Windows 10 PCs: reset and start freshĬomputers running Windows 10-that is, most laptops sold between late 20-are fairly easy to get up and running if they have no major hardware problems. If you do have an old computer collecting dust but don’t know how old it is, do a Google search for the manufacturer name plus “serial number lookup.” The manufacturer’s support site may let you enter the serial number (often in the fine print somewhere on the computer) and show you its model name and number, when it was made, and what operating system was originally installed on it. We’ll go through a few different scenarios-the newer the computer you’re trying to revive, the easier it will be to reuse, but even eight- or nine-year-old computers can be useful if you’re just trying to get by.

We’ll walk you through updating an old computer that has been sitting in a closet for years, and we have advice on how to shop for a decent laptop even if you can’t find our picks in stock anywhere. Whether you need a computer for your child to use for schoolwork and distance learning, entertainment, or a combination of both, or you want to save some cash and keep a laptop out of a landfill by resurrecting an old one, you have a few options. New laptops have been in short supply, and prices have steadily risen over the past couple years due to a combination of increased demand, supply-chain issues, and inflation.

Microsoft office for mac student 2012