Can Windows 7 still be used?

[Min4ove4e]

Hello. I got an offer for super cheap desktop computer that has the following specifications:

Windows 7 Pro
LGA 1155
Intel i-5 Core
8GB of RAM

The computer is nice, and I need it for coding, modding of an old video game. Modding a specific video game is a hobby I have.

I selected Windows 7, because the game and the third-party apps related to the game are best suited and compatible for Windows 7 and Windows XP.

The problem is that a person told me Windows 7 is no longer compatible with modern hardware. This means that if one or more of the components fail, I will have to throw away the whole computer, because compatible components no longer exist for Windows 7, meaning I won't be able to buy a new component and replace the failed one.

For example, Intel i-5 Core and LGA 1155 are discontinued, meaning they are no longer being produced.

As newer CPUs aren't compatible with LGA 1155, I won't be able to replace the CPU.

As newer motherboards aren't compatible with Windows 7, I won't be able to replace the old motherboard with new one.

Is this true? If yes, how do you still run Windows 7? I know some people who still use Windows 7. How do they do it?

I would like to use Windows 7 for as long as possible. Basically, I will be using this specific computer for only the specific task of coding and modding. I have newer builds for other tasks, but I need Windows 7 for that specific task.

Can someone help me and explain me what to do?

 

[billmcct]

Do a search and you'll see you can still buy the processors, motherboards, either new or used.
CPUs rarely go bad and if they do it is because of over heating.
Windows 7 can and is being installed on newer systems.
I read everyday of people downgrading their Win 10 - 11 systems to Win 7.

 

[SIW2]

Hello. I got an offer for super cheap desktop computer that has the following specifications:

Windows 7 Pro
LGA 1155
Intel i-5 Core
8GB of RAM

The computer is nice, and I need it for coding, modding of an old video game. Modding a specific video game is a hobby I have.

I selected Windows 7, because the game and the third-party apps related to the game are best suited and compatible for Windows 7 and Windows XP.

The problem is that a person told me Windows 7 is no longer compatible with modern hardware. This means that if one or more of the components fail, I will have to throw away the whole computer, because compatible components no longer exist for Windows 7, meaning I won't be able to buy a new component and replace the failed one.

For example, Intel i-5 Core and LGA 1155 are discontinued, meaning they are no longer being produced.

As newer CPUs aren't compatible with LGA 1155, I won't be able to replace the CPU.

As newer motherboards aren't compatible with Windows 7, I won't be able to replace the old motherboard with new one.

Is this true? If yes, how do you still run Windows 7? I know some people who still use Windows 7. How do they do it?

I would like to use Windows 7 for as long as possible. Basically, I will be using this specific computer for only the specific task of coding and modding. I have newer builds for other tasks, but I need Windows 7 for that specific task.

Can someone help me and explain me what to do?

There is plenty of lga 1155 stuff available on the well known auction site, and at places like CEX - which provide guarantees.

ddr3 ram, intel 3rd gen processors and lga 1155 motherboards are not hard to find and are quite cheap.

I have a couple of lga1155 machines. One I built myself and the other is a hewlett packard prebuilt.

Depending on your budget, you could also consider something more modern. I recently purchased second hand 8th gen intel components very reasonably.

Or if you prefer an oem prebuilt machine, you could consider something like the DELL 8/9th gen 3070, or 5070 optiplex or vostro/inspiron for example.

The more recent stuff is more efficient and can perform to a higher standard. Plus it will have a longer life.

Nothing wrong with the 3rd gen stuff, it might be all you need . But if the 8th gen is within your budget, I would suggest that. Second hand prices are reasonable now for 8th gen components or prebuilts.

Because win 7 runs great on 8th gen , and 8th gen ( and newer) is also officially supported for win11 if and when you (or the next owner of the machine) wants to do that.

Win 11 does not officially support 3rd gen.

 

[zEddie27]

Windows 7 can be installed on modern hardware, even ryzen 5000 series and 12th gen intels.

what generation is your new pc on? I can help you out.

 

[Min4ove4e]

I searched. And as far as I know, hardware that supports Windows u, is discontinued.

- - - Updated - - -

There is plenty of lga 1155 stuff available on the well known auction site, and at places like CEX - which provide guarantees.

ddr3 ram, intel 3rd gen processors and lga 1155 motherboards are not hard to find and are quite cheap.

I have a couple of lga1155 machines. One I built myself and the other is a hewlett packard prebuilt.

Depending on your budget, you could also consider something more modern. I recently purchased second hand 8th gen intel components very reasonably.

Or if you prefer an oem prebuilt machine, you could consider something like the DELL 8/9th gen 3070, or 5070 optiplex or vostro/inspiron for example.

The more recent stuff is more efficient and can perform to a higher standard. Plus it will have a longer life.

Nothing wrong with the 3rd gen stuff, it might be all you need . But if the 8th gen is within your budget, I would suggest that. Second hand prices are reasonable now for 8th gen components or prebuilts.

Because win 7 runs great on 8th gen , and 8th gen ( and newer) is also officially supported for win11 if and when you (or the next owner of the machine) wants to do that.

Win 11 does not officially support 3rd gen.

I don't want auctions, because buying second-hand electronics is risky. If I buy something, it will be new.

Where can LGA 1155 be found? I searched for it, but it turned out its discontinued.

I don't necessary want LGA 1155. The reason why originally I selected LGA 1156, is because I'm I thought LGA 1155 is the latest motherboard Windows 7 is compatible with, and newer motherboard don't support Windows 7. In fact, I would like to have the newest and latest hardware that is compatible with Windows 7. However, I don't know which year was the year when the latest win7-compatible hardware was produced. I don't know which is the latest hardware compatible with Windows 7.

"The more recent stuff is more efficient and can perform to a higher standard. Plus it will have a longer life."

Yes, I know this. However, I didn't want more recent stuff, because I was told newer hardware doesn't have drivers for Windows 7, and is therefore not compatible with Windows 7.

- - - Updated - - -

Windows 7 can be installed on modern hardware, even ryzen 5000 series and 12th gen intels.

what generation is your new pc on? I can help you out.

I was told it can't. How can it be installed, if it doesn't have drivers for newer hardware and is therefore not compatible with newer hardware?

The computer I would like to buy uses Intel core i-5. However, I would like to buy more recent hardware, which is compatible with Windows 7. The reason why I wanted to buy LGA 1155 and Intel core i5, is because I was told newer hardware doesn't support Windows 7.

If newer than LGA 1155 motherboard support Windows 7, I would buy newer ones.

 

[zEddie27]

The computer I would like to buy uses Intel core i-5. However, I would like to buy more recent hardware, which is compatible with Windows 7. The reason why I wanted to buy LGA 1155 and Intel core i5, is because I was told newer hardware doesn't support Windows 7.

If newer than LGA 1155 motherboard support Windows 7, I would buy newer ones.[/QUOTE]

nope, windows 7 has been installed on the latest ryzen cpu's Installing Windows 7 On AMD Ryzen 9 5900x 5950x & X570 Board Chipset - YouTube and 12th gen intels

https://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/426543-win7-i9-12th-gen-machine.html#post3499336

what new hardware are you specifically looking for, chances are it's capable of using windows 7

 

[Megahertz07]

Gen 2 and 3 use LGA 1155 and it's fully win 7 compatible
Gen 4 and 5 use LGA 1150 and it's fully win 7 compatible
Gen 6 and 7 use LGA 1151 and it's almost fully win 7 compatible (you have to add some drivers to the Win 7 installation drive)

Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose. You have to use some none official drivers.

 

[Min4ove4e]

The computer I would like to buy uses Intel core i-5. However, I would like to buy more recent hardware, which is compatible with Windows 7. The reason why I wanted to buy LGA 1155 and Intel core i5, is because I was told newer hardware doesn't support Windows 7.

If newer than LGA 1155 motherboard support Windows 7, I would buy newer ones.

nope, windows 7 has been installed on the latest ryzen cpu's Installing Windows 7 On AMD Ryzen 9 5900x 5950x & X570 Board Chipset - YouTube and 12th gen intels

https://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/426543-win7-i9-12th-gen-machine.html#post3499336

what new hardware are you specifically looking for, chances are it's capable of using windows 7[/QUOTE]

Thanks for explaining this to me. What is the newest/latest motherboard that supports Windows 7?

- - - Updated - - -

Gen 2 and 3 use LGA 1155 and it's fully win 7 compatible
Gen 4 and 5 use LGA 1150 and it's fully win 7 compatible
Gen 6 and 7 use LGA 1151 and it's almost fully win 7 compatible (you have to add some drivers to the Win 7 installation drive)

Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose. You have to use some none official drivers.

Can any hardware, CPU and motherboard, be made fully compatible with Windows 7, even if they are produced (by the manufacturer to not be compatible with Windows 7 at all), if you just put the needed drivers?

 

[Megahertz07]

You don't make CPU and motherboard fully compatible with Windows 7.
You make Windows 7 installation drive compatible with new hardware adding some (official and no official) drivers.

 

[Min4ove4e]

You don't make CPU and motherboard fully compatible with Windows 7.
You make Windows 7 installation drive compatible with new hardware adding some (official and no official) drivers.

Alright. So, it doesn't matter what the hardware is, Windows 7 will always be able to run as long as the drivers of the hardware are inserted in the installation file of Windows 7? Did i get it correctly?

 

[Megahertz07]

Alright. So, it doesn't matter what the hardware is, Windows 7 will always be able to run as long as the drivers of the hardware are inserted in the installation file of Windows 7? Did i get it correctly?

Nope. Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose.
You can't install Win 7 on all new hardware. Some CPUs and some MBs allow you to install Win 7 but you have to add some none official drivers to the installation drive.

 

[Min4ove4e]

Nope. Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose.
You can't install Win 7 on all new hardware. Some CPUs and some MBs allow you to install Win 7 but you have to add some none official drivers to the installation drive.

This is exactly what i said, too. As long as you have the needed drivers on the hardware you have, you will be able to run Windows 7, regardless of what the hardware is.

What about gen 8? What do you mean by "Gen 8 and up depends on the CPU and MB you choose."? You mean Intel's generation 8 CPUs, that Windows 7 can't be installed on these processors?

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I'd like to go back to the original question of the OP.

Q: "Can Windows 7 still be used?"
A: Of course it can!

Windows 7 is in use the world over, more than any other OS....or so I've been told.

Just for fun, I recently downloaded an "Improved" version of Windows 7/Pro/32 from a trusted site,
then using Rufus, I burned the ISO to a 16GB Flash Drive. So far, so good.
This morning I began the install to a spare HD (500GB HD), attached to my old eMachine. (AMD Athlon 64, 2GB ram) With on-board Video, Sound and LAN.
The install went off without a hitch. The Windows Installer found and installed drivers for the video and LAN, but could not find the correct AC97 driver for the on-board sound chip. I had those drivers, on my Utilities disk, so that was only a mild inconvenience to get my sound working.
With the addition of the "K-Lite Codec Pack" I can now play any AV file in my library. And, by tweaking the Equalizer in Media Player, I'm getting really nice audio out of my cheap little PC speakers.

Cut to 6PM and the new install of Windows 7/Pro/32 is working like a Champ. I'm done!


I didn't need this, and only did this install as a part of my hobby of playing with different OS's. (I'm a retired Computer Tech).
But with O.E.Classic installed, I was actually able to send an email to a friend who runs Windows 7 as his main OS, every day.

So I hope I've answered the original question of the OP.

PS: Windows 7 has never had the Driver Pack that Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 has, but with a little work, it can be installed and run like any of the newer OS's. I just proved that today.

Cheers Mates!

 

[Min4ove4e]

PS: Windows 7 has never had the Driver Pack that Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 has, but with a little work, it can be installed and run like any of the newer OS's. I just proved that today.

Cheers Mates!

I have been told that it doesn't matter how new the hardware is - the only thing you need to do is to insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, and the OS will become compatible. Is this true, or is there more than just compatible drivers to make an OS compatible with hardware?

If i just insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, can the OS run on literally any type of hardware, or not? Are there any limits?

 

[zEddie27]

Yes this is true, maybe not for laptops but for desktops this is true, the drivers are unofficial but they do work!

If i just insert hardware-compatible drivers into Windows 7, can the OS run on literally any type of hardware, or not? Are there any limits?[/QUOTE]

 

[jim davis]

my windows dell 7 works perfectly, I put a new Terra byte drive on it, great cooling system, skipped putting new zink gunk between chip and cooling fins, using clothe I pushed 1 sheet of tin foil on to chip, another on to fins to fill in
dried zink micro gaps, tightened them together, mach runs cool. I tried Gates 8 and laughed my butt off.
it (7) runs almost as fast as a jobs if I sweep it clean daily.

 

[yatoto]

Do a search and you'll see you can still buy the processors, motherboards, either new or used.
CPUs rarely go bad and if they do it is because of over heating.
Windows 7 can and is being installed on newer systems.
I read everyday of people downgrading their Win 10 - 11 systems to Win 7.

Yes, agreed I am still using Windows 7 on my home PC and very satisfied.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

From my own standpoint, I'd have to say "YES, you can still install and run Windows 7 with little to NO problems, it just depends on what version of Win-7 you're using and where you got it.

I recently installed a New & Improved version of Win-7/Pro/x86 to an OLD eMachine with an AMD Athlon 64 CPU, and 2GB of ram. Today it's running GREAT! That was just for fun. Windows 8.1/Pro is a much superior OS, and installs even easier than Win-7.

Being old and retired, my hobby today is playing with different OS's on different (old) PC's. I may install an OS today, and next week blow it off in favor of something else. It's all just something to keep me busy.

Cheers Mates!
Happy 4th!
TM