Beyond Windows 7

msalton1 said:

I believe the support end date for Win 7 is what...Jan 2020? So what are people planning to do beyond that? I have 5 machines here, all running win 7 except for one win 8 machine that I've configured to be pretty much like win 7.



Is win 10 still the privacy crippled dumbed down smartphone-like OS it was when I tried it (pre-release)?



Can the settings be secured to maintain privacy and security? Can one get under the hood?


I'll probably think about going with Linux for some machines, but I need windows for some of my business software. I guess I could run it in a VM, but would want good performance and a no-hassle operation.


I'm rambling. Is win 10 "doable" for us diehard win 7 users? What are others here planning after it's over?

As someone who has tried Windows 10 for 2 years and scrapped it completely please allow my input, based on my own experience. Windows 10 is an exercise in frustration, don't take my word for it, read some of the articles from How to Geek. Even noteworthy Windows diehards like Leo Notenboom have castigated Windows for their feeble efforts to make a decent workable OS out of Windows 10.
Windows 10 has become what the Linux world calls a rolling distribution. Which means no new release, just ongoing updates. Some Linux distro's handle this well, others not so well, but all do it better than Microsoft.
After 2 years of frustration and problems with Windows 10, I sold my last Windows 10 laptop and bought a
MacBook which I have been using for one month. My only regret it that I ever went with Windows in the first place. I am posting this using my old trusty Windows 7 laptop, slow as snails but rock solid stable. I would stay with Windows 7 forever if they would support it (which they wont). Given Microsoft's arrogance and disdain for the end user, there is only one option for computer life after Windows 7, it's called Mac.
Most of the computer users in my immediate family have already switched and even the diehard Windows fans are considering it. Windows 10 is the best thing that ever happened, for Linux and Apple.

vel123 said:

Just a few words on what private data Windows 10 by default allow itself to send to Microsoft:

System Information

• unique advertising ID (shared with 3rd party to track the user)
• unique UUID (e.g. used by NSA to track and attack devices)
• system configuration
• programs crashes
• all installed programs

Users Data

• emails, text messages (e.g. Skype)
• video and audio chat (e.g. Skype)
• contacts from the address book (address, email, phone, etc.)
• precise location (Wifi, GPS)
• Bitlocker recovery keys (these keys decrypt encrypted data, so Bitlocker encryption is pointless)

Users Interest and Behavior

• full browsing history
• app interactions (e.g. a weather app sends locations often requested)
• usage time and frequency of programs
• typing input and behavior
• search requests

Microsoft even admits that the collected data can be tied to the unique user. As all big companies (e.g. Microsoft) have to share data with security authorities (e.g. NSA, GCHQ) on request and furthermore freely share huge amounts of user data, it is safe to say that every piece of data Microsoft has is available to e.g. the NSA as well. Meanwhile the NSA steadily exchanges their information with other agencies around the world. Furthermore most companies sell user data to tracking and advertisement firms.

It is not possible to hinder Windows 10 from leaking all the mentioned data. Finding and using the offered options to minimize the amounts of shared information is difficult and time consuming even for experienced users. On top of that, the majority of user-made changes towards privacy is reverted with every Windows update.

Sources:
Betriebssysteme: Windows

Windows 10’s privacy policy is the new normal | Ars Technica

Even when told not to, Windows 10 just can’t stop talking to Microsoft | Ars Technica

What Data Does Windows 10 Send to Microsoft? Techquickie - YouTube

Thank you for this information.


It is beyond terrifying.

All out of date claptrap, MSFT is not spying, they collect telemetry from agreed insiders, the spying stuff you read now is just Luddite paranoia from people that do not know that they are talking about.

SIW2 said:

You think Google is any different?

Of course not. How does that absolve MS and Win10 ?


Lucky Zucky and his InYourFace Book is probably even more corrupt in leveraging privacy. That too does not absolve MS and Win10.

ian50 said:

Of course not. How does that absolve MS and Win10 ?


Lucky Zucky and his InYourFace Book is probably even more corrupt in leveraging privacy. That too does not absolve MS and Win10.

+1

SIW2 said:

ASUS select win7 in the dropdown - win7 bios, audio, lan,usb, chipset,sata
H310M-E R2.0 | Motherboards | ASUS USA

Attachment 406376


Gigabyte, example:

Attachment 406375


No graphics drivers- separate graphics card needed.

Well how be damned.

SIW2 said:

Not really.
Adventurous types can use use bios mod to boot from pcie nvme - nearly all ivybridge boards will support it.
That will keep you going for many years.

I would love to know a little more about this SIW2. I actually am using an old Windows 8 machine to run Windows 7 Pro, so maybe for me this will be even easier? Will you point me in the right direction? Of course my pc is a Dell 660S SFF, and sometimes the SFF part messes me up with so little space for adding extra devices.