New Desktop computer

R

roker

Registered User
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My old computer although working fine will not take Windows 11
As a replacement what specs do I need for a normal every day computer for domestic use ie. on line banking letters etc and will my office 97 still work
 
Are you looking to buy a new desktop computer? If so, it would be difficult to imagine that any new model would not be sufficient for stated tasks (online banking, letters). Technical spec would come in play if you would be a gamer, architect, it developer... Any other tasks that you would need PC for? Why desktop and not a laptop? Do you need large monitor?
Regarding office 97 - even if you manage to make it work on W11 note that it is not longer supported by MS, so it is a security risk to use it.
 
For everyday use like online banking and writing letters, an i3 or i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD should be enough. Office 97 may work but with issues.
 
Thanks for your reply. I thought a desktop would be Easier to upgrade or repair, I previously had a laptop that couldn't be repaired .
If I was to purchase a later version of Office, would it be backward compatible for old Office files
 
Always, Microsoft Office/Office 365 is excellent that way. It's tougher going the other way, opening files produced on newer versions of a program using legacy software.

There are lots of excellent Black Friday offers on the go right now.
 
I assume Office 97 is on a cd.
Modern machines dont have cd drives so you wont be able to install it from cd, however it will be downloadable from obscure websites no doubt.
Also with Office 97 when people email you documents or you download files that are created in newer versions, you will have compatability issues.
 
Blackrock1 said:
Why do you want windows 11?
Click to expand...
Windows 10 won't be supported or updated by Microsoft after October 2025, I'm guessing this is the reason behind the move.

I'm in a similar position - PC is less than 3 years old, it's not compatible with Windows 11 (runs Windows 10 at the mo), so I may have to update too.
 
And what updates or support do you need?
 
Windows 10 will still work. It will just not receive any patches, updates or security updates after October. Any other software will probably not also receive updates.

They will all still work however as will whatever version of office you may have.

No need to rush to replace it unless you really need to, especially if it’s only a home pc.
 
rustbucket said:
Windows 10 will still work. It will just not receive any patches, updates or security updates after October.
Click to expand...
Not completely true.

Microsoft will offer extended support options for Windows 10 PCs, for a price

When the end-of-support deadline rolls around in October 2025, you'll need to pay to keep receiving security updates for your Windows 10 PC. But Microsoft won't say how much those updates will cost.
www.zdnet.com

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

Learn about the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10. The ESU program gives customers the option to receive security updates for Windows 10.
learn.microsoft.com
 
Running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is also a possibility but may be too finicky for many/most users?

What I learned from 3 years of running Windows 11 on “unsupported” PCs

When your old PC goes over the Windows 10 update cliff, can Windows 11 save it?
arstechnica.com
And (at the risk of igniting the usual OS religious wars) for basic "office style" use such as outlined in the original post GNU/Linux might also be an option. I'd suggest Zorin OS or Linux Mint for example but there are lots of other options... E.g.:

Best Linux distro for Windows users of 2024

Making it easy to move from Microsoft to Windows
www.techradar.com
 
Great links thanks Clubman.

I plan to keep my 12 year old Medion (still proudly bearing its Windows 7 sticker!) chugging away for as long as possible and you've shown me some helpful options.

Also, I've been using Apache Open Office for the past decade (instead of MS Office) and it has met all of my needs.
 
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