Lots of excellent advice has been given.
I was lucky enough to be able to skip Windows 8 completely. I switched careers and stopped working as a tech just before it arrived and I don't think I ever laid eyes on a working install. I liked Windows 7 a lot, but after a recent rebuilt of my music creation computer, I went ahead and allowed it to install the Windows 10 upgrade. Works even better than Windows 7 did.
But I should clarify a couple of things. Since that computer is used for making music, I pretty much use one piece of software on it. So I spend almost zero time messing with the Windows interface. Because of this I felt no need to install any kind of 'make it look like Windows 7' shell and I have to say after having lived with the native interface for a couple of months, I probably wouldn't install any kind of alternate shell even if I was using the interface constantly. It looks different than 7 but it works fine.
The other thing I should clarify is that because I've worked as a computer tech, I always run all of my Windows machines naked, meaning I do not install or run any kind of anti-virus software ever. I know enough to figure out what emails I shouldn't click on and what websites I should back out of immediately (or not go to in the first place) so my machines generally stay pretty clean without any need to run any performance zapping protection software. Obviously I don't recommend anyone else run their Windows machines without protection software although I strongly suspect there are lots of folks out there who are savvy enough to do so but too afraid to try.
Both of these points are worth noting because they help to clearly illustrate that as with any internet based computer advice, your results may vary. That being said, definitely upgrade to Windows 10. And definitely use the included app to create a recovery DVD.
Once that's done, consider trying a dual boot install of a current Linux version. Though its better today than its ever been, its still not for the faint of heart. But... a few evenings spent wrestling with it and googling solutions for whatever isn't working to your satisfaction can yield some pretty impressive results that can be well worth the effort.
Oh, and if possible, stick some more RAM in that laptop. If you're lucky, there will be an open slot that you can put a second 4GB stick into. But consider blowing it out to 16GB if the machine will take it. Shouldn't cost you that much and will probably give you an extra couple years of useful life out it.
I was lucky enough to be able to skip Windows 8 completely. I switched careers and stopped working as a tech just before it arrived and I don't think I ever laid eyes on a working install. I liked Windows 7 a lot, but after a recent rebuilt of my music creation computer, I went ahead and allowed it to install the Windows 10 upgrade. Works even better than Windows 7 did.
But I should clarify a couple of things. Since that computer is used for making music, I pretty much use one piece of software on it. So I spend almost zero time messing with the Windows interface. Because of this I felt no need to install any kind of 'make it look like Windows 7' shell and I have to say after having lived with the native interface for a couple of months, I probably wouldn't install any kind of alternate shell even if I was using the interface constantly. It looks different than 7 but it works fine.
The other thing I should clarify is that because I've worked as a computer tech, I always run all of my Windows machines naked, meaning I do not install or run any kind of anti-virus software ever. I know enough to figure out what emails I shouldn't click on and what websites I should back out of immediately (or not go to in the first place) so my machines generally stay pretty clean without any need to run any performance zapping protection software. Obviously I don't recommend anyone else run their Windows machines without protection software although I strongly suspect there are lots of folks out there who are savvy enough to do so but too afraid to try.
Both of these points are worth noting because they help to clearly illustrate that as with any internet based computer advice, your results may vary. That being said, definitely upgrade to Windows 10. And definitely use the included app to create a recovery DVD.
Once that's done, consider trying a dual boot install of a current Linux version. Though its better today than its ever been, its still not for the faint of heart. But... a few evenings spent wrestling with it and googling solutions for whatever isn't working to your satisfaction can yield some pretty impressive results that can be well worth the effort.
Oh, and if possible, stick some more RAM in that laptop. If you're lucky, there will be an open slot that you can put a second 4GB stick into. But consider blowing it out to 16GB if the machine will take it. Shouldn't cost you that much and will probably give you an extra couple years of useful life out it.
