Windows 7 End of Support

[dperecky]

Liking Windows 7... been using it for years. It has features that Win 10 no longer have...

I purchased Win 7 Ultimate - which includes BitLocker. Win Virtual XP mode, with which after 8+ years, I am re-acquainting myself to C++ (VC6). Bitlocker is used all the time with external drives and with my built-in data partition. Nice!

But Skype for Win 7 no longer works. Isn't MS responsible for Skype as well?

 

[townsbg]

But Skype for Win 7 no longer works. Isn't MS responsible for Skype as well?

What are you talking about? I use Skype on 7.

 

[SandraChung]

Liking Windows 7... been using it for years. It has features that Win 10 no longer have...

I purchased Win 7 Ultimate - which includes BitLocker. Win Virtual XP mode, with which after 8+ years, I am re-acquainting myself to C++ (VC6). Bitlocker is used all the time with external drives and with my built-in data partition. Nice!

But Skype for Win 7 no longer works. Isn't MS responsible for Skype as well?

Windows 7 Users are being forced, and I mean forced, to either upgrade to that horrible Facebook Messenger version, or go without. Yes, Microsoft bought Skype and it's been losing features faster than a balloon losing air. Even if you've managed to install the SkypeClassic (the one where you can undock the contacts list, and have small chat windows) on a Windows 7 machine, you will soon get a message, that even when you click NOT NOW or the red x for not wanting to update, it will shut skype down and tell you you have to upgrade to newest version. Might not have happened to you yet, but you will.

 

[dperecky]

What are you talking about? I use Skype on 7.

These are my options when I sign onto Skype in Win 7:
ETA: Uploaded image


---I can (supposedly) Update | or Quit.
--Note: the update doesn't work on my Win7.

 

[goodlad]

These are my options when I sign onto Skype in Win 7:
ETA: Uploaded image
View attachment 406746

---I can (supposedly) Update | or Quit.
--Note: the update doesn't work on my Win7.

not sure why it doesn't work for you, for me it updated more than 3 or 4 weeks back. I think it was after the last update, it logged me out of skype & asked me to login again. I haven't logged-in with out using saved in logins in over 2 or 3 years, so I didn't even remember pwd, had to use forgot pwd & reset it



I have Win 7 Home edition, no extra OS on it.



What msg do you get when you try to update it ? May be the update issue is not related to your OS version ? I've had issues in the past when I tried to update skype, usually attempting to update once again after an restart or fresh installation does the trick.

 

[SandraChung]

These are my options when I sign onto Skype in Win 7:
ETA: Uploaded image
View attachment 406746

---I can (supposedly) Update | or Quit.
--Note: the update doesn't work on my Win7.

Yup, and it's not just Windows 7 users this is happening to. I just had it happen with my Windows 10 drive.

As for the update not installing on Windows 7, it does. Even if you have to download the file rather than use the built in update feature, then run as Administrator.

 

[SandraChung]

These are my options when I sign onto Skype in Win 7:
ETA: Uploaded image
View attachment 406746

---I can (supposedly) Update | or Quit.
--Note: the update doesn't work on my Win7.

Some people working on this problem, it seems if you can find and download Skype v7.36 you get your regular functionality back. Now, now sure how long this will last, but so far, so good!

 

[dperecky]

not sure why it doesn't work for you, for me it updated more than 3 or 4 weeks back. I think it was after the last update, it logged me out of skype & asked me to login again. I haven't logged-in with out using saved in logins in over 2 or 3 years, so I didn't even remember pwd, had to use forgot pwd & reset it



I have Win 7 Home edition, no extra OS on it.



What msg do you get when you try to update it ? May be the update issue is not related to your OS version ? I've had issues in the past when I tried to update skype, usually attempting to update once again after an restart or fresh installation does the trick.

Yup, and it's not just Windows 7 users this is happening to. I just had it happen with my Windows 10 drive.

As for the update not installing on Windows 7, it does. Even if you have to download the file rather than use the built in update feature, then run as Administrator.

Thanks for your help. Skype is working for me again on Win7. I did what you suggested and removed it from the Control Panel, then redownloaded. It's version 8.37.0.98. (no reboot req'd)

Looking good in the neighborhood.

 

[SandraChung]

Thanks for your help. Skype is working for me again on Win7. I did what you suggested and removed it from the Control Panel, then redownloaded. It's version 8.37.0.98. (no reboot req'd)

Looking good in the neighborhood.

I managed to install earlier version of Skype and am no longer getting the forced quit, and 'install or else' pop up window. I don't like v8x as it currently is. If they change it so the user can tweak the GUI (individual chat windows, undock contact list, etc etc) I'll be glad to use it. But until then, I will keep using the older version.

 

[svnfrms2r]

W10 being a total spyware with more transmitted than ever to M$FT and less letter orgs, and many old apps not working anymore pre-95 to xp/32 etc, it may be only possible to virtualize W7 (and xp) and forget about w10 completely, running linux mint or so as the fundamental layer upon which the VMs run.
This is partially a necessity, since nothing is as complete as office 2007 (incl good old xml) incl full integration of bcm and accounting pro (no need for dynamics), etc.
Any ideas on this?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

W10 being a total spyware with more transmitted than ever to M$FT and less letter orgs, and many old apps not working anymore pre-95 to xp/32 etc, it may be only possible to virtualize W7 (and xp) and forget about w10 completely, running linux mint or so as the fundamental layer upon which the VMs run.
This is partially a necessity, since nothing is as complete as office 2007 (incl good old xml) incl full integration of bcm and accounting pro (no need for dynamics), etc.
Any ideas on this?

Any ideas on what? I didn't understand any of that.

 

[svnfrms2r]

Any ideas on what? I didn't understand any of that.

Any ideas re any issue/point (and of course how to do it better than upgrading to w10 or linux as base and VMs on top).

What specifically did you not understand? If "all", then please reread and pick s/t specific.

 

[dperecky]

W10 being a total spyware with more transmitted than ever to M$FT and less letter orgs, and many old apps not working anymore pre-95 to xp/32 etc, it may be only possible to virtualize W7 (and xp) and forget about w10 completely, running linux mint or so as the fundamental layer upon which the VMs run.
This is partially a necessity, since nothing is as complete as office 2007 (incl good old xml) incl full integration of bcm and accounting pro (no need for dynamics), etc.
Any ideas on this?

W10 IMO works Ok on a tablet.... Cover the camera when not in use. May have to upgrade to W10 at a later date for the primary computer.

Right now, using Win7 (and XP Virt) and just downloaded VirtualBox and Lubuntu as the guest for security reasons (in theory, all logged on accounts should be ran in there).
A little reversed of what you have... same basic idea.
It works well... but had bumped up the RAM for performance reasons. The RAM was over $100... so probably when I get a new computer... I'll be looking for one that accepts these two 8G RAM Simms... so that they don't go to waste.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Any ideas re any issue/point (and of course how to do it better than upgrading to w10 or linux as base and VMs on top).

What specifically did you not understand? If "all", then please reread and pick s/t specific.

How can I get specific when I didn't understand any of it?

 

[svnfrms2r]

How can I get specific when I didn't understand any of it?

As explained before: »If "all", then please reread and pick s/t specific.«
So, you could start with the first thing you did not understand, and ask a specific question about it.
Still difficult? Then take a break, and come back to it later if you feel like it, or not, up to you, of course

To spare you the search for it:
'W10 being a total spyware with more transmitted than ever to M$FT and less letter orgs, and many old apps not working anymore pre-95 to xp/32 etc, it may be only possible to virtualize W7 (and xp) and forget about w10 completely, running linux mint or so as the fundamental layer upon which the VMs run.
This is partially a necessity, since nothing is as complete as office 2007 (incl good old xml) incl full integration of bcm and accounting pro (no need for dynamics), etc.
Any ideas on this?'

 

[svnfrms2r]

W10 IMO works Ok on a tablet.... Cover the camera when not in use. May have to upgrade to W10 at a later date for the primary computer.

Right now, using Win7 (and XP Virt) and just downloaded VirtualBox and Lubuntu as the guest for security reasons (in theory, all logged on accounts should be ran in there).
A little reversed of what you have... same basic idea.
It works well... but had bumped up the RAM for performance reasons. The RAM was over $100... so probably when I get a new computer... I'll be looking for one that accepts these two 8G RAM Simms... so that they don't go to waste.

I see. Well, yes, VMs inside windows is possible. I was concerned with the whole spying thingy in windows 10, since that would be then fundamental and around each VM. With linux as base layer that can be avoided I thought.

Recently I found out by chance that there is so much transmitted without knowledge of the user, that I am not sure how anyone can tolerate it:
Antonio Kowatsch – Medium
Remove telemetry updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 . GitHub
Microsoft's Software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation
Would be great if this could be debunked thoroughly, ie with scientifically accepted proof.

What should one do about all the apps that run under xp and 7, but cannot run under 10?
Many old apps not working anymore pre-95 to xp/32, do you have a solution for that?
All a huge investment and useful since a long time, just throw them away because someone forces an update? And all the hours of adjustments until all works? It is great if one does not have such vested interests, then upgrading seems easier.

Hope you can easily find the right hardware fit for your RAM components. Some really good deals are out there from leasing companies, when their assets come out of the oft three year limited term corporate contracts.

Many thanks for your input and ideas, much appreciated.

 

[michael diemer]

Running Windows inside of Linux is very doable, and this way Windows is "sandboxed" inside Linux and thus much safer from malware. Some people also plan to just keep using Windows 7, but offline, using Linux for online work. Or even going online with Windows, but with an abundance of caution.


If you are going to do the VM thing, I would recommend a Linux distro that is fast, as Windows will be slower as a VM. MX Linux, Ubuntu Mate and Mint would all be good choices. In general, lighter distos tend to be faster. Ubuntu Mate is one of the lighter ones. Mint Mate and Mint XFCE are also good choices for lighter systems.

 

[svnfrms2r]

Running Windows inside of Linux is very doable, and this way Windows is "sandboxed" inside Linux and thus much safer from malware. Some people also plan to just keep using Windows 7, but offline, using Linux for online work. Or even going online with Windows, but with an abundance of caution.


If you are going to do the VM thing, I would recommend a Linux distro that is fast, as Windows will be slower as a VM. MX Linux, Ubuntu Mate and Mint would all be good choices. In general, lighter distos tend to be faster. Ubuntu Mate is one of the lighter ones. Mint Mate and Mint XFCE are also good choices for lighter systems.

sounds good!

# mint xfce would be my choice as base layer (xfce for it is one of the best developed, stable, old, compatible, etc)
# xp, 7, etc in VMs
# 1-2 cores for mint, 6+ for the rest

thank you

 

[townsbg]

As explained before: »If "all", then please reread and pick s/t specific.«
So, you could start with the first thing you did not understand, and ask a specific question about it.
Still difficult? Then take a break, and come back to it later if you feel like it, or not, up to you, of course

I'm with Lady Fitzgerald. With 3 run-on sentences in a row, all seeming to be statements rather than questions, it is confusing to know just what you are asking. So if you would please ask your question more directly rather than make 3 long, random statements and assume that we understand what you are asking. "Any ideas on this?" Any ideas on what? What topic are you asking about? Also that kind of put down can really discourage people from helping in the future.

 

[michael diemer]

sounds good!

# mint xfce would be my choice as base layer (xfce for it is one of the best developed, stable, old, compatible, etc)
# xp, 7, etc in VMs
# 1-2 cores for mint, 6+ for the rest

thank you

XFCE is a great choice. That was my favorite Mint desktop, although Cinnamon is nice too. Just depends on your system. older systems with less ram do better with a lighter distro. ("distro" refers to a Linux OS, like Ubuntu or Mint. "desktop environment" refers to the GUI. mint is a distro. Mate and XFCE are DE's.).