[SOLVED] SSD and old laptops

[Gforce77i]

Hi all,

I have two very old laptops that I have been asked to try and bring back to life. A Toshiba Satellite Pro A100-264 and a Lenovo Think pad T61. The Lenovi seems ok, can throw an SSD and 4GB Ram at it, install Windows 10 and all is well. The Toshiba im not so sure about, 2GB Ram is its max, I can throw an SSD at it but the ram just about covers the windows 10 req, also its a 32bit processor. Any thoughts?
They are to be used for study during lockdown in the UK.

 

[USAFRet]

What are the full specs of these?
What OS did they come with originally?

 

[Grobe]

If that Toshiba have a 32 bit CPU, you need to install an appropriate OS for that. Installing W10 on such will be a painfully slow experience (if possible at all), so I suggest you instead install a light Linux distro instead (like Lubuntu, MX Linux, etc).

Some mentioned in this video:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJcWcQ8ew6Q

 

[Gforce77i]

What are the full specs of these?
What OS did they come with originally?

One had xp, the other had an old windows server version. Had to clean both HDDs which are only 60GB.
Lenovo specs here https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/pd008989

Tosh https://uk.dynabook.com/discontinued-products/satellite-pro-a100-264/?expandTabContent=true

 

[Gforce77i]

Vista not server, apologies. Lenovo had x64 vista, Tosh had x32 XP

 

[USAFRet]

One had xp, the other had an old windows server version. Had to clean both HDDs which are only 60GB.
Lenovo specs here https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/pd008989

Tosh https://uk.dynabook.com/discontinued-products/satellite-pro-a100-264/?expandTabContent=true

Win 10 is going to be marginal on both of those, especially the Toshiba.

Is your study application workable with Linux?

 

[USAFRet]

Vista not server, apologies. Lenovo had x64 vista, Tosh had x32 XP

And there is no free upgrade for a Win 10 license from either of those.

 

[Gforce77i]

Win 10 is going to be marginal on both of those, especially the Toshiba.

Is your study application workable with Linux?

I don't think so, client wants them to be able to use them (as normal). I've tempered his expectation but the Toshiba i think is a bit flaky, he's determined though. Win10 32bit not an option for the Toshiba?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a 2009 era low end Toshiba, specs here:
https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...ve-win-10-installed-on.3516627/#post-21246984

While it is still a 250GB HDD, that is not the main reason it is sloooooow.
It is slow, because it is a low end system.

I keep it around only to be a test box.
If I had to actually use it...I'd gouge my eyes out.

 

[USAFRet]

I don't think so, client wants them to be able to use them (as normal). I've tempered his expectation but the Toshiba i think is a bit flaky, he's determined though. Win10 32bit not an option for the Toshiba?

32 or 64bit is not the (main) issue.
2GB RAM is.

 

[Gforce77i]

32 or 64bit is not the (main) issue.
2GB RAM is.

Yeah I get that, he needs them both usable so I'll do what I can and wish him all the best! 🤣
The Toshiba is a 32 bit system so choices are super limited, the 2GB ram just adds to that issue. I feel the only way I can deliver a semi workable product is to install a cheap 120gb SSD with win10 32bit. Just wanted to get others views on it. Its crap, we know that, but it is what it is.. 🙄

 

[USAFRet]

Yeah I get that, he needs them both usable so I'll do what I can and wish him all the best! 🤣
The Toshiba is a 32 bit system so choices are super limited, the 2GB ram just adds to that issue. I feel the only way I can deliver a semi workable product is to install a cheap 120gb SSD with win10 32bit. Just wanted to get others views on it. Its crap, we know that, but it is what it is.. 🙄

Little to lose by trying it.

Put the SSD in, install Win 10. Skip any licensing until later.
See how it operates.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

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