I'm very happy with Windows 7 and don't want to DOWNGRADE to Windows 10. My only concern is when support ends in January 2020. Is there any way Windows 7 can continue to be used safely after that date?
In my opinion no body really knows what will happen in or after 2020 with Windows 7.
Hopefully by then Microsoft will have another operating system we want to buy.
I don't think the system will be unsafe after 2020. You just will have to watch what you are doing on the internet. Another option is to run a virtual Linux for all internet business.
Most likely we will know a lot more how to get around the 2020 issue sometime around 2019. :)
I think it will be safe without MS support. Just keep your protection up to date. I haven't done updates on my Windows7 for over 2 years and it runs fine. When I reformatted and installed MS Office and Windows live mail, MS over rode my never settings and only install what I needed for those two installations. I don't worry about so called dangers, I can take of my PC and so far have fixed any problems by googling for solutions or reading help forums like this one.
My daughter has a laptop, bought about 4 years ago. I learned recently that she has never updated Windows, nor has she installed any anti-malware. No problems. Me, I have Kaspersky and Malwarebytes.
Yep, just watch what you download, don`t use windows mail, outlook etc and you should never have a problem.
It seems to me that downloading safely is getting harder and harder to do. I try to download from the site, but it often sends me somewhere else that I am not familiar with. The only time I have had serious malware is downloading the last couple of years. I got "safe search" and it froze my PC. Went back later and it was not frozen anymore. I could not get rid of it until I thought to try system restore. That got rid of it. I emailed my friend and she said it's now in system restore and she told me how to get rid of it there. I love learning all of this stuff. An infection is actually a challenge for me and I enjoy the challenge.
I use a software called Unchecky and when there are extras included in a download it unchecks the extras and you only get what you want downloaded.
That's also my routine! Must be a Brit thing?
But the previous posts are encouraging. I have GWX Control Panel set to kill any Win10 "updates" Microsoft attempts to smuggle onto my PC and the wife's laptop. I sincerely hope that, at the age of 71, I don't have to tax my remaining brain cells with learning Linux. I have arrived at a happy place with 7 and I have loved it since first installation.
Layback Bear, I don't think Windows intends to sell us another O/S. They advertised 10 as the last Windows Operating System, did they not? (thinks) - how much, though, can we rely on any Final Declaration from Redmond?
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