Computer question

Computer question(s)
I have a Dell Studio 17 that was tricked out in 2010:
- 8 gigs RAM (I think)
- 500 gig HD
- Windows 7 Ultimate Pro edition 64bit
- Core I7 processor
- Motherboard, video, etc. in a pdf upon request
Well, it’s at the point where I need to format it again and replace a few components. I can’t even run chrome effectively without having to reboot a lot of the time. I don’t like antivirus programs, so I’ve been rolling without that since 2012’ish. Non issue until March of this year while working—when I was reliant on hotel WiFi (specifically in lake Charles). Have a reason to believe it was a dirty-dirty area w tech thieves holed up in the cluster of hotels down there. But that’s neither here nor there.

My question is, am I so far behind that I now require Windows 10, so much that I may need to just get a new laptop? I love what I have and can run Windows XP in a virtual portal (and put to use some wayyyy outdated programs that serve me better in certain tasks versus their more modern counterparts). I use dual operating systems, essentially. I’m not a gamer,
but would love to delve back into that. Been a while since Super Nintendo...but I do use powerful database management, video/photo processing, GIS / Mapping (etc.) softwares.

If I haven’t already asked the question (because I’m lot proofreading this right now), I’ll ask again:

Should I go ahead and purchase a new laptop? or spend the time and money upgrading components of my current system? I need absolute reliability on my work laptop, but don’t want to be limited by unsupported operating systems and/or new softwares unless I can get another five years in...

Not sure if this is the forum for this (because the demographic and system here is completely different from dial up days).

Please don’t make me register with a computer forum for one question.

*poot*
‘Scuse

P.S. thanks in advance for any advice and also a preempted gesture of gratification to anyone that isn’t a dickhead.