Will Microsoft steal my Windows 7? Why I'm worried.

[Adams Seven]

I'm a happy user of Windows 7, and hope to keep it patched and operational until extended support expires in early 2020. I'm concerned that Microsoft may be quietly determined to make that as tough as possible.

I'll explain why I'm worried, and invite others to comment below.

(1) Adobe got away with Creative Cloud, whether users like it or not. Adobe's Q1 Numbers Show Creative Cloud Is a Success, Whether We Like it or Not No more dreaming up of bells and whistles to add onto mature, perpetual license software packages. Now the Creative Cloud licensing dollars roll in day in and day out, as for sellers of beer, cigarettes, commodities. Adobe as a corporation is better off, even if customers are left in the cold.

(2) In 2013 a Microsoft-er wrote "Like Adobe, we think subscription software-as-a-service is the future." in a blog post. https://blogs.office.com/2013/05/07/software-subscriptions-progressive-or-premature/

(3) Microsoft as a corporation has under-performed. The ValueAct hedge fund bought shares, secured a seat on the board, may have played a role in Ballmer's ouster. ( Ballmer Departure From Microsoft Was More Sudden Than Portrayed - Kara Swisher - News - AllThingsD ) I think activist investors sometimes can bring benefit to a company, but presume that their first interest is the bottom line: their investment will look good if Microsoft EPS numbers climb.

(4) I never requested Win 10, but the 6 gig package arrived on my computer uninvited. So did update KB2952664, KB3035583 and others intended to do nothing but smooth the transition to unwanted, uninvited Win 10. Decades of experience as a consumer have taught me to be cautious, cautious, cautious when I see a company trying to stuff something down my throat.

What do the rest of you think?

Today I downloaded Linux Mint and installed it in a dual boot configuration on another computer. Maybe I can get Windows to run on it in a virtual machine, so I can hold onto some of my Windows software essentials while I transition to the Linux world. I'm not at all eager to make the change, but the surprise landing of that 6 gig software package in a hidden directory was the last straw. I think I have reason to worry.

An ironic coda: I own MSFT shares! I still don't want to pay a licensing fee for my OS, even if it would send the share price up.

 

[Layback Bear]

It's simple to me.

Microsoft is Microsofts biggest competitor. That is because Microsoft has over 90% of the market operating systems except phones.

Windows 7, 8 and 10 compete against each other.

Microsoft sold a ton of Windows 7. Doing Updates don't bring in money.
Microsoft sold few Windows 8 and again Updates don't bring in money.

Microsoft want to sell us Windows 10 and that brings in new money. Plus the new methods of spying and gathering information should also bring in new money.

We all know that Microsoft is doing what ever they can to talk us into Windows 10.
Now they are trying to sneak it in our computer anyway they can. Plus do anything they can to hurt Windows 7 anyway they can as a incentive to move to Windows 10.
Just look at the threads on this forum of members problems trying to move back from Windows 10 to Windows 7. Of course some of those problems is caused by Windows 7 not being proper when the upgrade to Windows 10 was done.

I'm thinking the way to work around these problems if one wants Windows 10 is to buy Windows 10 and do a clean install on a new drive.

Don't screw with the free upgrade Bull Droppings. Don't take a chance of screwing up your Windows 7 COA key or installation.

Let the Chinese have all the free upgrades to Windows 10. Then all they have to do is counterfeit the COA and be happy.

If Windows 10 isn't worth buying then it's not worth having.

The price of a Windows operating system is one of the cheapest things in most computers and it makes the whole thing work.
A $10,000 computer is a $10,000 boat anchor with out a proper working operating system that cost $100.00 to $200.00. Except Enterprise of course, it cost a LITTLE more

 

[FerchogtX]

It's sad, but the last OS done by Microsoft is not Windows 10, was Windows 7, the rest is just crap... and spying tools... and cash makers...
No quality anymore, just flatness...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Adams:

What concerns you most?

The possibility of Windows becoming a monthly or yearly subscription, like paying rent or a cable TV bill?

Or having a 6 GB Window 10 package land on your hard drive against your wishes?

Are you afraid this 6 GB will somehow install itself and overwrite Windows 7?

I don't want Win 10 on my current hardware and possibly even on new hardware, but I did not get the 6 GB download. I would be annoyed if I had received the 6 GB download, but I wouldn't expect it to auto-install.

I would not be in the least surprised if Windows became a subscription, despite any MS current denials. Nothing I can do about that but stay with what I have indefinitely beyond Windows 7 end of support, abandon Windows entirely, or pay the subscription. I don't spend a lot of time wondering or worrying about it.

If MS can develop sufficient revenue unrelated to Windows licensing, such as from those "apps" in the Microsoft "store", maybe they can avoid the subscription model idea--despite its popularity as a business model from the likes of Adobe.

Like Layback Bear, I am not going to risk a valid Windows 7 retail license just to get the Win 10 "free upgrade". Confusion still reigns regarding the fine points of licensing on totally new hardware after July 2016 and MS has done little to clarify.

My current inclination is to use Win 7 retail on new hardware for the next few years. I may possibly buy Win 10 outright at some future time, depending on developments.

There's very little chance (under 10 percent) that I will abandon Windows entirely for another OS. I'd probably run Windows 7 after January 2020 and take my chances before I'd go to Linux. I'd probably go with Apple before I'd go with Linux and I haven't sat in front of a Mac since about 1996.

 

[Adams Seven]

Thanks, Layback Bear, FerchogtX and ignatzatsonic for the feedback. Layback Bear, I agree: an OS that isn't worth buying isn't worth having. I have no interest in Win10, but probably would do a clean install with a $140 copy from Newegg if I had to get it.

ignatzatsonic, I might be hurt much more long term by a Win subscription plan, a la cable TV or rent, but am far more bothered short term by the unannounced, unrequested arrival of the 6 GB "upgrade" in a hidden directory. The updates that installed the Win 10 nagware pop-ups were bad enough, but not quite bad enough to set off my Paranoid Consumer alarm. An unsolicited 6 GB special delivery did set it off.

 

[sgage]

Thanks, Layback Bear, FerchogtX and ignatzatsonic for the feedback. Layback Bear, I agree: an OS that isn't worth buying isn't worth having. I have no interest in Win10, but probably would do a clean install with a $140 copy from Newegg if I had to get it.

ignatzatsonic, I might be hurt much more long term by a Win subscription plan, a la cable TV or rent, but am far more bothered short term by the unannounced, unrequested arrival of the 6 GB "upgrade" in a hidden directory. The updates that installed the Win 10 nagware pop-ups were bad enough, but not quite bad enough to set off my Paranoid Consumer alarm. An unsolicited 6 GB special delivery did set it off.

Are you sure you didn't request a 'reserved copy'? I find it hard to believe that MS just sent Windows 10 to your computer without you opting in somehow. I've not heard of any other instance...

In any case, there have been clear instructions here for a couple of months on how to get rid of the upgrade nagware.

 

[Adams Seven]

I'm as certain that I did nothing to 'opt in' as I am that a keyboard sits under my fingers and that a monitor stands in front of my eyes. I'd rather sell my neighbor's kids on the high seas than invite that kind of 6 gb stealth download.

 

[sgage]

I'm as certain that I did nothing to 'opt in' as I am that a keyboard sits under my fingers and that a monitor stands in front of my eyes. I'd rather sell my neighbor's kids on the high seas than invite that kind of 6 gb stealth download.

So you're pretty sure, then.

It's just that I've not heard of anyone else experiencing the same scenario, and you'd think it would be highly publicized. I have no explanation, and agree that it sux. Just out of curiosity, what does this 6 GB download consist of? The Windows 10 download typically runs 3-4 GB. I'm wondering if maybe something funny is going on...

 

[Adams Seven]

It is now gone (hooray!), so I can't snoop in the directory. I described the download at:

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...auto-download-windows-10-into-windows-bt.html

 

[sgage]

It is now gone (hooray!), so I can't snoop in the directory. I described the download at:

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...auto-download-windows-10-into-windows-bt.html

Great! Now you just have to watch your updates for a re-injection of the Win10 thing. If it shows up again, hide it in Windows Update, and you should be safe...

 

[Adams Seven]

Will do!

 

[lehnerus2000]

Today I downloaded Linux Mint and installed it in a dual boot configuration on another computer. Maybe I can get Windows to run on it in a virtual machine, so I can hold onto some of my Windows software essentials while I transition to the Linux world.

VMware Player runs on Linux Mint 17.2 MATE (64 bit).
I'm running a W10 VM on LM17.2 Host.

Every month you need to check your Windows Update update list, as MS keep pushing KB2952664 out (even if you have previously hidden it).

 

[michael diemer]

To those considering Linux: I have been running Zorin 9 for a few weeks now. I'm on it 90% of the time. I have not found anything yet that I can do on Windows that I cannot do on Zorin (and easily). It is the most W7-like Linux OS yet. updates are a breeze. They come as needed, and usually install in a few minutes, without a restart. Oh, well, ok the games are better on Windows. And the wallpaper. And I still do my music creation on a separate, dedicated W7 Pro machine. But the future holds options there as well. I have no doubt that I will fairly soon view Windows 7 as an occasional diversion. A nostalgic lookback to a time when Microsoft was more innocent, and less conniving.

 

[Adams Seven]

Thanks for the suggestions re VMWare and Zorin 9. I downloaded Virtual Box, but haven't given it a shot yet. I'm likelier to experiment first with a Linux VM under Win 7 than with a Win VM under Linux.

 

[Pebble]

MS has done me a favour, I started getting bored with Windows a few year's ago. After doing a clean install of 10, Then 8.1 and seeing the 'spyware options' i decided to install Linux Mint 17.2 on my lappy.
When support for Windows 7 end's i'll put linux on my desktop too.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I'm likelier to experiment first with a Linux VM under Win 7 than with a Win VM under Linux.

I've found that the latter combination seems to run better on my PC (i.e. Win VM under Linux)

 

[Joe Golden]

It's simple to me.

Microsoft is Microsofts biggest competitor. That is because Microsoft has over 90% of the market operating systems except phones.

I think you may have back-handed answer the question...

In my view Win 10 is nothing more than MS trying to gain more of the exploding smart phone market..
Win 10 has the same looks and feel of their struggling phone.

Win 10 may not be so much for us but for youth receiving their 1st computer. When youth gets ready for their first smart phone they will choose a phone operating system they are already familiar with ie Windows.

 

[Adams Seven]

I couldn't resist the experiment: I swapped out my boot drive, installed Linux Mint on a fresh HD, splurged for a new Win7-64 license from Newegg, and have spent much of the last weekend configuring a virtual Win 7 machine as a VirtualBox guest under Linux.

My impressions so far, for anyone contemplating a similar path:

Mint 17.2 is much more mature than I'd expected. It ran my nVidia card like a pro from the start, despite Linus Torvalds' past complaints about nVidia, and recognized my printer.

I had a tougher time making a Win7 VirtualBox guest run on a Linux host than I'd had configuring a Linux guest on a Win7 host. I had to change the virtual drive from SATA to IDE to get Win7 to install at all, and also had to configure drivers from a not-well-described VBoxGuestAdditions.iso to make the video work.

I had to fight to make a scanner work under Linux, and was horrified that an experiment with the Linux Chrome browser totally crashed the UI. I'd never expected that to happen in a Unix-based system.

I'm not sure where I'll go from here. I know Win 7 way better than I know Linux, and would say I got more done with less effort on my Windows 7 only computer. I face a steep learning curve to become a daily Linux user, but think the handwriting may be on the wall for my relationship with Microsoft, for the reasons described in the opening message of this thread.

If I do go back to all-Windows 7 computing, at least I'll know what ship I can jump into when the Win7 support cycle ends in 2020.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm not sure where I'll go from here. I know Win 7 way better than I know Linux, and would say I got more done with less effort on my Windows 7 only computer. I face a steep learning curve to become a daily Linux user, but think the handwriting may be on the wall for my relationship with Microsoft, for the reasons described in the opening message of this thread.

If I do go back to all-Windows 7 computing, at least I'll know what ship I can jump into when the Win7 support cycle ends in 2020.

Good on you for experimenting.

I haven't even looked at Linux since about 1996, but they were saying even then that it was just about ready for the desktop. Har-de-har-har-har.

I'm pretty much where you are. Not amused with Win 10 as it is now. Fearing a Linux learning curve. Faced with Win 7 end of support. I'm even having occasional Apple thoughts pass through my mind, which hasn't happened since about 1996 either.

I'm hoping, perhaps foolishly, that the Windows 10 situation as of say April 2016 will be considerably different than it is today. I mean as regards the confusion, speculation, and consternation surrounding licensing, retail licensing, moving to new hardware, updates, security, "spying", and the rest of it.

 

[sgage]

I'm not sure where I'll go from here. I know Win 7 way better than I know Linux, and would say I got more done with less effort on my Windows 7 only computer. I face a steep learning curve to become a daily Linux user, but think the handwriting may be on the wall for my relationship with Microsoft, for the reasons described in the opening message of this thread.

If I do go back to all-Windows 7 computing, at least I'll know what ship I can jump into when the Win7 support cycle ends in 2020.

Good on you for experimenting.

I haven't even looked at Linux since about 1996, but they were saying even then that it was just about ready for the desktop. Har-de-har-har-har.

I'm pretty much where you are. Not amused with Win 10 as it is now. Fearing a Linux learning curve. Faced with Win 7 end of support. I'm even having occasional Apple thoughts pass through my mind, which hasn't happened since about 1996 either.

I'm hoping, perhaps foolishly, that the Windows 10 situation as of say April 2016 will be considerably different than it is today. I mean as regards the confusion, speculation, and consternation surrounding licensing, retail licensing, moving to new hardware, updates, security, "spying", and the rest of it.

You might want to give Linux another look - there has been huge progress in the last few years...