Upgrade to Windows 7 or keep Vista on a HP Pavilion Dv2-1030us?

windows 7 is faster, but not by too much. I would suggest keeping vista, but cleaning it up a bit. update the goodness into that thing. windows update, and look for the important and optional updates you need. defragment that bad boy. remove all programs you don't need. i recommend Microsoft security essentials and malewarebytes instead of mcafee (unless you are paying for it). even if you are paying, then malewarebytes is a good software program to have. it doesn't need to be set up to automate, but just use it every once in a while (free).

Disk check and clean up some things for more space:


You could upgrade the RAM without paying too much if you really wanted. 3-4 GB RAM would alleviate trouble on that end. make sure all RAM matches though, no mixing RAM.

You could go into computer>system properties>advanced system settings (far left hand side)>performance>Settings and then uncheck as many "pretties" as you don't mind letting go.

you can click computer>properties (right click first) and then DESELECT compress drive and DESELECT allow files to.. index if you don't mind not having a search index. compressing a drive isn't a good idea anyway for that first one.

look up ways to make vista faster on google and it will give you lots of info, both good and bad. you will have to decide what you like or not. You could also install IE9 on your computer and remove every other web browser (unless you prefer another), as IE9 has been streamlined a bit.

cleaning up the registry can be and is very dangerous, but there are some programs that you can put on a 'safe' track to do it. The one i recognize the most and seems to be used more than others is ccleaner, but there are others just as good.

You have a startup folder that you could clean out that will keep some programs from starting up when windows starts, provided you don't want them to load without you clicking on them first. misconfig is handy in dealing with startup programs just like the folder i mentioned

The amount of RAM you have sounds fine, no matter if you have more slots or not. 4GB is PLENTY. check if you are using it all by clicking computer> system properties and then looking at how much installed RAM you have. Also as a side note, you wrote in your system specs that you have a 32 bit system. If that is the case, 4GB RAM is the max you or any system can use.

chrome is supposed to be just about the fastest browser, but can lack certain features a few might enjoy, and i am not sure about its security. However, it is perfectly fine, and a great web browser at that. You like it, keep it. Be very careful in uninstalling any program that you don't know much about, as windows lists some very important programs in there. only things you know you don't want should be removed (online games is a common one i find on systems, as an example). You mentioned the web pages loaded slowly? look in the browser for a place to delete everything (temporary data, passwords, form data, etc) and then go back into those settings and reset them. update chrome to its latest. go into internet settings and give chrome more space to use.

If McAfee is an Antivirus and not just an antivirus scanner, then don't remove McAfee without installing another antivirus just to insure you do not catch a virus. I mentioned MSE, but there are many virus protections out there. Here is a forum thread on the "best AV", most of which they talk about are free as most don't seem to want to pay for an AV (Me included). Never use more than one antivirus at the same time as they may conflict. Most if not all AVs will auto-disable windows defender due to this reason. However, as I said before, you may want to download malwarebytes. The free version of malwarebytes is compatible with most AVs in that it will not create conflict (it isn't exactly an antivirus, but helps all the same)

EDIT: This post is down a couple ways, but thought i'd bring it up here for you just in case you need it now:

marsmimar said:

One caution, if I may. If you decide to remove McAfee, follow the instructions to safely remove it. There's a special removal tool from McAfee that needs to be used after going through control panel > programs and features. (The removal tool link is in the section for XP.)

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

And for future reference should you decide to try different products, here's a list of removal tools offered by other companies (and other non-vendors that have been checked out by the author.)

Security Software | Uninstallers

Does the Vista have any service packs? I got a dual core desktop before SP1 came out. Vista home premium 32 bit. Even after a lot of tuning, disabling services, turning of indexing, it's not as responsive as Windows Seven. (Don't ask. I couldn't put SP1 on no way no how.. did all the stuff that's supposed to work but didn't.) Since then I bought a quad with Vista64 SP1. That runs good enough I didn't put W7 on. But if it's Vista with no SP you may notice a lot of "drive busy for no reason" goes away with W7.

My dual core only has 2 GB ram and Windows Seven is quite snappy. I run chromium browser and it's very responsive.

there is also Vista SP2 that may fix a lot of things. Both SP1 and SP2 are very important to have if I am to keep my recommendation you keep vista and avoid buying windows 7 (simply for the cost. if you must have it, it is up to you my friend). Vista's problems were fixed in its updates, so if it works for you, it is just as pretty as windows 7. windows 7 comes with a few new neat tricks, but its base is still Vista

The trouble with not buying a machine with the SP already on the OS is you can't always get the damn things to install. I wasted at least a dozen hours watching my PC reboot only to get "service pack not installed, rolling back." If it doesn't go on by the 3rd try, forget it. Get the new OS.