Re: More computer trouble
Ben
I would advise using the Hibernate option rather than Sleep option when closing down.
Also there is no reason why Windows 7 shouldn't keep serving you well for many many years to come. Stick with it imho. ALL my laptops and netbooks are Win 7 and I refuse to go to Win 10 which is a completely different platform.
With Win 7 YOU the user are in control. YOU have options to turn on and off just about everything and thereby control it.
With Win 10 things are different.
I recommend indeed urge you to disable Windows Updates completely if you haven't already done so.
In fact I am amazed that you still have Win 7 if you've had Windows Updates switched on because a few years ago they sent an update down the line to everyone which effectively FORCED their machines to update to Win 10. It was a bugger to stop it doing that and only techie people like myself knew how to stop it.
Turn those updates off asap.
Note that I have had my laptops for years and had Windows Updates disabled from the very outset.
I have never suffered any security issues, no viruses nothing. It's all the usual crapola predicated on a campaign of fear. Basically trying to frighten people to take the updates for fear their PCs will become unsafe if they don't.
Nonsense
Windows Updates are THE ONLY WAY Microsoft can mess with your PC and make you upgrade to W10. Don't go there.
Get them disabled completely and stay with Win 7 indefinitely.
Your messages concerning the PC "unable to start" etc will be absolutely nothing to do with the operating Win 7 but most likely a problem with hardware. Maybe a dodgy hard disk or full hard disk etc.