I want Win 7 for Life. Windows updates and O/S as a service Discussion

watsonandr · 05 Oct 2017

I want 7 for life. Is this in the right area of the forum?

I like all the OS and software on my machine to be stagnant - permanently running effectively-for ever. I don't want to be forced to move from vbs to powershell or the next thing. I dont want to have to keep learning forever. I want to pay for the best software - and pay to replace it if I find better.

However the majority wants updates -based on two things Hope and Fear. Hope that the systems existing bugs will be fixed, more responsive, more features etc. And fear that if they don't update their computer will fall prey to online robbers, bitcoin miners, perverts or a government agency. Fear, uncertainty and doubt - Wikipedia

I guess Win 10 is moving to O/S as a service. I don't want it. Corporate herding - "oh that application doesn't work here - but buy this one..." I feel Microsoft has sometimes deliberately created incompatibility but that is expected. Is there a big Windows 7 community who might work to keep win7 working LONG TERM? I guess that would mean quarterly open source patches and updates to allow fastmoving technologies like browsers to keep running. (I dont like linux- it has usabilty issues - and unix is too bloated and slow now) I want WIN 7 for at least 10 more years. I use Win 10 at work is it me or does it seem resource hungry and slower to start up. Many times more schedulled tasks and services than win 7 - ive seen video card drivers update and then a black screen for days untill a restore or reinstall. Updates create uncertainty and remove the ability of tech help people to help - other than "do the update" or do a restore. Thats removing a sense of understanding the OS and creating a USER mentality, the same way that has happened with car manufacturers creating brand specific diagnoses machines to create users out of the people who used to understand cars.

I'm not sure of the view point of people on this forum - I would imagine most of you don't agree with me ?
Think about how well Windows 7 will be running in 10 years - super FAST, and understood so well by all!

mrjimphelps · 06 Oct 2017

The best option you have for getting a lot more time with Windows being supported, and with wanting Windows 7, is to install Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell. Classic Shell, properly configured, makes Windows 8.1 look and feel just like Windows 7. And best of all, you will receive security patches until 2023.

But in answer to your question, I think you're out of luck if you want to use Windows 7 past January 2020 with security patches. You can keep using Windows 7, but you will be living dangerously if you go online, because it won't be kept up to date with security patches.

I'm not sure how long it's been since you've tried Linux, but these days Linux is very usable. I use Linux Mint (with the xfce interface), and it is solid, and there is a lot of easy-to-install, free software available. I suggest you check it out, just to see how it is doing these days; you might find that you really like it.

DealerMan · 06 Oct 2017

Excellent advice from Mr. Phelps. Also, you could run W7 in a virtual environment for as long as you like without too much worrying.

I will probably take his advice as well about W8.1.

Jim, many thanks!

marsmimar · 08 Oct 2017

Windows 7 is a truly great operating system. Having said that, Microsoft controls who, when, where and how people can use it. It's their ball, their playing field, and they make the rules. Those of us who purchase an official Microsoft Key are then given the opportunity to use Microsoft's proprietary operating system. The key is a unique 25 character Alpha/numeric number that supposedly proves the product was purchased legally. Or not. Even legal keys have been known to fail.

In order to use Windows 7 for as long as possible, it might require a leap of faith on your part to move to one of the Open Source products currently available.

Zorin OS - Your Computer. Better.

Barman58 · 08 Oct 2017

Microsoft is very unlikely to give away their proprietary code to windows, especially to any group or consortium that would aim to become a competitor. (why should they, so any continuation of Windows 7 would be based on it's code being stolen).

Things change, that's the way of the world generally, and especially the world of technology - this is a basic fact.

There was always a Planned end of life for Windows 7, it was advertised at it's inception. Due to fiscal issues affecting business takeup of Windows 7 there is a lag in usage, but from a business point of view the rolling update model in use for Windows 10 is designed for the way that business and industry already work, and we have to remember that microsoft makes it's money from Business not from the minority of enthusiasts, All nice people, of course, that use our forums, They provide an operating system for the phone generation ( Windows 10 Home ), where all the dirty oily bits are sorted out for you, they also provide a version for Business and Industry where more control is available. (I count Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise as variations of the same things )

They also make money from the hardware people Dell, HP, Asus Etc who sell the Home version to the phone users

I've been through a "few" versions of windows and many other operating systems, some I preferred to others but there comes a time when hardware has moved on, as has the way that people work & Play and you need an update your systems to cope or stagnate.

I always remember the Story of IBM, some time ago, they made the greatest corporate annual profit in History, and so decided they would carry on regardless of market trends, a few years later they broke another record, the largest corporate loss in history ... You have to live in the market you are in

Lady Fitzgerald · 08 Oct 2017

Barman58 said:

Microsoft is very unlikely to give away their proprietary code to windows, especially to any group or consortium that would aim to become a competitor. (why should they, so any continuation of Windows 7 would be based on it's code being stolen).

Things change, that's the way of the world generally, and especially the world of technology - this is a basic fact.

There was always a Planned end of life for Windows 7, it was advertised at it's inception. Due to fiscal issues affecting business takeup of Windows 7 there is a lag in usage, but from a business point of view the rolling update model in use for Windows 10 is designed for the way that business and industry already work, and we have to remember that microsoft makes it's money from Business not from the minority of enthusiasts, All nice people, of course, that use our forums, They provide an operating system for the phone generation ( Windows 10 Home ), where all the dirty oily bits are sorted out for you, they also provide a version for Business and Industry where more control is available. (I count Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise as variations of the same things )

They also make money from the hardware people Dell, HP, Asus Etc who sell the Home version to the phone users

I've been through a "few" versions of windows and many other operating systems, some I preferred to others but there comes a time when hardware has moved on, as has the way that people work & Play and you need an update your systems to cope or stagnate.

I always remember the Story of IBM, some time ago, they made the greatest corporate annual profit in History, and so decided they would carry on regardless of market trends, a few years later they broke another record, the largest corporate loss in history ... You have to live in the market you are in

I'm at a loss for words.

watsonandr · 08 Oct 2017

like the win 8 suggestion will wait a few years yet.

liked the IBM story.
Zorin OS will have a look thanks
I liked the summary of revenue streams too.

I want Win 7 for Life. Windows updates and O/S as a service Discussion

I want Win 7 for Life. Windows updates and O/S as a service Discussion

Interesting.