I want to use win7 "forever" and never upgrade to win10

[swarfendor437]

I do worry about newer applications, e.g. in the future (esp after 2020) not working with Windows 7/8/8.1 because of video problems... e.g. hardware support for newer versions of OpenGL and OpenCL. (I bought the laptop I'm currently typing on now because my older laptop from 2011 has coompatibility issues with these OpenGL requiring software)


Judging by the lack of any driver availability for newer graphics hardware, I wonder if 3D rendering software and games in the future will work with these older OSes.
I think the next generation of NVIDIA Graphics cards after the currently hyped RTX 20 series will definitely not be compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1, and I also doubt any AMD cards in the future newer than the new RX Vega will support these older OSes.
And also if a standard for web browsers newer and better than HTML5 will come and newer versions of browsers will not support Windows 7/8/8.1
When that day comes, I hope to switch to Linux and become a full-fledged Linux user. Or I will have to use a VM just for the browser...

Why not do what Jim Phelps does? That way there won't be an issue on the Graphics front unless the games are intensive. I use Virtual Box but it limits the Graphics memory to 128 Mb even though I have a 2 Gb nVidia 620 card!

 

[unaulindvii]

Why not do what Jim Phelps does? That way there won't be an issue on the Graphics front unless the games are intensive. I use Virtual Box but it limits the Graphics memory to 128 Mb even though I have a 2 Gb nVidia 620 card!

You mean I run Windows 8.1 as a VM in a Linux host? Well, it shouldn't be a problem when hardware gets better...

 

[mrjimphelps]

If you're willing to pay, you can now keep using Windows 7 with an additional three years of support from Microsoft:

Microsoft offers paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates to Jan. 2023

jimphelps

I think that is a special service for volume license customers.

That is true - I have read that since posting the above. And I don't think it is possible any longer to become a Windows 7 volume license customer.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Why not do what Jim Phelps does? That way there won't be an issue on the Graphics front unless the games are intensive. I use Virtual Box but it limits the Graphics memory to 128 Mb even though I have a 2 Gb nVidia 620 card!

You mean I run Windows 8.1 as a VM in a Linux host? Well, it shouldn't be a problem when hardware gets better...

I have a W7 VM and a W8.1 VM. Both Windows installs are 32-bit. My Linux host is 64-bit. The W8.1 VM is slower than the W7 VM; the W7 VM runs fast. The computer has 4 GB total of RAM, and I have allocated 2 GB to the W8.1 VM. If I work only in the W8.1 VM (i.e. if I don't switch back and forth between Linux and W8.1), the W8.1 VM runs reasonably well. But I am convinced that if I had more memory in the computer, and therefore could allocate more memory to the W8.1 VM, the VM would run a lot better.

I will soon be adding 8 GB to my computer; once I have done that, I will allocate 4 GB (rather than 2 GB) to the W8.1 VM, and 4 GB to the W7 VM. I believe that once I have done that, I will be able to run both VMs at the same time, and freely switch between W7, W8.1, and Linux Mint without any noticeable problems with performance.

Once all that is done, it won't matter what I run - Linux Mint, W7, or W8.1. If you are looking for a way to continue with a version of Windows that is older than W10, this seems like the most promising way to successfully do that.

 

[johnhoh]

Isn't it possible to do this?
1) Install Win10
2) Install classicshell
3) run a make-W10-exactly-like-W7 script, or program, or list of procedures

doesn't item 3 exist?

 

[SIW2]

3) run a make-W10-exactly-like-W7 script, or program, or list of procedures

doesn't item 3 exist?

No.

 

[johnhoh]

No.

I'm finding plenty of lists of procedures. Just don't know if any one of them is the most complete

How to Make Windows 10 Look and Feel Like Windows 7

 

[SIW2]

Just a few cosmetic things. Not much use.

 

[johnhoh]

anyone who wants to add links to other items needed below is welcome. Looking for constructive additions, trying to see what's possible rather than just throw in the towel.

how to make windows 10 run like windows 7

1) Install Win10
2) Install classicshell
3) How to Make Windows 10 Look and Feel Like Windows 7
4) O&O ShutUp10
5) ?
6) ?

 

[SIW2]

This thread is for people who want to keep using win7 as long as possible.

It is not about pushing them onto win10, with the idea that they will put up with it after a few cosmetic changes.

This is the Title:

I want to use win7 "forever" and never upgrade to win10

 

[townsbg]

Classic shell isn't being updated anymore due to all of the changes that M$ makes. Classic Shell • View topic - Classic Shell no longer in development. Source code released Any change M$ makes could break Classic Shell and cause stability issues. Using it on 8.1 and earlier should be safe but not 10.

 

[unaulindvii]

I have a W7 VM and a W8.1 VM. Both Windows installs are 32-bit. My Linux host is 64-bit. The W8.1 VM is slower than the W7 VM; the W7 VM runs fast. The computer has 4 GB total of RAM, and I have allocated 2 GB to the W8.1 VM. If I work only in the W8.1 VM (i.e. if I don't switch back and forth between Linux and W8.1), the W8.1 VM runs reasonably well. But I am convinced that if I had more memory in the computer, and therefore could allocate more memory to the W8.1 VM, the VM would run a lot better.

I will soon be adding 8 GB to my computer; once I have done that, I will allocate 4 GB (rather than 2 GB) to the W8.1 VM, and 4 GB to the W7 VM. I believe that once I have done that, I will be able to run both VMs at the same time, and freely switch between W7, W8.1, and Linux Mint without any noticeable problems with performance.

Once all that is done, it won't matter what I run - Linux Mint, W7, or W8.1. If you are looking for a way to continue with a version of Windows that is older than W10, this seems like the most promising way to successfully do that.

Wow, bless you, you're really cool! I think that's what I'll do when I get a new computer again.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Wow, bless you, you're really cool! I think that's what I'll do when I get a new computer again.

Make sure you get plenty of memory - 16 GB minimum. And get a big (at least 500 GB) PCI3 NVM3 SSD (Solid State Drive) rather than a mechanical hard drive. Both the memory and the SSD will hugely speed up everything you do local on the computer (i.e. everything except for what is done online). So not only will the Windows virtual machine run fast because of the memory, but it will load and save fast because of the SSD.

 

[lehnerus2000]

anyone who wants to add links to other items needed below is welcome. Looking for constructive additions, trying to see what's possible rather than just throw in the towel.

how to make windows 10 run like windows 7

1) Install Win10
2) Install classicshell
3) How to Make Windows 10 Look and Feel Like Windows 7
4) O&O ShutUp10
5) ?
6) ?

The trouble is that MS keeps deliberately changing W10, to make it more difficult for users to apply workarounds.

I also have W7 & XP VMs that I can run using VMware Workstation (in W7 & Linux Mint)
I also have a W10 VM that I can run using VMware Player in Linux Mint.

Wow, bless you, you're really cool! I think that's what I'll do when I get a new computer again.

Make sure you get plenty of memory - 16 GB minimum. And get a big (at least 500 GB) PCI3 NVM3 SSD (Solid State Drive) rather than a mechanical hard drive. Both the memory and the SSD will hugely speed up everything you do local on the computer (i.e. everything except for what is done online). So not only will the Windows virtual machine run fast because of the memory, but it will load and save fast because of the SSD.

The amount of RAM you need depends on what you want to do in your VM.

4GB (Host OS + Guest OS) won't be enough for smooth running, unless you are using a lightweight Linux VM.
Best lightweight Linux distro of 2018 | TechRadar

My main PC has 12 GB of RAM.

My W7 VM that I used for my Software Development course (VS2015, Netbeans,etc.) has 6 GB allocated to it.
Last weekend (for the first time ever) I managed to trigger a low RAM warning when I was playing around with MySQL Workbench (I'm not sure what caused it).

My XP VM that has my old games installed in it, only has 4 GB of RAM allocated to it.

When a new version of Linux Mint is released I create a VM to test it and I normally allocate 2 GB of RAM.
However if I plan to use it regularly, I up the RAM allocation to 4 GB.

The important thing is to remember to leave a couple of GB of RAM for your Host PC.
One of my friends allocated all of his RAM to a VM and his Host PC suffered "brain lock".

 

[mrjimphelps]

One of my friends allocated all of his RAM to a VM and his Host PC suffered "brain lock".

I momentarily considered doing that, then I realized that if the host doesn't work, the VM isn't going anywhere.

 

[txangel]

When Windows 7 dies. I'll have no choice but to switch to a Linux version. There are no other options. IOS & WIN10 are pure garbage.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Backup and Convert to VM

When Windows 7 dies. I'll have no choice but to switch to a Linux version. There are no other options. IOS & WIN10 are pure garbage.

Another option is to convert an existing W7 install to a VM.
Macrium Reflect Backup Images can be converted to VMs.

VMs can be easily copied to external storage.
Obviously people should only run copies of their VM.

VMs can be easily isolated from networks, so they should be protected from malware and rogue updates.

 

[RoWin7]

Win 10 can't be the last one. MS makes its best income by brainwashing everyone to buy a new OS every few years.

What's the general opinion of 8.1, without going too OT here?

 

[RoWin7]

Classic shell isn't being updated anymore due to all of the changes that M$ makes. Classic Shell • View topic - Classic Shell no longer in development. Source code released Any change M$ makes could break Classic Shell and cause stability issues. Using it on 8.1 and earlier should be safe but not 10.

I have Classic Shell making my Win7 UI look like XP. However, I tweaked XP to look like Win98.

I've heard CS can be used on W8.1.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Win 10 can't be the last one. MS makes its best income by brainwashing everyone to buy a new OS every few years...

Actually, MS can and will. MS has abandoned the idea a new OS every so many years and is making continuous changes to Win 10. In fact, I'm amazed they even bothered to number it. They will still make their money because a Win 10 license is only for ten years, then one will have to shell out their shekels to renew it.