Question about Windows 10

[zxcvbob]

If I buy a new (refurbished) computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, it is almost certain to be the 64-bit version even if the machine doesn't have much RAM (2 to 4 GB)  After I activate the license, can I reinstall a 32-bit image of Win 10 without a new key?  I'd do a clean install from the Windows Media Creation Tool. 

I'm looking at some of the Dell small formfactor desktops at PC Liquidators.  One of those with a Xeon or i5 or newer generation i3 processor and a Windows 10 Home license is less than $150, and might make more sense that upgrading the old Pentium DualCore (E5300) computer in the church office -- which btw has a video card (Radeon X1300) that's not supported in Windows 10 but allegedly still works if you jump thru a lot of hoops to install the W7 driver)  It might be worth it just to get an i5 with integrated graphics that works w/o any special drivers.

[Ben]

Can I ask why you would want 32 bit? If it's only a RAM issue, as long as you ensure the unit has an expansion slot (I notice a lot of the cheapest computers these days have soldered RAM), aftermarket RAM is dirt cheap.

[lee n. field]

If I buy a new (refurbished) computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, it is almost certain to be the 64-bit version even if the machine doesn't have much RAM (2 to 4 GB)  After I activate the license, can I reinstall a 32-bit image of Win 10 without a new key?  I'd do a clean install from the Windows Media Creation Tool. 

Yes, but why would you?

You really want more RAM than 2-4GB for Win 10.  Do what it takes to bump to 8GB.

I'm looking at some of the Dell small formfactor desktops at PC Liquidators.  One of those with a Xeon or i5 or newer generation i3 processor and a Windows 10 Home license is less than $150, and might make more sense that upgrading the old Pentium DualCore (E5300) computer in the church office -- which btw has a video card (Radeon X1300) that's not supported in Windows 10 but allegedly still works if you jump thru a lot of hoops to install the W7 driver)  It might be worth it just to get an i5 with integrated graphics that works w/o any special drivers.

[zxcvbob]

Yes, but why would you?

You really want more RAM than 2-4GB for Win 10.  Do what it takes to bump to 8GB.

The church computer really doesn't get used for much, but there's a 16-bit Windows 3 app that the pastor still uses.  It won't run on a 64-bit machine; that's why I'm running 32-bit Win 7 on that computer now.  Also that computer has 3 GB of RAM and 64-bit will be kind of crowded but 32-bit only has 1 GB minimum requirement.

The new computer would be a test-run as much as anything.  If it works and will run all our software I'll have a backup in case the upgrade doesn't go well; also might replace the old machine.  If Windows 10 won't run the old software, we'll have to move the data to a new spreadsheet or something but can stay on Windows 7 in the meantime.  Also a newer machine might have enough horsepower to run XP in a virtual machine, or run some kind of DOS emulator or something.

I also might move my wife's laptop back to 32-bit Win 10; she has the original Math Blaster game and likes to use it with her youngest math students but it won't run on her machine.  It probably would run on 32-bit.  (I've tried that in a XP virtual machine and it's too slow)  I had an old netbook with Windows 7 "Starter" edition and it ran Math Blaster just fine.

[lee n. field]

The church computer really doesn't get used for much, but there's a 16-bit Windows 3 app that the pastor still uses.  It won't run on a 64-bit machine; that's why I'm running 32-bit Win 7 on that computer now.  Also that computer has 3 GB of RAM and 64-bit will be kind of crowded but 32-bit only has 1 GB minimum requirement.

"Ah feels your pain."   

Upgrading computers for a bank once, from XP computers to Win 7.  One pc ran a app, supported by the vendor and current per the vendor, that looked like it was written for 3.1.  Program directory off root of c:, all files in 8.3 format.  And, of course, I had to wipe and re-install 32 bit Win 7, which put me even further behind.

The new computer would be a test-run as much as anything.  If it works and will run all our software I'll have a backup in case the upgrade doesn't go well; also might replace the old machine.  If Windows 10 won't run the old software, we'll have to move the data to a new spreadsheet or something but can stay on Windows 7 in the meantime.  Also a newer machine might have enough horsepower to run XP in a virtual machine, or run some kind of DOS emulator or something.

I also might move my wife's laptop back to 32-bit Win 10; she has the original Math Blaster game and likes to use it with her youngest math students but it won't run on her machine.  It probably would run on 32-bit.  (I've tried that in a XP virtual machine and it's too slow)  I had an old netbook with Windows 7 "Starter" edition and it ran Math Blaster just fine.

Starter upgrades to Win 10 Home, 32 bit.  And is, with the absolutely best you can do for it (max the netbook's RAM, put in SSD), horribly show.

[zxcvbob]

Starter upgrades to Win 10 Home, 32 bit.  And is, with the absolutely best you can do for it (max the netbook's RAM, put in SSD), horribly show.

I have no idea where that netbook is.  Not going to upgrade it if I find it and the battery still works; I might install Puppy Linux, or something like that.  (or throw it away)  But because of that machine, I know Math Blaster will work on 32-bit Windows 7 and presumably 10.

[Brad Johnson]

Rather than downgrading to W10 32b, why not leave it be and run as a dual-boot W7/W10 machine, or maybe W7 as a VM?

Brad

[zxcvbob]

I just ordered a Dell OptiPlex 3020 small form factor desktop, with an i5-4570 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD, and Windows 10 Home for $190 including tax.  I don't know what kind of optical drive it has (but it does have one.)
No mouse, keyboard, or monitor.

Not sure if I'll keep it, or donate it to the church after playing with it a while.

[lee n. field]

I just ordered a Dell OptiPlex 3020 small form factor desktop, with an i5-4570 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD, and Windows 10 Home for $190 including tax.  I don't know what kind of optical drive it has (but it does have one.)

We sell bunches of the Dell small form factor machines.  The optical drives are essentially laptop dvd drives.

[zxcvbob]

I probably wasted my money on the 4GB -> 8GB memory upgrade (which was a big part of the price.)  I was planning to install a 32-bit operating system on it.  Somehow I thought Windows could use 4GB per processor core.  I still might do that just to see if I can and how it works, then switch back to 64 bit.

I would have ordered it with the base 4GB configuration, but I was afraid they would put small DIMMs in and fill all the slots.