Another good way to boost an old laptop, and not too expensive nowadays, is to pull the disk out and replace it with a SSD before you install a better operating system.
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Or you can simply copy the existing OS (if happy with it) to the SSD, I use the (free) Acronis software for such things. Both this W7P laptop and our W10P desktop now use SSDs for the OS. Both machines previously had “Hybrid” hard drives, ie a miserly 8GB of SSD built into the 1TB HD.
You can copy the OS as many times as you like, but it will only work in the original machine, not another. My last laptop from work had two OS drives for a couple of weeks, the temporary one for nothing but audio/video editing, the other for all the normal stuff. That laptop was so weedy (although pretty good at the time) that for the video we needed to strip out everything but the basic OS and the edit package, fortunately the HD just plugged into the side.
A Hybrid HD is fast for some things, but the SSD is up to four or five times faster for most things, eg boot from cold, and can be at least ten times faster than a simple HD.
Not all PCs have a socket for an SSD, and instead would expect it to go where the HD lives, which makes the copy a little bit more complicated and maybe slower, but still easy enough.
The old HD then becomes ( if safely stored somewhere, with a label on it) an emergency backup with an OS that can be plugged in again should a disaster happen to the SSD.
And you can use the OS on that old HD to fetch the backups and system image etc of your daily data that you had stored elsewhere on a regular basis (you have, haven’t you?) I use a big Synology NAS RAID for this.
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I’m going to look into this SSD install, screwdriver at the ready later.
Back up, well all the files etc were backed up some 3 years or so ago, I checked. We have a 1TB external storage for that.
I’m sticking with the Acer for daily use, it’s not in use that much, Android phones have taken over day to day stuff, easy than firing up the laptop.
I’m going to try and breathe more life into the HP, if I break it it doesn’t really matter. My last HP went to the recycling centre, it died completely, well the screen went, I’ve still got the HD out of that somewhere.
Of a far less technical nature, I decided to dig out a flowerbed which is outside our house on the forecourt to replace it with more block paving, providing an additional parking space (and less maintenance). The shrubbery/bushes that were there previously, weren’t looking their best and also prevented my wife reversing the car into the parking space and being able to open the drivers door. So, I ordered blocks, sand, ballast and some cement, for delivery this Friday 
In cutting down the flora, I managed to completely fill two builders 1tonne bags, compressing it all down and took it all to the tip this morning! No mean feat squeezing into the A6 estate but all done now 
Skip arrived this afternoon for all the dig out. Doesn’t look a lot but there about 8m2 x 250mm depth so 2m3 plus there will be surplus cut blocks etc from the existing paving. So far, apart from the shrubs being removed plus roots, I’ve broken out the kerb blocks all round the island, dug a trench for the realignment of said blocks and shortened the drainage channel which ran right up to the boundary wall. Its at this point, I’m finally realising that I’m not getting any younger 
Tomorrow I need to dig out all the soil and reduce the levels to accommodate the new paving construction. My hopes were to then lay the kerb blocks to the new alignment on Friday and pave over the weekend, final tidy and skip away mid week. Whilst my spirit is very willing, sadly the body isn’t! Oh well, I’ll see how it goes! Need to break out the concrete haunch that supported the kerb blocks too, that’s proving difficult but with the help of my heavy duty Bosch SDS hammer drill and some new points and chisels, I’m nibbling away at it. 
Weather was supposed to be dry and reasonably mild today but has rained most of the afternoon! Gave me chance to rest though. 
Barrie
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You and me must be on the same line of thinking this week Barrie. 
Just been to the tip with a load of shrubs today, well roots of. They were getting on my whatsits, spreading every year. This is the front garden, well you start a job and it develops into not a quick fill the wheelie bin full but a tip run.
Now it is to be a drive relaying job, well just the edge around 15’ of it. Will involve buying some new paving, we are on the old heavy 2’x2’ slabs here, so it’s a delivery job.
If I get bored I’ll start it this year, otherwise it’s a job next year.
On the plus side I’ve done the front garden for now, local Del Boy (that’s what he names himself) it’s Clive actually, had a clear out of shrubs down at the pound shop, I went and availed myself of some and planted them.
As you say Barrie the mind is willing the body sometimes not. I just think about lifting those concrete slabs.
Watching with interest.
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Hi Barrie yes as we get older low maintenance becomes more and more important ,the old bones can only take so much you know. 
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Thanks for the heads up on the skip Barrie. Will be up there with the old mattress I’ve been trying to get rid of before daylight.
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Paul, it’s a funny one, apparently, the skip hire company allow 1 mattress per skip and then £7.50 per mattress thereafter. This one is so small, I’d be lucky to get the dog bed in!! Rang one company (slightly cheaper) but they would not give a date other than, “we’ll try and get it there tomorrow” these guys have been in the business, plus plant hire, for many years, very well established and the skip came same day, pick up in 7 days unless I ring earlier, old fashioned, good service
Barrie
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Remember ‘One foot in the grave’? Victor Meldrew had a skip on the drive and opened the curtains expecting to see a dumped mattress. Instead there was a 2CV. When he opened the car door there was a mattress inside.
This one is a true story. Someone near here had a skip outside and heard the sound of a van speeding away. Looking out of the window someone had dumped an old UPVC window frame against the skip. He was just ranting about it to his wife when the doorbell rang. On opening the door the guy outside said ‘That window frame next to the skip, will you take a tenner for it?’. Some stories have a happy ending.
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If anybody wants to give me a tenner your more than welcome as i’ve got nine window frames down the side of my house as i’m having new windows installed, just the bay window going in tomorrow and then job done (wallet empty).
There are loads of scrappies skip scavenging these days, any metal just evaporates overnight, especially if it has a bit of weight. Several years ago they were emptying mine almost quicker than I could fill it - thirty year old Crittal galvanised steel windows and some the original eighty year old wrought iron ones too. They were also interested in the hardwood scrap from the old Wickes conservatory, why?
Legally speaking it is theft, because both us who put it in and the skip firm who will take it away have ownership rights.
However if the scrappie has the courtesy to offer money, well then that is another matter entirely, especially since we still retain ownership before the skip is removed.
Had a hard day today! Between loosening the compacted soil, breaking out the concrete haunch for the old kerb blocks and filling roughly 4 tonne of rubble and soil into the skip, I’ve got to here,
!
Just left a bit to fill in behind the kerb blocks when laid (hopefully tomorrow if materials arrive promptly)
These two have been behind the gate, listening and watching my efforts!
Don’t know how I would have managed without them
Barrie
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Dogs love to nose and get in with you whatever you’re doing , there great aren’t they. 
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Yes they are indeed! The one on the left, ‘Bear’ is the rescue dog. He’s settled in so well
In his short time with us, he’s already been castrated, had his inoculation, etc and healed very well and quickly. It was a condition of the adoption that we had him done. Apparently, no recall, never been off the lead, lived in a cage in the house he came from etc. We had a leap of faith last week at our local country park and let him off. Barney was a great help here as the two of them played together. Bear does tend to follow other dogs he meets but TBH, his recall isn’t the worst we’ve experienced and most folk wait till we catch up so we can clip him up until they’re out of his range. All in all, a lovely dog
Barrie
Hi Barrie yes I remember the first time we went out with our rescue Jack Russell and let her off the lead ,we were quite worried that she might run off , but she was as good as gold came straight back to us as soon as I whistled to her . Regards Bob .
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Nice Bob! 
We can’t work out what was the problem with Bear and why he ended up being a rescue dog? We don’t think he’s been badly treated as such but people’s levels of ‘care’ for their pets, differ greatly. I’d like to think we look after our dogs. Plenty of exercise, we do at least 8k steps each day so the dogs must do a lot more with all the running around they do we feed them Royal Canin complete, (plus treats) appropriate to breed/size, flea’d, wormed, regular vetinary checks, jabs etc. Groomers too, although poor Bear had literally been scalped when we got him, waiting for his fur to grow back a bit 
They have me at home all the time and Mrs B most of the time (she works from home but still has to go in a day a week) more toys than you can shake a stick at too! Some might think this is OTT but they are part of the family! We love having them around
Barrie
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How’s that back holding up Barrie?
Lovely doggies helping👍
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Hi Mick, surprisingly well 
Kept alternating between breaking up the soil, loading the skip and breaking out the concrete etc, with cups of tea and a breather in between!
The hot tub is going to get some stick this evening!
Barrie
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That sounds pretty much the same as us . She was 4 when we got her she’s 11 now. I don’t think she was mistreated but she lived with an elderly lady so was hardly ever taken out, we’ve certainly made up for that though , out twice a day good exercise for us as well . Her names Ellie May by the way great therapy for us especially with things as they are at moment.
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