How long should I keep Windows 7 and delay upgrading?

Megahertz07 said:

When M$ stops to deliver security updates in 2020, I would stay with Win 7 till the hardware fails. No security updates doesn't mean that the computer won't work. In fact, it will work the same way it does today. I didn't like Win 10, so don't intent to use it.
I also have Linux (Lubuntu) and it's great. Fast, secure and free.
I also have an 10 year old laptop with Win XP. Work the same way as when it was new, so why should I change?

I'm going to really have to look into this Lubuntu. Wow, 10 years? Have you had any hardware upgrades ever on it? You sure got your money's worth on it.

xlcgroup said:

Good to hear I'm not alone on not fixing it if it ain't broke for now. You really think it'll be worth something? i can't imagine the HD will last that long as it's a miracle it's still on its default hardware as is.

It was a pointed joke, not much you can do with an old XP machine except ultimately junk it or put one of the lighter weight Linux distros on it like someone else suggested. Of course you could always sell the components, there is a market for older computer components but how long that lasts is yet to be seen.

xlcgroup said:

I'm going to really have to look into this Lubuntu. Wow, 10 years? Have you had any hardware upgrades ever on it? You sure got your money's worth on it.

Once you start your Linux research you'll find there are multiple distributions available and it can be a little confusing at first. Also the Linux operating system is not compatible with Windows so unless you have a very powerful computer to run Wine you won't be able to run any Windows programs in Linux, I doubt seriously your XP machine with be powerful enough. With Ubuntu and all it's derivatives (Unity, MATE, Gnome 3, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, etc) not to mention the offshoots (Linux Mint, Zorin, Elementary OS, etc. you'll have a lot to take in but don't let that dissuade you, knowledge is power.

Megahertz07 said:

When M$ stops to deliver security updates in 2020, I would stay with Win 7 till the hardware fails. No security updates doesn't mean that the computer won't work. In fact, it will work the same way it does today. I didn't like Win 10, so don't intent to use it.
I also have Linux (Lubuntu) and it's great. Fast, secure and free.
I also have an 10 year old laptop with Win XP. Work the same way as when it was new, so why should I change?

HEAR! HEAR!! WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE SP1 x64 F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!!! lol

I just built my new Gaming Rig last June (June 2016)
so I'm GOOD for an ETERNITY OR TWO....

Win10 is the WORST M$ has ever done, followed by Win8, WinVista and WinME.. uuggh!!

it Win7 OR BUST!!
ps:
I LOVE OPEN-SOURCE/FREE-SOFTWARE,
I just don't like the Linux/Unix Architecture/API....

xlcgroup said:

I am not experienced in hardware upgrades or Xubuntu.

You don't have to install an SSD or a new HD; you could continue with your current hard drive. My concern is that your hard drive is getting old and will one day fail, so this would be an excellent time to replace it. (Installing a new hard drive is extremely simple any time you do a clean install of the OS -- you simply install it, then proceed with the clean install of the OS.) For most laptops, it is very easy to replace the hard drive -- you do a shutdown (not hibernate or sleep), unplug the computer and remove the battery, then unscrew and remove the hard drive cover from the back of the computer. The hard drive comes right out. You slide in the new drive, replace the HD cover and the battery, and plug the computer back in.

As far as installing Xubuntu, that is extremely easy as well. You go to xubuntu.com and create an install disk. Then reboot the computer, booting to the install disk rather than to your hard drive. You will then have the option of running Xubuntu from the install disk or actually installing it to the hard drive. Tell it to install to the hard drive, and tell it that you want to erase everything currently on the hard drive. It will then automatically do everything. About the only thing you will need to do is to tell it your wifi password, so it can connect to your house wifi.

If you installed Xubuntu on a new hard drive, and you decide you don't like it, you can easily go back to XP by simply reinstalling the old hard drive. This is a key reason why I suggest getting either a new HD or an SSD for the xubuntu install -- it will be extremely easy to return to XP if you decide to do so.

I went with Xubuntu, because it is a "lite" version of Ubuntu, a very well supported version of Linux. I tried Lubuntu but found that it wasn't quite polished enough for me. Xubuntu is more polished and looks and feels a lot like Windows.

Lubuntu is the lightest version of Ubuntu, and it's been a while since I tried it, so maybe that would be the way to go for you.

ringel05 said:

It was a pointed joke, not much you can do with an old XP machine except ultimately junk it or put one of the lighter weight Linux distros on it like someone else suggested. Of course you could always sell the components, there is a market for older computer components but how long that lasts is yet to be seen.

I suspected you were but I wasn't 100%.

xlcgroup said:

I suspected you were but I wasn't 100%.

ringel05 said:

Once you start your Linux research you'll find there are multiple distributions available and it can be a little confusing at first. Also the Linux operating system is not compatible with Windows so unless you have a very powerful computer to run Wine you won't be able to run any Windows programs in Linux, I doubt seriously your XP machine with be powerful enough. With Ubuntu and all it's derivatives (Unity, MATE, Gnome 3, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, etc) not to mention the offshoots (Linux Mint, Zorin, Elementary OS, etc. you'll have a lot to take in but don't let that dissuade you, knowledge is power.

i'm sure i'll get some great advice here like i have already in the past few days but it does seem daunting to say the least. it's something that's been on my mind for a while but it takes a back seat to the machines that i rely on a daily basis. as soon as i get these in good order, i know where i will turn to help.

xlcgroup said:

i'm sure i'll get some great advice here like i have already in the past few days but it does seem daunting to say the least. it's something that's been on my mind for a while but it takes a back seat to the machines that i rely on a daily basis. as soon as i get these in good order, i know where i will turn to help.