Win 7 or Win 10

[rgh43]

I currently have Win 10 which I installed just a few weeks ago. I'm debating about going back to Win7. Even with a few tweaks like disabling Edge and doing the other 15 to 20 tweaks that I got from a newsletter I subscribe to with a lot of How To I'm still not enchanted with Win10. Then I see the newest update coming out in March, the so called "Redstone" update. I'm thinking of going back & doing a clean install of Win7 then staying until I cant go no further like 2020 or whatever. What are the thoughts of anyone, see the folly of staying with Win 7 over staying with Win 10 for a few more years?. How long do we have to stay with Win 7, 2020? Can you stay with Win7 after the date of "no more updates" from MS or is that a dumb idea? Would a good antivirus program keep you safe?
In reference to staying longer that 2020 what is a "spy" going to get out of my PC if I use a good password program, So other than screw up my PC what could happen if I didn't get updates after MS support ends? I'm interested in your thoughts. I have always liked Win7 & there are some nice things about Win10 but there are many that are not,
Are the designers for MS the same 'Engineers that designed the newest TV remotes for both the satellite companies & did any of them ever hear of the term "user friendly" Now beside the start menu which to me really is a big deal. Yes there is sort of one in Win10 but it sure isn't as easy to use as Win7.
Maybe all this is because I'm getting old & don't like change or is it because I like things that are built that you can fix easily & in today's day & age that ain't much.

Than You for your input

 

[mrjimphelps]

How old is your computer? If it is very old, at some point it will begin to become obsolete, because Windows 10 is continually updated.

Also, "Windows 10" is more accurately understood to be the new type of Windows. There isn't really a Windows 10 "version" in the traditional sense of the word; the actual version number is 1503, 1509, 1603, 1609, etc.

If you would really prefer to use Windows 7, then you have two choices: You could either go back to Windows 7; or you could install Windows 8.1, and install Classic Shell to make Windows 8.1 look and feel like Windows 7. If you go with 8.1, you will have support till 2023; if you go with Windows 7, you will have support till 2020.

Here's what I did: I installed Linux Mint on my computer, then installed Windows 8.1 in a virtual machine operating inside of Linux Mint. I try to do everything in Linux Mint; for those few tasks I am unable to accomplish in Linux Mint, I open the Windows 8.1 virtual machine and do the task there. This works fairly well; it would work very well, except that I don't have much memory in my computer -- I have 4 GB. If I had 8 or more GB, then I could run the Windows 8.1 VM at any time, and I wouldn't even notice that it was in a virtual machine.

I use VMWare Workstation Player as my virtual machine software. It works very well.

 

[rgh43]

The MB about 5 yrs, the AMD Athlon CPU 3.10GHx triple core 3.10GHz, 12 GB of Ram, HD is an SSD OCZ 240GB & only 2yrs old so I'm sure it is up to the task. I just don't like all the changes needed to get it back or close to what Win 7 is like in the look & the ease of use or changing etc. I have about 15 to 20 How to articles in a file marked Win10 on how to customize Win10. Just irrupting that they had to change the ease of working with it as well as all the appearance settings. Would have been nice if they had a version that isn't touch screen with apps. Some5thing I'm not interested in except with my cell phone which is on a smaller scale.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Linux Distro + W7 VM

As mrjimphelps suggested you could use a VM.

Install a Linux Distro (like Ubuntu or Linux Mint) and then use VM software (like VMware Player) to create a W7 VM.

It might not be worthwhile if you mainly use your PC to play modern games though.

 

[mrjimphelps]

You could try Classic Shell for Windows 10. I haven't tried the Windows 10 version; but if it is like the Windows 8.1 version, it will make Windows 10 look and feel like Windows 7. That would be your easiest option.

 

[Megahertz07]

Win 7 end of support will be in two years. It doesn't mean that the computer will be useless. It will work as it does today.
M$ will only stop delivering the security updates.
I still have an old laptop with win XP. It works the same way. It's my backup computer. Some programs new versions, like Skype doesn't run on it, but the old version does.

I don't like Win 10 so I will keep using win 7 after end of support. And I'm downloading the offline updates so I can reinstall them in case of a fresh install. MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums.

Linux is a better OS than Windows, (faster, secure and free) so I'm getting use to it. I have it on another HDD.
I have Lubuntu, but most of us on the forum use Ubuntu, Zorin and Mint.

Try Classic Shell on win 10. It will look like Win 7. Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

 

[rgh43]

A question on Classic Shell, I went to Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements to check it out & I see that the person that came up with it will not be supporting it any longer, appears that is being put somewhere on the web so what will that bring for the future. The one thing that concerns me is his statement #2 in that post on the forum on Dec 3rd along with the other comments.

2) Windows 10 is being updated way too frequently (twice a year) and each new version changes something that breaks Classic Shell.

So will it work OK or will I have problems with MS updates changing it when an update for Win10 comes along, if that wont be a big deal I will try it out as many on that forum seem to really like it. One of my biggest issues is the nosiness of Win10 and the fact they can download whether you like it or not. I know Google is too but I dint use it much for that reason.

 

[mrjimphelps]

That's a very good question. There's not an answer for that question; you'll just have to install Windows 10 and see what happens.

 

[Megahertz07]

I don't like Win 10. I have it on another drive and every time I use it I know it's not for me.
Try Classic Shell. If it comes to be unusable in the future, uninstall it.

Best option would be to do a clean install of Win7.

 

[Deleted690]

a̶s̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶d̶o̶w̶s̶ ̶u̶p̶d̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶k̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶o̶s̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶u̶i̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶p̶h̶o̶n̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶o̶l̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶s̶
don't look at above paragraph, so, windows 7 better than windows 10 for some reason, not just like aero effects, because windows 7 itself don't have many unnecessary resources, software, ads, start menu stuff and more than i said, i still use windows 7 because the os itself is good
as mrjimphelps said linux is better than windows because linux is more filled with security and free
also if your pc specs is not good, yuo can try some ubuntu "flavors" like lubuntu, xubuntu, kubuntu and more... but use LTS xD
thats it

 

[indianacarnie]

Welcome to the forums rgh43!

Well it appears to me that you have already made up your mind so anything I say really won't make much of a difference but.....

Seeing as to how you posted this on sevenforums you'll get a lot more Win7 "likes" than Win10 "likes". If you would have posted this on tenforums I'm sure it would have been the opposite. Yes, I'm going to recommend 10. You can go back over my posts from years ago and see that at first I was a "I'll be on 7 until the end of time" people. I've since changed my mind as you can see by my computer spec.'s and love 10. TO ME its faster and much more secure. Heck, I rarely even bother to "tweak" it anymore because TO ME its just not needed. I do use 3rd party anti-virus though.

My main "argument" for 10 though is online safety I guess. I spend a lot of time online every day and sometimes stray from the nicer parts of the net so need/want all the safety I can get and 10 provides that for me. Besides, at some point, 7 will be just like Win95, sure it still works and you can use it, but why? 10 isn't really all that hard to get used to, IMHO, and the speed and safety benefits outweigh the downsides. Yes 10 has downsides just as any other OS, 7 included. No OS is perfect for each and every one of us, none. So, use what you like but bear in mind that , like it or not, 10 is the future of PC's. Its just a matter of time, so I would suggest keeping a copy around to play with because eventually you'll be using it.

 

[rgh43]

Actually I haven't made up my mind at this point. I'm trying to get opinions and learn the setup of Win 10. I plan on trying the Classic Shell to see how that improves the program before I do anything. I do like the graphics on the start up and with my screensaver which is made up of my pictures, they seem to have a better quality even though the pictures, Video card and my HP screen are exactly the same as I used with Win7?

 

[Barman58]

I would not rely on Classic Shell, as the developer has stated that they are no longer supporting it (for Windows 10 at least, as they cannot keep up with the new release schedule). As with any OS you would be best trying any new system for a few months, without any third party "retro" look options. If you have a serious issue with the new Interface, then you would need to stay with Windows 7 and the possible issues that the upcoming End of life will bring

Before you make any change make an image of your current, (fully up to date), system using something like Macrium Reflect. This gives you a fall back option, but as has been stated windows 10 is the future of windows computing ( and in all likelihood the future of mainstream computing), so a working knowledge is something that everyone should really look to have

The best place to learn and discuss Windows 10 is of course Our sister site Windows 10 Forums you would need to join there to ask specific questions, but it's free and the tutorials are too

 

[rgh43]

Never had this problem before or seen this message. IE11 has a few issues so I want to Delete IE11. The major issue is it will not import my Bookmarks from any source or place. Tried several things to get it done but nada.

When trying to Delete IE11up pops a box that says in the bar at the top,

Folder Access denied
You require permission from Trusted Installer to make changes to this folder.

I intend to install it again with IE8 the get the bookmarks Ok then upgrade to 11.
By the way how would you get permission or can you?

 

[Barman58]

IE 11 is treated as part of the OS on Windows 7 so it is virtually impossible to remove, parts of the code is used to perform tasks for the actual Operating System. The use of the Trusted Installer User is part of the security of windows 7 and later so cannot really be modified safely without serious issues

IE8 is no longer supported on Windows 7 or later so you would be better off re-installing IE11 over the copy you have which should repair any issues. I am not aware of any way to remove IE11 from Windows 7 fully

There is this Site that claims to have stand alone versions of all the older IE versions

IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10, IE11 Offline Installers Download Links

I cannot state that it is a reliable site, as I have not used it

I will put a call out to those members more familiar with IE and hopefully they will be able to assist you more than I ( I rarely use IE myself, as I am a long term Firefox user, who after recent changes is using Chrome )

 

[torchwood]

Hi Lads,

IE11 is an option NOT an integrated part of W7

IE8 which is shipped as part of W7 IS integrated and provides the core functionality

Later versions of IE (9/10/11) are options and can all be removed, THEY are updates
within your installed updates GUI they are individually named and CAN be UNinstalled.
(this option has TrustedInstaller rights - no access denied)
If you remove 11 it will default back to the LAST installed, not neccessarilly 10.

You DONT actually have to "run" IE11 but it can be installed and updated
(like I have- to keep my system upto date vulnerability wise)
Via Program & Features >> turn features on/off (top left)
then in the new window UNcheck IE11, or latest.
@Barman58 you want to try either Waterfox/Palemoon - both FF offshoots id plump for Palemoon


Roy

 

[lehnerus2000]

I've used Pale Moon since the last half of 2013.
IMO, it does what is required and my "legacy" add-ons still work properly (except DownloadHelper).