What To Do After Jan 2020

[Joe Ciaravino]

After extended support ends in Jan 2020, I don't know what to do. I like Windows 7 but don't like Windows 10. What are you people going to do for security, etc who are planning to stick with Win 7 for the duration?

 

[z3r010]

Just suck it up and upgrade to Windows 10.

 

[JoWazzoo]

Just what I did with XP - keep using it. Anyway - hopefully I will be on Linus by then. FWIW - my old XP still runs fine. Highly secured. After 2020 M$ will likely issue super critical upgrades. But normal security upgrades will be done for. Never 10.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Linux Distro + W7 VM

After extended support ends in Jan 2020, I don't know what to do. I like Windows 7 but don't like Windows 10. What are you people going to do for security, etc who are planning to stick with Win 7 for the duration?

I've still got an XP install and some XP VMs for old games and other software.

I'll still be using W7 (or I'll use a W7 VM on a Linux Host) unless MS fixes W10:

• Proper user control of Windows Update
• Proper user control of Telemetry
• Stop the endless stream of broken updates
• Reduce the pointless upgrades from biannually to annually (and actually test them)
• etc.

I have plenty of W7 Backup Images in case of problems.

I also have W7 VMs that I can run on a Linux Mint Host with VMware Player.

 

[Alejandro85]

Why do you think you need to do something special?

 

[Joe Ciaravino]

I've still got an XP install and some XP VMs for old games and other software.

I'll still be using W7 (or I'll use a W7 VM on a Linux Host) unless MS fixes W10:

• Proper user control of Windows Update
• Proper user control of Telemetry
• Stop the endless stream of broken updates
• Reduce the pointless upgrades from biannually to annually (and actually test them)
• etc.

I have plenty of W7 Backup Images in case of problems.

I also have W7 VMs that I can run on a Linux Mint Host with VMware Player.

Now THAT'S a good idea! My computer is dual boot Win 7/UBUNTU.
I run a XP VM on the Win 7 side with VM Ware.

I'm not an expert so can I run a Win 7 VM on UBUNTU. If so, what do I use to create the VM?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Just suck it up and upgrade to Windows 10.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Now THAT'S a good idea! My computer is dual boot Win 7/UBUNTU.
I run a XP VM on the Win 7 side with VM Ware.

I'm not an expert so can I run a Win 7 VM on UBUNTU. If so, what do I use to create the VM?

You can run a Windows VM on a Linux Host (like Ubuntu).

There are various VM Managers (VMware, VirtualBox, Qemu, etc.).

I use VMware Player on a Linux Mint Host to run Windows and Linux VMs.
VMware Player is free for non-commercial use.

Here is a tutorial about creating a Zorin VM (creating a Windows VM is basically the same).
VMware Player - Install and Setup Zorin

Here is a docx file that I created a few years ago showing how to create a VM in VMware Player.
The pictures show Ubuntu but the description refers to XP:
View attachment Create an empty VHD in VMware Player.docx
When creating a VM, don't allocate all of your PCs RAM to the VM (leave a couple of GB for your Host OS).
Given your specs, you can safely allocate 4 GB to your VM (6 GB would probably be safe too).

Note:
You still need a valid MS Product Key for W7 to legally run Windows.


You can also create a Macrium Reflect Image of your existing W7 install and convert that to a VHD.
You can then use that to create a VM.
http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50005.aspx?Keywords=VHD

It may be tricky to get it running as you are dual booting.

I'd suggest that you create an image of your W7 install only.
You may need to use your W7 install disc to repair the VM to make the it boot.

Agreed.

Rewarding bad behaviour (by corporations, criminals, politicians and terrorists) only encourages further outrages.

If businesses and ordinary people treated W10 the same way they treated the W8 Series, MS would be forced to fix it properly.

 

[J.R.]

After extended support ends in Jan 2020, I don't know what to do. I like Windows 7 but don't like Windows 10. What are you people going to do for security, etc who are planning to stick with Win 7 for the duration?

Me.

Screw W10. IMO it's a bad operating system.
Any operating system that collects all your bits is wrong.
I plan on using W7 despite 2020 deadline.
IMO, W7 is still popular and hopefully the business community can make MSFT change their schedule.
Not holding my breath on that one; but screw MSFT and their W10.

 

[tetraps]

Assuming no major security vulnerabilities are revealed after January 2020, Win 7 should continue to be usable with good antivirus and smart web browsing habits.

Ideally I'd like to switch my main productivity/browsing/etc. to Linux and keep Win 7 around for whenever it's needed (mainly gaming).

 

[Snick]

What makes you think Win7 isn't using telemetry?

Microsoft previews telemetry push with new Win7/8.1 patches KB 3192403, 3192404
Microsoft intensifies data collection on Windows 7 and 8 systems
Microsoft slips user-tracking tools into Windows 7, 8 amidst Windows 10 privacy storm

 

[lehnerus2000]

What makes you think Win7 isn't using telemetry?

Microsoft previews telemetry push with new Win7/8.1 patches KB 3192403, 3192404
Microsoft intensifies data collection on Windows 7 and 8 systems
Microsoft slips user-tracking tools into Windows 7, 8 amidst Windows 10 privacy storm

These days users need to manually install W7 Updates (if they want to avoid MS' bad behaviour).

There are various programs that are supposed to detect (and allow you to purge) unwanted updates.

For example:

XTR Toolbox comes with standard options, the cleanup of junk files or a startup manager, but also with options that many cleaning tools don't come with.


The "Remove Telemetry Updates" tool, for example, removes Telemetry updates from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices that you run the application on.

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/02/20/xtr-toolbox-review/

Note:
I haven't tried this tool.
​

 

[JoWazzoo]

Just be aware that the Update Removal in XTR removes the complete Update. So if there is anything else in the Update (beyond Telemetry) it goes Poof as well. (I wish there was a tool to remove ALL traces of Telemetry. FWIW two of the 2015 Updates were basically nothing but Telemetry for Windows 7. I removed them and recently Windows downloaded them back again. I have set to Manual install.

 

[Golden]

Me.

Screw W10. IMO it's a bad operating system.
Any operating system that collects all your bits is wrong.
I plan on using W7 despite 2020 deadline.
IMO, W7 is still popular and hopefully the business community can make MSFT change their schedule.
Not holding my breath on that one; but screw MSFT and their W10.

Your ISP collects far more than any operating system does.....so you trust your ISP more than Microsoft?

 

[BogdanH]

Because such questions are quite common lately on this forum, here's s some of my thoughts:
Windows 7 is EOL is near, what will you do? - Windows 7 Help Forums
and
Windows 7 is EOL is near, what will you do? - Windows 7 Help Forums

What I don't really understand is, why you still think Win7 is being supported by MS. Because you get "update" now and then? Update which is supposed to "..increase security.."? I think, by pushing Win10 so hard, MS doesn't really want us to feel secure on Win7. Or at least, MS wish that we (users) realize how Win7 just isn't usable anymore. Right now, I'm more afraid to get an "update" troubles, than I'm afraid to get a virus (see 2nd link above). And that's even more true for Win10! -according to what I can read on Win10 forum.

Of course, I don't plan to use Win7 forever and one day I will switch to Win10 (or whatever). I already have "clean" Win10 ready on memory stick.. time is on my side

 

[Barman58]

Microsoft is supporting Windows 7 with security updates as is does with any older operating system approaching end of life. This is what has always been the accepted and expected way, there is no ulterior motive, It applied with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. It will also apply to Windows 7 and Windows 8, which were all intended to be on a Three year active and ten year support lifecycle, (although other circumstances broke this model especially with the overlong retention of XP)

Windows 10 uses a totally different system model which involves in a continuously evolving product with major upgrades every six months, so has no end of life although the upgrade versions do expire after around two years, (this is not new it's always been the case with the older type Service packs being required after a set time to continue receiving updates and support)

 

[redoak]

Just be aware that the Update Removal in XTR removes the complete Update. So if there is anything else in the Update (beyond Telemetry) it goes Poof as well. (I wish there was a tool to remove ALL traces of Telemetry. FWIW two of the 2015 Updates were basically nothing but Telemetry for Windows 7. I removed them and recently Windows downloaded them back again. I have set to Manual install.

Yes, there are several telemetry-related updates that, when removed, WU will try to install them again down the road. I am also set for Manual Install now...

 

[lehnerus2000]

Monthly Security-Only Updates

Just be aware that the Update Removal in XTR removes the complete Update. So if there is anything else in the Update (beyond Telemetry) it goes Poof as well. (I wish there was a tool to remove ALL traces of Telemetry. FWIW two of the 2015 Updates were basically nothing but Telemetry for Windows 7. I removed them and recently Windows downloaded them back again. I have set to Manual install.

If you remove an update, Windows Update will detect that you don't have it and offer it again.

Some updates can be hidden, but MS often re-releases updates like KB2952664 (Telemetry) to wear down user resistance.

If you want to avoid (or reduce the chance of receiving) unwanted "improvements", you should manually install the monthly "Security-Only" patches not the "Monthly Rollups".

Brink usually posts the links for these each month (or you can go to the Microsoft Update Catalog).
For example:
February 13, 2018 - KB4074587 (Security-only update) Windows 7

Note:
You'll also need to install IE and .NET patches.

Your ISP collects far more than any operating system does.....so you trust your ISP more than Microsoft?

My ISP hasn't been caught:

• Sending out updates that auto-replaced users operating systems
• Using popup windows that have had the "Close" button recoded to "Install"
• Surreptitiously changing user OS settings to suit themselves

A lot of "Democracies" have passed laws forcing ISPs to store your data, so that the government can use it against you "on a whim" (even going as far as saying they don't need warrants).

Mathematically, the more organisations/people that store your data, the more likely it is that it will be accessed/stolen (by corporations, criminals &/or governments).

Intelligence/Military organisations have Security Clearances to restrict access to data and they can't get it right (e.g. Manning, Snowden, etc.).

I can't think of a "Tech Giant" that hasn't been hacked.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

To paraphrase a famous man (now deceased); "they will have to pry my windows 7 out of my cold, dead, hands!".
That may sound a bit extreme, but essentially that's my feeling about the whole thing.

Heck, I still have a little Acer One Netbook running XP SP3. It will not run any newer OS because the newer OS's don't have the special drivers required for the little Netbook. XP is still working just fine!
I can still work the internet, send and receive my email, and play my favorite games.
I take the little Netbook with me whenever I have to leave town, for a day or longer.

As for Windows 10, I've installed many different versions of it, but it still takes me over an hour to dig through all the settings to KILL WUDO and disable Cortana, which I have NO use for at all.
Then to make it more user friendly, especially for older PC users, I install the "Classic Shell" and tweak it so that it closely approximates Windows 7. By the time I'm done, Win-10 will look and act so much like Win-7, that most users, (not Gurus) won't even know the difference.

One thing I don't like about the newest Win-10 is that I can no longer address Windows Defender by itself and get updates and run scans like I could with Defender on Win-7.
Every time MS makes some "Improvement", they take away something I like in Windows.
Linux, Unix, Zenix Phoenix or Kleenex is not an option. Well, I do use Kleenex!

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage

 

[mrjimphelps]

Upgrade to Windows 8.1, and install Classic Shell. You will have support till Jan 2023 if you do this, and it will look and feel just like Windows 7.

At some point, you can install Linux Mint 64-bit as your host system, and install Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell in a virtual machine. Over time, you will learn how to do more and more in Linux, meaning that you will need Windows less and less. But the fact that it is in a virtual machine, just a click away, means that you will have Windows right at hand for whatever you are unable to do in Linux.

By going the Linux host / Windows VM route, at some point you will come to the place where you cease to be concerned about 2020 or 2023, because you are no longer running Windows as your main OS. It will take some time to get to that point, but you will be glad you did; and you will enjoy the journey along the way, because you, rather than Microsoft, will have control over your digital life.

This is what I did.