Old Lenovo ThinkPad X61 with Vista needs Win 7 installed

Candour on 12/03/2013 - 12:23

bought an old laptop privately; it has non genuine windows; I need to get a win7 in it as the win update gave me a win7 activation for 30 days only before it corrupts my whole disk.
3 options:

Q1 do I buy something like the horize for $199 and pay $99 for windows [not ubuntu familiar] [from this site OB post]
http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/479-horize-w246-noteb…

Q2 do I upgrade the laptop? worth it? for 2008 model?
if so, who is good for upgrading laptops in sydney?
with warranty etc.

Q3. is there cheap win 7 software for students?

cost/benefits of each requested.

ty sirs.

Computing

Comments

  • zombie hunter on 12/03/2013 - 13:17

    which version of windows 7 Pro or home or other

    • Candour on 12/03/2013 - 18:36

      it has an oem win vista symphony I think. when I tried to update windows MS picked up that this laptop was not genuine win 7 . a geekbuddy downloaded win7 with 30 day time limit and I cannot handle the reinstall though he showed me the MS site which tells non IT geeks how to, with lots of warnings and many macro steps.

      will put ubuntu on per Mr Scotty's advice. hope their windows will not destroy the laptop as MS staff told me it would corrupt my laptop! wow!

  • tonyjzx on 12/03/2013 - 13:42

    it uses std. ddr2 and sata hdd so upgrades are simple

    the 1,024 x 768 screen is what it is

    depends how much you want to throw at it

    you can get windows 7 but i'd be inclined to go Ubuntu on it

  • scotty on 12/03/2013 - 17:05
    +1

    I'll say probably not worth it spending any more money on that laptop, especially buying an operating system. I am not sure whether you can get an OEM version of Win7 Home Premium, which would be around $100, but these are usually sold with a system (like what you have suggested in Q1). But it would end up costing you $300.

    Do check whether your laptop comes with any Windows sticker with license key on it, and see whether you can buy Windows 8 upgrade.

    Otherwise, install Ubuntu, if you don't need to use Windows specific applications. The current versions are actually quite good — nice hardware compatibility, easy to use user interface, runs great on old laptops. Oh, and it's free.

    • Candour on 12/03/2013 - 18:25

      ty for your kind words.
      hope I can learn ubuntu at my age.
      horize reseller in oz qld logical told me that ubuntu was different and I may need command line skills to learn like ms dos? at 60+ am flagging yearly on mental tasks.

      horixe is also in qld while I am in sydney.
      the laptop is cheap for my needs.
      if even $100 is not worth the effort I will try to install ubuntu on this PC. [static ice shows $88+ for win7 home premium 64 bit]
      the MS team told me if I did not upgrade the win software would corrupt my disk!
      so I may need to uninstall windows before I am terminated!?

      • tonyjzx on 12/03/2013 - 18:45

        nah those guys are full of crap

        basically Windows keeps operating but it goes to a black screen and gives you a warning message to activate

        i have a t61 of the same age i bought off ebay that is a fine machine, they do work well if you can maintain them

        i would not buy that Horize, its just too slow

        • Candour on 12/03/2013 - 20:09

          even though it has much more specs than the thinkpad x61?

        • tonyjzx on 13/03/2013 - 13:12

          my t61 has a 2gb cpu, 4gb ram and a 320gb hdd and a 800p screen

          it runs win7 fine

          i dont think an x61 is THAT much slower barring upgrades you can do yourself

    • Candour on 06/05/2013 - 10:02

      spent $100 on the promise that 2gb extra would improve my system.

      was given a 2nd hand 2gb and windows professional by another ozbargainer who offered to help.
      difficult when I had to decide before the deadline.
      at 60+ find it difficult to do the searches for techs I did before when 50+.

      I am not a geek so understanding what I read is harder now.

      he is not a qualified tech.
      he pointed out that the win rating went from 2.9 to 3.1 as an improvement.

      so I have no comeback.

      after using it a month more scotty is right
      it is not worth upgrading such old laptops.
      the performance improvement is marginal.
      it might be cheaper to buy a newer laptop with same or better features.
      even if you have to pay $100 more.
      better to find out leads from scotty or others next time to find reputable techs to get the job done correctly or get unbiased advice that it is not worth the upgrade.

  • JediJan on 13/03/2013 - 09:57

    I paid $100 to our local computer shop (Cranbourne) last year for a much needed service, clean etc. He also upgraded our legal Windows 7 (from Vista), and our MS Office programs (from 2007) to 2010.

    Only annoying thing is he also puts his own virus protection on, which I disable (instead of running 2 … who needs that?!) - I prefer to stay with Norton 360 … I know, I know, I know … but I have had no problems running Norton only for the past 6 years.

    Cheers.

    • scotty on 13/03/2013 - 10:26

      $100 for Windows 7 upgrade AND MS Office upgrade?! Hmmm…

      • tonyjzx on 13/03/2013 - 12:11

        user could have provided the proper licenses himself but i doubt this as this would have been mentioned

        • JediJan on 14/03/2013 - 09:35

          Hi,
          Both Windows Vista and Office 07 were legal - Laptop originally came wth Vista and I actually purchased the Office Home … and also the MS Access (incidentally i never used Access … bit of a waste. Laptop is a HP Compaq, that only has 3 GB RAM - It was pre-installed with MS Office but for a limited time only. I didn't provide any receipts/licences to computer shop guy but i guess he foumd out when he tried, and succeeded, in upgrading them both. I think i paid about $600 for laptop back in 07ish. Seen some available on eBay but probably getting too old now for most.

          Ps. Ring your TAFE and ask about where you can get the free software downloads for students from. Perhaps the library or IT people there best to advise. Recall hearing about the free software years ago too.

        • Candour on 14/03/2013 - 10:51

          have the old vista shown on the laptop oem; will need win 7 upgrade static ice says $90 min.

  • dri on 14/03/2013 - 00:03

    Not that it makes much of a difference but is it an x61 tablet or just the normal laptop? I think the x61 runs windows 7 ok, just a tad slow. I highly recommend getting an ssd upgrade because it does speed it up quite noticebly.

    TAFE students used get Windows 7 for free but Microsoft do charge a fee nowadays. I'm not too sure what you are studying but you can get it for cheaper.

    But you gave little to go on as you haven't stated the specs of the x61. If it's 1.6ghz c2d or higher? 80gb drive? Does it have an optical drive / docking station?

    • Candour on 14/03/2013 - 11:00

      sorry for skimpy info.
      x61 laptop
      with vista symphony legally
      except an earlier owner upgraded it to win 7 ultimate
      and comodo geekbuddy put in a 30 day version when i told him I was getting a license message when i tried to update windows.
      2. ms told me they no longer sell win 7 as they only sell win 8 online
      c2 duo t7250 @2Ghz?
      2 Gb ram
      2.7 = win performance stats on the page
      not sure where/how to find the other stats.

      it says i can put in another product key [the licensed vista]
      better than nothing.

      • EnALup on 14/03/2013 - 17:05

        I have got x61 with C2Duo 2 Ghz 4 GB RAM and it work perfectly fine with windows 7.
        I cannot make much difference with my 2nd gen quad core i7 with 8 GB RAM.

        Update the RAM and it will be a good machine for basic things like Internet browsing, office documents, etc. for another 1-2 years.

      • scrimshaw on 14/03/2013 - 17:27
        +1

        Just go with Vista I guess. Don't spend any money on buying operating system.

        If you must, then upgrade the RAM but DDR2 RAM is really expensive nowadays. Be sure to check the RAM compatibility and the number of free slots you have. If you have no slots remaining, you will need to pull an existing one in order to fit new SODIMM's in.

        • Candour on 14/03/2013 - 19:52

          thank you for your conisdered advice to this newbie.
          advised by a geek buddy that ubuntu was not as easy when things need fixing/or problems crop up about 6 years ago when he used it.
          will look into another win option which may overcome this problem.
          or wait for a cheap windows offer to come by for students!
          as I have no choice if ubuntu firefox does not work now [I think I have to set up networks and this was beyond my geek buddy.

        • scotty on 14/03/2013 - 23:23

          6 years ago?

          The improvement from Ubuntu 7.04 to Ubuntu 12.10 is far greater than Windows Vista to Windows 8. Ubuntu already comes with Firefox installed, and connecting to a wireless network is pretty straight forward at installation stage.

          Anyway. Good luck with your Windows hunt!

      • dri on 14/03/2013 - 23:22

        Just private message me. I'm in Sydney and can help you upgrade the ram to 4 gb and Windows 7.

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