Help setting up computer for 89 year old mother

My mom has been using a laptop with Windows 10. It finally died. I got her a chrome book so all she has to do is click and use. She hated it so now I have an HP with Windows 11. She will hate it - I need to get an ICON on the home screen to take her to "X", and one on the home screen to take her to "Y". On past editions of explorer software, you could just change the "URL" in the setting of the icon. How to you do this now?

windsorhouse57 said:

I got her a chrome book so all she has to do is click and use. She hated it

Click to expand...

Why did she hate it?

A chromebook is a much better option for an older person compared to windows. No malware or crashes or updates to deal with. If you can manage to get them back on it you will have way less "troubleshooting" to do.

You can pin sites to the taskbar in both windows and chromebook.

On the windows machine, right click the desktop and choose new > shortcut. Put the website url in there.

To make the windows pc safer for them, make them a limited user account so they cannot install things.

windsorhouse57 said:

My mom has been using a laptop with Windows 10. It finally died. I got her a chrome book so all she has to do is click and use. She hated it so now I have an HP with Windows 11. She will hate it - I need to get an ICON on the home screen to take her to "X", and one on the home screen to take her to "Y". On past editions of explorer software, you could just change the "URL" in the setting of the icon. How to you do this now?

Click to expand...

I do not understand - desktop is no different in W11 than W10.

It is a little tricker getting an app icon as a desktop icon - you just drag one from apps in start menu to desktop.

Otherwise desktop icons are identical.

As a security, only give gran access to standard account.

Also better if pc is in S mode for vulnerable users.

cereberus said:

I do not understand - desktop is no different in W11 than W10.

It is a little tricker getting an app as a desktop - you just drag one from apps in start menu to desktop.

Click to expand...

or sometimes this doesnt work and you have to right click the app and go to open file location and then right click it >show more options> send to desktop.

windsorhouse57 said:

My mom has been using a laptop with Windows 10. It finally died. I got her a chrome book so all she has to do is click and use. She hated it so now I have an HP with Windows 11. She will hate it - I need to get an ICON on the home screen to take her to "X", and one on the home screen to take her to "Y". On past editions of explorer software, you could just change the "URL" in the setting of the icon. How to you do this now?

Click to expand...

With a little help from our friends at Google,


It works for Edge. I also tried it in Chrome. It worked, but the icon launches Edge. I didn't try changing my default browser. (I'm one of the minority that prefers Edge, even though MS is trying to force us to use it, as much as they dare in the face of antitrust enforcement.)

For a user of Mom's skill level, the safety measures suggested by others seem like a good idea. I've never used a Chromebook, but I'm surprised that one cannot be configured to meet her needs.

Hi, welcome to the ElevenForums.

It would probably be easier to know what X & Y is, if it isn’t too personal. Or at least two shortcuts so we can tell you the exact steps for those shortcuts, which will help you with any others you might want to create yourself.

Do you need something like this?

It's for an old browser from Microsoft. I don't know if it's available now.

If only the Web is needed, put the browser in autoloader and put the desired sites on the start page.

andrew129260 said:

Why did she hate it?

A chromebook is a much better option for an older person compared to windows. No malware or crashes or updates to deal with. If you can manage to get them back on it you will have way less "troubleshooting" to do.

You can pin sites to the taskbar in both windows and chromebook.

On the windows machine, right click the desktop and choose new > shortcut. Put the website url in there.

To make the windows pc safer for them, make them a limited user account so they cannot install things.

Click to expand...

Because Chrome OS is much more limited compared to Windows, you cannot run your familiar Windows apps on it, unless there is a Chrome OS version and if internet goes off it is useless, while a Windows computer can be used without internet. Also an average user accustomed to Windows is not willing to give up familiarity and ease of use to adapt to a never-seen-before OS. This include any version of Linux and Mac OS that the brag is easy to use. Let alone an older user. Older users like our dads and mums are confused even if you rearrange the icons on the desktop of their own computer. Imagine changing OS entirely! Nightmare!

spapakons said:

Because Chrome OS is much more limited compared to Windows, you cannot run your familiar Windows apps on it, unless there is a Chrome OS version and if internet goes off it is useless

Click to expand...

Chrome OS is not useless without internet. Limited slightly sure, but not useless. It has multiple software from the play store or linux apps that works offline. And all the "Familiar" apps people use on windows can be done through a browser or chrome os app. Windows is also pretty useless without internet. A lot of applications depend on an internet connection.

Also, most older people don't use windows software at all, they pretty much just browse the web which chromebooks are great for. I have assisted in old folks homes before, they typically just want their email and facebook and that's pretty much it. Very rarely do they want some software. The closest I have seen is a few of them wanting excel, which google sheets works great with. Or they can use office online, both support offline editing.

We already know X and Y the OP speaks of are websites, which is not software. I understand this is a windows forum, but the average computer user is just using a web browser and nothing else. Most people are not using special software.

Putting confused and older people on windows is a very bad idea. Most scams dont work on chromebooks. They are much more secure out of the box.

I havent had to really teach anyone anything different on a chromebook except how to turn it off. Most of them never touch the chrome OS equivalent of a start menu, they just open chrome and browse. You can also pin websites to the bottom bar. So I usually pin facebook and other things down there so they can just click it to open it. Couldn't be simpler. I havent had to troubleshoot or get calls about malware/scams or anything since converting them over to a chromebook. Trust me, it works.

Not all elders just browse the internet and not all of them are computer illiterate. Most of those familiar with computers have used some version of Windows, not Linux. So it will be much more familiar for them a laptop running Windows than a strange never-met-before OS like Chrome OS. And there are tons of applications for Windows the user can run without Internet. A Chromebook without internet is a thousand times less useful. No thanks. I rather help the elders with some Windows issue that hear endless complaints about "what $hit is that you gave me", "how I do that?" and others. Been there done that.

spapakons said:

Not all elders just browse the internet and not all of them are computer illiterate. Most of those familiar with computers have used some version of Windows, not Linux. So it will be much more familiar for them a laptop running Windows than a strange never-met-before OS like Chrome OS. And there are tons of applications for Windows the user can run without Internet. A Chromebook without internet is a thousand times less useful. No thanks. I rather help the elders with some Windows issue that hear endless complaints about "what $hit is that you gave me", "how I do that?" and others. Been there done that.

Click to expand...

Fine you hate chromebooks. Have a nice day.

Wonder if OP will come back.....

I hate everything that sets limits to me. I don't like limitations in hardware I can use, in applications I can choose and what I can or cannot do with my computer. I believe with Windows you get maximum performance and compatibility the hardware supports. With other OSes there are severe limitations and compromises. Compare other OSes with buying a car for a great discount provided you can only drive inside your town limits, up to 30km per hour and only from 8:00am to 9:00am. No thanks! I prefer a normal car (see Windows) that I can do whatever I want whenever I want with it. The point isn't just to have a useless car, the point is to serve your needs. Similarly, elders don't just want any computer, they want the best and the easiest.

I don't see what the problem is. As long as she sticks to the desktop then she won't see anything different between Windows 10 and 11.

The only reason I see her wanting to go to the Start menu is to shut down the computer. However, you can even make a desktop shortcut to do that.

6 Easy Ways to Use Shortcut Keys to Shut Down a Windows PC

MisterEd said:

The only reason I see her wanting to go to the Start menu is to shut down the computer. However, you can even make a desktop shortcut to do that.

Click to expand...

I have icons for shutdown and restart on my desktop, as well as for all the programs I regularly use. It may look old fashioned, but it's handier than having to dig around in the Start Menu.

Anyway, Chromebook is a cheap solution for the computer illiterate, easy to learn and capable of basic tasks like reading your Facebook, but that's all. Once they try something more and realise how limited it is they start complaining. If they see a real laptop running Windows with many other capabilities will even blame you for bad choice. No thanks. I give them a Windows laptop, even second hand, in the first place to have peace of mind.

Why don't you ask your Mom what she wants in the way of hardware and OS? Who knows - may she'll want Arch Linux. Let her tell you what she needs and wants. My Dad wanted a regular desktop PC with Windows, Office and Acrobat. My mother in-law on the other hand doesn't want any technology beyond a landline - oh well.

Mom is computer illiterate, so she will accept whatever I propose, that is either an Android tablet or Windows laptop.

I presume that the first post was a hit-and-run. Too bad.

I wonder what uses "windsorhouse57's" mother has for a PC? If they are all met by two links off the desktop, her needs may be rather limited.

A few years ago, I saw ads for PCs aimed at seniors. They were overpriced all-in-ones that ran some version of Linux. I believe that they were very safe: they didn't permit anything new to be installed. (If somebody gave me one of those, I'd take a sledge hammer to it. )

Exactly! I hate anything that limits me. I decide what to do or not do with my computer, including the computer of novice family and friends.