Windows 7 to Windows 10 Help

I like to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro 1903 32-bit.

I'm using the following 9 year-old hardware with Windows 7 Pro SP1 32-bit.

• ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard (ordered in Aug 2010)
• AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz Dual-Core Desktop Processor (ordered in Aug 2010)
• CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3-10666) Desktop Memory (ordered in Aug 2010)
• EVGA 01G-P3-1313-KR GeForce 210 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card (ordered in Dec 2012)
• Dell UltraSharp U2412M Monitor (ordered in Nov 2016)

I mainly use the box for web browsing and office work. I would like to be able to run an antivirus.

Is the system too old for Windows 10 Pro 1903 32-bit. Should I buy a new system?

I ran the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant as a compatibility checker. It said...

You may need to install an app to play DVDs in Windows 8.
Your firmware doesn't support Secure Boot so you won't be able to use it in Windows 8.
Reinstall the ATI Catalyst Install Manager (i.e. AMD 890GX chipset driver) in Windows 8.

Compatible:

Microsoft HID-compliant mouse
Microsoft High Definition Audio Device
Realtek High Definition Audio
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
NVIDIA GeForce 210
Dell UltraSharp U2412M Monitor

I found a new AMD 890GX chipset driver on the AMD site.

AMD Support
http://www.amd.com/support

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3
M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 | Motherboards | ASUS Global

I searched the site for my motherboard. All the posters had problems.

P.S.

Is there a guide for reducing cpu and memory usage for old computers running Windows 10?

Too old? I don't see anything that would prevent you from running Win 10.

A 9 year old dual core CPU is likely the weakest point---followed by your hard drive, which I assume is a standard spinning drive.

4 GB RAM is less than most people have nowadays, but not a significant issue for ordinary "web browsing and office work".

Should you upgrade??-------if the budget will let you, you would certainly notice a difference if you can spend say 500 on a new CPU, motherboard and say 8 GB of DDR4 RAM.

If budget is a concern, I'd probably spend the 50 for the SSD if at all possible and then gauge your disappointment level after that. You can certainly re-use the SSD whenever you decide to change motherboard, CPU, and RAM.

You aren't likely to notice that Win 10 is more demanding than Win 7, so if you have been satisfied with current hardware on 7, you likely will be on 10.

Welcome to Ten Forums morat.

You aren't likely to notice that Win 10 is more demanding than Win 7, so if you have been satisfied with current hardware on 7, you likely will be on 10.

My two oldest machines are the ones in My Computers below, both over 9 years old. They were both upgraded from W7 to W10 and, if anything, seem to run a little faster with W10.

morat said:

You may need to install an app to play DVDs in Windows 8.

The Windows Media Player in Windows 10 cannot play DVDs (licensing costs, apparently). VLC is a good substitute.

Is there a guide for reducing cpu and memory usage for old computers running Windows 10?

No need, W10 is very good at memory management, you should have no problems.

I can vouch for VLC as a substitute. I have used it since Windows 7.

Consider a test drive:
a) Make a backup image using Macrium

Macrium Software | Your Image is Everything
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

b) Clean install Windows 10 1903 32x
c) Install drivers tested for Windows 7 or 8
d) Perform Windows updates to update drivers
e) Troubleshoot as needed
f) If troubleshooting works you are set
g) If troubleshooting fails restore the backup image
(Windows 7 can still be used after Jan 2020 as long as you understand the risks or pro/con)

zbook said:

b) Clean install Windows 10 1903 32x

How would you suggest to activate the clean install of Windows 10?

I would suggest making the backup image of the Windows 7 then upgrading it to Windows 10 to establish the digital license. The OP may be so happy with the upgrade, they won't even want to do a clean install.

Digital Life said:

As far I know Win 10 still lets you upgrade for free, Which is not a problem for a home user but for corporate use it may cause a problem.

However, the suggestion was not to upgrade to Windows 10. My reply was to a suggestion to clean install Windows 10. Hence my advice to upgrade rather than clean install.

NavyLCDR said:

How would you suggest to activate the clean install of Windows 10?

I would suggest making the backup image of the Windows 7 then upgrading it to Windows 10 to establish the digital license. The OP may be so happy with the upgrade, they won't even want to do a clean install.

Thx for the implied correction.
For proper licensing the upgrade needs to be successful.

In the forums we see invalid licenses that can be fixed by activation troubleshooting.
Somehow the invalid is being used (installed but not properly activated).

I'm wondering now if the clean install can be performed for a test drive knowing that the end user must restore the image and then upgrade for proper licensing?