Your Windows 7 PC is Out of Support!

.................so prominently displayed across both my desktop & laptop screens today! Seems almost threatening, plus I'm fascinated how Microsoft is able to effectively display this in such a perfectly timely manner. I'm SURE they can infect both my computers any time they want to with deadly viruses or malware too - wonder if this is coming also in a timely manner?

OK, so they don't support it anymore. So what could happen? On both, I do have Microsoft Security Essentials. I'm thinking I need a different anti-virus program now?? (and yes, I still use Windows 7 because I HATED Windows 10 when using it before!)

Anyway, any advice from the more computer literate of you is much appreciated! BTW, I have had NO problems with Windows 7 since I've been using it.

Standing by for advice from all of the Commodore Vic 20 and Apple II C users on Moparts...

Go in and remove this update here in this link.

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutoria...-end-support-reminder-notifications.html

If your current and have a good router and av, ect and dont visit crazy sites and even use a filter like open dns id not worry I myself have 2 windows 7 units I just put new HD-s in and as well made a full backup on cd for future use.

It pretty clear they seem to be pushing for more sales of new units, because windows 10 free upgrade was FREE and they never said "Oh you need a new pC to run it" if you have a modern PC that came with windows 7 you can run 10 or any Linux OS.

And lets not forget all the new modern tracking, data collection, ect.... That is why the old DOS units and even early windows are fun to play with,

I have win10, it's fine, AFTER it's modded. I did a new install of Win10 Pro last night. google decrapify windows 10. Install openshell menu (free) and configure to emulate Windows 7. If you're as anal as I am, you can replace the openshell start button with any other button of your choice, I'm using the Windows 7 start button. If you want your windows 7 games back instead of the nonsense Win10 is pushing, google windows 7 games for windows 10, it's at winaero.com.

edit: If you don't want microsoft watching everything you do, do NOT use a microsoft account to sign in to Win10, use a local account. The new install I did last night made it more difficult than I recalled to set up a local user account instead of the MS account. And uninstall onedrive if you don't use it, damned thing nagged me last night until I got rid of it.

As near as I can tell, Win10 does only two things better than 7, menu on all screens and automatically resizes images to fit multiple monitors, that's it. I'm sure there's more but it's all I've found.

Second solution, install linux mint in a dual boot configuration, or put it in a virtual box use it for your online needs, switch back to Win7 for productivity or offline computing as needed.

Lastly:

Here's how to get Windows 10 for free, if you're currently running a licensed and activated copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Home or Pro:

1. Go to the Download Windows 10 website.

2. Under Create Windows 10 installation media, click Download tool now and Run.

3. Choose Upgrade this PC now, assuming this is the only PC you're upgrading. (If you're upgrading a different machine, choose Create installation media for another PC, and save the installation files.)

4. Follow the prompts.

5. When the upgrade is complete, go to Settings Update & Security > Activation, and you should see a digital license for Windows 10.

It should be noted that if you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can only update to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 or 8 Pro can only be updated to Windows 10 Pro (the upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise. Other users may experience blocks as well, depending on your machine). This upgrade using the media creation tool isn't meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless.

my windhose 7 is perfectly "supported" on the desk it sits on.

I stayed with Windows XP for several years after the support ended. Intend to do the same with Windows 7.

The funny (maybe not so funny) thing is, that Microsoft has been telling us that we need to move to Windows 10 because it is more secure. Yet the NSA discovered a major vulnerability in Win 10 that MS is now releasing a patch for.

https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/14/microsoft-patching-flaw-found-by-nsa/

I did it yesterday, couple of days before that I updated firefox (72.0.1) due to another nsa alert.

Who knows how many unpatched exploits are out there for older browsers and OS's?

I still have my Commodore 64 in a box somewhere, along with the 5-1/4" floppy and tape drive.

Seriously,how much effort/cost did it take for a huge company, with the massive accumulated wealth to continue to support those likely up in their twilight years and dwindling, if for no other reason then good will?

They all should be ashamed.

I'm just sick of windows.

I put bootable Ubuntu on a UDB memory stick, then I replaced my HDD with this for $29 https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS900-240GB-Internal-Solid/dp/B0719D9YL7/

Then I loaded Ubuntu onto the new SSD HDD. The thing gives new life to old machines. I do 99% of my work through a browser, so it's not a big deal. Free software (Libre office) if you want to work locally, but I just switched over to google (docs, sheets, etc).

Good advice above, though, on the Windows upgrade paths.

I don't care! Hopefully it will work until the day I die. I did use Windows 10 at work and I was always good when I came home to my Windows 7...

This!!^^^^ I put Linux Mint on this ancient(Vista) laptop many years ago. It runs flawless! No need for AV crapware, runs any office docs I need. Fast,secure, stable and free! I leave this thing run for weeks on end. No need for reboots to get the OS to run again,simple updates that never require long restarts, etc. This OS makes Windows look silly. It does none of the stupid crap Windows does.Easily configured to look just like your Windows desktop...my wife or kids hop on this(usually when their Windows junk doesn't work right)and have zero issues finding/doing what they need.If you want to save an old machine Linux(Ubuntu)is the way to do it. I'll never spend a penny on Windows again.

I've been on the verge of dumping Windows ever since the days of Win 3.1... but every generation is a little bit less crappy (except for the Vista debacle).
Sticking with 7 for now. It's still crap, but it's relatively stable crap. And I have a lot of software that runs under XP and 7, too.

But I think I'll try your suggestion of Linux Mint, maybe on a spare hard drive. I've had about enough of Microsoft.

Fun anecdote: I learned everything I needed to know about how their programmers' minds worked when I asked, How do I stop Windows?
First, you click on Start...

I was just reading about Linux Mint. Makes some sense to me, but I want to understand more before I do anything. I'm having my daughter & her nerd friend look at it. The "nerd" dude is pretty damn informed on anything PC.

As Calmopar said, you can load Ubuntu(or Linux ) on a bootable flash drive and run it right from that without touching your hard drive(it'll be slower but work just fine) OR you can load it on a partition on your hard drive and dual boot your machine(you can choose which OS at start up) I did that until I realized I no longer needed Windows, then I did a complete format and Linux install on the hard drive....been running like that for years.

This may all sound complex but trust me...if I can do it anyone can. I'm no IT guy by any means....the instructions provided by LInux/Ubuntu are good and the files load easily and walk you right through the install process,including running from the stick,installing on a partition or doing a complete format/install.

I just did that (downloaded the 2 GB MATE distribution, and the Etcher program to put it on a handy 16 GB flash drive), booted it up and it works first time out!
None of the usual head-scratching, hair-pulling, kicking and screaming required to install nearly ANYTHING Windows-based
Not that slow either, running off the USB drive.

It's very tempting to go ahead and install it on the hard drive, but backing up the oodles (technical term) of data will take a while. I'm overdue to make backups anyway.
Anyway, it's definitely worth a closer look. Forget Win 10.

My garage laptop is still XP.

Works for what I use it for, an electron FSM basically. I got ont eh internet with it for the first time in years and holy cow the updates everything wanted.

Took three days to get everything updated. Such as it is.

Not familiar with those versions of Ubuntu/Linux but sounds like the same experience I had with Linux....loads up and runs. If you load it on the hard drive it flat out flies. I have this ancient Dell running Linux, my wife has a 2 yr old Lenovo running Win 10. We can boot them at the same time...mine's running in a minute or so...her's...not so much.

My daughter warned me against Linux - she said Outlook will not work with it either. I'm going to call my computer repair store tomorrow to see what they recommend.

Outlook is not so wonderful that you have to have it... so not being able to use it is not necessarily a bad thing!
And stay away from bug-ridden Windows Live Mail.

Try Thunderbird, which Linux Mint comes with. I used it some time ago on an older Apple PowerPC laptop and it was quite easy to use...