Windows 7!

Thanks for the reminder, imp.  Just switched on my old lappy for it's final update.  Is that tomorrow our time or the States?  Reckon I'll be needing more than 45 mins!

Make sure you're using a standard user account and not an admin one when you go online. Use Microsoft Security Essentials for your anti-virus (Microsoft announced a week or two ago that they'll continue to update this for Windows 7 users until further notice). Use Google Chrome as your browser (Google announced this week that they'll continue updating this for Windows 7 until at least the middle of next year).

Keep away from the one-handed websites. And use something else (like an iPhone) for online banking, every time, so if the worst does come to the worst, the worst thing doesn't happen.

Do all that, and I should think you can carry on with Windows 7. I certainly am. Regardless of anything else, Windows 7 seems to be the only operating system out there which allows one-finger scrolling on a laptop. You can't do it on W10 or Chromebooks or Macs. It might sound trivial, but I just can't handle two-finger scrolling after getting so used to one-finger.

It's only an emergency back-up lappy since I spilled a bowl of noodles over it a couple of years ago and it started schmokin' Unplugged it and washed it under the shower for a couple of minutes to rinse the shoite out Gave it a good shake and left it in the airing cupboard for a couple of weeks to dry out.  Plugged it in and it fired up   Most things work except a few wee foibles.

Using McAfee and IE10.

"one-handed websites"

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 for Windows 7 for x64 - last update going through

I don't understand whats so special about updates. I bought a windows CD from Dubai for a couple of euros many many years ago. Copied the setup onto my computer and use it everytime I need to reinstall it. Never updated it. Turned off auto updates.

I've never had an anti virus on my system. I open every filth possible including porn and streaming sites. I've never been infected except one time where my bank had issues with my login. I don't use online banking on my computer but other than that I do everything on it without ever requiring a windows update or an anti virus.

So why do so many people, especially ones who have trouble dealing with computers worry so much about updates? It's a con. If you don't have an antivirus, you wont get a virus. If you turn off updates, you wont need to worry about them.

What a con, my windows 7 home premimum pc still works brilliant, I don't need a new one, so do people really think it will be safe? I use betfair, banking etc on it...

What is the alternative to upgrading to Windows 10?

Use Ubuntu instead. It's free.

https://ubuntu.com/desktop

I run WINDOWS 10 on my desktop, and Ubuntu on a laptop for banking only.

If you only use your computer for online work there's no point in buying Windows.

I'm no computer expert, but I'm still on Windows 7, been told to keep your security software up to date (Microsoft Security Essentials). So basically Windows 7 support will be dropped from now and you will be relying on your security tools. Generally safe, but be a bit more careful with downloads and emails and online banking, (presume using betfair is ok and safe).

That is what I've been told so going with that, but would consider Ubuntu, not sure about Windows 10, so for now sticking with Windows 7 and just pay more attention to security updates.

I stuck with Windows 7 to within a month of the end myself, but I have to say, having bought a new PC, Windows 10 isn't that bad.  Depending on what you use it for, a lot of it handles in a very similar, if not identical, manner to Win7 (File Explorer etc).

The one that they really screwed up was Windows 8, until they gave people the option to effectively use it like a Windows 7 emulator.

If you use Gruss for in-running betting on the horses, you need Windows. It doesn't work on any other operating system.

Jan 14, 2020 -- 10:35AM, Dr Crippen wrote:

What is the alternative to upgrading to Windows 10? Use Ubuntu instead. It's free.https://ubuntu.com/desktopI run WINDOWS 10 on my desktop, and Ubuntu on a laptop for banking only.If you only use your computer for online work there's no point in buying Windows.

You can install ubuntu (I would recommend Linux mint) on the same laptop as windows, (you just select which OS you want on boot up) therefore you can keep using W7 for entertainment purposes but load up Linux if you want to do something that needs security. It's quite easy to do and I like Linux Mint, you can still get versions of Chrome and VLC ect to work on it.

Every other Windows Operating System has  been Excellent - with the ones in-between  awful

Windows 98 = Great

Millennium Edition/Windows 2000 = Awful

XP = Great

Vista = awful

Windows 7 = Great - The best ever

Windows 8 = Unmitigated DISASTER

Windows 10 = Slanted more towards Tablets/Phones etc
----------

For Desktop computers Windows 7 will be hard to beat - and probably never always will be

Combined with the Free Microsoft Security Essentials - seamlessly and regularly updated = All that you need

If a major issue arise - Microsoft will surely make an emergency Patch available.

Imagine - the negative publicity and response to them just leaving MILLIONS of Windows 7 users WORLD-wide 'high and dry' - if they did not address such an issue.

It would be Mocrosoft's  'RATNER MOMENT'.

Keep on using Windows 7 ... if you do  your regular housekeeping, and keep your computer clear of Cookies and Cache at the end of each - along with, most importantly, simply BLOCKing THIRD-PARTY Cookies via your Browser - then you will be fine.

Thanks for the heads-up everyone. I shall heed your advice.

I just tried to update something I'd normally do every other day after deleting cookies and scanning for virus, but nothing doing, obviously. I do have Microsoft Security Essentials and another antivirus recommended by my bank Nationwide (Spybot I think); I do have another laptop with Windows 10 which I only use for promotional games from bookies to try and win free spins - Windows 7 will not work with these games.

I'll continue using this laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium - it's the best of all. I might collect my other laptop with Windows 8.1 which I like - it had a loose power input socket - from a friend who'd fixed it just in case this one malfunctions. But, nothing comes here to Windows 7, in my book.

https://www.axios.com/microsoft-to-patch-big-windows-flaw-discovered-by-nsa-49065b95-eb12-4b1d-8c40-c5aed3e65d51.html
.

Someone told me they still use XP and get security updates which are still available for certain commercial versions of the software. Most people wouldn't know how to go about doing this.

This Windows security updating lark is a complete disgrace.
They design the software to be vulnerable and needing regular security patches, then when the time is ripe they bring out a rehashed version and sell you the same thing again.

Which is a very good business model, but is why so many get fed up and switch to Ubuntu (Linux.)

But they're getting round that by designing new computers to run on Windows, so if anyone buys a new computer they'd best check before they assume it will be okay running Linux.

Yep, the big bucks are in the software (not hardware) as found out by IBM to their cost; a few tweaks here and there bingo a new product on the market for another satchel of revenue.

^^^^^^^^^If you have a valid licence foe Win7, I believe it can still be upgraded to Win10 for free?

Correct, I did it yesterday for a friend.

Well here's interesting....

Just fired up the desktop, and "Windows 7", with a generous shovel of "Nutty Slack", and I got....

"Preparing To Configure Windows, Do Not Turn Off Your Computer"

and then...."Installing Windows Updates..Please Wait"......or words to that effect!

The whole process, including restarting, took just over five minutes, so would be interesting to know what "Jiggery Pockery"
has taken place!!

I got Updates as well when I switched off last night.

It's all Wizardry really, letting people you don't know, having keys to your office, and filing cabinets etc,
on the grounds that they have promised to be good, and treat everything in there with utmost confidentiality, and if they want to
alter things, without asking, that's ok!

Im just carrying on as before. Im not rushing out to buy new computer or Windows 10.

^^ and ^^^

tuesday is update day, so nothing really surprising.

Going forward the problem is that a "vulnerability" is found in win10 that also affects win7. Hackers check these updates and as the issue won't be fixed in win7 they try to exploit it.

Actually, what they have done is to give us "Windows 10" with some sort of "face saving" condition!

A bit like when manufacturers want to move high volumes, without upsetting retailers, by describing them as reconditioned!

eg. I got a "Bissell-Powermaster Pro-Heat Turbo-ZX Auto-Search Hi-Lite Dirt-Buster Easy-Glide Tru-Edge-Zone Control Long-Reach"....

(American) aka "Carpet Cleaner".....from a Sunday Times advert, which didn't even declare the name as Bissell!

Retail at the time was £230.00....offer price £119.99

I can fully assure you that this was brand new, without any doubt whatsoever!

Microsoft would probably still issue updates for any SERIOUS flaws found in Windows 7. They have done this previously with Win XP.

Yeah Gin, you're correct.....

Anyway I'm going to chain myself to the fence, with others of the same disposition, and loudly sing our anthem...

After four...

One, two, three, four...Keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end........

(that at least until my current PC, which still has 803GB, deceases itself)!

A couple of news items recently since Microsoft stopped support for Win 7.

First there was the black desktop background issue(As i've mentioned above, i've always used a pirated windows OS and have mostly worked with a black desktop background. Its just what happens when the computer checks for an update and realizes the computer/OS isn't even registered.) It was treated as a bug, when it really doesn't make any difference.

Now there's the issue of the computer not shutting down. My guess is that also had something to do with it looking for an update and not finding one and getting stuck in a loop. I was told to turn off updates immediately after installing windows and that if I didn't do that and turned off the computer while connected to the internet, it'll look for updates and wreck me.

Similarly there was an anti virus thread here where most people, including me said that anti viruses are a scam and the very reason viruses attack you is because you have an anti virus installed. Apple recently was fined 27 million dollars because it deliberately slowed down old iphones so people would have to upgrade. Just to put this into perspective, Apple had 33 billion(with a B!) in revenues in the fiscal 4th quarter 2019 alone. LET THAT SINK IN!

So why would an anti virus company not infect you especially when your subscription is about to expire?

By the way i'm still using windows 7 without any anti virus as always. Absolutely nothing has changed.

I can still install updates after deleting cookies and scanning. Maybe it's true Microsoft will still issue updates for any serious flaws found in Windows 7 like they do with XP.