Thanks all for the help
I want to re-install as the machine seems to take an eternity to reach a usable state, compared with with how it was on arrival it is like very thick treacle. That is probably my fault but I keep reading that a reinstall should be carried out every few years: it is now about 10 years.
I will go with SD's suggestion, I don't need W7 on this machine yet, maybe on l/top first to get rid of Vista.
Much thanks for all help offered.