How long should I keep Windows 7 and delay upgrading?

[xlcgroup]

Hey, guys... my laptop isn't the newest but it's ok for now. I've used 7 on this laptop since I got it and never felt the need to upgrade for common reasons like habit and avoiding all types of bugs in newer OS's, decent specs on this laptop and being used to 7 and knowing where to find things. I use it strictly for playing online poker and running 3 poker software simultaneously along with the clients and it doesn't hog up too many resources at this point.

I've tried 8 on my newer desktop and I don't like it all. Feels like I have to go through more of an effort just to do simple tasks, lots of things have changed and I just feel frustrated finding or doing certain things that I know how to do on 7. I am guessing it also takes up more resources to run and I've heard all kinds of problems with speed issues from others on forums. I can only imagine what 9 and 10 are like, if you can chime in, I'd appreciate it.

I still have XP running on a desktop from 8+ years ago which is used to surf and write word docs, spreadsheets, etc. 8 is not a possible upgrade for this machine due to limited specs.

My questions:

1. When should I upgrade my 7 on the laptop and why? If yes, to what OS? I was planning on using 7 until they stop making updates for it which apparently is not too far off from what I've read.

2. Same questions for my XP desktop.

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[ringel05]

I just downgraded from Windows 10 to Win 7 on two of my machines and will not re-upgrade ever unless Microsoft decides to release a true operating system instead of just an "operating system as a service" which Win 10 is. Win 7 is supported (critical updates) till 2020 after that you can decide what to do from there, me I'll just be careful where I go on the internet and be careful what I download, it's my gaming machine so my internet browsing on it is limited anyway. As for the rest (I have three others) I'll probably go Linux as I already have with my laptop.
As for your question concerning when you should upgrade...... That's really up to you and in reality if you want to stay with Windows then 10 is you're only long term solution, now your XP machine is a whole different story, run it only on occasion to keep it from rotting and wait till it becomes a valuable antique you can sell via Sotheby's.

 

[AddRAM]

If they run fine, I`d leave them alone.

 

[fireberd]

Many older hardware PC's don't run Win 10 very well or even at all. As AddRAM noted I'd leave them alone. However, at some point you will have to decide on a new PC and Win 10 (if you stay with a Microsoft OS system). I had Win 7 and Win 10 dual boot on my old desktop PC and after a very short while I found I was using 10 and not 7. All my recording studio hardware and software was Win 10 compatible.

 

[mrjimphelps]

1. I wouldn't upgrade the computer with 7 on it till 2020 (i.e. when Microsoft quits releasing security patches for it). At that time, or shortly before, I would go either to 8.1 with Classic Shell (because you can make it look and feel just like Windows 7 when you have Classic Shell installed) or to Xubuntu Linux.

2. I would put Xubuntu Linux on the XP machine if you're going to continue to surf the web on it. You're living dangerously by surfing the web with XP, especially in light of all of the really bad malware out there these days. Install an SSD in that machine, and put Xubuntu on it; then copy what you need from the old hard drive, then put the old hard drive in a static bag and store it in case you ever need anything from it or want to go back to XP.

 

[Megahertz07]

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?

 

[xlcgroup]

I just downgraded from Windows 10 to Win 7 on two of my machines and will not re-upgrade ever unless Microsoft decides to release a true operating system instead of just an "operating system as a service" which Win 10 is. Win 7 is supported (critical updates) till 2020 after that you can decide what to do from there, me I'll just be careful where I go on the internet and be careful what I download, it's my gaming machine so my internet browsing on it is limited anyway. As for the rest (I have three others) I'll probably go Linux as I already have with my laptop.
As for your question concerning when you should upgrade...... That's really up to you and in reality if you want to stay with Windows then 10 is you're only long term solution, now your XP machine is a whole different story, run it only on occasion to keep it from rotting and wait till it becomes a valuable antique you can sell via Sotheby's.

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.

 

[xlcgroup]

If they run fine, I`d leave them alone.

I appreciate your input, will stick with 7 until I hear 10 had bugs worked out or something better comes along.

 

[xlcgroup]

Many older hardware PC's don't run Win 10 very well or even at all. As AddRAM noted I'd leave them alone. However, at some point you will have to decide on a new PC and Win 10 (if you stay with a Microsoft OS system). I had Win 7 and Win 10 dual boot on my old desktop PC and after a very short while I found I was using 10 and not 7. All my recording studio hardware and software was Win 10 compatible.

If your recording software was all compatible with 7, would you use 10 over it? My poker software requires little resources compared to your needs but your specs would also be a factor I guess.

 

[xlcgroup]

1. I wouldn't upgrade the computer with 7 on it till 2020 (i.e. when Microsoft quits releasing security patches for it). At that time, or shortly before, I would go either to 8.1 with Classic Shell (because you can make it look and feel just like Windows 7 when you have Classic Shell installed) or to Xubuntu Linux.

2. I would put Xubuntu Linux on the XP machine if you're going to continue to surf the web on it. You're living dangerously by surfing the web with XP, especially in light of all of the really bad malware out there these days. Install an SSD in that machine, and put Xubuntu on it; then copy what you need from the old hard drive, then put the old hard drive in a static bag and store it in case you ever need anything from it or want to go back to XP.

I appreciate it, I do have Malware Bytes and SuperAnti Spyware and do scans regularly FWIW. I will start taking some proactive steps and do some research on what you suggest. It's a lot to swallow as I am not experienced in hardware upgrades or Xubuntu.

 

[xlcgroup]

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.

 

[ringel05]

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.

 

[ringel05]

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.

 

[Melchior]

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....

 

[mrjimphelps]

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.

 

[mrjimphelps]

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.

 

[xlcgroup]

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%. :sarc:

 

[ringel05]

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

 

[xlcgroup]

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.

 

[ringel05]

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.