Windows 7 is EOL is near, what will you do?

[torchwood]

IM staying put.

Got another machine runnng 10 - IP
What i find incredulous is that MS takes the opinion they know whats best for us
(especially those using Home - they have taken away any real choice of user options/customisations)

BUT the biggest BUG of all
They keep depracting old equipement and therefor driver support for it, saw yesterday another example
Because of this the next Upgrade fails. an unsupported device/driver error code would be handy
As for drivers on supported equipement, sheeesh, my Wifi card originally on a W8 machine keeps getting thrown the wrong one, have to pull in an alledgedly unsigned one from within the system

Roy

 

[BenyaminL]

Yes that's true

Just adding to my post above (for further consideration):

I made only six security updates for my Win7x64-SP1. Just after my post above, I decided to run two more updates: KB4056897 (meltdown patch) and KB4056894 (monthly security roll-up January 2018). And ques what.. Windows Explorer refuses to rename any folder at first attempt -rename succeeds after Try again.
After checking the web, someone found solution for that bug: I needed to remove certain registry keys -and it works so far. But who knows where else can/will I get "weird behavior".. maybe assuming I got some virus/malware. I refused to update Win7 for years and everything worked well. Now I made security(!) update and problem arise.
Btw. this bug is known for at least two years, but as it seems, MS doesn't care. Ok, one would think Win7 is an "old story". But going to Win10 forums one can see similar thing (bugged updates which fixes previous bug). My impression about MS... Over the years, generation there changed (sloppy programmers), philosophy changed, people in charge changed. They just shovel update after update and user accept them (thinking "one need to be up to date") without second though. And if PC doesn't work as expected (or used to), it's usually considered as "user's fault".
As I said in my post above: I have enough time to decide.. and it might be Linux as well.

Ah thanks for informing me such problem, I never encounter that kind of bug, so I don't really know to reproduce it, so it's find for me. I've been with linux for years, but the problem is my laptop isn't ready with linux, it's having proble with dedicated driver and power saving and some hotkeys that not working. The real problem is with the nVidia. It overheat alot, so in the end I stay with the OEM windows 7 and it stay there normaly and stable. I decided use linux on VMWare station, and if I don't run it, I just use git-bash with some tools on it for do my job hehehe.. it's great actually with linux flavor inside windows.... Windows 10 problem is constantly telemetry collecting intensive that cause the processor overheat and such.. that's very bad.


Anyway about meltdown patch, I heard that M$ doesn't recommend that people patch it, and I don't get the patch via windows update, that make me curious what really happen, since mine is sandy bridge intel processor..

 

[BenyaminL]

This's my concern, Security when on Windows 7

Use what ever Windows you care to use.
I use both Windows 10 and Windows 7.

I'm on Windows 7 at the present time on this computer and Windows 10 on the other computer, which is dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10.
Windows 10 is a more secure operating system.

Jack

This's my real concern. If I still use windows 7 on the end of life, how to secure it anyway... and how to protect it if I'm a heavy usage internet guy and I don't use antivirus (well to be honest, antivirus sometimes ****ing with my compiling especially when using visual studio even I've white list it..) and I use USB also, hahaha.... most of the time. I don't want to do dual booting or such.. it's pain in the ass anyway..

 

[simon10362]

Its security depends on you, the item between the chair and the keyboard.

I've been using AV-less systems for I don't even remember how long now. Over 5 years at least. And during that time I've not gotten anything resembling a virus.

There were some stuff that I profylactically checked for and was discovered as malware but even that was a false-positive IIRC.

Me personally, will be staying on Win7 for as long as possible. It's MS last decent OS and seemingly the last decent kernel aswell[6.1.7601, Vista.1 bois ], Win 8 - 8.1 - 10 introduced certain features that some programs and my mainboard seemingly don't like. It's minor in the bug-sense but extremely annoying from the users perspective. (In some programs the cursor randomly resets its position time to time etc.)
Plus the damn things are spying on you. And there's a simple rule of thumb here. If the product is for free, then it aint the product, you are.
That OS is highly the most backdoored OS to date. Pretty sure of that. Windows 7 might still have some as well, but considering its age and the amount of 3rd party work done on investigating it, most of the stuff seems to have been ironed out.
Just make sure you don't really use any proprietary applications on them if security and privacy is involved. A good example being bitlocker. Never store anything you dearly care about in the cloud without it being securely encrypted with open-source and popular products.

My 2 cents.

 

[BenyaminL]

Its security depends on you, the item between the chair and the keyboard.

I've been using AV-less systems for I don't even remember how long now. Over 5 years at least. And during that time I've not gotten anything resembling a virus.

There were some stuff that I profylactically checked for and was discovered as malware but even that was a false-positive IIRC.

Me personally, will be staying on Win7 for as long as possible. It's MS last decent OS and seemingly the last decent kernel aswell[6.1.7601, Vista.1 bois ], Win 8 - 8.1 - 10 introduced certain features that some programs and my mainboard seemingly don't like. It's minor in the bug-sense but extremely annoying from the users perspective. (In some programs the cursor randomly resets its position time to time etc.)
Plus the damn things are spying on you. And there's a simple rule of thumb here. If the product is for free, then it aint the product, you are.
That OS is highly the most backdoored OS to date. Pretty sure of that. Windows 7 might still have some as well, but considering its age and the amount of 3rd party work done on investigating it, most of the stuff seems to have been ironed out.
Just make sure you don't really use any proprietary applications on them if security and privacy is involved. A good example being bitlocker. Never store anything you dearly care about in the cloud without it being securely encrypted with open-source and popular products.

My 2 cents.

It's very interesting thing happen here. Hahaha... I dunno, but for me, I really think one thing. MS trying making more money. And that's a big problem. Back to the point. I really Think that if I could. I want to stick with windows 7 until my computer completely broken, or there's a breakthrough in CPU or such. Nowdays computer isn't going faster in term on computation, it just going better on using power.... Just that things across my mind ) (* I also consider buying new laptop, but for now with 16gigs of ram it's quite enough to do anything even heavy computation<i5-2430m> and with many opened chrome tabs, opened VM with server on it, VS Studio, VS Code and word precessor sometimes presentation and spressheet. It never hits 15gb, sometimes, but never until 16gb... So the machine is works welll.. That's quite a thing.. Even it's DDR3L, but the new laptop isn't quite good enough...)

Thanks for supporting for never use antivirus :V awkakwa...

 

[Layback Bear]

From post # 25 by BenyaminL

MS trying making more money. And that's a big problem

Why in the world is Microsoft making money a bad thing?
If Microsoft doesn't make money we don't have any operating system.

Why would any company spend "billions of dollars" not to make money?

Jack

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Dang! I already have every operating system since DOS 6.22....so why would I want to keep giving money to MS? As the 'Robot' said, "That does not Computer, Will Robinson!"

So what will I do when Windows 7 hits its EOS? Absolutely Nothing, just like I did when Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows XP hit their respective EOS's.

EOS means nothing to the happy user of any OS.

Just sayin'

 

[MSClin]

EOS means nothing to the happy user of any OS.

When the extended support expire and critical vulnerabilities show up (if any), you will be exposed to big risk, all depending on how critical the vulnerabilities are. It's always better to use up-to-date OS, every advanced user which takes care of his stuff know this.

 

[JoWazzoo]

Dang! I already have every operating system since DOS 6.22....so why would I want to keep giving money to MS? As the 'Robot' said, "That does not Computer, Will Robinson!"

Just sayin'

LMAO - I am in a similar boat but go back a bit further - DOS 1.x and Windows 1.x. I changed OS when I felt like it - not when FORCED by M$. The only M$ OS I missed was Vista.

Only real problem in 30 + years, scores of OSes and multiple scores of machines was when my 13 YO daughter got click-happy and DLed some real nasty. Took me 5 days, but I got it solved before the AV companies had a fix.

Happy Win 7 user til the end. BTW - I use 8.1 and 10 on my wife's machines. They both stink. Especially 8.1.

 

[Barman58]

When Windows 7 reaches EOL I will do absolutely nothing, the same as I've done with many other EOL software packages, I have always moved on to the next in the long line, long before any package has reached EOL,

Have not used Windows 7 for any critical processes for several years,

When I have to use it for support purposes I find it very dated,

I started using it before it reached Beta level and enjoyed the look and feel especially when compared to the awful XP Luna Interface, But Seven's time has past

 

[redoak]

When Windows 7 reaches EOL I will do absolutely nothing, the same as I've done with many other EOL software packages, I have always moved on to the next in the long line, long before any package has reached EOL,

Have not used Windows 7 for any critical processes for several years,

When I have to use it for support purposes I find it very dated,

I started using it before it reached Beta level and enjoyed the look and feel especially when compared to the awful XP Luna Interface, But Seven's time has past

You find Windows 7 'dated', I find Window 10 to be eye-bleedingly ugly. But oh well, de gustibus non est disputandum I will use Windows 7 on this rig until it dies, and no doubt my next computer will have Win10 on it. I'll deal with it, but I'm not looking forward to it. (I have been running Win10 on and off as a dual boot since Day 1 of the Insider's program.)

I, too, have used every DOS and Windows since the beginning. In fact, when I started in this business, Microsoft's only product was a BASIC interpreter. Then came DOS. Then Windows. Then more Windows. My fave was Windows 2000 - I skipped WinXP altogether. Vista, meh, 7 good, 8.x yuck.

Anyway, onwards! Or something...

 

[lehnerus2000]

When the extended support expire and critical vulnerabilities show up (if any), you will be exposed to big risk, all depending on how critical the vulnerabilities are. It's always better to use up-to-date OS, every advanced user which takes care of his stuff know this.

In theory that's true.

I assume that you haven't noticed the current "Meltdown & Spectre" patch debacles (or complaints about W10 Update/Upgrade issues).

Also if the situation is bad enough MS will may release patches, just like they did for XP last year (3 years after the end of EOS).

You find Windows 7 'dated', I find Window 10 to be eye-bleedingly ugly. But oh well, de gustibus non est disputandum I will use Windows 7 on this rig until it dies, and no doubt my next computer will have Win10 on it. I'll deal with it, but I'm not looking forward to it. (I have been running Win10 on and off as a dual boot since Day 1 of the Insider's program.)

Another option would be to install a Linux Distro (like Ubuntu or Linux Mint) and then use VM software (like VMware Player) to create a W7 VM.

It might not be worthwhile if you mainly use your PC to play modern games though.

 

[redoak]

In theory that's true.

I assume that you haven't noticed the current "Meltdown & Spectre" patch debacles (or complaints about W10 Update/Upgrade issues).

Also if the situation is bad enough MS will release patches, just like they did for XP last year (3 years after the end of EOS).


Another option would be to install a Linux Distro (like Ubuntu or Linux Mint) and then use VM software (like VMware Player) to create a W7 VM.

It might not be worthwhile if you mainly use your PC to play modern games though.

I don't play any games, modern or otherwise Just not a gamer - working with these things is game enough for me. And I've been dual booting Linux since 1998, very familiar and comfortable with it, and it will be there. But I need some Windows or other to support a few people - that's really why I even bother with it any more.

 

[MSClin]

I assume that you haven't noticed the current "Meltdown & Spectre" patch debacles (or complaints about W10 Update/Upgrade issues).

I did noticed them.

Also if the situation is bad enough MS will release patches, just like they did for XP last year (3 years after the end of EOS).

I actually thought that they don't patch critical vulnerabilities after the extended support is ended.
Pretty useful to know this.

But to be honest, the recent Windows 7 updates just ruined W7. My first thing after installing Windows OS is to install the updates on it, but never more!

 

[BenyaminL]

From post # 25 by BenyaminL



Why in the world is Microsoft making money a bad thing?
If Microsoft doesn't make money we don't have any operating system.

Why would any company spend "billions of dollars" not to make money?

Jack

I mean in the bad ways... I know many of vendor works towards new things, software as a service that could make money and mining data on users... I think that's what I concern about..

 

[BenyaminL]

I did noticed them.



I actually thought that they don't patch critical vulnerabilities after the extended support is ended.
Pretty useful to know this.

But to be honest, the recent Windows 7 updates just ruined W7. My first thing after installing Windows OS is to install the updates on it, but never more!

M$ decided to patch it because many of xp users still out there and use it to connect to Internet.. that's why M$ done it..

 

[TechnoMage2016]

To paraphrase a famous man.."they will have to pry this OS out of my cold, dead, hands". (Win-7, Ultimate/32)

As a working PC Tech, I have to keep up on the OS of the day, that now being Windows 10.
But what I don't like is the time it takes me to set up a new PC with factory installed Windows 10 on it.

Windows 10 works, of course, and when installing it on an older PC, it has a very sizeable driver package, that previous versions of Windows, like W-7, did not have. But just disabling all the security holes, seems to take forever. I hate that! And people who won't or can't do that, leave themselves wide open the the snoops at MS. Is nothing sacred?

Then when all the open doors are finally closed, installing "The Classic Shell" can make W-10 look and act pretty much like the old familiar Win-7 or even Win-XP, which most old timers are familiar with.

Beware of the Name Brand PC's that come out with Windows 10, and were upgraded from Win-7 before they were sold. Doing a Factory Restore takes them back to Win-7. Arggg! I have one friend/customer who got caught up in that trap. A recent MS update disabled The Classic Shell and it cannot be re-installed. So now he's stuck with a computer that looks like crap to him. Only a HD wipe and a re-install of Windows XX will solve his problem.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Beware of the Name Brand PC's that come out with Windows 10, and were upgraded from Win-7 before they were sold. Doing a Factory Restore takes them back to Win-7. Arggg! I have one friend/customer who got caught up in that trap. A recent MS update disabled The Classic Shell and it cannot be re-installed. So now he's stuck with a computer that looks like crap to him. Only a HD wipe and a re-install of Windows XX will solve his problem.

TM, that is good advice. I never thought of that.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I actually thought that they don't patch critical vulnerabilities after the extended support is ended.
Pretty useful to know this.

Unfortunately there's no guarantee that they'll do it again (I've rephrased that post).

But to be honest, the recent Windows 7 updates just ruined W7. My first thing after installing Windows OS is to install the updates on it, but never more!

You should be able to safely install:

1. W7
2. SP1
3. KB3020369 (Pre-requisite for KB3125574)
4. KB3125574 (effectively SP2)

This will give you a W7 install that is updated to April 2016.
After that only I'd suggest that you only apply the Security-Only roll-up updates.

You'll also need to install the separate updates for .NET and IE.

 

[jamaclaypod]

Nothing. My solution is to keep 7 installation offline so no crud can mess it up. I use 8.1 on an Acer to fetch email and connect, but my main workhorse is the isolated Anitec with Windows 7 which I use to write. I don't expect to ever use Windows 10. It's been four years since I got the Acer with 8.1 and I have had literally no issues. I don't like the "Tiles" so I go classic. I don't see any problems in there being no further support for 7, for me! When the drive finally goes, I'll install a new SATA and reinstall 7 from an ISO file on a USB 2.0, which is supported by the MoBo. Of course it claims my copy of 7 isn't genuine because it never connects to the internet, but who cares?