Is anyone still using Windows 7?

[dg1261]

I am not familiar with simplix. Is this a one size fits-all for everything that's been updated over the years?

Even better -- it's a cumulative rollup of all critical updates, minus (to the extent possible) the tracking updates. See the Simplix website for a list of what's included and (if you scroll down the page to "Unwanted Updates") what's removed.

(Note: the site is Ukranian, not Russian. Many browsers will offer to translate it for you.)

The rollup also contains some Microsoft drivers like USB3, but AFAIK, I don't believe it contains any hardware specific drivers like video, so if you're doing a clean install you'll still have to source those drivers, perhaps from the manufacturer's site if still available.

 

[MisterEd]

I am not familiar with simplix. Is this a one size fits-all for everything that's been updated over the years?

According to the author

[Simplix for Windows 7] is designed to integrate updates into Windows 7 SP1 x86-x64 and Server 2008 R2 SP1 x64 distributions, as well as install them on the work system.

I find it handy if I have to reinstall Windows 7. The only requirement is that you already have SP1 installed. It saves a lot of time.

 

[Uitlander]

Both credit union sites have a popup that demands an upgrade to a current browser. Of course that means the absolute latest&greatest version, which doesn't work on Win7, nor is it available for install on MX Linux (they are always at least three or more versions behind). As said, going to the public library circumvented that, then came the demand to play secret agent code swap. There is a limit to how far I'm willing to bend to such nonsense...and that was the proverbial bridge too far. I specifically sought a pocket phone that does not do internet or text (took mucho effort to find one!), and not in the mood to be dictated terms to. I now do 'phone banking' by bothering the tellers. Let the idiots enjoy going into my account and looking up my balance! Play stoopid games and win stupid prizes.

Yeah, I sure miss Patelco.

Are those CU websites malfunctioning or freezing with your chosen browser? Or are they merely doing a browser check and refusing to let you continue? If the latter, you might want to try using Ray's "User-Agent Switcher and Manager" extension, available for both Chrome and Firefox. (Warning: if you do a search, there are multiple extensions with the same name, so the one I'm talking about is authored by the developer "Ray".)

"User-Agent Switcher and Manager" works by masquerading your OS and browser versions to make websites think you're using a different version of Windows and/or a different browser version. This has allowed me to continue using my favorite, locked-down OS and browser version with my bank and credit card websites.

Aside: I also have a Patelco account, which I've kept even though I've recently moved out of their service area. I've been a long-time fan of Patelco because they're the only financial institution I've had experience with that supports proper TOTP authenticator apps (like Authy, WinAuth, Google Authenticator, et al). Most financial sites only support the less secure SMS authentication, if at all. With Patelco, I can use TOTP authentication from my desktop without requiring a smartphone.

I opened a new CU account local to my new state, but not only do they support no form of 2FA at all, their Bill Pay functions are farmed out to some rando third-party website with its own login. That's not gonna happen, so I'm still looking for alternatives.

 

[MisterEd]

Both credit union sites have a popup that demands an upgrade to a current browser. Of course that means the absolute latest&greatest version, which doesn't work on Win7, nor is it available for install on MX Linux (they are always at least three or more versions behind). As said, going to the public library circumvented that, then came the demand to play secret agent code swap. There is a limit to how far I'm willing to bend to such nonsense...and that was the proverbial bridge too far. I specifically sought a pocket phone that does not do internet or text (took mucho effort to find one!), and not in the mood to be dictated terms to. I now do 'phone banking' by bothering the tellers. Let the idiots enjoy going into my account and looking up my balance! Play stoopid games and win stupid prizes.
Yeah, I sure miss Patelco.

If you prefer Windows 7 but still need Windows 10 for some things then just do a dual-boot of Windows 7 and 10. Normally the default would be to boot into Windows 7. When you need Windows 10 for something like the CU login then just boot into it. I do that with a couple of my computers.

 

[dg1261]

Both credit union sites have a popup that demands an upgrade to a current browser. Of course that means the absolute latest&greatest version, which doesn't work on Win7

So did you actually try Ray's User Agent Switcher and Manager, as suggested?

 

[Malneb]

Some browsers out there also have the ability to spoof user agent built in one being Midori browser, There is other that can do it but i am not sure which ones of the top of my head.

 

[SkyChimp]

Some browsers out there also have the ability to spoof user agent built in one being Midori browser, There is other that can do it but i am not sure which ones of the top of my head.

I never heard of this browser until I just read your post. It looks very similar to the layout of Firefox from what I can tell. I do know that Firefox works great on many different websites and banking institutions while using Windows 7.

 

[Malneb]

it is a Firefox fork so that is why. You should be able to use an addon like the other person mentioned and then you can use any browser i was just mentioning mainly there is several browser out that can do it natively too as an option.
You need to use it to trick the websites into thinking that you are using a modern up to date browser because some websites will know.

you should not have to go to a public place to do online banking and that in itself is considered dangerous. Oh sorry two different ppl i am half asleep sorry SkyChimp. but Op should not have to bank in public.

 

[siliconbeaver]

Indeed I have tried hard Windows 11 several times. sometimes, I even insisted a couple of months (forced myself to use it, saying, I had to learn it, I had to learn it, , ,). but eventually I gave up. move back to Windows 7.

Windows 7/11, both are OS.
Windows 7 is an OS for computer. IMO, it's last version for computer.
Windows 11 is an OS for mobile device. Windows 11/23H2 is the latest version for mobile device.

in tradition, computer user is skillful on keyboard usage, hot-key, combo-key, , , while, on Windows 11, most these features are truncated. you will need at least one more keystroke to do the same thing.
Windows 11 user may be skillful on touch-screen.

If on Windows 7 you hit key 1000 times a day. that means on Windows 11, will request 2000 keystrokes. that hurts my fingers.

(for example, to access "rename", on windows 7, one right-click mouse, then hit "Up" key. On windows 11, you will need hit "Up" key, then "enter", then select "rename".
to get PC "properties", to get "SendTo", , , will be similar , , ,)

Windows 11 has higher security setup. excel-macro, python pyautogui, , , many apps must run under "admin". that halts many auto-run scripts written previously on Windows 7.
complained to Microsoft about this. no reply/no solution. it's main reason that I wouldn't move to Windows 11.

support of Windows 7 has ended. no update/patches on Discord, FF, Edge, , , on Windows 7. that list will go longer as time goes. Windows 7 user is being cornered. we just need an OS for computer, don't want to "borrow" the OS of mobile device. while, Microsoft wouldn't listen to us.

 

[SkyChimp]

Indeed I have tried hard Windows 11 several times. sometimes, I even insisted a couple of months (forced myself to use it, saying, I had to learn it, I had to learn it, , ,). but eventually I gave up. move back to Windows 7.

Windows 7/11, both are OS.
Windows 7 is an OS for computer. IMO, it's last version for computer.
Windows 11 is an OS for mobile device. Windows 11/23H2 is the latest version for mobile device.

in tradition, computer user is skillful on keyboard usage, hot-key, combo-key, , , while, on Windows 11, most these features are truncated. you will need at least one more keystroke to do the same thing.
Windows 11 user may be skillful on touch-screen.

If on Windows 7 you hit key 1000 times a day. that means on Windows 11, will request 2000 keystrokes. that hurts my fingers.

(for example, to access "rename", on windows 7, one right-click mouse, then hit "Up" key. On windows 11, you will need hit "Up" key, then "enter", then select "rename".
to get PC "properties", to get "SendTo", , , will be similar , , ,)

Windows 11 has higher security setup. excel-macro, python pyautogui, , , many apps must run under "admin". that halts many auto-run scripts written previously on Windows 7.
complained to Microsoft about this. no reply/no solution. it's main reason that I wouldn't move to Windows 11.

support of Windows 7 has ended. no update/patches on Discord, FF, Edge, , , on Windows 7. that list will go longer as time goes. Windows 7 user is being cornered. we just need an OS for computer, don't want to "borrow" the OS of mobile device. while, Microsoft wouldn't listen to us.

I wonder if there is a way to untruncate those keystroke policies in Windows 11 in the future. Since Windows 11 is borrowing from a mobile device system, I wish there was a way we could jailbreak it and just make it run like an OS

 

[Mike Lynch]

Oh, thank heaven for 7 but not 11, or 10, or 8.1, or 8!

 

[kuko7]

support of Windows 7 has ended.

not exactly... Updates for Windows Server 2008 R2 are still ongoing until 2026 and since both share the same kernel, updates are fully compatible and you can apply it to your win7 system .
Also there are forks of Firefox and Chromium on github so you can still use the modern browser with latest features and security fixes. Show must go on

 

[SkyChimp]

not exactly... Updates for Windows Server 2008 R2 are still ongoing until 2026 and since both share the same kernel, updates are fully compatible and you can apply it to your win7 system .
Also there are forks of Firefox and Chromium on github so you can still use the modern browser with latest features and security fixes.

I have much to learn. I had no idea you could update Windows 7 because of Windows Server 2008 r2. How do we look up those updates?

 

[michael diemer]

Download Simplix UpdatePack 7 - MajorGeeks

 

[kuko7]

well, one option is to use Simplix UpdatePack7R2. It would be the easiest option to apply all updates in few simple clicks. Another option is to apply Bypass ESU v12 so your system would pretend to be Server 2008 r2, so Windows update offer you all updates for server and you can just apply it...

 

[maxseven]

I have much to learn. I had no idea you could update Windows 7 because of Windows Server 2008 r2. How do we look up those updates?

I didn't know this either. Can anyone here vouch for the Simplix updater being trouble-free? My last Windows updates (beyond the Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Malicious Software Removal items) were done April 2022.

Any obvious benefits/improvements from such?

 

[michael diemer]

The benefit is a more secure system. No Windows updating system is trouble free, for that you need Linux. But Simplix does work very well. with your current update config you should have little trouble with it.

 

[siliconbeaver]

Simplix has been down since 7/10/2024.

In my recent Win7 clean-install, I had to go Simplix last year's update. better than nothing. while hope it's up soon.

 

[michael diemer]

Did you try the link I posted above? I just tried it and it started downloading.

 

[siliconbeaver]

Thanks,

just did. its latest version. UpdatePack7R2-24.8.15.exe.