At least 100 million PCs still run Windows 7, one year after support ended

[Squid Surprise]

Malware cannot infect or destroy my online XP box or any data on it

It has remained malware free since 2014 and it hasn't had a bluescreen of death for more than 12 years now (because I'm an expert and you are not!)

These are facts!

Get used to them

See... I knew you'd find a way to troll this thread... wow, you've managed to install a read-only version of Windows XP on a crappy old computer... we're SO proud of you...

Can you use DirectX 12?

Can you do pretty much anything a NORMAL Windows user would like to do on their computer?

I'm thinking... NO... maybe go find another site to brag about your "accomplishment"... abandonwarez.org?

 

[captaincranky]

Why would you rip audio to anything except flac? Flac is an open standard that should enjoy long lasting support.

Well, WMA is supported by any number of 3rd party programs. Plus, I still have the original CDs, (or Mp3), versions of anything I have in mu catalog.. Accordingly, I'm not terribly concerned with rippling to FLAC out of panic. That was a simple musing on my part.

As for the cost difference between Win 7 vs Win 10.... Let me introduce you to a new word..... "inflation", which if you adjust for, Win 10 is cheaper.

Well no, it isn't. When you consider M$'s data gathering and sale, plus their cost of maintaining WMC, the price is at least at parity, if not a bit more

Also, if you had not resisted the move to Win 10 back when it was released, it would have been free. So having to pay for it to put on an existing computer is your dam fault

No. Windows 10 was never "free" It required the surrender of a valid license for Win 7, 8.0, or 8.1 to be installed. So, whatever you paid for any of those prior OS, was the price of Windows 10.

(sorry)!

No need to apologize for being wrong.

(Now I get to say "sorry" for being such a smart a**).

 

[captaincranky]

I wonder how many of those people who are having wet dreams about Windows 7 now, complained as vehemently when they had to give up their Windows XP, 2000 or W95!!

On my part, that's completely untrue. It was Vista that was everyone's biggest complaint. Vista got a few hard knocks, and was quickly dropped from M$ support.. Its primary, (and perhaps only), saving grace, was the fact it contained native AHCI drivers, which eliminated the need to run your HDDs as "IDE", unless you installed Intel's "SATA pre-driver", via floppy disc during the XP install procedure.

The only issue I've encountered with Windows 7, was for the most part, my own fault, for using XP Adobe programs, particularly Photoshop Elements, designed for XP. And then, only with the "fake" file path, (C:/ >"documents & settings", blah, blah), which Windows 7 had to fabricate for them.

As for anything else, as long as you had. Win 7 pro, M$ supplied a virtual machine called, "XP mode", which would run any Win 7 incompatible program over top of Win 7. (Which BTW, I believe is still available and still free).

 

[captaincranky]

Maybe it's more about hating Windows 10 than loving Windows 7.

It is because they don't know how to upgrade.

Wow, you know how to install an operating system? Isn't that just special.

You shouldn't be wasting your time here at a lowly computer-centric tech site such as Tachspot.

You should be over at "Quora", making such bold, (but completely inaccurate), proclamations.

 

[Deno Dieshe]

10 has the smallest footprint out of any of the modern Windows OS's. It's also faster on the same hardware than Windows 7. This has been tested ad nauseam in his remained true.

Ya mate, its faster. Only takes 20 clicks to bring on the taskbar.

 

[PEnnn]

Ya mate, its faster. Only takes 20 clicks to bring on the taskbar.

Or 1 click, if you know what you're doing, mate.

 

[DjoCoeur]

I was a W10 hater not long ago but since I used W10Privacy, it's fine now. You can turn off or uninstall all the stuff you don't like or don't use.

 

[MasterFig]

Well, WMA is supported by any number of 3rd party programs. Plus, I still have the original CDs, (or Mp3), versions of anything I have in mu catalog.. Accordingly, I'm not terribly concerned with rippling to FLAC out of panic. That was a simple musing on my part.
Well no, it isn't. When you consider M$'s data gathering and sale, plus their cost of maintaining WMC, the price is at least at parity, if not a bit more
No. Windows 10 was never "free" It required the surrender of a valid license for Win 7, 8.0, or 8.1 to be installed. So, whatever you paid for any of those prior OS, was the price of Windows 10.
No need to apologize for being wrong.

(Now I get to say "sorry" for being such a smart a**).

I thought that I was being clear, but let me do so now... When I said "if you had not resisted the move to Win 10 back when it was released, it would have been free. So having to pay for it to put on an existing computer is your dam fault", I was actually talking about the upgrade being free. Yes, that implies that you had a valid Win 7 license to upgrade, and Yes, that implies that the original is replaced with the new. But the fact is, if you had taken advantage of the offer, the upgrade would have been free. If you want to upgrade now, you get to pay again (meaning that you paid for your original Win 7 license now you get to pay a 2nd time to get a valid Win 10 license). So, YES, the upgrade was free and now it technically isn't anymore (I believe that there are still ways to get around it, but I'm not sure). Once you do obtain a valid license, you then get future upgrades for free (you know, the Feature Updates that they release twice a year [yes, for better or worse - an argument for another time - I personally hate how they are slowly killing off the "Control Panel"]).

 

[Suisam]

Guys, I deal with Windblows 10 this way and its a big middle digit to the Micro$haft *****s who are not listening to what their user-base wants.

1) Get a fresh Windows 10 installation ISO and reinstall without the network cable plugged in. Create a local account (not a Microsoft one) and get tot he desktop. plug your network cable in (if drivers for the network are installed) and activate windows that way.

At this point I disconnect the network cable and do the following. You will need to have pre-downloaded all the stuff below to do this before forced updates download in the background (if you leave the cable connected this will happen)


2) Install Win Update Stop v1.4 from novirusthanks dot org. disable windows updates using that

3) Run one of the many Debloater powershell scripts ( Sycnex /
Windows10Debloater seemed to work fine for me a while back) that are out there to remove annoying "phone home services" and other stupid "features" that just bog down your machine. I couldn't care less about the huge amount of annoying appx features that are force installed on you. This may require a little bit of Powershell know-how but its not that difficult. There are GUI versions out there

4) Install Classic Shell and turn on the windows 7 theme for WIN 7 start menu goodness

5) Configure windows the way you like it and not have to worry about M$ hijacking your stuff.

Other helpful things:
I have all Windows updates blocked by my PFSENSE router and PI-Hole blocklists. If you dont know what they are, google is your friend. I have all telemetry sites blocked by my PI-Hole as well as other annoyances.

I've been running Win 10 this way for months with absolutely no annoyances. Its been wonderful. By the time a feature I want to install comes out, I will backup my stuff and reinstall with a newer version of 10 and do the same to it. But I dare say it will be at least a year before something comes out that would make me want to do that.

Of course this is a very rough guide and I accept no responsibility if you attempt to do the same yourself. Think of this as a hint as to how to get control of your OS back.

Have a great day!

 

[captaincranky]

I thought that I was being clear, but let me do so now... When I said "if you had not resisted the move to Win 10 back when it was released, it would have been free. So having to pay for it to put on an existing computer is your dam fault", I was actually talking about the upgrade being free. Yes, that implies that you had a valid Win 7 license to upgrade, and Yes, that implies that the original is replaced with the new. But the fact is, if you had taken advantage of the offer, the upgrade would have been free. If you want to upgrade now, you get to pay again (meaning that you paid for your original Win 7 license now you get to pay a 2nd time to get a valid Win 10 license). So, YES, the upgrade was free and now it technically isn't anymore (I believe that there are still ways to get around it, but I'm not sure). Once you do obtain a valid license, you then get future upgrades for free (you know, the Feature Updates that they release twice a year [yes, for better or worse - an argument for another time - I personally hate how they are slowly killing off the "Control Panel"]).

My objection is how you choose to define the word, "free".

To me "free", means "without any compensation for goods or services delivered. or rendered".

By allegory: You have a crummy old wallet containing $90,00.

I'm going to give you this brand new wallet containing $100.00.

Now, I just gave you a new wallet and a $100.00... "free"..

That's M$'s definition of "free", and apparently yours as well.

M$ has altered the definitions of, "upgrade" and "update", to suit themselves, and their marketing objectives. They've also begun to define Windows as a "service". This is, "Pandora's box", that perchance may be opened by them at sometime in the future, converting Windows to a subscription model.

You can write this off as a "paranoid fantasy" if you like. In fact, I often deem it as such when mulling it over myself.

The fact remains, Windows is not the most profitable segment of their business (**). X-Box, and their other physical devices, along with "Office 365", probably turn in higher margins. Windows itself, is simply becoming a delivery vehicle.

(**) In example, I have an 8" tablet which cost me $90.00, and came with Windows 10 installed. It's should be patently obvious, the M$, didn't receive $100.00 for the issuance of said license. It should also be patently obvious that a virtual monopoly such as M$, is going to try and recoup its losses in other segments of their overall business model.

 

[tom111]

Wow, you know how to install an operating system? Isn't that just special.

You shouldn't be wasting your time here at a lowly computer-centric tech site such as Tachspot.

You should be over at "Quora", making such bold, (but completely inaccurate), proclamations.

Guess what, I don't mean tech savy people, but the average Joe.
And I can install Linux and macOS, but have problems with Windows.

 

[captaincranky]

Guess what, I don't mean tech savy people, but the average Joe.
And I can install Linux and macOS, but have problems with Windows.

I had some suspicion your original post might have been tinged with sarcasm. Your syntax didn't allow a concrete conclusion to that end. So, I did the forum equivalent of "dropping a stick of dynamite in the lake to see if any fish floated to the surface". And whaddya know, I caught a floater.

But judging by the overall context of the thread, I say a lot of guys here do know how to install Windows 10, they simply choose not to.

 

[DaveBG]

I use windows in my small business. I have around 10 computers. Many of them came with windows 10 installed. All of the 10s had bugs, slowdowns and people that use them had many problems. I since then I reverted all of them one by one to windows 7 and now all of the computers are 7 and none are 10 anymore. Guess what no more problem, everything works, computers perform like new (as they should) and staff is not complaining.

 

[Squid Surprise]

I use windows in my small business. I have around 10 computers. Many of them came with windows 10 installed. All of the 10s had bugs, slowdowns and people that use them had many problems. I since then I reverted all of them one by one to windows 7 and now all of the computers are 7 and none are 10 anymore. Guess what no more problem, everything works, computers perform like new (as they should) and staff is not complaining.

And are you paying the extra money per PC for support? Because otherwise, all of your PCs are no longer receiving updates... which means inevitably, they will be vulnerable to exploits... good job securing your business..

 

[noel24]

5 years on ,Windows 10 is still garbage. Constant memory leaks that crash system while in W7 the same memory intensive tasks just crashed on it's own, whithout taking whole explorer, changes to layout every f*cking update that f*ck up my Classic Shell settings, right now I cannot use "search" cause obviously MS changed search menu to ribbon, and still no selective choice of MS updates that f*ck up Your system.
If I wasn't a PC gamer I would tell Bill Gates to go f*ck himself with His retarded Windows 7 money squizing update called Windows 10.

 

[DaveBG]

And are you paying the extra money per PC for support? Because otherwise, all of your PCs are no longer receiving updates... which means inevitably, they will be vulnerable to exploits... good job securing your business..

I am the "support" for my computers both at home and at work. I was IT specialist the better part of my work career so no I do not pay anyone. As for the security I have never seen any update prevent any security problem ever. Computers that are all "up to date" are usually the ones that are full of viruses and trojans. It is just a false feeling of security that unfortunately many people fall for. Nevertheless I have pfSence external firewall for the real security threats.

 

[Squid Surprise]

I am the "support" for my computers both at home and at work. I was IT specialist the better part of my work career so no I do not pay anyone. As for the security I have never seen any update prevent any security problem ever. Computers that are all "up to date" are usually the ones that are full of viruses and trojans. It is just a false feeling of security that unfortunately many people fall for. Nevertheless I have pfSence external firewall for the real security threats.

Yikes... I hope you feel the same when you get your first virus due to an as yet unreleased exploit that will never be patched in your machines...

 

[thelatestmodel]

You already know my qualifications!

I can stop all malware and ransomware from wrecking my Windows XP box

I have been doing so for the past 7 years "ONLINE" without a single problem

I can do it without any Microsoft security updates while running a full admin account online

That's all the qualifications I need

and you?

You cannot secure a fully updated copy of Windows 10 because Microsoft won't let you

Unpatched XP is not safe bud. Especially running as admin. Take care.

 

[Bullwinkle M]

Unpatched XP is not safe bud. Especially running as admin. Take care.

Already took care!

Admin mode is perfectly safe bud

7 years researching the Worlds most dangerous malware without one single problem has proven that XP is perfectly safe for a security expert like me, but would be extremely dangerous for 99.99% of the population (Like You)

 

[Suisam]

No need to get personal guys, Its M$ that need to listen to their user base. Lets not fight amongst ourselves

 

[Mugsy]

"Gamers" don't "prefer" Windows 10. They have no choice b/c the latest hardware isn't supported by Win7.

Partly b/c MS threatens to deny Win10 OEM licenses to anyone who continues to support Win7, and partly b/c MS refused to release a Win7 compatible version of DX12.

I was forced to abandon Win7 against my will when my old MoBo died and I switched to a Ryzen processor.

I hate Win10. It's as ugly & unfriendly as a $5 hooker.

 

[Mugsy]

Maybe people wouldn't hate Windows 10 if it wasn't malware suite disguised as an operating system.

I call it "a spam delivery device masquerading as an OS", but to each his own.

 

[Mugsy]

The loss of Windows Media Center is more of a concern. While M$ says, "very people were using it", hence its removal, I tend to think more people would be using it, due to the proliferation of HTPCs.

I use the v8.5 release of WMC to watch Live TV on my Win10 PC (download from "thegreenbutton.tv") with EPG123 for my Guide data. Works great.

WMC It's still the undisputed best TV viewer software around.

 

[terzaerian]

I’m waiting for the troll who runs Win XP to make an appearance...

Worse, I'm the ogre that just brought the first PC I built back online with Windows 2000. Now *that* is an OS.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Worse, I'm the ogre that just brought the first PC I built back online with Windows 2000. Now *that* is an OS.

Lol.... nice...always loved that OS... but I was talking about the moose who’s best friend is a squirrel... and he already posted...