Windows degrades itself over time. Even if you just had the same programs from windows install, the band aids that the updates to. does degrade the system.. By how much? well thats something i can't answer.

The above comment may sound weird, but it isn't, I don't know how long your friend has had the laptop for, but if it was originally on win8 its old and even with you plonking w10 on for her later it would have been a good few years. so without seeing the laptop the above probably applies too.

One thing that may extend the laptop is a sata ssd

In reply to a post by Taras:

Windows degrades itself over time. Even if you just had the same programs from windows install, the band aids that the updates to. does degrade the system.. By how much? well thats something i can't answer.

The above comment may sound weird, but it isn't, I don't know how long your friend has had the laptop for, but if it was originally on win8 its old and even with you plonking w10 on for her later it would have been a good few years. so without seeing the laptop the above probably applies too.

One thing that may extend the laptop is a sata ssd

I know what Windows does over time, I have had to restore plenty of machines over the years. My own machine I have made a image of it, so easy to put back. The machine is a few years old, I don't remember when I put Windows 10 on it, in fact I forgot I even did until I got the machine, and she told me I did.

i wish she would learn to do more with it, but she doesn't want to, not really worth putting a SSD in it to be honest,

Not worth £25 or so to revive an old machine?

For what she uses it for no, if she did a bit more with it then yes.