And saner, too. The worst that happens when you break a dotfile is that you've rendered a program temporarily unusable. The worst that happens when the Windows registry breaks is that you've bungled an entire install with little recourse. Given that it backdates to even Windows 3.11, it's probably built on a pile of toothpicks.

I was recently surprised to discover it existed that far back. And the purpose was purely for associating files, and nothing more. As it should have stayed.

At least that much is the right way to go about it. Or would be, but you keep seeing compatibility problems with every new version, which since 10 means twice a year basically. And sometimes even with smaller updates.

Very much this. I have to keep an updated Windows OS on my daily runner for security and compatibility with work and official business. For "Unofficial" business, however, I greatly prefer running the much faster and lighter 7 on most of my other machines and just take extra precautions.

I have been using 7 since it released, and I will continue to use it because frankly I don't trust MS at all. I can easily see them making 11 subscription-based at some point. Sure, I am missing out on some newer games I'd like to play, but I have a backlog that will easily keep me busy for the rest of my life.

I still used 7 until Christmas of last year when I built a new PC running 10. While it DID leave me a little more vulnerable to malware, I was very cautious and had layered security to mitigate the loss of OS updates. I'd still be running 7 if not for the fact that some games just outright won't work on it. Every version of Windows from 8 onward has been absolute gutter trash, with 10 and 11 being atrocities so terrible that it ought to be considered a crime against humanity (and no, I'm not being dramatic, I mean that).

I keep deeply hoping that GOG will launch Galaxy on Linux in the next two or three years because if they do that, and if I'm able to get a supermajority of my games running on Linux, I'm 100% planning to fully switch over to Mint or Pop! when 10 hits its EoS date. I mean, 10 is bad but 11 is next level bloated spyware.

Sad thing is, I'm truly concerned that GOG will never release Galaxy on Linux... which is a major dealbreaker for me, as Galaxy is my home for all of my gaming. However, if they do and if most of my games will run fine on Linux (either natively or via compatibility layers), Windows 10 will be the last version of Microtrash crapware that I ever use.

Yes, I forgot about this. It happened to my brother because he kept putting it off by clicking the ''do it later'' options instead of looking into properly and completely turning it off so he ended up upgrading from 8.1 to 10 at an odd hour at night because that was when it triggered.

Thankfully, with Win11, you dodge a bullet if you own older hardware because it requires AMD Ryzen gen 2 or newer or Intel equivalent as the minimum spec. While it doesn't make any sense, I'm glad I'm spared from for now.
It looks like I missed some tricks. Thanks for such an informative post!

I have used Windows 7 but I don't have it anymore. While I use Linux as my daily driver, I have Windows 11 on dual boot for most of my games. Having said that, I think Windows 7 it's a very good Windows. Way better than Vista, much better than 8 and 8.1, and you still could use Classic mode. I understand very well why folks would want to use it.

It's not true that Windows 7 doesn't receive any security updates anymore.

As AB2012 stated in his post https://www.gog.com/forum/general/how_are_people_still_even_using_windows_7/post12 there is the option with Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) and there are ways to use it as an invidiual Windows user.

Direct link from Microsoft
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/windows-7-eos-faq/windows-7-extended-security-updates-faq#what-are-the-coverage-dates-for-the-three-windows-7-esu-skus-

What are the coverage dates for the three Windows 7 ESU SKUs?
Windows 7 Extended Security Updates 2020: January 14, 2020 - January 12, 2021
Windows 7 Extended Security Updates 2021: January 13, 2021 - January 11, 2022
Windows 7 Extended Security Updates 2022: January 12, 2022 - January 10, 2023

The current latest monthly rollup for Windows 7 is from September 2022 (KB5017361)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/september-13-2022-kb5017361-monthly-rollup-c16b9e15-2253-4b82-845a-d7e960c36eae


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And if were talking about security issues and fear of hackers just do a default install of Windows 7 and 10, open the task manager and see how many processes run on each Windows run. Any process can be potentially hacked, so fewer processes offer a lesser target.

Linux is not an option for me because there is not that broad support and availability of sofware or games. I have to admit that I don't have much experience though I have tried Ubuntu on a VM.

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Here my main reasons why I still use Windows 7
Telemetry (to not use the word spyware) can be completely opted out while in Windows 10 it is already implemented into the core
Almost no bloat or can be removed in comparison to Windows 10
A much cleaner and easier UI in Windows 7. I absolutely hate the UI in Windows 10
Windows 7 is much more hardware friendly. Windows 11 is even forcing TPM 2.0 which renders older hardware unusable (as I far as I know right now there are ways to avoid that, but Microsoft can close that door anytime).
Almost all software and games I need or want still run on Windows 7 or with tweaks


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There are many projects that makes it possibly to use newer software / hardware on Windows 7.
Here are some:

EFI loader that emulates int10h interrupts needed for booting Windows 7 under UEFI Class 3 systems
https://github.com/manatails/uefiseven

Porting DirectX 12 games to Windows 7 (for developpers)
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/porting-directx-12-games-to-windows-7https://devblogs.microsoft.com/directx/porting-directx-12-games-to-windows-7[/url]

Windows 7 API Extensions to run some Windows 8+ applications on Windows 7
https://github.com/vxiiduu/VxKex

Windows Update Agent CPU Support Limitation Removal when using Intel Kaby Lake and AMD Ryzen processors
https://github.com/p-lider/WuaCpuFix

Very good forum with many topics how to install and use Windows 7 on new Intel and AMD chipsets (like AMD X570), processors, USB 3.0/3.1 Controllers, NVMe SSD
https://winraid.level1techs.com/c/operating-systems/windows-7-vista-server-2008/35

New doesn't necessarily mean improved. Kids today are a good example.

I thought it was already subscription, namely that your data is theirs, and if you want to play Solitaire well you got ads or you gotta pay...

I don't trust MS either as far as i can throw them. I really need to find a Win7 image with USB3 support built into the image and boot ISO, then i might be able to take better advantage of it without fighting with it.

I'd suggest the Ameliorated edition if you had to. Then again you lose those 'updates' you're so very worried about and i couldn't care less for.

Might have to look at that....

>What's new features are offered by Quin.. i mean Encom OS 12?

>>We put a 12 on the box...

I have a friend that just recently started using Linux thanks to my recommendation...

...he was using Windows 11. Reverted back to Windows 10 and just reinstalled Windows XP and 7 on other partitions.

The power that Linux have of showing how much Windows changed through time is huge, I guess... :P
Also, thanks for the info and links! Really useful.

I am still using Windows 7, but I know that if I wanna play the newest games with the best performance I have to get a whole new fresh PC with the latest specs.

And I've used a bit of Windows 11 and its not the worse thing ever since I am only using it for the most bare essentials and to use it as a gaming PC and other entertainment.

I'm not a programmer with my PC.

Aren't the W7 ESUs for enterprise licenses only? How does a non-enterprise user legitimately install the ESUs for their W7 OS?

Microsoft and Apple:
That experiment when you boil a live frog and the critter just boils to death.

Food for thought.
(also....dont actually do this, it is possible and you are a horrible person for even thinking of doing it!)

I am.

If I don't like a product, I don't buy it, or use it, even if for free.

Includes shit that is made a matter of law, as in health insurance here.

Straight as hell, legal as can be, but will not have bastards dictating to me where I spend my after tax money.

I take nothing, ask for nothing, so eat shit with your dictates.

<Sorry, just still pissed off over encroachment.>