From: FredW <fredw@ninmule.invalid>

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:22:33 -0600, "Buffalo"
<phoney@physco.invalid.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>My computers were fine (I am 
>running Win 10 64 bit. Also Vista 32 bit and XP 32 bit on two different 
>laptops- All are clean.)


I take the liberty to do a total different suggestion.

I have a desktop with Win7HP64SP2.
All is fine, never a problem.

Early last year I bought a laptop with Win 8.1 for my holidays.
I succeeded in erasing the hard disc (I am still puzzled how I did it).

As I do not want to upgrade to WindowsX (10),
I decided to start experimenting with Linux on the laptop.

After some months with slowly experimenting and gradually building up my
Linux knowledge, I have now a desktop and laptop using (almost) the same
software, both for Windows and Linux.

For that I had to find some replacements for software for Windows only,
to be replaced by similar software for both Linux and Windows.
Browser(s), Email, Office, File Manager are now the same on both
computers and there is no difference in their usage.

I use Linux Mint Cinnamon.
When I felt I got used somewhat to Linux I started experimenting with
different flavors of Linux to find what I would like most.
In the end I settled for Linux Mint Cinnamon, having started with Linux
Mint KDE (?).


You could also start experimenting with Linux on one of your laptops
and building up your own knowledge of Linux (take your time, no hurry).

If you would choose to do it on an old laptop,
I would advise you to start with Lubuntu.
http://lubuntu.me/
(Choose 32-bit for older computers)

On my Linux Mint laptop I have no CCleaner, I have no antivirus or
antimalware, not required at all.
Live on computers is much easier on Linux than on Windows.
Sometimes I wonder why I am still using Windows,
 but I am still stuck in old habits.

 :-)

-- 
Fred W. (nld)
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)