Let's run Win10 on really really old hardware

Good day.

I have just installed w10 21H1 (19043.1023) on an Intel Celeron 2.6Ghz (1 core only); ATi Xpress 1200 chipset (RS400+SB400). I think this machine is circa 2004. Just tried to swap Celeron LGA775 for a Core2Duo, but I think it's dead. Bummer!

I upgraded my test laptop (Acer Extensa 5630EZ, Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2GHz, 4GB RAM, 480GB SSD, Intel Mobile 4 Series graphics) from Windows 10 Pro 32-bit v2004 to Windows 10 Pro 32-bit v21H1. I started the upgrade before I went to bed and in the morning everything was fine, no issues.

On the other hand, I upgraded my main computer (see my specs) from v20H2 to v21H1. At first everything was OK, but there were a few more updates available. After doing these and restarting I saw a completely different desktop, like I was connected to a new user account, instead of my own. Before I had a heart attack, I checked the C:\users\sotiris folder (Sotiris is my account name) and everything was there, just not accessible from the desktop. I immediately started System Restore and went a couple of restore points back. Thankfully everything is back in order again! So everyone, make sure you have System Restore enabled (is disabled by default). Even if you don't manually create restore points, Windows 10 will do and save you the day!

Bree said:

That sounds like you were signed in with a temporary profile. That can happen sometimes even without applying updates. System Restore isn't the only way to fix this....

Fix You've been signed in with a temporary profile in Windows 10

Thanks a lot! I didn't know that and it happened to me twice. Next time I'll know how to fix it.

By the way. Fastest web browser for unicore microprocessors is Firefox.

I used IE 11 a lot, (and still do whenever possible), but since some sites, such as online videos, do not always work properly in IE 11, I use MS Edge (new version). At work I mostly use Firefox. Google Chrome usually loads a lot of instances making old systems crawl, but lately the same does Firefox. However, unless you have opened 10+ tabs Firefox is a bit faster than Chrome with the same tabs opened.

Not “really old” but fairly old - just clean installed 21H1 on my 11 year old HP pavilion DM4. Which is my main laptop . All fine. I did have one strange thing abd that was finding a load of files in the rubbish bin. I had formatted the drive before install and there were no actual files on the computer at that point - but I did have an external drive plugged in with my file backups ready to restore. Anyway just emptied the bin and restored files from external hard drive and all running nicely.

Bree said:

Looks like this thread may be drawing to a close in a year or so......

Windows 11??

Did they take over then?