Discussion I can't leave Windows 7

[blueskyx5]

I think Windows 7 is an excellent operating system. Actually my computer is still in good condition.. It runs my graphics software very fast. It has DDR4 2400MHZ 32gb ram and NVIDIA 1050ti. I am currently using windows 7 ultimate and it has not caused any problems for 5 years. It works like a beet engine... Yes, security updates are missing, but for a careful user this is not a big problem in my opinion. The main problem is that some software no longer supports Windows 7.

Windows 7 could have been improved, but I think it was sacrificed for the commercial market. Moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 had significant kernel differences such as TLS and 64-bit. But I don't see any significant difference in moving from Windows 7 to 10 or 11 other than driver and software support.


It works so great that I don't want to give it up. Dealing with Windows problems is very time consuming and tiring. Knowing this, I do not want to touch this perfectly working system. Windows 7 is the most robust system that Microsoft has ever managed to make. Additionally, behavior and privacy settings are also under the user's control.

I'm sad that one day I'll have to abandon Windows 7! But I will resist until the end...

 

[USAFRet]

No one is using the "same" OS they were 15-20 years ago.
Even Win 10 of 2025 is not the same Win 10 as it was in 2015. Maybe it retains the same name, but significant changes over time.

This goes for Apple and Linux as well.

 

[michael diemer]

Agree 100%. Windows 7 was a great system. Then came 8. Ugh. I mean, who actually liked that? They had to issue a revision almost immediately, it was so poorly received. I thought that with 10 they would go back and continue the greatness of 7. Giving it away was perhaps an admission of their mistake. But no, 10 continued the assault on privacy and control of your computer.

Why could not Microsoft simply have kept the same GUI as Windows 7, and just provide tech and security updates? Linux Mint has done that. The Cinnamon desktop, which is similar in looks and function to Seven's, still looks and works great. It provides continuity and familiarity over the years. But Microsoft has to keep changing how their system works and looks, and users find this very frustrating. Why?

One possibility is that by making Windows more confusing, users will accept the need to allow Microsoft to control their computer. Which is apparently what they have in mind.

There is no need to abandon Seven, ever. Just keep it as a "frozen" system, and use it for those things you need or like it for. For example, I use it for my music composition. I have everything I need. Everything works, and there are no updates to break things. It will work like that indefinitely, and if my computer dies I will simply put Seven on a new or refurbished one. And I use Linux for browsing. My Linux Mint machine is a separate computer, not a dual boot. So they both work perfectly. Why more people don't do this is mystery to me.

 

[stonecarver]

I'm sad that one day I'll have to abandon Windows 7! But I will resist until the end...

There are many who sympathize with you and have the same likes for Windows 7. Some of us have Windows 7 on a few older machines as your right Windows 7 just works! I don't use on line and if I need something I plug in get what I need and again off line.

At this point in time to make that switch as painless and smooth if it's possible is to get a second PC and run Windows 11 and with a KVM switch use both in real time.

No one thinks about in the not so distant future we may be hit with how moving from Windows 98 to Windows XP you lost most of your programs and most of your PC games didn't work in XP from Windows 98 days. It's a niche market where people are putting back together old machines just to retro game in 2025. Think about that.

Even if the argument is I don't want to spend $1000. on a new machine just to be forced to move to Windows 11 you can buy a used PC for about $100 or if your good at knowing what your looking at even less and Windows 11 you can run free unregistered.


Keep your Windows 7 and be retro and up to date at the same time.