Solved I want to stick with W7 - 2020 workaround?

[edassange]

I'm very happy with Windows 7 and don't want to DOWNGRADE to Windows 10. My only concern is when support ends in January 2020. Is there any way Windows 7 can continue to be used safely after that date?

 

[Layback Bear]

In my opinion no body really knows what will happen in or after 2020 with Windows 7.

Hopefully by then Microsoft will have another operating system we want to buy.

 

[whs]

I don't think the system will be unsafe after 2020. You just will have to watch what you are doing on the internet. Another option is to run a virtual Linux for all internet business.

 

[MilesAhead]

Most likely we will know a lot more how to get around the 2020 issue sometime around 2019.

 

[Emmar]

I think it will be safe without MS support. Just keep your protection up to date. I haven't done updates on my Windows7 for over 2 years and it runs fine. When I reformatted and installed MS Office and Windows live mail, MS over rode my never settings and only install what I needed for those two installations. I don't worry about so called dangers, I can take of my PC and so far have fixed any problems by googling for solutions or reading help forums like this one.

 

[AddRAM]

windows 7 will be fine, even better without any annoying updates

 

[Stevekir]

My daughter has a laptop, bought about 4 years ago. I learned recently that she has never updated Windows, nor has she installed any anti-malware. No problems. Me, I have Kaspersky and Malwarebytes.

 

[AddRAM]

Yep, just watch what you download, don`t use windows mail, outlook etc and you should never have a problem.

 

[Emmar]

It seems to me that downloading safely is getting harder and harder to do. I try to download from the site, but it often sends me somewhere else that I am not familiar with. The only time I have had serious malware is downloading the last couple of years. I got "safe search" and it froze my PC. Went back later and it was not frozen anymore. I could not get rid of it until I thought to try system restore. That got rid of it. I emailed my friend and she said it's now in system restore and she told me how to get rid of it there. I love learning all of this stuff. An infection is actually a challenge for me and I enjoy the challenge.

I use a software called Unchecky and when there are extras included in a download it unchecks the extras and you only get what you want downloaded.

 

[Bertison]

My daughter has a laptop, bought about 4 years ago. I learned recently that she has never updated Windows, nor has she installed any anti-malware. No problems. Me, I have Kaspersky and Malwarebytes.

That's also my routine! Must be a Brit thing?

But the previous posts are encouraging. I have GWX Control Panel set to kill any Win10 "updates" Microsoft attempts to smuggle onto my PC and the wife's laptop. I sincerely hope that, at the age of 71, I don't have to tax my remaining brain cells with learning Linux. I have arrived at a happy place with 7 and I have loved it since first installation.

Layback Bear, I don't think Windows intends to sell us another O/S. They advertised 10 as the last Windows Operating System, did they not? (thinks) - how much, though, can we rely on any Final Declaration from Redmond?

 

[Emmar]

I thought GWX was a software to find out if the installation software was already on the PC. I was told to download it for a search on my new 8.1 desktop.

I think MS has backed off after admitting their "error" of a misplaced check mark.

 

[SJLPHI]

Join my club, and send Microsoft a grievance regarding the downgrade, and tell them that you'll start using Mac as of 2020.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I thought GWX was a software to find out if the installation software was already on the PC. I was told to download it for a search on my new 8.1 desktop....

The GWX Control Panel does more than check to see if the W10 installation files are on your computer. See this website for more info: Ultimate Outsider: Using GWX Control Panel to Permanently Remove the 'Get Windows 10' Icon

 

[Layback Bear]

Bertison you are correct. Microsoft did state that W-10 will be their last operating system.
They didn't say what version of W-10 that would be.
Trying to predict what Microsoft will be doing in 2020 is not possible.

 

[SJLPHI]

Here's what I'm worried about, how would they expect a PAID operating system to be a rolling distribution, with ONE desktop environment?

You cannot have any one update/upgrade which will be compatible with ALL computers!

As for sticking with W7,
look up DisableGWX and DisableOSUpgrade regedit DWORD keys. Don't be afraid to make regedit keys.

 

[Barman58]

Join my club, and send Microsoft a grievance regarding the downgrade, and tell them that you'll start using Mac as of 2020.

This time there's no Steve jobs to return and save Apple, like the last time he left, I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple not making desktops or laptops by 2020, The may even be owned by Microsoft by then

 

[Layback Bear]

Microsoft would do anything to be able to buy Apples cell phone business.
Apples Desktop and Laptop business would just fad away to never never land.
I can't predict the future so this is just my opinion.

 

[SJLPHI]

You know,

in terms of OS, Mac and Microsoft should stay competing, but they have been lately converging. Windows converging to MacOS. Except, Windows was NEVER intended originally to run like MacOS.

The best/worst part of using Linux is that there are so many distributions of Linux, so even if one invents a virus/worm for Linux, they cannot infect the total batch of "LINUX" in the similar way to MacOSX, or Windows"#". The curse is that the companies cannot make so many different variations of compatible drivers/software for individual distros.

 

[Barman58]

The Cell phone business is a different proposition to the Personal Computer market - Apple are still selling 25% of the mobile phones worldwide, but their PC market is shrinking again

 

[Barman58]

Yes if you add the apple PC share to the all the tiny Linux shares, it only leaves Microsoft with about 95% of the world market :sarc: