Keep your old PC running.
Plain-English help for older Windows PCs and laptops: what to do about Windows 10, how to make a slow one usable again, and what an old one can still do.
By Brandon Sheley, who has worked in IT for over 20 years.
Find your answer by section
All 45 questions →Windows 10 & 11
What do I do about Windows on this PC?
- How do I keep getting Windows 10 security updates?
- Can my PC run Windows 11?
- Should I install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC?
Fix a problem
Something's wrong with my PC.
- Why is my computer so slow?
- Why is my laptop slow after a Windows update?
- How do I check if my SSD or hard drive is failing?
Speed up & upgrade
How do I make it faster or last longer?
- How do I speed up an old laptop or PC?
- How do I clone a hard drive to an SSD?
- Should I upgrade the SSD or RAM first?
Buy used
What should I buy, and how do I avoid a dud?
- Are refurbished computers worth buying?
- What's the best old ThinkPad to buy?
- Is the ThinkPad T480 still good in 2026?
Linux & alternatives
What can I run instead of Windows?
- What's the best Linux for an old laptop?
- Is ChromeOS Flex worth it on an old laptop?
- What's the best Linux for an old ThinkPad?
Most-read questions this month
- CasaOS or ZimaOS for an old PC home server?
- How do I turn an old PC into a home server?
- Is the 2013 "trash can" Mac Pro still useful?
- Is the Lenovo M720q good for a homelab?
- Should I install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC?
- Which used tiny PC should I buy?
- Why isn't the Windows 10 ESU "Enroll now" link showing?
- Where can I recycle an old computer in Topeka?
New and updated
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What's the best Linux for an old laptop?
Linux Mint for most people. The Xfce edition or Lubuntu for 4 GB or older processors.
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How do I turn an old PC into a home server?
Pick a 64-bit PC with an SSD, start with CasaOS or ZimaOS, reach it through Tailscale, and back it up.
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How do I move everything to a new computer?
Copy your folders to an external drive, back up with Windows Backup, sign in with the same Microsoft account, and reinstall programs.
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How do I wipe a computer before selling it?
Back up, then Reset this PC with Remove everything and Clean data on. For an SSD, turn on encryption first.
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Is the ThinkPad T480 still good in 2026?
Yes. It runs Windows 11 officially, takes 32 GB of memory and an NVMe SSD, and needs one firmware fix.
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Where can I recycle an old computer in Topeka?
The Shawnee County Household Hazardous Waste facility takes electronics free, except $40 per CRT. Best Buy also takes most electronics.
Updated
Not sure where to start?
New to this? Start with these
For a regular Windows PC or laptop that's getting old. Go in this order and stop when your question is answered.
7 guides, in order →Tinkerers and homelabbers
For anyone who wants an old PC to do a new job: a home server, Linux, or a cluster of mini PCs.
7 guides, in order →Who's writing this
I'm the only IT person for a Kansas nonprofit, supporting about 150 people and their devices, and on the side I pick up old servers, switches, and computers from Topeka businesses and break them down for recycling. At home I keep a handful of older machines around, Lenovos especially.
So I spend a lot of time around old PCs, and most of them have more life left than people think. More about me and my old hardware.
How I write these
Every guide has a date on it. When Microsoft moves a deadline or part prices change, I fix the page and change the date. If a techy word can't be avoided, I explain it, and if the free option is good enough, I say that instead of pointing you at something to buy.