn dock dock to dash on. Add Chrome to favorites... and remove most everything else. Done.
 
OP, I would suggest that if you get to the point of doing the Windows 10 install that you install it without a key initially then make sure it picks up all the hardware on a mobo that old. Then if it feels like it is working OK, go ahead and activate it. You should be able to play around with it before activating it, if you actually want to do so. Many here will just say run it perpetually un-activated.
 
I don't see why you would have any trouble running a socket 775 system. For the time I ran Win10 on the system in my signature there were no hardware problems. Hardware issues or conflicts aren't usually all that likely when putting a newer OS onto older hardware. The issues are usually putting an old OS on new hardware. As long as it's a Core2 system rather than P4 based I don't see how you could have any problems at all.

The Linux solution would work just fine as well. Browsing and email aren't exactly difficult things and the differences between them on different OSes are minimal.
 
ryan_975 said:
There are sellers on here that sell Win10 keys for $10-$20. Grab one of those and use the MS media creator tool to make a flash drive to install from.
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This, or another vote for Linux. Mint, Pop OS, Ubuntu, Manjaro.. they are all free and will run worlds better than Windows 10. Even if your son plays some games, Steam works like a charm.
 
SmokeRngs said:
I don't see why you would have any trouble running a socket 775 system. For the time I ran Win10 on the system in my signature there were no hardware problems. Hardware issues or conflicts aren't usually all that likely when putting a newer OS onto older hardware. The issues are usually putting an old OS on new hardware. As long as it's a Core2 system rather than P4 based I don't see how you could have any problems at all.

The Linux solution would work just fine as well. Browsing and email aren't exactly difficult things and the differences between them on different OSes are minimal.
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I have recently encountered some issues with some laptops (older laptops) and Windows 10 (1809 I believe) where the Realtek card reader would not function at all. Device Manager said there was a comparability conflict with device and the OS. I tried everything, no go. So I do tell people running very old AMD X2/X4 era stuff and Socket 775 era stuff that there is a greater chance of comparability issues.
 
I'm not really sure why all the advice for installing Windows 10 turns into a 'just install Linux on it instead'. If they wanted Linux they would have asked for it.

My Registered Linux User number is in between 150,000 and 200,000 but just because I use Linux doesn't mean I will push that on everyone.
 
Algrim said:
I'm not really sure why all the advice for installing Windows 10 turns into a 'just install Linux on it instead'. If they wanted Linux they would have asked for it.

My Registered Linux User number is in between 150,000 and 200,000 but just because I use Linux doesn't mean I will push that on everyone.
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When talking to someone with Core Duo class hardware considering windows 10 though....

Ya the advice SHOULD shift to consider Linux. That class of hardware is good for little but as a surfing machine. At that point ya Linux should be the go to suggestion.
 
Rob94hawk said:
My wife & son use my old socket 775 system for shopping & web surfing. That's it. But the old hard drive took a dump and was going to buy a new SSD along with Windows 10. What is the cheapest 64 bit Windows 10 around? So far I've found this:

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Pro-...0&qid=1559504372&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Don't really need Pro but it seems like a good deal. If there is cheaper I'll take it. Thanks.
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i wouldnt pay any more than 10 bucks for oem keys just look around there everywhere...I actually got like 9 retail win 7 pro keys back in the day for some kind of Microsoft membership for students that cost me a grand total of maybe 20 bucks? I cant believe what some people pay for OEM keys at that lol
 
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I still wouldn't discount linux for a system that old. Load up Mint on a USB stick and play around with it without installing it. I think you'll be surprised at how snappy it will be compared to Windows 10.
 
bigdogchris said:
You must be ignoring these threads.
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I'm not ignoring them at all. It all just a bunch speculation and hand-wringing about an area that hasn't been clearly adjudicated. Adobe vs Softman was the closest the courts got to saying EULAs are bullshit, but several other cases have stated that If money changes hands and there's no time limit to the right to use a product then it's a sale, and the purchaser has the right to resell their copy of the product.
 
primetime said:
i wouldnt pay any more than 10 bucks for oem keys just look around there everywhere...I actually got like 9 retail win 7 pro keys back in the day for some kind of Microsoft membership for students that cost me a grand total of maybe 20 bucks? I cant believe what some people pay for OEM keys at that lol
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lol they aren't legit keys.
 
ChadD said:
lol they aren't legit keys.
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of course they are....always have been and never once had any activation issues. (im only using one at the moment and dont keep track of the ones i gave away) I been using my current one for at least 7 years? or about and obviously it was free upgraded to win 10. Think i had to re-enter my serial when made this current box
 
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ChadD said:
When talking to someone with Core Duo class hardware considering windows 10 though....

Ya the advice SHOULD shift to consider Linux. That class of hardware is good for little but as a surfing machine. At that point ya Linux should be the go to suggestion.
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I put 10 on mine the other day, runs great.

HAL-Xeon-Prime95.jpg
 
Zepher said:
I put 10 on mine the other day, runs great.

View attachment 165334
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Fair... and perhaps he had a later 775 4 core xeon as well. (although in that screen your still at 80%, just saying)

Your right though I guess it depends what chip they are running. Its also possible and perhaps more likely they have a Core Duo dual core running at or under 2ghz, with a 10 year old cooler that can't handle even a 100mhz over clock. ;)
 
ChadD said:
Fair... and perhaps he had a later 775 4 core xeon as well. (although in that screen your still at 80%, just saying)

Your right though I guess it depends what chip they are running. Its also possible and perhaps more likely they have a Core Duo dual core running at or under 2ghz, with a 10 year old cooler that can't handle even a 100mhz over clock. ;)
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I am running Prime95, not sure why TM was showing only 85% as the other apps shows 100% load.

I also had an E8600 in there and that ran great with 10 as well. I just wanted a Quad in it.
 
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Not sure if it still works, but if you have a Windows 7 key, you can use that to install/activate the equivalent version of Windows 10
 
Zepher said:
I am running Prime95, not sure why TM was showing only 85% as the other apps shows 100% load.

I also had an E8600 in there and that ran great with 10 as well. I just wanted a Quad in it.
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I still have a working 6750 around myself... the oldest machine I think I have ever had around. I split my week in a couple places and I still haven't upgraded that machine. I figure I'm only there 1 or 2 days a week and don't game or anything those days so why bother.

I have thought about pulling the trigger on an old Xeon 4 core off ebay a few times. I know if I do though I'll just be jinxing that old board and it will die before it shows up. lmao
 
Rob94hawk said:
My wife & son use my old socket 775 system for shopping & web surfing. That's it. But the old hard drive took a dump and was going to buy a new SSD along with Windows 10. What is the cheapest 64 bit Windows 10 around? So far I've found this:

https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Pro-...0&qid=1559504372&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Don't really need Pro but it seems like a good deal. If there is cheaper I'll take it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Well, did you do it? I assume so but, just curious if it worked or not.
 
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Grabbing one of those OEM System Builder licenses is the cheapest way to buy legit licenses.
 
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