What to do with Vista Laptop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:09:56 pm
content: It fell from the sky a Toshiba Satellite laptopX2 Turion dual core processor and 2GB ram, 160GB HDD and Vista - missing battery. (I keep forgetting to write down the model)I plugged in a power supply and it boots straight to desktop. It looks like the owner used it for Asian soap opera videos, there is only realplayer, videos, and not much else. If it shuts down or goes to sleep, it comes back with a login screen.I guess it's dumb to think about Vista, but I started to create an admin account and was going to delete the existing user account. Then I was unsure what would happen when I reboot - expecting a login screen that would stop everything. So I reverted all as it was, thinking I'd look for a clean install disc or download a recovery package from Toshiba support.Maybe I will install Mint or something, like puppy linux to give it some use.

author: BillB
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:14:24 pm
content: If I had that laptop and an idle trebuchet...

author: HoracioDos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:17:31 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on May 01, 2018, 06:09:56 pmYou already have the answer. Mint Mate would be fine. If you want something snappier you could install debian with some light desktop.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:23:47 pm
content: The appeal of Windows is its familiarity. I am currently using an older XP generation laptop to run LadyHeather and other legacy ham radio type of software, plus Arduino. Anyway, that's why the thought of trying to clean the system as is or install a fresh image.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 08:21:47 pm
content: It depends on what sort of software you want to run on it, it's a computer, not a particularly powerful one but powerful enough to be useful for general purpose stuff. Vista was not as horrible as its reputation suggests. When it came out the average PC didn't have nearly enough RAM or GPU horsepower to run it well and there were some teething issues with drivers. Once hardware caught up it's really not bad, several machines at a friend's shop are still running it because they've continued to be rock solid.If you'd prefer Linux, any number of distros would be a reasonable choice, as long as you use a modestly lightweight window manager and don't try to run KDE it will likely be fine. I like Mate myself.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 08:41:03 am
content: If it runs Vista it will run ten no trouble, I have an old vista laptop that I put ten onto and it runs better than it ever did with vista, I never really ever ran it with vista as I put seven on as soon as I got it, and upgraded to ten from that.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 09:36:43 am
content: I'd put Ubuntu on it, but that's just me. At least the Linux distros are free - Win10 is not.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 01:15:24 pm
content: A ridiculously slow, cheaparse, flimsy Toshiba laptop?Recycle it already.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 05:27:40 pm
content: I was thinking of buying a new battery and Win10.Satellite P205D-S7802Toshiba does not list Win10 drivers for this model.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 05:29:29 pm
content: Why even bother buying a battery for a cheap as dirt 10 year old laptop?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 05:53:52 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 02, 2018, 01:15:24 pmYMMV. In 12 years my wife is on her second 5 year-old Toshiba (she is not particularly careful with her things). The first one still works - it was replaced not because of flimsiness but after a splash of cranberry juice it refused to turn off if the power adapter was plugged and more recently started to develop a screen flicker.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 06:42:12 pm
content: I still have an old Toshiba laptop with XP on it that I use when I need a real parallel port. It also drives my Halloween display, for some reason my USB DMX interface doesn't work properly on my modern laptop and Vixen is Windows-only. That old machine keeps on trucking, it was my daily driver for years.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 07:03:52 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 02, 2018, 01:15:24 pmThey often have physical RS232 ports which can be useful, and many instrument control tasks don't require a lot of CPU work anyway. Why tie up a fast computer by doing mundane tasks on it?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 07:36:01 pm
content: When playing around with electronics projects, there is good reason to power/program them from a disposable computer. At a minimum, the USB port is likely to get damaged if something goes wrong. I almost always use a powered USB hub.I might consider such a computer for Arduino projects where compile times are relatively short. Maybe even ARM projects, particularly if I'm not using an IDE.I still have an old XP laptop that I use from time to time and another Dell laptop with Linux. If the machines are workable, I'm not about to get rid of them.I think my favorite distro for Linux is Mint MATE because the desktop is a lot like Windows. I will never use Ubuntu again now that the control buttons are locked to the wrong corner. It was bad enough when I had the ability to put them back where they belong.Debian is probably the definitive distribution. I have it on one of my desktops but it's a pretty powerful computer.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 07:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 02, 2018, 05:29:29 pmI saw batteries for less than $20 and it would make the laptop portable again, for when I want to move it from the radio shack doing APRS duty to running lady heather in the lab, and then into the utility room to download my solar data, and it would also be good for forum surfing while hanging in the shop. No applications there require a powerful PC, just one that works with modern internet and legacy special interest software.My other laptops are gen Win95/98 in Umax and Toughbook with a ball mouse, plus a 1GHz P1 WinXP laptop with gig of ram (that was running LH).

author: fourtytwo42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 08:01:52 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on May 02, 2018, 05:27:40 pmSurely thats an act of suicidal desperation!One thing I have learnt from virus attacks, don't run/depend on anything you cannot re-install.Do you have good XP disks and service packs ?If so I would make a backup machine for your ham radio stuff AND dual boot it with something like Lubuntu (compact) to allow you to experiment with the Linux environment at the same time.I am into low power usable computing and something like that should be treated as a gift

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 08:35:00 pm
content: Yes, I am fond of it already. I could never justify its price when new, not even the more cost effective stuff of today is really needed here now.I liked the small laptops for their frugal power consumption. This one did not seem that efficient, but I'll have to measure its actual use.If I would invest the time into learning Linux, I could probably be having a lot more fun though. The main reason my RPi 3 sits is because I'm not savvy enough for it.I think I will toss in a puppy linux disc this evening and see how it plays youtube. It might just become the shop youtube server if I don't move in an older Win7 desktop.

author: shteii01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 01:29:45 am
content: Max out the ram if you can get it for cheap, used from ebay is fine.If it takes sata drives, get cheap 128 GB 30-40 usd ssd, ebay is fine. If I recall correctly Vista had native support for ssd (Xp did not).The battery is up to you.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 01:54:34 am
content: It apparently supports SATA so I'd probably pop in a cheap SSD

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 03:09:49 pm
content: If it indeed has sata, put a SSD, and install Linux. Vista is slow as molasses even with 4GB+ of ram and a quad core, I can't imagine how slow it must be on that machine.Could wire some 18650 cells directly instead of changing the battery. Need to figure out the proper pin out so you don't convert it into a Samsung phone though.Could make a decent general purpose laptop for watching movies or whatever.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 03:24:31 pm
content: It's all set up and seems to run fine.So, I'm still curious what happens if I create a new admin account and delete the existing account, then reboot.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 04:42:17 pm
content: You normally can't delete the admin account, you can create as many new accounts as you like though, and they can have admin privileges if you choose.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 04:59:59 pm
content: A new HDD if you want, because given the age that one will be slow even compared to a current laptop HDD.A used Turion 64 X2 TL-68 for 5$ from ebay, a pair of 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM sticks to up it to 4GB of RAM, a nice deep cleaning, clean heatsink, clean fan, repaste, clean all the chassis while its apart.If you want windows, just download it using media creation tool and install it via an USB pen, the laptop should be able to boot from the USB drive, and try it out, everything should work, no need to install drivers from dubious websites, you dont need to BUY windows, just live with the watermark on the bottom right corner.Or put some ubuntu in it and give it a try as well.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 05:09:21 pm
content: If it has CoA on it somewhere, why not just reinstall the OS fresh? It's not that difficult to do, though you would want to get any special drivers needed in advance. Personally I wouldn't want to use a pre-owned computer without a reformat and fresh install at a minimum. Who knows what's lurking on there now.A cheap SSD and a fresh install of the OS and I bet it'll run fine. My Core2Duo with Win 7 is plenty okay on just 2GB of RAM. A new SSD around 120GB can be found for less than $40 USD.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 05:11:23 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on May 04, 2018, 04:42:17 pmYeah, I was not expecting to be able to do that, but the system seemed to indicate that the account would be deleted.I expect that if I just create a new admin account, when it reboots I will have to pick a user and then enter the password. I guess the new admin account, just leave it blank since none was entered (or prompted for) when creating the account.Toshiba did have a media creation tool, so maybe I'll download it and see what it is. CoA has been ripped off. I have used belerac to get the key before for XP. Never tried it though...Actually, what Toshiba has is called Toshiba Disc Creator for Windows Vista/XP, and I have no idea what it does. I'll try running that tonight...

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 08:46:46 pm
content: I would just clean install and put a better OS. Who knows what kind of crap is on there too.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 09:36:09 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on May 04, 2018, 03:24:31 pmYou need to log into the new admin account and then you can delete the existing admin account, taking anything it had with it. No worries.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2018, 07:10:42 pm
content: I went poking into the "windows recovery" and was prompted with "Administer" login screen before the recovery would begin.I've never seen that before. I actually just ran "system recovery" on an HP desktop. It had both windows and system recovery options - I went with system, but this laptop does not have that option.Now, google Windows 10 and Google has some featured results. Some are just selling a license and some media as well. Are these legit? You can see many results, such as softwarecascade - which is a download I probably would not trust any download.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 07, 2018, 07:20:38 pm
content: Quote from: metrologist on May 07, 2018, 07:10:42 pmHonestly, I don't worry about the recovery partitions on old computers. I get rid of them. I have volume licensed win 7 and win 10 discs and I simply do a clean install. I wouldn't trust that site either. I have an MSDN account so my win 10 is legit from Microsoft. The win 7 has a volume license built into it, it's more of a 'grey area' disc but I think it still passes windows validation, though I haven't used it for awhile. I should probably check that.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2018, 07:28:41 pm
content: There's also the local retailer. I've just always wondered about the cheaper alternatives. They are always there.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 12:45:57 am
content: If you buy a Windows license from anywhere besides Microsoft, you should still download the official install software from them to minimize any risk. They have a "Media Creation Tool" you can use to put it on DVD or USB flash drive. If the "license" you buy elsewhere doesn't work with the Microsoft installed Windows, then I would probably ask for a refund.I don't think later versions have this or it's been made harder to use, but Windows 7 has a built in try before you buy option that can basically be extended as long as you want. I don't know how legal it is, it seems like a loophole or exploit to me, but I have one machine that's been running this way since 2012 and Microsoft has never complained. It still gets the official updates even though it's never actually been registered.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 01:16:29 am
content: Make a Linux Firewall out of it - with any firewall distro. Use SNORT: Actually making it an IPS! That's neat!

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 05:14:18 am
content: Replace drive with SSD, load win10 (configure your desktop theme preferences on first login before it's disabled) and watch it fly.My recent attempts at loading modern OS onto old laptops:1) ASUS eeePC S101 (circa 2011), Single core atom 1.6GHz with hyperthread, 1GB RAM, 15GB SSD (soldered down)Originally came with XP Home and was barely used by my dad on trips but soon cast aside as too slow.* First attempt was Win10x32, the only drivers not auto installed was the Intel 945GSE GPU and ACPI which governs the volume hot keys.* On boot 700+ MB is consumed and even after everything finished loading the swap file is always thrashing on the slow SSD so the sluggishness never goes away.* Second try Win7x32, this time the OS actually had built in driver for the Intel GPU. ASUS actually released W7 hotkey driver for this model but XP drivers work fine.* As long as you don't visit javascript heavy sites web surfing is actually quite smooth. But any youtube vids above 360P turns into a slide show.* Lubuntu runs fine but if W7 works might as well stay windows.2) Cousin's ASUS A3S circa 2004 vintage, Single core Pentium M 1.5GHz 768MB. Mouse pad and Back key dead.* Attempts at installing Win10 fails as the installation refuses to continue when less than 1GB of RAM is detected.* Attempt to bypass RAM restriction by booting from a USB Windows-to-go Win10x32 drive fails as the laptop crashes before the windows even shows up. Same WTG USB drive boots fine on the eeePC netbook.* Directly sticking the WTG drive into the IDE slot gets you to the windows loading screen but then the whole thing just freezes there.* Booting Knoppix works, so is installing Lubuntu from USB drive. So I guess the issue with Win10 is that the chipset is just too old for the kernel.* Win7x32 runs ok and all drivers install properly.* As long as you don't open more than one application at a time actually feels ok. Laptop gifted to software guy at work so he can use it for GUI optimization testing.* Real shame that while it's got a parallel port there's no RS232. But there's an IrDA port! Not that there's anything to use it with now days.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 01:55:11 pm
content: I tried the latest puppy linux - it was missing the Atheros WiFi driver, so no wireless.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 04:23:14 pm
content: Quote from: Hypernova on May 08, 2018, 05:14:18 amHuh? What do you mean?

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2018, 02:19:09 pm
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 08, 2018, 04:23:14 pmWhile you are barred from changing the themes if Windows is not activated, this does not happen on the first time you login right after the installation process completes. So you have a window(tm) of opportunity to set things up the way you like it.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2018, 02:21:42 pm
content: Quote from: Hypernova on May 14, 2018, 02:19:09 pmI thought Windows Update did not work unless the installation was genuine?

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2018, 02:45:46 pm
content: Quote from: ChrisLX200 on May 14, 2018, 02:21:42 pmUpdate works, it's not in MS's best interest to create zombie computers by denying security updates to people who refuse to pay for a license.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2018, 08:12:04 pm
content: Here's an oddity: I use practically the same hardware for my main work laptop. It's been upgraded with an Intel SSD, an Intel N wireless card and some extra RAM. It's heavy computational tasks are CAD modelling and some compiling, but they all run still quite quick. The only things I notice as a problem is HD playback which doesn't happen very often at work. The thing that is really pushing me to a new laptop is that I could use three screens and this laptop only supports two.Oddly enough, I had a new application that needed Windows 7 or higher, so just this weekend I set that up as a VM. Worked fine.Running Kubuntu: Ubuntu's red headed stepchild.