When you speak of upgrading "my Dell computer", you're not speaking of installing an upgrade over top of XP are you? If so, I misunderstand, so disregard the rest of my post. :) So I'm assuming you intend to purchase a retail version of Windows 7 and do a clean install. In the first line of your post you mention 512 MB of RAM, a date, and then 2.00 GB of RAM. Does that mean it now has 2.00 GB of RAM or maybe 2 1/2 GB of RAM? Either way, I'm no expert but I'd think 512 MB is less than enough, but either 2 or 2 1/2 GB would be fine. I don't know much about Office, but wasn't Office 2003 was the last version that had the old style menu, before the newfangled ribbon came along. According to this, your Office 2002 would not be compatible but according to this, Office 2003 would be. Would your 2002 macros work in 2003? I don't know. Would it be worth the expense of buying a retail version of Windows 7, as well as Office 2003(or at least Word)? To me, probably not, to you, only you can decide. Personally, since it works, I'd probably just continue using it. Continue running a good real-time AV, occasionally scanning with a couple on-demand malware tools(Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware come to mind), use Firefox or Chrome(lie detected), using the WOT add-on(trusting it somewhat less than fully), and being careful what I open(email) and what I install. Just my opinion though. Edit: GrammerGrammar Edit2: Spelling This post was edited by chuggerguy on Thu, Jan 23, 14 at 3:10

Thanks, I have used the Task Manager to terminate it, but I had trouble finding it listed in any "startup" list. I used "msconfig" to gain access to Start Up and didn't find NDSTray.exe. On the Windows 10 side, I received the 1.5T Western Digital USB HDD, really small, hard to believe so much data can be stored in such a small space without creating a "black hole" Ha! The 1.5T is formated NTSF so I went right to making an Image of subject W7 Toshiba. This took about a hour, size about 70 GB, small potatoes on the 1.5T storage. I then figure why not also do a customized W7 backup... the W7 backup remembers (can identify) that the backup it created on the Flash Drive isn't available... so now I have to figure out how to make W7 forget about an old backup it did. Welcome advice, but will search the web later. I have multiple uses for the 1.5 T, one is the Toshiba W7, another is a Gateway W8.1, another is an XP. All of these want NTSF, still it seems like a good idea for me to partition the space to something like 100 GB for W7, 200 GB for W8.1, and 50 GB for XP. Then I would allocate something like 100 GB for reformatting by Linus so I can use that space for a boot device for Ubuntu, Xubuntu for the XP machine. I might as well split up the other NTSF into a couple other devices for future use. I was disappointed to learn the Image has all the information buried under the Restore cloak. That is I couldn't find any way to use the file manager and look inside the Image for stuff, say My Pictures for an example. So I open another folder and started copying all the "stuff" in W7 the I would like to simply access, oh yes, I also used W7 to create a Transfer which can be used to move from one computer to a new one. Or to a new OS, but I assume the Microsoft W10 upgrade will take the necessary steps to transfer my applications (those that work, will look up Palm Desk Top to see). Still, having lots of space I make a Transfer, it too cloaks the information below is administrative software. We live in interesting times, old saying but more true with each passing year I observer after observing many passing years.

Nice to see "Happy Campers".. was was hopeful as the load, long time as it was, seemed to load everything, all my history and some rather old drivers, e.g., Palm Desk Top. But over a short time, must be about the start of this thread date, the whole computer has bogged down, not just browser, both Firefox and IE, I'm not using the newer whatever-browser, but even the WiFi interface. I try to remember to shut down my WiFi when I am done, but leaving the computer on. Then I click on the wireless Icon and click connect. It is not a click, click, click operation, long (what 5+ seconds or longer) delay getting to each click. Wasn't that way in the beginning. I use a password as that is port of the IE security for saved passwords, I use a master pass word on Firefox.. suppose that's the problem? Wasn't in the beginning. Just before this exploration and gripping Firefox forgot all, I mean all, its personal data. I did a refresh on Firefox, then a restore on Windows 10, still total amnesia for Firefox. I have backup on a flash drive, but haven't plugged that in to recover. Seems houzz log on survived, must be something at the houzz end, not Firefox memory. On Linux, I used the Ubuntu GRUB to set up the dual boot, and right now I don't recall what the problem is... maybe it too slowed down, maybe there's something wrong with my mental clock too high an expectation. That possibility noted, I did some blogging on the Ubuntu forum, now a member, and there was some agreement on the problem. I have considered using XUbuntu to resurrect a XP Dell desktop that is very sick. But rather than dual boot, thinking using a USB Hard drive as the boot for XUbuntu and leave the Windows boot loader in tack. I think that leads to my too slow peeve. I suppose I may have problems with drivers too with Ubuntu.. I want to run my laser printers for one thing. The one dual boot I have worked "out of the box" with my WiFi.

I agree with Snidely, it is easier for a novice user to use a MAC than a window PC. MAC OS system and interfaces implemented/used by its applications are a lot more elegant, efficient and user friendly. MAC's hardware and software are less "open" than Window's, therefore, it has a lot less virus introduced by applications and less compatibility issues between OS and Applications. I like the 'almost' seamless integration among all the apple products/devices. In spite of having an IT division to support, we frequently have PC issues at work. I purchased my first MAC for home use in the summer of 2014, so far I have encountered zero problem. "At home with our computer nerd dad we were free to experiment on our own and get really comfortable with computers from an early age". YOU may not remember how much your parents had to pay to clean up your computers. While our children grew up we also highly encouraged them to have "hands on" experience. We are computer nerd parents working in Engineering, and with Computer Science degree, yet we still paid dearly to have 'professional' to clean up our children's virus infested Window PCs many times. For MAC new users, Apple's one year support program is a great deal. During one year, the new user could use it as many times as possible by attending trainings, group learning sessions and phone in questions to fully learn the system. The support is many times better than the technical support provided by any PC sellers.