HELP I need a new desktop PC

[HOJ]

Any pointers for buying a new PC, I'm running on an HP - Windows 7 one, I bought in 2015 (and have an AVG antivirus subscription which is up for renewal) which seems to be huffing and puffing a bit, the base criteria is I need to reload my 2016 Sketchup/layout package and my 2016 Quickbooks accounting software, if nothing else.

I'm used to window's - XL and word etc, nothing else that's critical, no gaming nonsense or high demand, simple works, probably go to John Lewis to buy, looking at this one:

https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-slim-s...essor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-dark-black/p110659741

Not restricted to budget, within reason.

Main question is, can I load my legacy programs on to a new PC, and if I can could someone explain how best to do so.

I have back ups of critical files and stuff, and not interested in any cloud or subscription options, with my flaky rural internet connection.

TIA

 

[okeydokey]

If your legacy programs are important I would be inclined to go to a proper computer shop and find help - no disrespects to the John Lewis staff but do they have the knowledge?
Might be worth seeing if you can add more ram and get your current hard drive mirror copied onto a ssd drive if you can the speed increase will be dramatic.

 

[SammyQ]

"Might be worth seeing if you can add more ram and get your current hard drive mirror copied onto a ssd drive if you can the speed increase will be dramatic."

Too right. 8Meg is thin enough RAM for todays bloatware. And that hard drive is weedy. Think at least four times that size.

 

[Sideways]

Not at all recently, I decided I needed a windows box for just a few programs and opted for an all solid state M series "tiny" PC by Lenovo.
Now Lenovo's online sales channel has an apalling reputation - online sales are handled by a 3rd party - but if you want a desktop machine, I do like the small format. Mine has been switched on / asleep on standby continually for the last 8 years and gets a restart about once a quarter.
HP have a line of small PCs just like them.
These little boxes are used in lots of retail and commercial settings so I think the hardware is made to be reliable
They can be had in a variety of configurations. I opted for two screens and as many usb ports as I could pack in.

 

[artie]

After getting advice on here a while back, this is what I bought to replace my aging one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126591293475

Now sold out but similar is available.

It's a much faster processor than the new one you're looking at.

When it came the graphics card was not as advertised, so I got a £30 refund making it a very cheap PC.

I went to the Dell site and downloaded the latest updates etc, popped in another 8GB of ram and now I have a very competent pc for the light use I have it for.

I've been told that windows 10 has compatibility mode whereby you can run xp, 7, 8 programs, but I have not done it.

 

[Spectric]

I'm used to window's - XL and word etc,

Any Pc running windows 10 will suffice, don't need a huge drive for the OS but a solid state one gives faster boot times and a large mechanical drive for everything else, ie your work files.

The biggest problem you might find is that many suppliers are now shipping with windows 11, you might be better with windows 10 which is what I am currently sticking to.

Many of the suppliers seem to deal mainly in gaming Pc's that tend to light up like christmas trees so for your needs you might be better looking at somewhere like curry's. They are not the cheapest or always the most knowledgable but you can see whats on offer and you get reasonable local support.