I have a Dell Inspiron that I have used for my main pc for ten years. It runs on Win7 and is well maintained, but how long can I trust it running 10-12 hours a day.

I have copied data, incl mp3, midis, etc to an ext HD, but some programs like my Universal style converter cannot be copied over. I have laptops that I can put into service if necessary. The short of it is whether or not to save my Dell until I need it.

Bernie

Time for a MAC?

Pc's are becoming throw away items today...
good luck Bernie.

If it ain't broke..... don't fix it...

Thanks Fran, but does that mean keep it running until it drops dead?

Pc's are becoming throw away items today...
good luck Bernie

Donny, I grant you the machines, per se are, but the contents is a different story. Macs are fine for people that have always used them, but mine are Windows based, and I am not throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Back up a Windows 7-based computer
Click Start, type backup in the Start Search box, and then click Backup and Restore in the Programs list. ...
Under Back up or restore your files, click Set up backup.
Select where you want to save your backup, and then click Next.

Something you might try Bernie
jingleman

Bernie, if you can't get some of your 'go-to' programs to work under Windows 10, you may have to go for an upgrade or even a functional replacement that will work under Windows 10. But the point is, you should absolutely upgrade EVERYTHING to Windows 10. The longer you delay, the more obsolete and difficult to replace everything becomes. At some point, you're going to feel the pain (of conversion), might as well do it now while everything is still working (as opposed to trying to recover from a disaster).

chas

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3034527/windows/restore-a-windows-7-backup-in-windows-10.html

Bernie, this article might explain how to load a Windows 7 backup into a Windows 10 machine.

I agree that upgrading to a Windows 10 machine is the smart money. Microsoft states that Windows 10 is their final incarnation of Windows, and it will be bi-annual updates from here on.

Hi Bernie:

I never "expose" my Music Recording PC to the internet... at least not directly. Memory sticks are vulnerable to viruses, too... but only momentarily.

Do you mean that you keep your Win 7 machine turned-on and running all the time? Is it exposed to a network or a wi-fi system? Are your personal files and data on this machine? I would begin to turn it off when not in use. Trust nothing on the net... especially since you are using Windows (no matter what version) because they are the biggest target for hackers, scammers and little creeps who enjoy ruining things.

Eventually, I hope you will consider exploring Linux Cinnamon Mint. It has a graphical user interface and is free and well maintained.

I NEVER turn off my computer. It has been running constantly for something like five years. Only time it gets turned off is when it is rebooting for updates or if I go out of town for several days. Maybe if there is a lot of lightening in the area, I'll unplug it, but very rarely.
I'm a firm believer that it is better for electronics to remain on than to turn them on and off all the time. My Yamaha mixer on my PC has not been turned off in six or seven years.
The light bulbs in the house that are turned off and on several times a day need replacing often. I have three that never get turned off. One in master bathroom, one in my office closet and one in the garage. No new bulbs needed in five years. Ten years on the one in the garage.
Regarding the PC. I haven't had a virus in years. Windows 10 has a great built-in firewall too.

HI Bernie

The biggest failures are power supplies (This includes batteries) and HDD, (This applies no matter what OS you are running) now as you have been running the computer for about 10 years I presume you have changed the HDD at least twice, (If not do so immediately as you are living on seriously borrowed time) and it is probably time for another replacement, however I would recommend an SSD rather than a HDD. (NOTE- if your computer is that old that it only has an IDE connection on board then you are limited to a HDD)

Mainstream support for Windows 7 ended in 2015, with extended support ending in 2020, so now is the time to upgrade to Windows 10, (Although the free upgrade has supposedly finished, most uses who upgrade using the Win 10 upgrade feature on the Windows 10 download/disc report that it works fine without needing to buy a Win 10 licence https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/) which gives you the option to check for any incompatible programs during the upgrade, however most programs will work natively, but if they don’t you can use compatibility mode, in the worst case scenario you can use Virtual Box to run Win 7 inside Win 10 (Both OSs run simultaneously) allowing all programs to run.

If you have never swapped a HDD before full details will be on the Dell website and if you get retail SSD it should come with all the necessary cables and software to copy the OS and files over.

Have fun

Bill

Chas

I am sorry for the confusion, but I meant that if my pc suddenly bit the dust, there are programs that I can not back up to ext HD, but would have to go back to the source if I even could. My XT Universal is an example. As far as upgrading to Win 10, that is not problem as compatibility isn't an issue. I am sure you are right, though.

Jingleman, thanks for the link.

Riceroni9, First of all, I have double security programs running all of the time, and second, I have nothing to steal except my porn(just kidding), and put it on sleep at night.

Don, I am glad to know what you do(or don't), as that is more my way.

I think I will upgrade to Win10, as I have it on LT's now. Donnie is right about one thing about pc's not worth anything. If I think about what I would lose, it ain't much that I haven't backed up. It is just a pain to reload a new machine from scratch(like a KB).

Thanks guys

Bernie look at Carbonite....
Never lose a file again great back up home or away..
love it!! ........automatically saves all files to cloud,...
you can even retrieve your PC files from your cell phone also so kool...

https://www.carbonite.com

Hi Bernie ,
No computer expert, but if the programs you are running are still available, then you shouldn’t have too many problems. The style convert program will require new codes from EMC.


I lost a few of my programs when I updated to win 7. They were no longer available, mainly to do with my soundfnts etc.

My sadest loss was xg works sequencer which I used for style editing. Tried something totally ridiculous . I copied the program folder of xg works to an sd card. ie the folder that the old computer used to run the program security code and all.
I’ve been using it ever since from the sd card, right thru win 7/8/10. The only function that it no longer has is the graphics for the notes, comes up with some gobbity gook, but I still get event list edit.


Unfortunately I didn’t have running copies of the other old programs I lost, or I would have tried the same thing

Thanks Rikki
This further clarifies my concerns. Now I can go worry about something important like my next music project.

Hi Bernie, the programs I was referring to go way back to win 98 and win Xp. Ancient.

The rest of my stuff I managed to reload successfully when I changed computers. Probably could have done it from a backup, but I wanted to start fresh as I had a heap of programs I no longer wanted.

The xg sequencer I was referring to went right back to win 98. Yamaha discontinued it, so I was releived my solution worked. It was on an old 1990’s nec that was still working , though not used anymore. Finally threw it out a few months back when we moved. Probably regret it haha


Probably safer to get yourself sorted while yours is still running, prepare yourself for the worst, may still be running in 10 years like mine.

robably safer to get yourself sorted while yours is still running, prepare yourself for the worst, may still be running in 10 years like mine.

Time to clean house

Bernie,
For many years I supported large networks and the secret to all of them was to keep them backed up on a daily basis. As long as your computer does what you need it to do I would stick with it and just keep it backed up. My wife uses a very old Windows pc that I built decades ago and she uses thumb drives to keep "must have" info safe. By the way, her very old windows system runs very well and is very simple to use compared to my Windows 10 laptop.

Deane

Deane,

Thanks for the insight and good advice. I shall proceed accordingly, but have reconfigured my Asus i7 laptop as a backup, but should upgrade to Win10 from 7 as Chas suggested.

Bernie