My grandma gave me her computer which has Windows 8 on it and I do not like the OS. Windows 7 is my favorite OS, and I have an install disk for it. But before I install Windows 7 on it I wanted to ask if there's any reason why I shouldn't install Windows 7 on it?
Isn't Windows going to stop providing updates and support for Windows 7? Is that going to be a problem?
It could be a problem, if you don't make regular Backup Images.
You can get free backup software like Macrium Reflect (free for home use).
Tutorial
Imaging with free Macrium
Follow the instructions in this post:
Beyond Windows 7
Then:
- Create a Backup Image
- Install your required software
- Create another Backup Image
After that, you can create Differential Images (based on the Image you created in step 3 above) which will save some storage space.
Remember to keep extra copies of your Backup Images on external storage thataren'tisn't always connected to your PC.
Last edited by lehnerus2000; 23 Jan 2019 at 20:04.
7 goes out of support next January (less than a year). After that no OS updates and eventually software manufacturers will stop supporting it. Now where did you get the 7 serial number? if it is from another computer you won't be able to use it. Have you checked for 7 drivers? As for 8 it can we tweaked to look like 7, almost. See this thread: Why do you prefer Windows 7 over Windows 8.1 ?. If you can tweak it and learn to live with it that's 3 extra years of support. I couldn't stand it but because of classic shell I'm considering going to that some time after 7 goes out of support. I haven't even tried some of the programs mentioned in that post. That's on my todo list.
I am still with Win7 and have no intention of changing it, M$ say it is going out of service but some big organisations will pay for support. For me it will just mean I lock it down from updates which I do anyway.
No technical reasons why not. I installed Win-7 on an old, 32 bit, Dell Optiplex that originally ran XP, and still has the "Designed for Windows XP" sticker still on it. It runs just fine. The only problem is activation. Where did you get the install disk? MS will complain if you used that disk to install on another rig.
"Isn't Windows going to stop providing updates and support for Windows 7? Is that going to be a problem?"
Who the hell cares? Use good anti-virus/malware/spyware, stay off porno sites, don't click on links you're not sure of, backup, backup, backup, and you'll be good to go for way beyond Win-7 EOL. Maybe Windows-11 will be better. Linux or one of the BDSs are alternatives. Use the time left to climb that learning curve.
I too have absolutely no intention of changing my Windows 7 installations, supported or not. I know Microsoft have to keep 'moving forward' (let's generously so term it) to keep their market share, but I was forced to use Windows 8 at work some years back and now have Windows 10 on a laptop: though Windows 10 at least is pretty nice in many respects, Microsoft did it's best job with Windows 7 (and Flight Simulator 2004 - but that's off topic!) and I am sticking with it.
I have one PC which double boots Windows 7/Windows XP BTW - never had any issues with XP (which I need for various bits of hardware and software which don't work with Win7 or later).
Definitely replace the awful Windows 8 with the wonderful (IMHO) Windows 7 - but do back up every so often, as suggested.
When you guys talk about backing up, do you mean files and folders? Or the OS?
I already backup user files and to three different external HHDs.
thanks
Backup image is an "photo" of the entire HD: system, programs and personal data. My system is much tweaked, and I have over 65 programs, each with various settings, serial numbers and customizations.
My Macrium image is on an external HD. If my HD gets screwed up, I wouldn't want to reinstall system, programs and data, as it takes me 2 weeks to set up a new computer. I would just restore the image, which is just one file.
My data is also backed up more often on a 2nd computer. There are also differential backups, as lehnerus2000 outlined, but as my computer doesn't change very much over time, I skip those. YMMV.
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