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#11
This is exactly what i said, too. As long as you have the needed drivers on the hardware you have, you will be able to run Windows 7, regardless of what the hardware is.
What about gen 8? What do you mean by "Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose."? You mean Intel's generation 8 CPUs, that Windows 7 can't be installed on these processors?
I'd like to go back to the original question of the OP.
Q: "Can Windows 7 still be used?"
A: Of course it can!
Windows 7 is in use the world over, more than any other OS....or so I've been told.
Just for fun, I recently downloaded an "Improved" version of Windows 7/Pro/32 from a trusted site,
then using Rufus, I burned the ISO to a 16GB Flash Drive. So far, so good.
This morning I began the install to a spare HD (500GB HD), attached to my old eMachine. (AMD Athlon 64, 2GB ram) With on-board Video, Sound and LAN.
The install went off without a hitch. The Windows Installer found and installed drivers for the video and LAN, but could not find the correct AC97 driver for the on-board sound chip. I had those drivers, on my Utilities disk, so that was only a mild inconvenience to get my sound working.
With the addition of the "K-Lite Codec Pack" I can now play any AV file in my library. And, by tweaking the Equalizer in Media Player, I'm getting really nice audio out of my cheap little PC speakers.
Cut to 6PM and the new install of Windows 7/Pro/32 is working like a Champ. I'm done!
I didn't need this, and only did this install as a part of my hobby of playing with different OS's. (I'm a retired Computer Tech).
But with O.E.Classic installed, I was actually able to send an email to a friend who runs Windows 7 as his main OS, every day.
So I hope I've answered the original question of the OP.
PS: Windows 7 has never had the Driver Pack that Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 has, but with a little work, it can be installed and run like any of the newer OS's. I just proved that today.
Cheers Mates!
I have been told that it doesn't matter how new the hardware is - the only thing you need to do is to insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, and the OS will become compatible. Is this true, or is there more than just compatible drivers to make an OS compatible with hardware?
If i just insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, can the OS run on literally any type of hardware, or not? Are there any limits?
Yes this is true, maybe not for laptops but for desktops this is true, the drivers are unofficial but they do work!
If i just insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, can the OS run on literally any type of hardware, or not? Are there any limits?[/QUOTE]
my windows dell 7 works perfectly, I put a new Terra byte drive on it, great cooling system, skipped putting new zink gunk between chip and cooling fins, using clothe I pushed 1 sheet of tin foil on to chip, another on to fins to fill in
dried zink micro gaps, tightened them together, mach runs cool. I tried Gates 8 and laughed my butt off.
it (7) runs almost as fast as a jobs if I sweep it clean daily.
From my own standpoint, I'd have to say "YES, you can still install and run Windows 7 with little to NO problems, it just depends on what version of Win-7 you're using and where you got it.
I recently installed a New & Improved version of Win-7/Pro/x86 to an OLD eMachine with an AMD Athlon 64 CPU, and 2GB of ram. Today it's running GREAT! That was just for fun. Windows 8.1/Pro is a much superior OS, and installs even easier than Win-7.
Being old and retired, my hobby today is playing with different OS's on different (old) PC's. I may install an OS today, and next week blow it off in favor of something else. It's all just something to keep me busy.
Cheers Mates!
Happy 4th!
TM