OldPCGuy

All guides for older Windows PCs

Cartoon of Brandon in headphones and a blazer, sitting cross-legged on a pile of old computer parts, with a magnifying glass over a processor chip

Everything on the site, sorted by topic. If you're not sure where to start, what to do about Windows 10 and why your computer is slow are the two most people need.

Windows 10 & 11

Security updates, ESU, and whether your PC can run Windows 11. More on Windows 10 and 11 →

  • Windows 10 After Support

    Free security updates now run to October 2027. How to turn them on, and what to do after that.

    Updated
  • Is Windows 10 Still Safe?

    How to tell where your PC stands in 2026, and why antivirus alone isn't enough.

    Published
  • ESU "Enroll Now" Missing?

    The Windows 10 security update option isn't showing up. Work through the causes in order and fix it.

    Published
  • Windows 10 After October 2027

    What happens when free updates end, and the real options: Windows 11, Linux, 0patch, LTSC, or a new PC.

    Published
  • Can My PC Run Windows 11?

    How to check with PC Health Check, what each failed check means, and how to turn on TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

    Published
  • Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC

    What the Rufus workaround does, what Microsoft says about updates, and when to pick something else.

    Published

Linux & ChromeOS

Free systems that keep an old PC useful after Windows 10. More on Linux and ChromeOS →

  • The Best Linux for Old Laptops

    Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and lighter options for 4 GB laptops, plus how to try one without erasing anything.

    Published
  • ChromeOS Flex on an Old Laptop

    What Google's free Chromebook system does on an old PC, what it can't do, and who it suits.

    Published

Speed & upgrades

Find out why a PC is slow, then fix it with an SSD, more memory, or a new battery. More on Speed and upgrades →

  • Speed Up an Old PC

    Free fixes first, then the SSD and memory upgrades that help most, at what they actually cost in 2026.

    Updated
  • Why Is My Computer So Slow?

    Use Task Manager to find what's holding your PC back in about 10 minutes, then fix it, often for free.

    Published
  • Clone a Hard Drive to an SSD

    Move Windows, programs, and files to a new SSD with free tools, even when the SSD is smaller.

    Published
  • How Much RAM Do You Need?

    How much memory Windows 11 really needs, how to check yours, and when adding more helps.

    Published
  • Check Laptop Battery Health

    Run the Windows battery report, read the numbers that matter, and decide whether a new battery is worth it.

    Published

Buying a used PC

Refurbished business PCs, the old ThinkPads worth buying, and how to tell a PC's age. More on Buying a used PC →

  • Buying a Refurbished PC

    The off-lease business models to shop for, the specs that matter, and the listings to walk away from.

    Updated
  • How Old Is My Computer?

    Find a PC's age from the processor, the BIOS date, or a Dell, HP, or Lenovo serial number lookup.

    Published
  • The Best Old ThinkPads

    Which used ThinkPads are worth buying in 2026, which run Windows 11, and the best picks for Linux.

    Published
  • ThinkPad T440 in 2026

    What a 2014 ThinkPad is still good for, the upgrades that matter, and T440 vs. T440p.

    Published

Homelab & old hardware

Mini PCs, old servers, and classic machines, and what they're still good for. More on Homelab and old hardware →

  • Tiny PCs for Home and Homelab

    Used Lenovo Tiny, Dell OptiPlex Micro, and HP Mini PCs: which to buy, what they cost to run, and what they can do.

    Published
  • Old Servers at Home: Worth It?

    The power bill, noise, and age problems of retired rack servers, from someone who scraps a lot of them.

    Published
  • The 2013 Mac Pro in 2026

    macOS limits, OpenCore, Windows, Linux, and upgrades for the cylinder "trash can" Mac Pro.

    Published
  • Turn an Old PC Into a Home Server

    File storage, media, ad blocking, and smart-home software on an old PC, and how to reach it safely.

    Published
  • CasaOS vs ZimaOS

    Two easy home-server systems from the same company, compared for an old PC, including the free and paid limits.

    Published
  • Proxmox Cluster on Mini PCs

    Why three nodes, quorum, shared NAS storage, setup steps, and what runs on my three-node homelab cluster.

    Published

Backups, wiping & recycling

Move your files, erase the old computer, and get rid of it the right way. More on Backups, wiping and recycling →

  • Moving to a New PC

    Back up the old one and move your photos, files, and passwords over, including the stuff people forget.

    Updated
  • Wipe a PC Before Selling

    The right way to erase a Windows PC before it leaves your house, for SSDs and old hard drives alike.

    Published
  • Electronics Recycling in NE Kansas

    Where to recycle computers, TVs, and electronics in Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Emporia, and what it costs.

    Published
  • What to Do With an Old Laptop

    Keep it, give it a new job, sell or donate it, save the parts, or recycle it for free.

    Published