I want to switch to Linux when extended support for Windows 7 ends, but keep a dualboot with offline Windows 7 for games that don't run on Linux.

The problem is, my Windows 7 CD is 5+ years old, so it won't have the latest updates. Is there a way to get a CD with latest current version of Windows 7?

If not, what are better alternatives then? Use whatever I have on my Windows 7 CD, or should I Install+Update and then only go offline?

Speaking of, would being completely offline necessary security-wise? If I stay connected, but only use it for driver-updates and keep my AV up to date, without any browsing or similar, wouldn't that be OK?

To answer that last bit first, no, it's not necessary. Frankly, if you keep your browser(s) updated, have good security software that's also properly updated, obviously block all incoming connections, and exercise some common sense in terms of where you go online, what you click, open, run, you're way more likely to have a problem BECAUSE of an update than due to not installing it. Of course, backups are something one should normally have, but you should do just fine for months or even a few years past the end of support. Heck, there are still people using XP.

PS: Hm, can't seem to find that link to a Win 7 ISO image where I knew it was. But there should be an official download somewhere. Not sure if it'll still be there past EoS though.
If you want your system as it is though, why not just use Windows' built-in backup? If you have the OS on a partition on its own, without other stuff, OR you back up ALL the other stuff separately and then add it back, you can just create a system image backup and load it again when needed, which will restore the selected partition(s) exactly as they were when the backup was made.

Same, except I'll probably go for triple. Win 7 and 10, and Linux. Someone recently posted a how-to here. But you can google "WIndow 7 slipstream install". MS even provides patches for Win XP for a critical 0Day a while ago. And brain 1.0 is the best defence against viruses. Check the IT news, act responsibly and you'll be safe.

I know Simplix UpdatePack was good for slipstreaming, but never tried it myself.

If you go only on your game library and in some site you trust, i think you won't have any problem with windows 7 even if you stay online.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

Also, thanks everyone else. While I'll switch my main OS to Linux, I'll keep Win 7 online too. I already have my firewall block by default and RDS disabled.

You have two choices:

1. Download a copy from Gen2 (You can guess where...)

2. Or make one yourself: https://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/417827-integrate7-script-automatically-download-slipstream-all-updates.html

And then get it on a usb stick. Remember to install Windows first (oldest first) and then Linux (because Windows does not play well with others).

PS: What ever you choose I highly recommend https://tinywall.pados.hu/ for easier management of Windows Firewall.

Oh, and not sure what updates are included, but the official ISO download is still there at the moment. Requires a valid license key to access and unlikely to remain after EoS though.

The link provided in sanscript post is all you need: Just follow that forum thread on the sevenforums to get the info you need. The biggest advantage is it is all 100% legit, no 'dodgy' websites are involved as it all comes from MS directly.

The only difference is the script created to do all the work makes sure to avoid the spyware updates that MS started to put out for WIndows 7 (and 8 as well!) to make the older OS behave more like 10 (in terms of data-gathering and phoning home etc).

I burnt my version using the info on that link above about a month or so ago and needed to use a DVD-R-DL (Double Layer) as the image created with all the updates to Windows 7 is bigger than a normal 4.7GB DVD-R. You can use a USB as well.

Sadly if you simply install Windows 7 from scratch (using your official disk) you will have a heap of problems updating it to the current latest state as MS messed it all up a few years back with various updates 'designed' to push everyone to Windows 10. The sevenforums are a great source of info and worth bookmarking if you are (like many of us) going to be sticking with Windows 7 post EoL.

I'm also a Linux Mint user and my new Ryzen 1600 build i've nearly put together (waiting on January sales for GPU offers) will be a dual boot Linux Mint and Windows 7 based PC. I'll use Mint for when i need to go online and keep WIndows 7 for the best gaming experience (obviously not including titles that will be Windows 10 only).

I would keep internet access to a minimum going forward under Windows 7, but a decent up-to date firewall will help for when you have to, and avoiding bad sites and downloads etc.

When I volunteered overseas everyone and their mother had a Windows 7 PC that Microsoft never knew about, so I'm pretty sure it's not only possible but easy. Just keep it offline and you're good to go.

If you want to update it off-line, this utility is very good for retrieving the updates so you can burn them to a disk or USB stick
http://download.wsusoffline.net/

Once it's downloaded you can just run the client installer and it'll install them all.



That said, I'm using Win7SP1 on my Thinkpad and it's never been updated, aside from a few manually installed MSUs to fix bugs that actually affected me like the jumplists disappearing and the startbar randomly jumping to the top of the screen.

Never been affected by any viruses or malware, and the laptop is noticeably more responsive than my brother's identical laptop, which has all 300+ updates.

Frankly if you rely on Microsoft for security you're already doomed - They've proved time and time again they don't know what they're doing. The fact is even when they stop supplying security updates for Win7, it will still have a smaller attack surface than Win10 (Seriously, why does it need so many network-connected background tasks?!) and won't randomly break things ever time there's a major update (Which, in Win10, is actually a OS upgrade install, something which experienced users would in the past advise you never do because of the problems it causes. And Win10 does this every major update!)

If you want to stay safe online, some of the most useful things to do are having a decent firewall, use a better web browser (Or at least disable javascript by default, since it's now a bigger security hazard then Flash ever was), and be sensible about what sites you visit and what you click on/download from the web or email or irc or usenet or a usb stick or anywhere.

The best defense against getting pwned is the same as what it's always been - Don't be an idiot.

Sadly the dumbing down of everything by corps like Apple, Microsoft, Google etc. is making you switch off your brains and make you easier to manipulate - Don't always take the easy option!

Yeah the people part of the botnet, and people getting their shit stolen and dumped online.

Slipstreaming... updating the original CD with a new service pack update. Worked with XP and Vista i believe.

Been using this for a while, you can do many things on this.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/276101-you-can-now-run-windows-95-as-an-app-on-windows-macos-and-linux