Need info on upgrading Windows 7

[sunsetpainter]

Just got a pop-up on my computer (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information?OCID=win7_app_omc_win) that Microsoft is not going to be supporting Windows 7 anymore after next year.  I have Windows 7 on my desktop computer because I LIKE it.  So I'm kind of freaking out a little bit here.  The pop up says I need to buy a new computer.  Is this true?  I tried Windows 8 or 10 (can't remember which) before I bought this one and I really hated it.  I had a friend actually build this computer with exactly what I needed, but he doesn't live around here anymore.  In simple terms (you're talking to a real non-techie) can someone tell me what I need to do?

Thanks!

[Pantlandia]

I would do a virus scan. Windows 7 might not be supported but that doesn't mean you can't use it. Unless you are running a fairly old computer you shouldn't need to buy a new one but that depends on your current ones specs.

Also windows 10 is fine. It's not much different than windows 7. Windows 8 was horrible.

I have never heard of a pop up saying any of this which is why I suggested a virus scan.

Google to see if the pop-up is legit and not malware or a phishing attempt.

[Pantlandia]

OK the pop up is legit. Do you know what processor you are running, how much ram and how big your hard drive is?

[sunsetpainter]

Pantlandia

It's a Lenovo computer.  This is what I found on my system (not sure if it's what you wanted):

Processor:  Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU G640 @2.80GHz

Installed Memory (RAM):  8.00 GB (7.90 GB Usable)

System Type:  64-bit operating System

[kritter]

I will keep using Windows 7 until it becomes extinct. Support or not, I am in.

[sunsetpainter]

DH bought a refurbished laptop from a pawn shop who he's friends with the owner (That sentence sounds horrible but I'm too tired to fix it). The darn thing has locked us out because it won't accept our password anymore, so it's just a big square paperweight right now. It's a Windows 10 and I don't think it will be too terribly bad to learn. But I usually dig in my heels resisting ANY change.

[zoesam]

No. You don't have to do anything! You can continue to use unsupported software for as long as you want, provided it still works for you. I'm still on 7 & will be for the foreseeable future. I use tons of "unsupported" software.  Also, many mfrs claim software is no longer supported, but still support it on the sly. Look at Ebay - they said TL was unsupported, yet they've released several updates to it since then.

Likely, what will eventually happen is that sites &/or browsers that you use will EVENTUALLY no longer function well with 7 & you will want to make a change. But that could be years from now. Just go on your merry way until you get annoyed & want to switch.

ETA: Jeremy is likely asking for your stats to see if you have space, speed, etc.  I have an ancient computer, it's not a problem that the PC is old, as long as it is still meeting YOUR needs.  

[chapeaunoir]

Your specs are fine. That popup is just informational - Microsoft did that with XP and then continued supporting it for years after that because so much of the industry refused to move (XP was one of their more successful OS's and a lot of proprietary software was written for it - I used two different packages on the job). I don't think 7 is going to have the stickiness of XP, though, and will expect 7 to have support ended in the very near future - they kept it going this long because 8 and 8.1 was such a bomb.

Windows 10 is easy and an improvement over 7 in some ways - it'll have a few different things of course, but they don't take much getting used to. I use 7 and 10 interchangeably and hardly notice. The thing about Win 10 that I *don't* like is their 'thresholds' - which are really service packs, tend to update with a lot of bloatware, but that's easy to get rid of (and some of the apps people actually like), and a couple have been badly written and Microsoft has had to issue fixes - that publicity was so bad, though, that I think they're being less eager to release them. This stuff is nothing that the everyday user is going to notice, though - it gets the DH swearing because he runs databases on his, and it bothers our network from time to time, but doesn't interrupt my daily tasks. 

[val2525]

My laptop has Win 7, but I use Win 10 at the office. Win 10 isn't that bad now that MS has worked out the major bugs.

[kritter]

I bought a Dell laptop and another tower with Windows 7 when Betty posted that great Dell sale.

I am using Windows 7 until it just won't work at all anymore.

[chapeaunoir]

It'll never not work - I used XP up until last year because I happened to have a stand-alone computer with XP on it and was using it for file archiving, media storage and word processing tasks that I didn't want loaded onto my main computer.

The only consideration beyond compatible software/peripherals is security and exploits, but as Win 7 ages out, I personally think that risk decreases, and as long as you have very good ant-virus software, you'll be OK.

I sell computer peripherals (sometimes at a good clip) and all are tested compatible with XP all the way through Win10 - there's no problem.

[sunsetpainter]

Apr 19, 2019 22:56:31 GMT chapeaunoir said:

Your specs are fine. That popup is just informational - Microsoft did that with XP and then continued supporting it for years after that because so much of the industry refused to move (XP was one of their more successful OS's and a lot of proprietary software was written for it - I used two different packages on the job). I don't think 7 is going to have the stickiness of XP, though, and will expect 7 to have support ended in the very near future - they kept it going this long because 8 and 8.1 was such a bomb.

Windows 10 is easy and an improvement over 7 in some ways - it'll have a few different things of course, but they don't take much getting used to. I use 7 and 10 interchangeably and hardly notice. The thing about Win 10 that I *don't* like is their 'thresholds' - which are really service packs, tend to update with a lot of bloatware, but that's easy to get rid of (and some of the apps people actually like), and a couple have been badly written and Microsoft has had to issue fixes - that publicity was so bad, though, that I think they're being less eager to release them. This stuff is nothing that the everyday user is going to notice, though - it gets the DH swearing because he runs databases on his, and it bothers our network from time to time, but doesn't interrupt my daily tasks. 

Thanks chap!  I understood your first paragraph but the second one went totally over my head!  lol

[Shirley U Geste]

I use Win 7 & won't give it up until they pry it away from me.

I detest Win 8 & don't like 10 & don't want to learn how to use it. I'm old, I don't like tech change, hell I just got a different phone & it's driving me nuts trying to remember where everything is now & how it works.

[kritter]

Apr 20, 2019 1:11:28 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

I use Win 7 & won't give it up until they pry it away from me.

I detest Win 8 & don't like 10 & don't want to learn how to use it. I'm old, I don't like tech change, hell I just got a different phone & it's driving me nuts trying to remember where everything is now & how it works.

My sista by another mother. Except I am not giving up my flip phone.

[chapeaunoir]

Apr 19, 2019 23:28:44 GMT sunsetpainter said:

Apr 19, 2019 22:56:31 GMT chapeaunoir said:

Your specs are fine. That popup is just informational - Microsoft did that with XP and then continued supporting it for years after that because so much of the industry refused to move (XP was one of their more successful OS's and a lot of proprietary software was written for it - I used two different packages on the job). I don't think 7 is going to have the stickiness of XP, though, and will expect 7 to have support ended in the very near future - they kept it going this long because 8 and 8.1 was such a bomb.

Windows 10 is easy and an improvement over 7 in some ways - it'll have a few different things of course, but they don't take much getting used to. I use 7 and 10 interchangeably and hardly notice. The thing about Win 10 that I *don't* like is their 'thresholds' - which are really service packs, tend to update with a lot of bloatware, but that's easy to get rid of (and some of the apps people actually like), and a couple have been badly written and Microsoft has had to issue fixes - that publicity was so bad, though, that I think they're being less eager to release them. This stuff is nothing that the everyday user is going to notice, though - it gets the DH swearing because he runs databases on his, and it bothers our network from time to time, but doesn't interrupt my daily tasks. 

Thanks chap!  I understood your first paragraph but the second one went totally over my head!  lol

Sorry - I gabble along in a kind of mindless fashion sometimes.  Microsoft sends out service packs (which they've cutely called 'thresholds' for Win10, or used to) - they've always done this. The service packs are basically updates with bug fixes, program improvements, etc., as well as security patches (particularly security patches). Well, they got sloppy with Win 10's service packs and some of them were knocking out people's video, so their screen went black - we had two or three of our computers do that, and THAT is something the everyday user is going to notice - it caused people to understandably freak out and wonder if their monitor, video card, etc., had blown up, and it was just Microsoft's stupidity. They issued a fix for that. There was also a problem of it interfering with some other programs - one of which the DH used but I didn't. 

The rest of the 'bloatware' is all of these add-on programs, like X-box music, Pandora, Money, etc. - some is fine, people like them, but a lot of them are just more junk on your computer, and what bothers me is they don't give you a choice if you want this stuff or not. You have to remove it yourself with command prompts, etc. It's just annoying - I quit removing it every update because I got tired of doing it. 

[chapeaunoir]

Win 10 is nothing like Win 8 - it's more like Win 7, but it does move faster. IMHO Win 7 is an excellent OS and I only changed because I was doing data mining and needed the fastest speed and latest security, or I would have waited until I felt like doing it. I was always hanging onto the old stuff because I didn't feel like spending money, or I'd change the innards on the old stuff to keep it going. I've never understood having to have the 'latest' just to have it - if it's not functional, then I don't care. I only went to a smartphone because I needed it for business, and my old little brick was from 1998.

[sunsetpainter]

I actually loved my "candy bar" phone and resisted changing to a flip phone until I had to because they didn't make them any more. I do like my Android phone for checking stuff for Ebay.

chapeaunoir  Thank you for explaining all that computer stuff.  I never really understood any of that.  I took 1 computer class in college...we used punch cards to write the program, fed them into a computer the size of my kitchen, then waited 3 days to get your printout back just to learn it was junk because you goofed up one of the cards!  lol  I sort of lost interest in computers for a long time after that!

[Desire]

I won't go to Windows 10 although I used to get pop-ups to upgrade. Just make sure you are the one who controls what you want updated from that little flag on the bottom bar.  Don't let them automatically download and install their updates. You can set your preferences there by clicking on the white flag.  I think they might have stopped those attempts to auto-download Windows 10, but way back they were auto pushing that.

DH has a Windows 10 laptop and said the biggest thing he hates is the intrusion and take-over by Microsoft.  I purchased one of the refurbished Windows-7 laptops for him and he is happy with that.  It's easier to find deals on brand new Windows-7 desktops vs laptops.  The brand new Windows-7 laptops with fast speed and large hard drives are way way up in price.

[chapeaunoir]

Apr 20, 2019 14:14:00 GMT sunsetpainter said:

I actually loved my "candy bar" phone and resisted changing to a flip phone until I had to because they didn't make them any more. I do like my Android phone for checking stuff for Ebay.

chapeaunoir   Thank you for explaining all that computer stuff.  I never really understood any of that.  I took 1 computer class in college...we used punch cards to write the program, fed them into a computer the size of my kitchen, then waited 3 days to get your printout back just to learn it was junk because you goofed up one of the cards!  lol  I sort of lost interest in computers for a long time after that!

I remember those days! "I speak FORTRAN!" - our computer lab at tech school had a portrait of Grace Cobol - not sure if it ever had incense burning in front of it or not. 

Once I as was coming out of lab (I was a chemistry major not computers) a guy was walking out of the computer lab carrying this big flat full of punch cards - he tripped over his big feet and the flat went flying and cards just dumped everywhere. Everyone in the hallway who saw it just stopped and looked stricken - I thought the poor kid was going to burst into tears. 

ETA: Did your candy bar have an antenna?  I thought that was the coolest thing, it seemed so official as I drew it out. It was so funny, first to last I got the same reaction - when I first got it few people had cell phones so if I pulled it out to use it, drawing out the antenna, I'd get this "what the heck is that?" Years later when I was going to finally retire it, I'd get the same look from smart phone users "what the heck is that?" It got so it wouldn't pick up a signal. I had a flip phone for a while (which I really liked, it was extremely well designed) but finally got a smart phone when a friend of mine who works for T-Mobile got me a friends and family deal and I purchased a plan and put the DH on it. 

[Desire]

I'd like to get a tablet from that Dell refurbished deal that Betty posted about. They only have Windows 8 and Windows 10 for tablets. Does anyone know if Windows 8 is similar to Windows 7, or is more like Windows 10?

chapeaunoir said this above:  Win 10 is nothing like Win 8 - it's more like Win 7, but it does move faster.

I feel that Windows 10 is so far off and different than Windows 7, that's why I won't go to it.  So I was confused about Windows 8.  Does anyone know if it follows the Windows 7 layout and format?  If it's nothing like Windows 10, as Chap said, that's a good thing for me, but I was confused by her statement.

[Pantlandia]

Window 10 is an upgraded version of Windows 7. There really isn't much difference at all to the common user. Windows 8 was built for tablets and put on computers, which is why it failed so miserably.

I don't understand the hate for Windows 10. Functionally it's the same as Windows 7. There is a slight modification to the start menu, but at least it HAS a start menu (unlike Windows 8). The start menu can also be modified to give it a much cleaner look more similar to Win 7. 

Windows 7:



Windows 10:




Windows 8:

[zoesam]

DH hates the same thing about Win10, (which he has on his work PC), as Chap does. The automatic updates with everything under the sun, that you have very little control of. You can't shut them off & the time window options apparently suck for those of us (me) who keep odd hours. It's the one thing keeping him from installing Win10 on my PC.

Even with Win7, I had an update the other month that left me dead in the water & we had to diagnose it, deinstall the update (which fixed the problem) & that took too much time to do & time away from being able to function, so in Win7, I was able to shut off all updates. I'll do them manually if & when I choose.

Other than that, he doesn't mind 10 at all.

[sunsetpainter]

I like all the shortcuts I put on my opening background screen. Does Win 10 allow you to do that?

[Pantlandia]

Apr 21, 2019 18:31:39 GMT sunsetpainter said:

I like all the shortcuts I put on my opening background screen. Does Win 10 allow you to do that?

The same way you do it on Win 7. 

@zoe - OK, yes. I can understand that, but updates are generally necessary and done for a reason. Sure being able to install them when you want is nice, but eventually they have to be installed regardless. Yeah, they do have some that wreaked havoc, but that's going to happen from time to time and on every platform. Unfortunately, using Windows is like eBay...adapt or die

[zoesam]

Apr 21, 2019 20:12:46 GMT Pantlandia said:

Apr 21, 2019 18:31:39 GMT sunsetpainter said:

@zoe - OK, yes. I can understand that, but updates are generally necessary and done for a reason. Sure being able to install them when you want is nice, but eventually they have to be installed regardless. Yeah, they do have some that wreaked havoc, but that's going to happen from time to time and on every platform. Unfortunately, using Windows is like eBay...adapt or die

Certainly you're entitled to your opinion.  But both DH & I having been in the software field for our entire adult lives, our opinion is different :-)  You can do just fine without installing most updates.  In fact, many of them do not even apply to features/products that we use.  Most programmers (mostly retired ex-programmers at this point lol) don't like to be on the "bleeding edge", so we purposely like to stay a release or two behind on everything.  I guess coming from a legacy software background, we aren't used to updates that wreak havoc, that is a totally foreign concept to us, as it's not something that EVER happened on the IBM mainframe platforms we are used to.  It couldn't happen.  Fortune 100 businesses rely on their products & operating systems to function.  Yeah, stuff really was tested before going to the users.  Imagine that.   

I haven't done an update in months now & don't intend to.  Eventually, if something stops working or if there's a big security one, I'll cherry pick what I want to install.  

Being able to install when you want to is critical for those who work from the machine.  DH works at home for a large corporation, he can't have his machine suddenly go into update mode for hours, in the middle of his workday.  IIRC he said it gives you 8 hour or 10 hour windows to select for the updates, which just isn't granular enough for most people who are working. 

[chapeaunoir]

I generally time the updates - some are very long, but I'll have then running at night, or when I'm gone. I don't cherry pick mine anymore because I'm not in a situation where it really matters. I used to be but now it's 'eh, just keep it out of my way.'

From what I know (I haven't done it myself), mainframes are so different from PCs in their applications - my Ex worked on a Cray for years (or IN a Cray) and before then on some giant grandson of an Eniac - I had to help him learn a PC.

[zoesam]

Apr 21, 2019 21:40:28 GMT chapeaunoir said:

I generally time the updates - some are very long, but I'll have then running at night, or when I'm gone. I don't cherry pick mine anymore because I'm not in a situation where it really matters. I used to be but now it's 'eh, just keep it out of my way.'

From what I know (I haven't done it myself), mainframes are so different from PCs in their applications - my Ex worked on a Cray for years (or IN a Cray) and before then on some giant grandson of an Eniac - I had to help him learn a PC.

Well, yes & no.  PC's are different, but applications are applications.  Granted those on the mainframe tend to be more complex & a whole lotta American business depends on them, so there really can't be mistakes like an update rendering things inoperable LOL.  Supercomputers like a Cray, are a whole 'nother species!  Yes, they are a mainframe, but their functionality is generally not realated to business or money.   That's cool that he got to work on one/in one.  I've never even seen one, except in pics. 

[chapeaunoir]

They're just so wild - I've only seen one from afar. The one my ex- worked one was big enough to have a seat inside it? That boggled my mind. He said he used another mainframe with it, then they got this Mac in their office and it boggled everyone. It was the Tiny Mac era and somehow they got stuck on it - I was doing Mac support, as it so happened, for my job, and was setting one up for a work mate. I get this phone call - it's my ex-, one of Boeing's pet geniuses, with his colleague who was one of the Fellows for the company, they have various doctorals and a bunch of engineering experience, and I hear "The disc is stuck in the machine...what do we do?"  ROFL - they'd gotten the floppy stuck and were flummoxed.  I said "do you see that little hole next to the entry port" (muttering, then affirmative muttering) "Yes."  "OK, unwind a paperclip and stick the end in that little hole" (muttering then AHHHHHHHHHHH!  You're a genius!)  

I miss 80s and 90s computerland. 

[val2525]

LOL at the Win 10 haters. I had no choice in using it, and went in kicking and screaming, but after a couple of days using it I was like, "meh, whatever". It really isn't that bad. Win 8 sucked big time however. That one was a nightmare

[chapeaunoir]

Win8 was like Vista, only worse. Anyone remember Windows ME?