For how long are you planning to stay on Windows 7?

[Daeslender]

Hello everyone, first of all I think I should introduce myself, considering I've just joined these forums earlier today.
I'm pretty must just your regular young computer enthusiast, studying IT because there's not much else I'm good at. I've been visiting these forums every now and then for a while, and after seeing that there are quite a lot of nice people here I decided to join 'em and see what's up. Aaand I guess the fact that this is a forum focused on Windows 7 also helped


Yes, I'm that one guy that just will not join the Windows 10 cul- er gang. A lot of people think I stick to Windows 7 (and old stuff in general) to stand out or something, but really, I just really have my reasons to despise Windows 10 (and they are many), and I just like Windows 7 way too damn much to throw it out the window just 2 years after I first got my hands on it.


And yes, I've only been using Windows 7 for a while. I originally had a Windows 8 laptop, back in 2014. It worked fine, but naive young me decided to give Windows 10 a try once Microsoft started giving it out for free. Really bad decision... or maybe a really good one, considering Windows 10 is the reason I'm on 7 now. I used it for some days, it was fine, but after a few months and updates, problems started to arise.


Constant BSOD's, crashes, annoying updates and incompatibility with my old games and programs, this led to some very frustrating years. But learned to live with it, since I had a lot of important stuff in that laptop and I didn't have the money or will back then to back up my stuff and put a new OS in it. Thankfully, between late 2017 and mid 2018 I was able to get some money and finally get a nice desktop pc, and with the advice of a friend, I made the jump to Windows 7, an OS I had always been curious about as a kid, but had never actually tried before (I jumped from XP to 8, and also used Vista inbetween sometimes, but never 7).


And I've been using it since then, it never gives me any problems, and it truly makes me feel like I'm in control of my computer, not the other way around. As for EOL? Well, I couldn't care less. Yes, I know I may eventually get into big trouble without security updates, but I'm not going to give up on what I want just because of the potential security risk.


While the inevitable incompatibility of future software does somewhat concern me, this probably won't be much of a problem in the near future, since I do plan to build a new PC focused on running an up-to-date Linux distro (I already dual-boot Linux in this computer, along with W7 and WXP, but having to choose between one of the two systems is not really ideal) that will sit alongside my Windows 7 PC so I can easily access it whenever I need to use some newer software.


A few of my friends are also on Windows 7 atm, but they already have plans to move to either Windows 10 or Linux completely in fear of not being able to use modern software. I'm not planning to leave the ship anytime soon, and I'd like to know what you guys are planning for the next few years

 

[RoWin7]

As long as I can. If the anti-viruses drop it, I still have my browsers sandboxed.

 

[billmcct]

At least til Posready hits EOL Oct. 2024. So far I'm updated to Oct.2020, just waiting for the Nov. updates.
I guess I will then have to use 8,1 after 7 expires.

 

[flavallee]

January 2023 supposedly is when the last ESU's will be provided for Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit.
If that is correct, I will continue to use it until then.
I will use only Windows 10 Pro 64-bit afterwards.
I currently use both operating systems in dual boot mode.

 

[Struggling7]

At least until 2023 when they stop doing MSE definition and engine updates, which is what I’m still using as anti-virus software. Or until this computer dies which ever comes first. Mainly because this unit won’t update to Win 10 because of hardware issues.

I do have a laptop that’s on Win 10 Pro, that I use some but still like Win 7 better.

 

[file3456]

Do you work for Microsoft so you can gauge your marketing?

 

[Daeslender]

Do you work for Microsoft so you can gauge your marketing?

Nah don't worry, I'm not gonna start promoting Windows 10 anytime soon. I will promote Windows 7 tho hehehe

 

[Snick]

Only have a couple issues with Win10, using open shell windows like, if wireless mouse connected, sleep doesn't work via power options, unless you select sleep. Little learning curve with some of the changes! Do like Cortana for voice in notepad, Word, and somewhat LibreOffice.

Snick

 

[Megahertz07]

For how long I'm planning to stay on Windows 7 it's difficult to answer.
Is like asking for a someone well married for how long he's planning to stay with his wife.
The answer is forever.
As nothing is forever, I'll stay with Win 7 as long as I can use the current software. I would say about five to ten years.

 

[Marie SWE]

Hi
Hello
I answer like Megahertz07....... Forever.
I still have win 3.1 on one computer and on my oldest PC intel 8088 only have MS-Dos as OS
However, as daily use I have Linux as main OS now after win7EOL2020 with dualboot win8.1 for a few things I haven't solved in linux.. yet.... and win10 is not an option to me.. I think: integrity is the word *haha*

But since I am interested in retro computers and the retro-moral says.... that it should only be time-typical software and games installed on the hardware..... so I'm going to have one laptop and two desktops with win7 in my collection

 

[Daeslender]

Hi
Hello
I answer like Megahertz07....... Forever.
I still have win 3.1 on one computer and on my oldest PC intel 8088 only have MS-Dos as OS
However, as daily use I have Linux as main OS now after win7EOL2020 with dualboot win8.1 for a few things I haven't solved in linux.. yet.... and win10 is not an option to me.. I think: integrity is the word *haha*

But since I am interested in retro computers and the retro-moral says.... that it should only be time-typical software and games installed on the hardware..... so I'm going to have one laptop and two desktops with win7 in my collection

Do you use that 3.1 PC regularly? 'cause that'd be pretty damn awesome.

 

[Marty McFly]

I would never, ever use Windows 10. It is SO awful, in so many ways. I would not, could not touch it.

In fact, I would never buy another Microsoft operating system again - not after all the creepy stuff the company has done lately, including forcing Win 10 upgrade on people, all the telemetry updates (!!) not to mention Windows 10 itself, which spies on users. So no, I would never trust Microsoft again. I trust Win 7, and the first few years of updates (just about).

Plus, I am very concerned by how aggressively Windows 10 was rolled-out. there seems to be immense pressure from all sectors of the industry to "upgrade to Windows 10". Everyone seems to want to twist people's hands and force us to comply with "upgrading" to Windows 10. (Actually a downgrade.) It seems like all big businesses wants to try and force everyone onto Windows 10. And I find that very concerning. I don't like being coerced into anything.

For now, I have no plans to change from Windows 7, ever. I'm security conscious, and sensible, and very rarely download new software. So I will take my chances. Virustotal is an amazing resource, and I scan anything I download. Plus everything is backed up in a different location.

To be honest, I'd rather be without internet entirely, than use Windows 10. Heck, I'd rather have no computer than use Windows 10, I find it so objectionable!

Long-term, I am considering moving (partially) to Linux. I am not yet happy with the Linux interface, but it seems to be improving all the time. I'm thinking I could maybe use a Linux parition for everyday computing, including going online, while keeping my Windows 7 partition for programs that don't run on Linux (eg Photoshop).

 

[Aardvarkly]

I'm very much in agreement with your choices and reasons why. Once I saw the bully boy tactics Microsoft was using to force people to abandon something that people were already happy with I started asking why. Then when stories of privacy issues and loss of control came to light from early adopters I made up my mind. Like the gun freaks in America say, I'll give up my Windows 7 "when you pry it from my cold dead hands".
I will be using W7 until hell freezes over. I have two desktops that have had fresh installs of W7 with the telemetry removed and updates switched off. I don't play games at all and I only use basic free software so there is no pressing need to depart from the familiar comfort of W7. I have a second hard drive already configured with Linux on both PCs to migrate to if something devastating happens.

Power to the People!

 

[Marty McFly]

Good to encounter likeminded people!

 

[file3456]

While I would absolutely love to just stick with Windows 7, it's just not feasible in an ever progressive state of technology. You can hold out with Windows 7 for a while, but what will happen is that the hardware for modern computers, software requirements and website code requirements and their code delivery methods will require you to use a current OS unless you want to jump through all kinds of hoops using third-party hacked drivers that may lack good solid support and TLS proxies and other things. Forget about gaming with modern games and using things like Steam, Battle.net or Epic Games. It just won't happen and Microsoft knows this.

So what we're looking at here is either you do what I will do and that is to extract as much crap out of a Windows 10 ISO, and use the Pfsense firewall to block all telemetry via ASN or you just roll a flavor of Linux. If your needs are just small home and office orientated Apping, then Linux would be a mighty fine choice. The modern day Linux OS of today has made a lot of leaps and bounds with user friendliness and the availability of programs for which can do what comparable Windows programs can do from a small home and office stand point. In fact, if I ran a business all of my employees would be using Linux and Libre Office. Not only would I save an absolute ton on money for licensing, and software and their needed updates (remember Office is now pretty much a pay for service now), but my IT team will more than likely be able to handle IT issues better since it's Linux which is the same OS most servers use, and Linux is what is largely taught in the IT and cybersecurity world. Yes, there is IIS, but it is very true most servers use a variant of Linux. Mostly CentOS or Ubuntu I'm sure.

Anyway, I know of a popular Internet user who's probably been on every corner of the Internet and is probably a member of God only knows how many forums who to this day runs Windows 98se. He's able to do it with a crap ton of hacked crap and the use of some kind of TLS proxy due to SNI that will render Windows 98se not able to use the modern day Internet with TLS being used by a good majority of websites now a days, especially with Google's push for TLS. This user's name? Dude111. Just a simple search for this username and you might be amazed. LOL He speaks about not being on "the government's radar" and all this, yet has a huge presence all over the Internet. So yeah, here's a guy that to this day is using Windows 98se. LOL! I still remember my space and SETI screensaver's for Win 98se. Those were the days... And to think when I was using XP I vowed NEVER to use Windows 7, yet here I am.

 

[Marty McFly]

While I would absolutely love to just stick with Windows 7, it's just not feasible in an ever progressive state of technology. You can hold out with Windows 7 for a while, but what will happen is that the hardware for modern computers, software requirements and website code requirements and their code delivery methods will require you to use a current OS unless you want to jump through all kinds of hoops using third-party hacked drivers that may lack good solid support and TLS proxies and other things. Forget about gaming with modern games and using things like Steam, Battle.net or Epic Games. It just won't happen and Microsoft knows this.

I have no interest in videogames, so that only leaves web browsers, and I'd be happy to set up a Linux partition just for using the web. Like I said, I'd rather have no internet than use Win 10. Internet is not essential. I've been without internet for long periods of time and been quite happy.

My biggest problem is Adobe software. I can no longer upgrade, and forced to stay using older versions. I guess I'll learn to live with it.

 

[Aardvarkly]

I have a feeling that for some people having only basic needs, older versions are more than adequate. Newer versions only seem to add more complexity and non-essential bells and whistles. My "go to" image editing software is the old Paint Shop Pro 7. It has done everything I have asked of it since Win98 without any updates at all.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I have a feeling that for some people having only basic needs, older versions are more than adequate. Newer versions only seem to add more complexity and non-essential bells and whistles. My "go to" image editing software is the old Paint Shop Pro 7. It has done everything I have asked of it since Win98 without any updates at all.

I think that pretty well explains it, for most of us Old-Timers.
On my first PC, which I built out of generic parts, except for the IBM XT motherboard, I installed MS DOS 2.0, and I've had just about every MS offering since then.
With Windows 7, Pro, I've finally found the OS to end all OS's.

Win 8.1 and Win-10 offer me nothing but more headaches.


I have no doubt, that the day I die my PC will still be running Windows 7.


Cheers mates!
TM

 

[Marie SWE]

Do you use that 3.1 PC regularly? 'cause that'd be pretty damn awesome.

No, it's just one of my many retro computers. But I start it up sometime every month or two. It is an AST Bravo LP intel 486 sx25MHz.. it is win3.11 I made a typo on 3.1
I also have some old retro games that are typical of the time when this 486 was modern.

 

[Daeslender]

No, it's just one of my many retro computers. But I start it up sometime every month or two. It is an AST Bravo LP intel 486 sx25MHz.. it is win3.11 I made a typo on 3.1
I also have some old retro games that are typical of the time when this 486 was modern.

Ah I see, well I think we can still count that as somewhat regularly
I think if I had one of those I'd probably try to use it on a regular basis, if only to use it for some basic document editing and to play some of those sweet old games, just for the sake of it. Buuut for now I think I'll stick to a near-future idea of a Windows 98 PC that I'll have next to my W7 PC