Where are you going from Windows 7?

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Microsoft has again pronounced the death sentence for Windows 7.  What are your plans after next January?  Anyone for Linux Mint?  Anyone have an idea about software availability for that OS?

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Elly

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I’ve kept a WinXP computer available simply for the occasional need of clients that may find an old disk such as 5.25″, 3.5″ or 100MB/250MB that they want or just want to know about.  I’ve moved other computers [Desktops and Notebooks] to Win10, both Pro and Home/Core plus 2 Desktops running the IP/Insider Preview Pro Fast Ring.  I also have a Linux Mint 19.x Notebook and a Desktop.  I may be getting a WinVista computer one day that I have the Win7 software for [husband died and she’s cleaning house].  Or I could put the original Win7 drive back in a SFF Desktop.

More: forgot an answer for the last question, there’s a lot of programs/applications available for Linux, just have to remember that they come as Debian or RPM, Linux Mint is Debian. It comes with Firefox, LibreOffice, VLC and others. One included program I use a lot is GPARTED partition manager, have a USB drive dock plugged in for use manipulating partitions or cleaning a drive. It does have a feature similar to Microsoft Store or Apple Store where one can find lots although some of the install routines may be unfamiliar.

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Slowpoke47

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If you a worried about security, make regular image backups so you can recover easily.
Much cheaper than buying new software / machine.

cheers, Paul

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Slowpoke47

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i am heartbroken that my beloved wins 7 will not work as usual soon i look forward to any info in the future to guide me about this i really dont want wins 10 this is a disgrace from ms but what do i expect from this tech company that has done damage with their updates i am still affected by defcon

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Well, firstly, there is no need to change from Win7 at all. Just because M$ will stop supporting and updating it does not mean it will suddenly stop working.  If you carry on usign it after the end of support date, there may start to be slowly increasign security issues, but by and large a decent antivirus, malware guard and good user practice on web sites and e-mail attachments will see you safe enough.  And always ensure you have sufficient backups and that they are cycled over a sufficient period, daily, weekly, monthly etc so you can go back.

One thing worth doing if you’re really intent on stickign with Win7 is to rebuild your computer soon, i.e. back-up all your data, re-install Win7 as a clean install, fully update W7 with all updates, then take a disc image of it, then put your data back on.  I might do this, I might not.

The main problem will come (as has happened with XP) when software suppliers stop making their software compatible with W7.  Try a fresh install with old XP install discs, and you’ll come to a grinding halt at (a) trying to find/load M$ updates and (b) trying to find other software that will work on XP (apart from a few).

Now, as W10 and W7 (and W8) are basically pretty much similar behinds the scenes, I think the lapsing of functionality on W7 will take longer than it did with Win XP.

I would love to go over to Linux Mint.  I have played with it a fair bit on an old machine and like it a lot.  It’s just an OpSys and does what it’s asked to.  However, the application-level compatability is still lacking.  Yes, Libre Office “can” read/run/save Excel and Word etc files, but there are cirrently sufficient differences that if you’re seriously trying to edit, say, a complex-formatted Word doc in LibreOffice and send it back to someone as a “Word” doc, they will see a lot of oddities.  Maybe the future of using software in the cloud will overcome this (do M$ realise that by making everything work in a browser, then no-one will need Windows any more?!).  Running Windows in a virtual machine on Linux is not in my view a real-world practical solution, just a creation of yet more complication, with printers/peripherals/maintenance etc.

One of my concerns is what does my wife do when I’m gone. We’re both 64 and I have already had a serious scare last year, and only just made it back.  She would struggle to run a Windows system without some external assistance, even now, much less understand how to decide whether to apply updates in W10 etc etc, so as she basically only uses email and web, and the occasional word-processed letter, then Linux Mint would work out ideally, especially as it comes with ready-to-use Thunderbird and Firefox, which our our current two main apps.  I don’t think moving her to Apple would really help, whereas I think she would recognise Linux Mint/Tbird/Firefox well enough, and as her machine is still on Word 2003, then Libre Office is again not a million miles away.

I might get a basic W10 machine one day, just to see

Just my 6d/5c.

WM
--
Win7Pro SP1
new Dec 2011
rebuilt Jun 2016
& still going nicely

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FakeNinja, Charlie, Slowpoke47

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WoollyMammoth wrote:

Yes, Libre Office “can” read/run/save Excel and Word etc files, but there are cirrently sufficient differences that if you’re seriously trying to edit, say, a complex-formatted Word doc in LibreOffice and send it back to someone as a “Word” doc, they will see a lot of oddities.

As you mentioned, there are the browser-based versions that work anywhere.  I didn’t realize this before, but what I am reading is that the personal version of Word online is free.  You could always do the heavy lifting in LibreOffice and then transmit the “finished” document to Word Online for checking and final polishing, if any is needed.

The Android and iOS versions of Office are also free for devices with screens ten inches or less, so you could also check documents there if that worked better.

WoollyMammoth wrote:

Maybe the future of using software in the cloud will overcome this (do M$ realise that by making everything work in a browser, then no-one will need Windows any more?!).

Oh, most certainly they do, and I think that for them, it can’t get here soon enough.  The cloud is where their interests lie now… Windows is barely even a sideline now.  Cloud first, mobile first, and they’re fresh out of mobile!  The elimination of the Windows department was hardly a surprise with all of the cloud hoopla.  I think the sooner they can get out from under Windows, the happier Satya Nadella will be.

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
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Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, Kubuntu 24.04 (and Win 11)

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Well, I am a relative newby, having been introduced to computers on Vista, then moving to 7.  That said, it seems I’ve picked things up reasonably well, and, for example, bought and installed a new hard drive with W7 on it some years back, so now the machine is dual-boot.  My thought is to replace the Vista OS on the original hard drive with Mint, so that I can try it out, and still be ready if MS issues another reprieve for 7, still the most popular OS worldwide. Is that a realistic strategy?

Is MS really going to turn its back on all those users?  W10 seems to have major growing pains, sort of not-ready-for-prime-time.  If MS does abandon 7, there would likely be no turning back for them.  And they must surely remember the W8 fiasco, so egregious that they skipped “9.”  So, will MS blink?

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I doubt that Microsoft will do extensions as was done with XP. Microsoft has already offered enterprises a way to get continued support. It will cost a lot of money and the cost will increase every year. Retail customers, small businesses, etc. will either continue to run Win7 or migrate. Win7 is not going to stop running. If you make regular image backups, run good a/v software, & practice safe computing you are good for a long time.

Remember, that for the VAST majority of Win10 users things are just fine. Most people go from day-to-day and month-to-month just going about their business. If you have a PC that was designed for Win10 you should be OK.

IMO, all of the handwringing about updates is way overblown. I understand that in terms of raw numbers even a small percentage of users with problems is a large absolute number. BUT it is still a small percentage. Support forums see problems and people over react to forums. If you are just running a system that you have not tweaked via internet advice and have standard peripherals most likely you will not have update issues.

I know this view is not popular here but in my experience Win10 has been very solid on a variety of machines in a variety of circumstances.

 

 

--Joe

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Lugh, access-mdb, bbearren, Slowpoke47, b

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The idea of repurposing the Vista drive for Linux is very feasible.  The Mint installer will attempt to guess what you would want to do, but the best way is use the option in the Mint installer to do it manually, where you can select the Vista partition, tell it to format it as EXT4, and to mount it as / (root).  It will take care of setting up the dual boot and everything else.

The way that a UEFI dual-boot setup works is that the boot selection is set to use the Linux bootloader.  This doesn’t mean it will automatically boot to Linux, though, leaving Windows out of the loop.  Setting it to boot to Linux will start the Linux GRUB menu (GRand Unified Bootloader), and that will automatically give you a choice of any of the operating systems detected on that PC at the time you installed Linux, including any other Linux or Windows installations.  If the configuration changes, you can have it re-scan for other OSes (it only takes a few seconds).

If you know about UEFI bootloader selection, this may be useful if something goes wrong and you have to troubleshoot.  It probably won’t!  Kind of like how the announcement on an airliner readying for takeoff informs you that “in the unlikely event of a water landing,” the seat cushions can be used as flotation devices.  I’d hope a “water landing” (ditching) is unlikely!

In the unlikely event that UEFI gets messed up, for Mint and Ubuntu systems, including those that dual-boot Windows, the bootloader to select from the boot option menu in your UEFI (sometimes still called BIOS) settings menu is in the EFI system partition of the boot drive, under /EFI/ubuntu.  For systems with secure boot off or without secure boot support, the bootloader to select is grubx64.efi, and with secure boot on, shimx64.efi.

Don’t count on Microsoft extending the deadline for security updates.  They’ve been doing all they can for years to make continuing to use Windows 7 as difficult and unsafe as possible within the confines of the EULA contracts with Windows users, and they’re not going to stop just when they finally have the liberty to cut it off completely.  They’ve been waiting anxiously for this day to come, and expecting them to extend support now would be like expecting a kid on Christmas morning to agree to wait until June to open his gifts.  This is not the same Microsoft that extended Windows XP support because people were still using it.

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/32GB & GTX1660ti, Kubuntu 24.04
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, Kubuntu 24.04 (and Win 11)

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Cybertooth

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The official position on support of Windows 7 is at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windowsforbusiness/end-of-windows-7-support

Notable statements (bold / underline emphasis is mine):

“After 14 January 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7.”

“You can continue to use Windows 7, but once support ends, your PC will become more vulnerable to security risks. Windows will operate but you will stop receiving security and feature updates.”

“Windows 7 can still be installed and activated after support has ended. However, to avoid security risks and viruses, Microsoft recommends that you consider upgrading to Windows 10.”

“Support for Internet Explorer on Windows 7 devices will be discontinued on 14 January 2020. As a component of Windows operating system, Internet Explorer follows the same support lifecycle.”    [My comment: you’re still using IE?!! ]

Edit to remove HTML
Please use the “Text” tab in the entry box when you copy/paste.

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Slowpoke47

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sfunny, I’m sure I was logged in for my last post (gone in as Anon)

WM
--
Win7Pro SP1
new Dec 2011
rebuilt Jun 2016
& still going nicely

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FTFY

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Slowpoke47, there is no need to make a change just yet only to try Linux Mint.  Just download the .iso file and create the Bootable LiveDVD using a DVD-R or DVD+R disc from it then boot to it.  Outside of being just a bit slower [normal with the ODD] you can do most things for testing.  Only issue may be in trying to save downloads as the DVD can’t again be written to.  Don’t use the RW type discs.  I made a Bootable USB Thumb drive a couple of days ago from my Linux Mint 19 using a feature in the program.

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Charlie, Slowpoke47

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Woody has a great article about that here: https://www.askwoody.com/2019/woodys-windows-watch-preparing-for-the-windows-7-winter/

And also a very lively discussion here: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/woodys-windows-watch-preparing-for-the-windows-7-winter/

Certainly a topic on everyone’s mind – or at least all of us who are still happy with Win 7 and don’t want to switch!

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Slowpoke47

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Mind, if M$ redeem themselves with a few trouble-free W10 updates this year, who knows what might happen?  ISTR XP was awful till SP3

WM
--
Win7Pro SP1
new Dec 2011
rebuilt Jun 2016
& still going nicely

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Slowpoke47

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actually WoollyMammoth WinXP became more stable starting with SP2, not with SP3.
XP SP3 came after Vista SP1 was released

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Charlie, WoollyMammoth

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Slowpoke47 wrote:

…My thought is to replace the Vista OS on the original hard drive with Mint, so that I can try it out, and still be ready if MS issues another reprieve for 7…

Before attempting to install Linux over Vista, it’s highly recommended to make a complete image of your disk (including both Vista and Windows 7). Things can go wrong and, if they do, you will want to be able to get back to your starting point.

For your purposes, the most important factors when installing Linux will probably be (a) whether the Linux installer will let you choose what’s currently the Vista partition for you to install Linux onto it; and then assuming that goes well, (b) whether the bootloader will work properly to allow you to choose to boot into either Windows 7 or your new Linux. If you get past these two possibilities, you should be good to go.

These two discussions here and here don’t directly address your specific scenario, since you intend to install Linux on the first (currently Vista) partition, but they should provide some guidance to the concepts and issues involved in setting up a Linux/Windows dual-boot system. (They deal with Ubuntu, but the concepts are the same.)

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Slowpoke47

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Thanks to all who posted on this.  As a non-tech casual (not business) user, I’ll be trying to get a decent handle on my options (and the consequences therefrom) for a while, then take some sort of action before the fat lady sings.  I favor those options that leave 7 intact.

Actually, the title I used for the thread should have not said, “where are you going after 7” but rather “what strategy will you be using after 7.”  My idea in suggesting the dual boot plan was to have choices.  I expect to continue to use 7 beyond the “best by” date, as others here have said.

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anonymous wrote:

#316970

This was actually my post and hi-jacked by someone using the name anonymous, not being fair, doesn’t bode well for the site.

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It wasn’t hi-jacked.
It was posted as anonymous because you were not logged in.

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SueW

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It happens to me every time I forget to log in. The contributions of anyone not logged in here get posted as being from “Anonymous.” Not everybody joins Woody’s officially, for diverse reasons. For example, some may not like giving the minimum of information necessary to become a registered  “lounger” here. So they are allowed to contribute their comments anonymously instead. As are those who forget to login.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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PKCano wrote:

It wasn’t hi-jacked. It was posted as anonymous because you were not logged in.

According to the upper right of the page I was logged in.  I have gotten several messages about changing my password which I did not do.

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for me I’ll keep using Win7 for a while even after 1/14/2020 since things are working well on the PCs that came with W7. maybe I’ll migrate to either Win8.1 or Win10 LTSB/LTSC

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EP wrote:

actually WoollyMammoth WinXP became more stable starting with SP2, not with SP3. XP SP3 came after Vista SP1 was released

Brain Fade. (I have reason)

WM
--
Win7Pro SP1
new Dec 2011
rebuilt Jun 2016
& still going nicely

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Elly

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What’s the consensus re staying with W7 after support is dropped?  Is it fair to say that updates pertain to Internet issues and not local programs?  If so, do you plan to avoid going on line with 7 beyond the support date?

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I do not believe there is a consensus. You must decide the best course for you.

You can stay with Win7 as long as you run a good firewall, a good a/v program, and are very careful about your on-line activity.

You can switch to a different OS platform – MAC or Linux. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

You can upgrade to Win8.1. You’ll once again face the end-of-support in a few years – January 2023.

You can upgrade to Win10. What you mostly see here and other forums are people having a problem. You do not see the hundreds of millions of Win10 users who go about their computing lives with an issue. I’m not trying to ignore that there have been, still are, and always will be problems with Win10. I have yet to see any objective proof that Win10 is any more unstable than any prior Windows release. I have seen Microsoft make some stupid decisions about problem resolution but think that will be changed. If you are truly concerned about privacy or just paranoid from the hyperbolic tech press there are settings in Win10 to control what data is sent to Microsoft. There are several third party tools which make that control easier than Microsoft does.

--Joe

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satrow, Lugh, b, Slowpoke47

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My Windows 7 PC is something that I will be using for many more years to come. Microsoft dropping support for Windows 7 is a non issue. The OS is mature and still one where the user is in control. Unlike most other OS these days. Spyware like Windows 10 or Google Android are no substitute.

Most recent exploits for Windows 7 or the hardware it runs on are highly circumstantial. Microsoft dropping support is not going to all of a sudden turn Windows 7 in a defenseless OS. That can be take advantage of left right and center. It will not stop me from going online with a Windows 7 PC.

Regardless of the OS you use common sense still prevails. If you web around and visit shade sites then you will expose yourself to a higher chance of nastiness then when you stay within your established line of interests. Off course being online means the thread is never zero regardless of OS used.

What might force me to change at some point. Will be outside changes where my bank or tax or whatever refuses to function from a Windows 7 PC. But I do not think that that point will come for a good many years. Even after that I will keep a Windows 7 PC around for decades to come because of the enormous list software and games that requires it in order to run.

I hope that by that time at least some from of user friendly OS exists. As I will never switch to the Spyware that Windows 10 or Google Android are. It is a real shame that after so many years regular Linux still remains unfriendly in use and support to the common user.

W10&11 x64 Pro&Home

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phaolo, Cybertooth, Slowpoke47

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Sinclair wrote:

My Windows 7 PC is something that I will be using for many more years to come. Microsoft dropping support for Windows 7 is a non issue. The OS is mature and still one where the user is in control. Unlike most other OS these days. Spyware like Windows 10 or Google Android are no substitute. Most recent exploits for Windows 7 or the hardware it runs on are highly circumstantial. Microsoft dropping support is not going to all of a sudden turn Windows 7 in a defenseless OS. That can be take advantage of left right and center. It will not stop me from going online with a Windows 7 PC. Regardless of the OS you use common sense still prevails. If you web around and visit shade sites then you will expose yourself to a higher chance of nastiness then when you stay within your established line of interests. Off course being online means the thread is never zero regardless of OS used. What might force me to change at some point. Will be outside changes where my bank or tax or whatever refuses to function from a Windows 7 PC. But I do not think that that point will come for a good many years. Even after that I will keep a Windows 7 PC around for decades to come because of the enormous list software and games that requires it in order to run. I hope that by that time at least some from of user friendly OS exists. As I will never switch to the Spyware that Windows 10 or Google Android are. It is a real shame that after so many years regular Linux still remains unfriendly in use and support to the common user.

Thanks for your thoughts.  I too am pleased with 7 and will only abandon it kicking and screaming.  Still planning at this point to replace the original Vista OS in my machine with Linux Mint, as I have not used Vista since adding the second hard drive with 7.  I’m hoping to have my cake and eat it too!

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I’ll keep running Win7 on some of my PCs until both Google and Mozilla drop Win7 support for their web browsers sometime in the next decade

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Long time listener first time caller. Group B man using win 7. I’m told by a higher up at Intel that I should just suck it up and get a new laptop with win 10 because of compatibility issues. Too paranoid to make the move yet. Help me somebody while a make myself a new tinfoil hat.

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goldsmoke1958 wrote:

get a new laptop with win 10 because of compatibility issues

You should ask what those issues are and why they will stop your machine working.
As there is no great gnashing of teeth over W7 incompatibility, I would say you are OK to hang on to your existing machine – unless the higher up wants to give you a new one.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

goldsmoke1958 wrote:

get a new laptop with win 10 because of compatibility issues

You should ask what those issues are and why they will stop your machine working. As there is no great gnashing of teeth over W7 incompatibility, I would say you are OK to hang on to your existing machine – unless the higher up wants to give you a new one.  cheers, Paul

Good point.  I’m having no issues with a Dell Vostro 1510 Notebook, Dell Studio 17 Notebook, Dell OptiPlex 755 having been  upgraded to Win 10 a few versions ago.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Thanks for the feedback. I have left a message to get the particulars on comparability issues and will post when I get them.

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Thread starter here- Last month I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on a new hard drive that I will be using in place of the old Vista HD.  I poked around on that Linux OS a little and it seems that the learning curve will be relatively benign for a non-tech W7 user such as yours truly.  The more I learn about W10 the more it puts me off.  With this OS MS has determined to become dictatorial in addition to scarfing up whatever personal info it can.  Apparently this snooping cannot be defeated.  Bye, bye MS!

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Cybertooth

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Slowpoke47 wrote:

Apparently this snooping cannot be defeated

Don’t use Google then, or Facebook, etc, etc.
Your data is out there in one form or another so use whatever tools (Windows etc) you need to get the job done, but reduce the data collection as best you can – which is easy in Windows.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

Slowpoke47 wrote:

Apparently this snooping cannot be defeated

Don’t use Google then, or Facebook, etc, etc. Your data is out there in one form or another so use whatever tools (Windows etc) you need to get the job done, but reduce the data collection as best you can – which is easy in Windows. cheers, Paul

I agree completely- I don’t use Google, Facebook, or any other social media.  Firefox and DuckDuckGo are my choices.  Sensitive emails go out via Protonmail, which is encrypted.  If I am required to identify myself to a site I don’t know, I use phony info.

It is up to the individual user to protect his/her interests.

It’s my understanding that, with W10, MS is getting serious about scavenging personal info.  My initial impression of Mint is most encouraging.

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It looks like the South Korean Government will not be upgrading to Windows 10 and will switch from Windows 7 to Linux as mentioned on these sites:

https://news.softpedia.com/news/government-planning-to-replace-windows-7-with-linux-not-windows-10-526080.shtml

https://borncity.com/win/2019/05/20/south-koreas-government-migrates-from-windows-7-to-linux/

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Cybertooth, Slowpoke47

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EP wrote:

It looks like the South Korean Government will not be upgrading to Windows 10 and will switch from Windows 7 to Linux as mentioned on these sites:

https://news.softpedia.com/news/government-planning-to-replace-windows-7-with-linux-not-windows-10-526080.shtml

https://borncity.com/win/2019/05/20/south-koreas-government-migrates-from-windows-7-to-linux/

Most interesting- good to know that at least some high-profile users are not ready to sell out to MS.

Personal info is a hot commodity these days, and most of the entities scarfing it up are getting it for free and not telling the sources (i.e. us) about it.

If that’s not enough, just look (on this forum, for instance) at the reports about what a mess W10 is at this point!

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Cybertooth

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