Estimated remaining lifespan Core2Duo SSD laptop Samsung

This "spare" laptop that I have is battered. I haven't used it a lot - at least not since the Winter 2012/2013, but I neglected the service on the SSD because I couldn't find out how to do that (I don't even know what the maintenance service is called).
It's a 2009 model and has a 1.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo for laptops. The keyboard is malfunctioning due to that I used it outside during the Winter to get Wifi connection from the nearby library.

It has no antivirus and the Malwarebytes installation is not paid. It has two installations: Logos and Verbum. (Yeah, and OpenOffice Writer.)
The SSD is small. But the storage space is complemented with an external 2.5" 7,200 rpm HDD - the contact is a bit loose so the drive disappears sometimes but is found again when plugging it out and in. Ideally I should change the cover which would fix that problem. Both Logos and Verbum are installed on the SSD and there's still a bit of room left although not for many more softwares but if I don't fix the external HDD cover I hope to squeeze Accordance on the SSD too.
It has no high-speed USB because there's dirt in it.

The battery is good.
Maxed to 4 GB RAM by previous owner. (Btw the previous owner barely used the laptop, just maintained the battery and changed to a new high-capacity battery.)

I'm thinking of mainly using it for reading when traveling in local area buses and doing Logos searches because of the small 11.9" (1366*768 pixel) monitor and SSD.

I have en external ergonomic keyboard for it (and my other computers): http://www.trulyergonomic.com.
I have a cheap cover/bag for the laptop, it doesn't have a handle though.
There's a crack in the plastic at the top of the monitor on the back.
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Desktop computers are not a great option. I have one desktop, Pentium D 3.4 GHz but I should put a hybrid disk in it and do a fresh Windows installation. It currently has a somewhat small/worn HDD. I don't know how to install Graphic Card driver without getting a virus.
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What I'm asking is, is it wise counting on these "spare" computers lasting a few more years or should I give up and start gearing efforts especially and also money on something newer to buy in the future? How long would You estimate that the laptop can still be used if I start maintenance on it now?
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Is it any idea to buy a copy of Windows 8.1 Update 1 license which can be installed on any computer and install it on the desktop? Later on use the license to do fresh install of some computer - probably a new, used, one.
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Ideally I would use to computers side-by-side for serious studies. I wish I get to do that and not procrastinate - I have a lot of books waiting to be read and used and this Summer I will have to try to learn some Gk by myself before the uni Gk class starts in the Autumn. The order of the ergonomic keyboard got much delayed because I transferred only most of the price first (at the end of last Summer) and I'm transferring the rest now, so that's why I haven't been using the laptop.

Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention, all my computers are of course Windows 7 64-bit (and also one desktop I gave away to my best friend), what else could they be? I have some external monitors, not big ones, but not sure there's a socket in the "spare" Samsung laptop.

I have a main computer which is a laptop, Winter 2011/2012 HP, AMD 1.65 GHz, 2013 500 GB hybrid disk, 15.4" 1366*768 pixel monitor, decent rucksack, fan to put beneath it (the fan can be adjusted and also used for the Samsung "spare" laptop instead), 8 GB RAM, MS Office 2007, definitely virus and malware free. Paid Kaspersky antivirus 205 days left of the license.

One of the things I'm thinking about, is on which of the computers I should do most of the notes and highlightings in Logos/Verbum.

(I'm also going to use Libronix 3.0g but I'm not yet sure on which computer but have to decide soon.)

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Dave Hooton

What I'm asking is, is it wise counting on these "spare" computers lasting a few more years or should I give up and start gearing efforts especially and also money on something newer to buy in the future?

The answer is evident from your description:-

the battered and worn 2009 laptop may not last the year even with "maintenance"
the Pentium D is quite old (2004 to 2008?) and riddled with viruses but a new HDD may revive it.

Is it any idea to buy a copy of Windows 8.1 Update 1 license which can be installed on any computer and install it on the desktop?

There is no point to update from Windows 7 on such an old computer.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/595159#Comment_595159

I think it's from 2006. It has 3 GB RAM. I could had put 4 GB in it but chose the cheaper alternative.
True - it came when I installed a graphic card driver after changing the graphic card. I don't have any OS for the desktop, I have no spare licenses (other than Vista). The OS currently in it is pirated - does this change the situation?:

the Pentium D is quite old (2004 to 2008?) and riddled with viruses but a new HDD may revive it.

Is it any idea to buy a copy of Windows 8.1 Update 1 license which can be installed on any computer and install it on the desktop?

There is no point to update from Windows 7 on such an old computer.

I forgot to mention that the SSD in it was bought and freshly installed when I bought the computer used in September 2012. I used it less than half a year. What I've heard is that SSD's should be maintained monthly. Does this change the situation?:

the battered and worn 2009 laptop may not last the year even with "maintenance"

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/595209#Comment_595209

With the money you would spend on upgrades, you can just buy a new laptop that would be considerably faster than what you can make your current model do with upgrades.

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/595209#Comment_595209

The OS currently in it is pirated - does this change the situation?

Vista and a new HDD may save this one.

I forgot to mention that the SSD in it was bought and freshly installed when I bought the computer used in September 2012. I used it less than half a year. What I've heard is that SSD's should be maintained monthly. Does this change the situation?

You can perform a secure delete (in the manufacturers toolbox) to refresh an SSD. Use it on the desktop and forget the laptop.

Erwin Stull, Sr.

I would just put up with what I have for now, not pouring anymore money into the current system, and make it a mission to get something up to date (i5, i7, or equivalent). If you require a Laptop, you pretty much have to get one complete, however, if you are looking for a Desktop, you may be able to piece it together gradually by obtaining a mainboard, case, hard drive, etc. piece by piece.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/595257#Comment_595257

Dad now gave me a 1TB HDD for free for the desktop. Yesterday I purchased a Windows 8.1 which I'm going to install on the desktop. I also found a large used monitor, 1920*1200 pixel and going to bargain when I get a refund from Logos and buy if I get the price down by 50%, the ad is rather old. I also bought a HDD, 7,200 rpm 250 GB - there's a functioning W7 on it, I don't know whether it's Ultimate, Professional or Home Premium. Is it worthwhile to invest pennies to see which it is (and if it's Home Premium I can get it on a USB memory from the seller of the old laptop, he promised back then)? If it's Ultimate or Professional I will have to buy a DVD which I estimate costs ~$45-$50.

(And I'll correct a typo: it was not OpenOffice Writer in the old battered laptop, but LibreOffice.)

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596537#Comment_596537

I also bought a HDD, 7,200 rpm 250 GB - there's a functioning W7 on it, I don't know whether it's Ultimate, Professional or Home Premium. Is it worthwhile to invest pennies to see which it is (and if it's Home Premium I can get it on a USB memory from the seller of the old laptop, he promised back then)?

This is getting back to pirating. Erase the HDD and use the (hopefully legal) Win 8.1 you purchased.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596560#Comment_596560

In neither case did the seller tell up front. In the latter case he did tell just when I had already made the purchase. In the earlier case seller said nothing. And this copy I have now is not pirated, although I suppose You mean that using someones else's Windows installation is worse than borrowing a computer. What if the seller no-longer uses a copy of theis Windows - didn't he effectively sell me the license used then just that he didn't give me the license-code (which he could have given). It cost only $23 - what level of service can I expect for that kind of money?:

This is getting back to pirating. Erase the HDD:
I also bought a HDD, 7,200 rpm 250 GB - there's a functioning W7 on it, I don't know whether it's Ultimate, Professional or Home Premium. Is it worthwhile to invest pennies to see which it is (and if it's Home Premium I can get it on a USB memory from the seller of the old laptop, he promised back then)?

EDIT: I was to the decent computer workshop (although they focus on trading hardware). They didn't have a cheap option to find out which Windows it is even though I carried the desktop there. They also said files would need to be moved and that it would be some effort. I won't try to start the 7,200 rpm 250GB HDD for now and will use the new 1TB disk instead, with W8.1 Update 1.

EDIT2: the computer worksop hinted about a safe software with access to a database with drivers. It's just that all my computers except the old Samsung "spare" Intel Core 2 Duo laptop with small SSD + external 2.5" HDD have lost all their files so I don't have any record of what graphic card there's in it so I may have to buy yeet another new used graphic card just to know which one it is. I have the original one too so an alternative is that I found out on the web what the standard graphic card likely was.

Clarifications: the old battered "spare" Samsung laptop has Intel Core 2 Duo, small SSD (manufacturer software says it has been powered on and off too many times + overheated some time), external 2.5" 7,200 rpm HDD connected with slow USB since the fast USB has dirt in it but still functions just for power for the adjustable fan that can be placed beneath laptops.
The "Pentium D" computer is a desktop and I've been changing HDD:s to it, hybrid drive would have been too expensive, and the only OS:s I can currently choose from to it, are Vista and 8.1 Update 1. I don't have any use for the 3.5" 7,200 rpm 250GB HDD for now.
I'm returning the 1TB HDD which I bought first which was not compatible with Windows, to the seller for a full refund.
I'm going to use the unused 1TB HDD from my dad i the desktop for now.

In case I didn't mention it clearly, I bought a very cheap, $7½ fan which I inserted in the desktop. There's barely any space left where it sits, only about a centimeter on each side of the fan to the nearest components/chassis, but it sits firmly with left-over gymnastics rubber bands (which are too easy to work out with - that's why they are left over, they were unused), they give good protection against vibrations. I'm just wondering how I will improve the modifications from cardboard which make the air flow to the HDD and how I will make a space of at least some millimeters on every side of the HDD. If I would screw the HDD the vibrations might destroy it. I want it to last. I also want to be able to lift the desktop into storage at the second highest floor at any time.

Used laptops are not cheap over here. With quite a bit of effort You can build an OK desktop.

The 3GB RAM in the desktop is not a big problem since I have several computers and can put them side-by-side, I will always have some laptop available at home (which is also from where I run my proprietary firm).

I'm probably helping my new friend to buy/build a computer, so I'm considering the offer Malwarebytes currently has for a 3-computer license. Not sure I need it in all of my own computers, could install one copy for example in one of my parent's or youngest brother's computer.

Thanks for the hint, abondservant, but running both anitivirus and Malwarebytes in real-time on the same computer, slows it down. Or is the antivirus You are suggesting very light on CPU and disk?

EDIT3: I found a cheap graphics card, this model: https://www.pcplanetsystems.com/abc/product_details.php?item_id=3572 for $15. Probably supports the 1920*1200 pixel resolution on the used monitor I intend to buy (if I manage to bargain and get it for 50% off the price in the ad for used parts) when I get the Logos refund.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596582#Comment_596582

The best thing to do is to go online and read the EULA applicable in your country to this particular piece of software. It appears to me that the original license holder can sell you the license if they have removed all copies of it off their own hardware. Some versions can't legally be lent out especially not for monetary gain.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596582#Comment_596582

the Pentium D is quite old (2004 to 2008?) and riddled with viruses but a new HDD may revive it.

Going to nit pick a little bit here.

A CPU can't really be riddled with viruses; cpu's don't have any long term storage for one, and for two there are precious few viruses that target anything outside of your hard drive, most all of the rest target your bios, and I have yet to encounter one that targets your Processor (cpu).

I think what you mean is that your computer is loaded with viruses and your CPU is old.

If you're comfortable installing and uninstalling drives, then what you could do, is make sure your desktop has an up to date virus scanner (I recommend avast (even the free version) at this time), turn your pc off, install the laptop's drive, boot (off your normal drive), scan it for viruses, re-install it into your laptop.

As has been said elsewhere, used laptops are cheap right now - at least here in the US. That 1gb stick of ram is likely not however. Older ram seems to be more expensive than newer ram. An HP DV6 (excellent battery life for the commuter and student) with an i3 processor (circa 2010), with a new battery will get you 6-10 hrs of battery life. I paid 200$ for one two years ago. they are made of plastic, and so you will want to protect it from further battering... But mine has lasted well, and I'm pleased with it. I wouldn't call it a rocketship but with an SSD (which you already own) its workable.

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596582#Comment_596582

And this copy I have now is not pirated, although I suppose You mean that using someones else's Windows installation is worse than borrowing a computer. What if the seller no-longer uses a copy of theis Windows - didn't he effectively sell me the license used then just that he didn't give me the license-code (which he could have given). It cost only $23

What about personal information and other copyrighted software on the HDD? Was that carefully removed, just leaving the OS installation? Buying the whole computer is less problematic, but a HDD should only be sold after securely erasing its contents to avoid any suspicion of illegality. If you want an OS it should be on an authentic DVD with a licence number.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596693#Comment_596693

OEM licenses have to be sold with a piece of computer hardware (once purchased from MS). But then you should still get a sticker, or a COA. I wouldn't consider it a legal copy without one.

With Windows 8 on the other hand, its a little easier. A digitally purchased license follows the email address you used to purchase it.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/596582#Comment_596582

In case I didn't mention it clearly, I bought a very cheap, $7½ fan which I inserted in the desktop. There's barely any space left where it sits, only about a centimeter on each side of the fan to the nearest components/chassis, but it sits firmly with left-over gymnastics rubber bands (which are too easy to work out with - that's why they are left over, they were unused), they give good protection against vibrations. I'm just wondering how I will improve the modifications from cardboard which make the air flow to the HDD

I marvel at your creativity.