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Windows 7 Enters Its Final Year of Free Support (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the public-service-announcement dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Windows 7's five years of extended support will expire on January 14, 2020 -- exactly one year from today. After this date, security fixes will no longer be freely available for the operating system that's still widely used. As always, the end of free support does not mean the end of support entirely. Microsoft has long offered paid support options for its operating systems beyond their normal lifetime, and Windows 7 is no different. What is different is the way that paid support will be offered. For previous versions of Windows, companies had to enter into a support contract of some kind to continue to receive patches. For Windows 7, however, the extra patches will simply be an optional extra that can be added to an existing volume license subscription -- no separate support contract needed -- on a per-device basis. These Extended Security Updates (ESU) will be available for three years after the 2020 cut-off, with prices escalating each year.

132 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Do they really just want to piss off everyone who ever used them? ESCALATING pricing, do they need the extra money or is this just "encouraging bravery" type bullshit? Fuck that. Someone will pirate the updates now.

    You idiots in Redmond have forced me to never again consider giving you any money.

  2. Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by OffTheLip · · Score: 2

    As a Win7 user that will be a decision at EOL.

    1. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You grossly underestimate how terrible GNU/Linux is. There isn't even desktop environment that doesn't resemble a half-aborted fetus.

    2. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      We've been actively investigating alternatives since the point where you could no longer buy new machines with Windows 7 preinstalled. Running smaller businesses, you're typically on Pro rather than the enterprisey/volumey alternatives, so 10 doesn't look like a viable option and the paid ongoing support for 7 is of limited relevance. However, the need for everyone to run the exact same thing on every computer is also much less than organisations with hundreds or thousands of staff. Everything is customised to each user's needs anyway, so having people with newer machines running different software isn't necessarily a problem in this sort of environment.

      Currently we're erring towards Linux but also keeping around some Windows 7 machines. We do use a few very expensive specialist packages that are either only available on Windows or expensive if we wanted to acquire further licences on other platforms, so retaining some Windows systems is important. However, based on watching what's happened in recent years, both in terms of actual behaviour of Windows and the strategy/attitude of the leadership at Microsoft, our judgement is that the risk of bad things happening to our businesses on Windows 7 even with no further security patches after this time next year is much lower than the risk due to Windows 10 compromising or breaking something.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    3. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by edis · · Score: 1

      True, I would count about three years after EOS might be decent where strict requirements are not instantly pressing.
      And then, imperfections of Linux desktops are not that much worse, than Windows course taken since ver. 8.
      Have to deal with more of Windows 10 recently, and it is disappointing experience, compared to business grade 7, we mostly sat on.

      --
      Servant of karma
    4. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by sheramil · · Score: 1

      Currently we're erring towards Linux...

      Is that the right verb?

    5. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by subie · · Score: 2

      Completely meaningless if your software is only supported on Windows 7 and the company that developed the software won't support anything else. I run into this many times in the medical software industry. -subie

    6. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      Still, that's a moving goalpost.

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
    7. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by subie · · Score: 1

      How so?

    8. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      >won't use linux because the interface sucks
      >mint's interface is very good
      >won't use linux because it can't run my programs

      But the first comment was anonymous. So if that wasn't you, then the moving goalpost was unintentional, but that's the impression I got.

      --
      Circumcision is child abuse.
    9. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      Apparently leaving Windows world is considered a sin!

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    10. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Some shops are moving the Windows 7 machines to remote desktop access only, isolated from the internet. Could be the old physical machines or multiple VMs. The just run the Windows exclusive apps and everything else runs locally on Linux client machines.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    11. Re: Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      Completely meaningless if your software is only supported on Windows 7 .... I run into this many times in the medical software industry.

      Get back to me if I ever have a career change into the medical software industry.

    12. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Miser · · Score: 1

      At $work we are also looking into making MS "less relevant". i.e. searching out ways to replace most of the servers "in the back" so we're not so tied to Microsoft's whims and shenanigans. My holy grail would be to get rid of Microsoft entirely, but I'm not sure I'm ready to fall on that sword.

      This way, since our main line of business application would no longer be coupled to Microsoft, it would buy us time to move to Windows 10 on our terms, not MS's. It would also then give us time to investigate desktop alternatives, as the new back-end system would be a hybrid of browser and "green screen" if you will.

      -Miser

    13. Re:Maybe the year of Linux on the desktop by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      I could see that working in some places, sure. It's less practical if your Windows-only software involves high-end graphics of any kind, when you really need to be physically at the computer.

      Even if you're still working on a PC on the desk in front of you, I consider the risk relatively low. It's not as if anyone's relying only on Windows updates or even those updates plus someone's antivirus software for IT security in almost any office environment. I'd be far more concerned about something like a browser or email software running out of updates than I would about the OS, as by their nature those typically expose a relatively large attack surface directly.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  3. Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd rather take my chances with "unsupported" Windows 7 (been running with automatic updates disabled for years) then allow that MS spyware garbage on my networks and risk updates that break. Nothing will change next year except maybe more computers running Win 7 inside VMs.

    Telemetry should be OPT IN, not opt in. If MS can't even respect my wishes then I can't respect their forced downgrades.

    --
    NEVER mix business with pleasure; your business will get fucked over by someone who enjoys the pleasure

    1. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      Whoops that should read:

      default telemetry should be OPT IN, not opt out.

    2. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm waiting for zen2 to be released later this year then taking the plunge to win 8.1 (possibly embedded version, i've heard good things) since i'm going to have to format anyway. Then once 8.1's lifespan is over in 2023 i'm probably heading for mint as my day-to-day use with a dual boot win7 partition heavily locked down and only for games unless by 2023 gaming on linux has become seamless.

      I simply refuse to go anywhere near windows 10.

    3. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'd rather take my chances with "unsupported" Windows 7 (been running with automatic updates disabled for years) then allow that MS spyware garbage on my networks and risk updates that break.

      1. MS has already introduced the spyware to W7 and W8 via patches a year or two ago IIRC
      2. Why not just cut to the chase and switch to Linux?

      You can't argue that there's super special and important software keeping you on Windows anymore since the route you're taking will just lead to them breaking eventually anyway.
      You can't argue in favor of security since, without patches to W7, Linux will far surpass W7 there.
      You can't argue in favor of games since Linux already runs tons of bleeding edge AAA games natively and many more via Wine etc. and that situation will only progress in Linux's favor as the years go by and W7 languishes without drivers or DirectX updates.

      You're clearly tired of being trampled on by M$, why not just pull the trigger, switch to Linux, and leave M$ behind and break free of your Stockholm Syndrome at last?

    4. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by HouseOfMisterE · · Score: 1

      Windows 8.1 isn't terrible, especially when compared to Windows 10.

    5. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Hmmm, which shit sandwich will I eat today?

      I skipped Win8 for a very specific reason: by seeing how shit Win10 is I decided that any tinkering with Win8 was a waste of time as the next progression will only lead to a dead end.

      So my use of Windows ends with Win7. I do keep a couple of Win10 VMs for testing and developing software for my customers that request it. But everyone I supply software to is asking whether *I* can fix the problems they're having with Win10. I am suggesting Linux for desktop programs and web-apps for everything else. The consumer sentiment is already here, and Windows is dead. Well done Microsoft.

    6. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by weilawei · · Score: 2

      Same here. I've got a laptop with what I expect to be my last Windows install--and it only exists to run a Debian VM right now. Windows 7 is the end of the road for me.

      I'm also kicking the Debian habit because it's become impossible to avoid systemd. Once that box dies, it's getting replaced with a Devuan box. I've invested some time recently in brushing up on OpenBSD, and that's my new solution for servers.

      *nix wasn't broke. Didn't need fixing. Windows was tolerably useful, didn't need fixing, but they broke it anyway. I'm not unwilling to pay for software--I'm unwilling to pay for garbage I don't own. That's why Devuan and the OpenBSD Foundation made my list for donations over the holidays.

    7. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by subie · · Score: 1

      This is so true, I spent time researching windows 10 and found ways to eliminate most of the telemetry issues by simple going into the task scheduler and disabling or removing entries as needed. One drive can be removed as can many other applications you don't need using the power shell. I read the same crap about windows 7 and did the same thing using a basic script to remove any telemetry updates and changing reg entries as needed. Stop claiming BS simply because you haven't taken the time to figure out how to disable and/or remove telemetry. Granted I'm old school but I took the time to understand how things worked with Windows 10. Except for a few issues I haven't seen any problems running Windows 10 with Windows 7 applications. And in the those cases where I did, I simply ran virtualbox to handle any Win7 issues including hardware. Year of the desktop linux, been hearing that since '93 and still waiting for it to happen.

    8. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by subie · · Score: 1

      and that would be what BEOS?

    9. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by subie · · Score: 1

      In some cases yes some of the telemetry in task scheduler gets turned on however it's pretty ease to setup a task to clear out the same crap after an update. That's how I handled things and I have one machine running the insider program without a problem.

    10. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I've got 8.1. I like it better than Windows 7, but I had to do some registry change to get rid of the fat borders. I don't mind the flat look but was always annoyed by the overly glossy look of Windows 7. It also uses slightly less memory than Windows 7 did (on the same computer). It doesn't have the forced upgrades of Win10; possibly it has the same telemetry but then so dows win7. The "metro" stuff you can ignore, just boot straight to desktop.

    11. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1

      Alright, so you enjoy having unnecessary obstacles

      I'm already plagued with that when I use Linux

      --

      "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    12. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by spongman · · Score: 3, Informative

      Guys, seriously. Windows 10, run blackbird. Be happy.

    13. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by WindowsStar · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately there is no OPT-OUT.

    14. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by nightfire-unique · · Score: 1

      I just recently bought a Hades Canyon NUC with the new Vega-M chipset, intending to finally install Windows 7 for some gaming. Even sliced off a 256gb partition.

      What a wonderful surprise when I installed Steam on Debian (using flatpak). SO MANY GAMES! Like, this is the day I dreamed of 10 years ago.

      There are some older Windows-only games I'd really like to try, but I'll give it a few months to see how bored I get. I'll probably just re-absorb that 256gb partition onto my rootfs.

      --
      A government is a body of people notably ungoverned - AC
    15. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by nightfire-unique · · Score: 1

      Thing is, on Linux, those obstacles aren't unnecessary. They're a result of being part of a smaller ecosystem, and mostly user-maintained.

      The obstacles on Windows are one hundred point zero percent intentional, added on purpose, by folks trying to sell you.

      --
      A government is a body of people notably ungoverned - AC
    16. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by psychonaut · · Score: 1

      I checked this out and it seems to be some proprietary, closed-source software that purports to respect my privacy. But since I can't see what's going on under the hood, why should I trust Blackbird any more than I trust Microsoft?

    17. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      It should be an optional download, that software should be missing from the default all togethor and never installed, also ZERO forced software installs, every update a user choice and every software package fully detailed and anonymous updates. All of which they will straight up refuse, their response, fuck you we own your digital life, don't like it fuck off. They only sane responce is to dump M$ and fuck off else where. Shite company with Shite software and that is that.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    18. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by hairyfeet · · Score: 2

      You should try 8.1 Pro with ClassicShell, its got the faster speed and better SSD support of 10, takes less than 2 minutes to turn off the very limited telemetry (because MSFT didn't think they were Google when Win 8 came out) and most importantly patches for Win 8.1 has been rock solid than the buggy as fuck Windows 10.Did I mention that thanks to ClassicShell it has a nice Win 7 UI while still having the better under the hood improvements of 8.1 like the better task manager and crazy fast boot times?

      I've been running it for a couple of years now and its frankly been the most rock solid and hassle free OS since WinXP X64, just a great workstation OS that gets out of your way and does what you expect it to which is run your programs reliably without the bullshit.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    19. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Has anyone done any proper tests with Blackbird? From the readme and the claims made on the website it sounds kinda sketchy.

      For example they say it blocks hosts but doesn't use the hosts file or Windows firewall, so how does it work? I'm guessing some kind of virtual network driver that it funnels everything through, which sounds janky and doesn't work well with VPNs. In fact the readme notes that VPNs are an issue and it can break local network discovery.

      The readme also notes that it breaks virtual desktops and Explorer will crash if you try to use them.

      Seems like you have to break Windows just to fully disable the spyware, which isn't exactly ideal. I'm also not convinced that the domain based blocking will work reliably, because we know that Windows hard codes some IP addresses and doesn't use the normal DNS lookup services to avoid being hijacked.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    20. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Try Windows 10 Enterprise.

      You can fully disable telemetry. You can go onto the slow update stream where only security stuff gets pushed regularly, everything else is delayed until it's been well tested by people running Home/Pro. All the built-in advertising and other random consumer oriented crap is disabled.

      It's expensive but also compatible with AutoKMS/Microsoft Toolkit.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    21. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      I'd rather take my chances with "unsupported" Windows 7 (been running with automatic updates disabled for years)

      Slashdot. Where anti-vaxxers are universally hated, except when we're talking about technology. Then they are "insightful".

    22. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      Telemetry had been added to Windows 7 some time ago. You should check.

      I turned off Win7 updates some time ago. I will check anyway.

    23. Re:Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by wertigon · · Score: 1

      Why not simply go to Mint directly then? You're simply delaying the inevitable, and chances are good that when push comes to shove, you'll grumble a bit about Windows 10 and... Switch to it, grudgingly, because it is the only thing you can run that satisfies your criteria.

      There's literally no reason not to be running Linux now, unless you have a very specific program you cannot run under Linux for some reason. If that software is a game, then you are saying a game is more important than your privacy. If it's work-related, then it's somewhat more tolerable, but regardless you should try to find a way anyhow. That software will not be ported unless you switch to Linux.

      --
      systemd is not an init system. It's a GNU replacement.
    24. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by spongman · · Score: 1

      it uses static routes.

    25. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Interesting. Should be effective, but probably not compatible with VPNs etc.

      This is starting to be a big problem that needs some new technique to resolve it.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    26. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by spongman · · Score: 1

      the static routes all have metric 1 (highest priority). i have several VPNs of different types (MS, Cisco, Pulse, openconnect, softether) and all of them have routes with higher (lower priority) metrics.

    27. Re: Still better than that Spyware Win 10 by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Yeah... The web site says something about VPN issues, I guess because some of them try to block certain traffic to prevent "leaks". Might give it a go, test it out in a VM. Thanks.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  4. I put out an email this morning. by WolfgangVL · · Score: 1

    The last line reads..... "It will be painful, time consuming, disruptive, expensive, and absolutely necessary."

    --
    You are being ripped off every second of every day, so that advertisers can help rip you off even more tomorrow.
  5. Last good Windows OS by nwaack · · Score: 1

    MS Exec #1: Our users love Windows 7 and say it actually works relatively well. How should we proceed?

    MS Exec #2: KILL IT! BURN IT WITH FIRE!!! Then replace it with a bloated garbage OS that nobody wants.

    MS Exec #1: Genius. I'll have our best people get right on that.

    1. Re:Last good Windows OS by darth_borehd · · Score: 2

      MS Exec #1 : A stable OS that works well means none of our customers will need to buy another OS from us.
      MS Exec #2: That is why it needs to die.

    2. Re:Last good Windows OS by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Except that Microsoft has always made most of its Windows revenues from volume licensing and preinstallation on new PCs anyway, and neither of those is particularly affected by the current version being stable because big organisations still want updates and new computers still need an OS. In my entire life, I think I've bought an off-the-shelf copy of Windows on physical media exactly once, and the staff looked at me all funny like.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    3. Re:Last good Windows OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bullshit it does.

      You enjoying those forced reboots?

      When the volume of lost work due to forced reboots (not to mention updates deleting data) on Win10 exceeds the lost work from crashes on Win7 you know something is fundamentally FUCKED UP.

    4. Re:Last good Windows OS by subie · · Score: 1

      Talk about BS, not all updates eed reboots and you can schedule updates to work with any situation.

    5. Re:Last good Windows OS by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      MS Exec #1: Genius. I'll have our best people get right on that.

      Me: You clearly haven't read the company guidelines, otherwise you'd know that we always put our worst people on stuff like that.

    6. Re:Last good Windows OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      No you can't.

      As a small business user I can only purchase Windows 10 "Professional".

      There is no way for me to regulate the update and reboot process. Yes, there are ways to defer it. Yes, it can be scheduled. But it can't be deferred indefinitely. There are two sticking points here that may not fit your own impression of the use-case:

      1) My computer is running important tasks continuously and if I need it to run for 6 weeks without a restart then so be it - why can't I do this?
      2) Even if my tasks are shorter, they are continuously overlapping, so there is no valid window when it can be restarted.
      3) Even if my tasks are shorter, and do not overlap, the forced update and reboot is another factor that I shouldn't have to deal with.

      PS: For the others reading along. There is a *lot* of confusion about this online. Most of it stems from different Win10 versions, as well as features changing over time. The short of it is that only Enterprise customers have access to the full toolkit to control updates in a sensible way. Everyone else, including a lot of small businesses that do not qualify for Enterprise licensing, are basically fucked.

    7. Re: Last good Windows OS by spongman · · Score: 1

      You can defer updates indefinitely. Get over it already.

    8. Re: Last good Windows OS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Gesus christ. Do you use this OS? Do you use it regularly? Is it the "Professional" version?

      I can set the "Active Hours". The active hours are configured so that within any 24 hour block there will always be a period of time outside the active hours. Microsoft uses this period of time to apply forced updates, some (not all) of which will reboot the system, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS DOING.

      How do you not understand this?

      Here are some related articles on the topic. Most interest is from users wanting to stop Windows restarting unexpectedly.

      https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/stop-windows-automatic-reboots

      https://www.maketecheasier.com/stop-windows10-forced-updates/ [Note that Group Policy Editor was later disabled in the "Professional" version]

      https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-windows-10-rebooting-after-installing-updates

      https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/disable-forced-restarts-windows-update/

      If you can be bothered to read them, notice that most of these "solutions" involve disabling updates, or, applying registry hacks that may work for the current version, but could be disabled in the next release.

      I don't know about you, but I refuse to fight with my OS. I have much better things to do with my time.

      [Cue the "Like Post On Slashdot" rebuttal. He he, this is rec time :)]

    9. Re:Last good Windows OS by Merk42 · · Score: 1
      MS Exec #1: Our users love Windows 7 and say it actually works relatively well. How should we proceed?

      MS Exec #2: Well, don't look to Slashdot for advice, because literally any decision we make will be the 'wrong' one according to them.

    10. Re:Last good Windows OS by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      Except that Microsoft has always made most of its Windows revenues from volume licensing and preinstallation on new PCs anyway,

      But they are not going to say no to getting additional revenue in any other way they can. Especially as not so many people buy new PCs these days. Not since the days of Windows 95/98/ME do most people buy a newer off-the-shelf copy of Windows for an existing PC - as your own anecdote confirms. Instead they buy a new PC with the newer Windows pre-installed, as you also say. But they generally do so because they want the newer copy of Windows, not because they need a new PC*. The them the OS is the PC (they see it as something hard-wired within), and they don't want it to be "out-of-date".

      Therefore the OP's scenario of MS execs killing or deprecating a Windows version in order to boost sales of a new version, albeit as a pre-installed copy on a new PC, is valid.

      * Of course they might think they need a new PC because the old one has clogged and slowed with malware, adware and viruses. They attribute this to the PC being "old".

    11. Re: Last good Windows OS by spongman · · Score: 1

      just... breathe, man. seriously.

      i'm not going to tell you how to do what you want, but i'm here to tell you it _is_ possible. you're just looking in the wrong place.

  6. I enter my last year using MS operating systems by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    Sorry, I've had nothing but trouble with Win10 and when I've put in bug reports they've been ignored. Cap that off with forcing me to login with a Microsoft ID and the various emails telling me how I can earn points.

    Adios!

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
    1. Re:I enter my last year using MS operating systems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Umm... if you think you are forced to login with a Microsoft ID, "you're doing it wrong".
      Microsoft would certainly be happiest if you logged in with a Microsoft ID so they can monetize your eyeballs and track your activity across their different properties, but you can certainly use all features of Win10 without a Microsoft ID. A local userid or domain userid works just fine.
      As an added bonus, if you don't login with a Microsoft ID, you don't get spammed with how to earn points (at least that's my assumption - I always use local user accounts to login to Win10)

    2. Re:I enter my last year using MS operating systems by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      You can skip the Microsoft ID. You have to do this during installation, and they don't make it obvious how to do so. I am unsure if this can be fixed after installation has finished.

    3. Re:I enter my last year using MS operating systems by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Oh wait, you can switch to a local ID after-the-fact. See this https://www.austintechnology.c... and skip to the part where it says what to do if you already set up a Microsoft account.

  7. Microsoft has been insufficiently managed, also. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    ERROR in my parent comment above: I'm tired. I need to take a nap.

    There are many ways in which Microsoft is insufficiently managed, also.

    I posted this before:

    Some of the many, many stories:

    Windows 10 is possibly the worst spyware ever made. "Buried in the service agreement is permission to poke through everything on your PC." (Aug. 4, 2015)

    Microsoft's Intolerable Windows 10 Aggression (May 27, 2016)

    Microsoft is infesting Windows 10 with annoying ads (March 17, 2017)

    Microsoft, stop sabotaging Windows 10. (March 21, 2017)

    There is no way to justify Microsoft managers operating the company like that. If Microsoft had paid $100,000,000 for negative advertising, it wouldn't have gotten such extremely bad results, in my opinion.

  8. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by xack · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With Windows 10 not being a viable replacement to 7 due to forced updates and telemetry there is going to be an unprecedented amount of people using Windows 7 after the deadline. It will be bigger than the end of XP. There is certainly going to be more wannacry style attacks due to the amount of sitting ducks that are going to be created. Microsoft could easily prevent this but they will instead risk world security for a few billion extra dollars. In a sane world legal action would be taken to force Microsoft to make a fit for purpose successor to Windows 7, but Microsoft enjoys money too much and can bribe their way out of it.

    1. Re:Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by subie · · Score: 1

      Apparently you aren't capable of using Win10 because outside of specific vendor support for Windows 7, I haven't run into any issues running Windows 7 applications on Windows 10. And if you need to then run virtual box with Windows 7 as a guest. This line of thought is old and full of BS. I'm more than willing to step and prove that Windows 10 does work just fine.

    2. Re:Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      What a larf. Suggesting that someone who dislikes telemetry migrate to Chromebook (ChromeOS), king of the cloudfucked operating systems, aka a glorified WebTV.

    3. Re:Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      I think not. WindowsXP was a real nightmare and more of one due to changes in drivers, security, and things that had to run as a server rather as an admin, and most of all incompatible and different GPO (group policy objects) using admx instead of adm, and of course Internet Explorer 6 which apps still required back in 2014.

      These problems are not present in 10.

      No one cares about the spyware thing as their phones are far worse. Infact, MS realized what they collected. It is no keystroke logger and more telemetrics on apps crashing, cortana searches if one chooses to use it, and time on apps with an anonymous ID. I always sign up for these in applications (not Windows) so developers can fix bugs. Big deal. Oh and these scary telemetry has been back ported to 7 many years ago.

      I am not a MS fanboy but these comments are a little absurd. I heard the same DO NOT TAKE MY XP AWAY!!! silliness back in 2013 here. This is a technology forum and in my opinion is embarrassing to see things like this here rather than on an AARP website. It is no big deal to use WIndows 10. I have been using it at work for a year and a half now and at home since the end of 2016. I survived just fine.

      Infact, I enjoy the smaller kernel, less boot times, WSL Linux, and Hyper-V which blows virtualbox out of the water in performance and has great FreeBSD and Linux support without tools right out of the box or kernel of both operating systems.

      Windows 7 is going to go meet XP and Windows98 in heaven.

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    4. Re:Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by Voyager529 · · Score: 1

      In a sane world legal action would be taken to force Microsoft to make a fit for purpose successor to Windows 7, but Microsoft enjoys money too much and can bribe their way out of it.

      I think the sane legal action would instead be a federal mandate that only a fit-for-purpose Win7 successor, with a perpetual licensing option, be the only legally allowed OS for any federal workstation projects. This would force MS to think real, real hard about whether they'll make more money with their telemetry than they would lose in government contracts. Now, the obvious loophole to this is for MS to make "Win10 fit-for-purpose: $100,000 MSRP for a perpetual license, Win10 FFP, $100/license for government entities"; they do this for not-for-profit sales already...but that's for the lawyers to resolve.

      The reason why I'd have an issue with what you're suggesting is that I very much agree with the need for a version of Win10 that doesn't require a lengthy Powershell script, three separate privacy-granting utilities, and firewall rules at the router level in order to grant any vague sense of privacy and control. However, the chilling effects worry me. The San Bernadino iPhone case hinged on a decision that the government could not compel Apple to write a version of iOS they did not want to write, especially given the context. To compel Microsoft to write a version of Windows they don't want to write is to create the sort of precedent that would make the San Bernadino ruling much less resolute.

      The government incentivizing that code be written by way of mandating it to bid for contracts, sure. Microsoft can opt-out of those tens of billions of dollars if they so choose, but I think even the most telemetry-happy members of Microsoft's decision makers would have trouble selling everyone else that their data mining and telemetry is going to earn them more money than they'll lose. If it's Microsoft's hill to die on, then let them die on that hill. Allowing the government to compel a company to write a program, however, is scary - and it doesn't stop being scary just because I happen to agree with the outcome. Sooner or later, I won't.

    5. Re:Windows 7 is Microsoft’s new nightmare by toddestan · · Score: 1

      The fun part will be the uptick in Windows 8.1 installs from all the people who don't want Windows 10 but want another 3 years of patches from Microsoft.

  9. You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    As seeing how the the Win10 laptops I've bought over the past couple of years have never given us any option other than to set the systems up or login with a Microsoft ID.

    Maybe you can login without an MS ID if you load from a disk/over the Interwebs, but not from the prepackaged machines I've seen.

    Incidentally, the Acer is now running Mint and the HP is now running Ubuntu. The Lenovo is my daughter's and her college just provides Visual Studio so we're stuck there.

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
    1. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      You have a common misconception. Microsoft is a bit sneaky and devious in making it look like you absolutely must login with a Microsoft ID, but there is an easy to miss "small print" option during the initial unboxing of Acer / HP / Lenovo laptops that lets you create a local user ID instead of using a Microsoft ID. Here's a brief howto document that explains the process: https://www.austintechnology.com.au/log-windows-10-without-microsoft-account/

    2. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by mykepredko · · Score: 1

      Thank you - I don't think it's of much help now but if I ever have to get a Win10 machine in the future.

      --
      Mimetics Inc. Twitter
    3. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by tepples · · Score: 1

      If you're too stupid to look for it, or Google it, well, that's your problem.

      How do you use Google Search without first setting up your first computing device? Stop what you're doing and wait for the public library to open? Buy a smartphone? Something else I didn't think of?

    4. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by subie · · Score: 1

      Why do you have to be insulting just because the person didn't see that option. Apparently not everyone is as brilliant as you. I see that same crap from Iinux folks and it just isn't helpful. Damn the old days were so much friendlier.

    5. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      " If you're too stupid to look for it, or Google it, well, that's your problem."

      I know you find it difficult, but try not to be such a cunt.

      The way MS presents these options is misleading at best and deceptive at worst.

    6. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by subie · · Score: 1

      When it comes to surgery you do know to ask for a second opinion right?

    7. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by subie · · Score: 1

      Then do your research and speak with more than one doctor and speak with other people and their experiences with said professionals. It's really not that hard. After dealing with chronic pain, a undiagonosed neurological condition and loosing the ability to walk for 3 years, yes I learned to question everyone and so should anyone who gets into such health issues. When it comes to critical things in IT for your business, if you are not doing the research then it's your fault. No different then the doctors pushing pain meds to fix everything.

    8. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      At the page that asks you to set up a Microsoft ID, there is a "skip" button. Because even a prepackaged OEM version still doesn't know who you are and so it has to ask you for the (optional) Microsoft ID.

    9. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Look it up before installing the OS? If it's a brand new computer and you have no other computing device, then yes, delay the installation until you have a chance to get to the public library.

      On the other hand - when the page pops up telling you to create a Microsoft Account, that's the time when many sane people should be getting the WTF moment and decide to slow down. If at that point you're unsure and click the "skip this part" button then you've done the right thing and have skipped the part where you need to create an account! Windows does need to make the "skip" part more obvious, but they don't because they want to get additional unscrupulous monetization from you.

    10. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      He may find it hard to turn off his IT Help Desk persona that he uses at work when communicating elsewhere.

    11. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by Voyager529 · · Score: 1

      My rule has always been to set up Win10 machines without a network connection. If there is no internet connection, it will default back to creating a local account. Also, setting up Win10 with a network connection means that it will try and run some hour-long update before getting you to the desktop. Doing the OOBE offline means it will be forced to wait to attempt to update, so you can start doing other stuff while it runs that update in the background. Why that's not its default behavior, I have no idea, but that's how I've managed to remain sane.

    12. Re: You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by spongman · · Score: 1

      I would recommend waiting until that rock youâ(TM)re under is just eroded away naturally by the wind.

    13. Re:You should consult for Acer, HP and Lenovo by sound+vision · · Score: 1

      I remember having to do this with bootlegged software back in the day - "set it up without a network connection" - Never thought I'd have to do it with a legit paid-for OS.

  10. That's why I still use Windows 2000 by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

    Last Windows that doesn't bother you about updates.

    1. Re:That's why I still use Windows 2000 by quonset · · Score: 2

      I've been saying for some time (including today to one of our customers) Windows 2000 was the best operating system Microsoft ever made. Fast, easy to use, able to accomplish what you wanted with ease. No harassment about this or that, no waiting for an explorer screen to "update" what was in the directory.

      I dare say if I put a power supply in my W2K system at home it would still run faster than my work machine.

    2. Re:That's why I still use Windows 2000 by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Have a link to some firewall software since WIndows2000 doesn't even come with one or UPNP support for ports?

          You can get 0wned in a heart beat today and I think Black Ice (If I remember the name as it's been almost 20 years) is what I had to use to keep the bad guys out of Netscape on it with my 56K modem.

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    3. Re:That's why I still use Windows 2000 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's funny, did you just mention firewall and UPnP in the same sentence?

    4. Re:That's why I still use Windows 2000 by toddestan · · Score: 1

      I've got a couple of old systems like that, and when I occasionally power them up for some reason I always notice how fast and responsive they are compared to more modern systems with newer operating systems.

  11. Windows Media Center Finally dies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    What am I going to do to get the guide updated? After all, Media Center is the only roll your own option for a DVR that plays protected content that has a reasonable cost. TiVo is an option but you get some huge one time fee or a monthly bill forever.

    I guess it's time to investigate how to get guide updates....

  12. Bloatware free Windows 10 might be OK by ITRambo · · Score: 1

    Major Geeks has a link to a stripped version of Windows 10. Updates might be a problem, or maybe thye can be downloaded and installed manually. I'm thinking about it. After all, no Store and no telemetry isn't all bad. https://www.majorgeeks.com/fil...

  13. Dang, will have to roll a new blade server by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Linux, here we come!

    (no, seriously, that's exactly what we're doing with our few remaining Win 7 PCs, replacing them with Linux blade servers)

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  14. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by Tyger-ZA · · Score: 1

    Trump is running

    Yeah, right

  15. Migrated to macOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I had two a few Windows programs that I still ran regularly so I ran them under a W7 VM. One of them came out with a native Mac version of their program and I decided to stop using the other one (cost $700/year) as I found two free alternatives from my online brokers. So I removed Parallels from my system and deleted the VMs. And I'm Windows-Free.

  16. Re:Microsoft has been insufficiently managed, also by sheramil · · Score: 1

    ERROR in my parent comment above: I'm tired. I need to take a nap. There are many ways in which Microsoft is insufficiently managed, also.

    Do you mean inefficiently? Or do you mean they need more management? You really should take that nap right about now.

  17. Nope, hackintosh exists by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    OSX is shit, AND, the only way to get it is by purchasing horrendously overpriced crap hardware.

    Even if you really don't like the hardware (which is mostly not overpriced), you can always build a hackintosh...

    I still think OSX is nicer than even Windows 7, in many ways.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  18. The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    With each new computer we buy, less and less applications are installed on it You ain't going to need it.

    - Santa brought a new Windows 10 laptop for the family
    - I spent 10+ hours
          - uninstalling HP crudware, twitter app, facebook app, other privacy defeating apps
          - uninstalling default apps we won't use,
          - uninstalling Office 365 trial ware,
          - uninstalling other trial ware
          - disabling phone home from different apps
          - disabling bad features from the system tray like tablet mode on a non-tableable laptop
          - Disabling remote desktop
          - Installing Office 2016 (no 365 subscription at $10 a month)
          - unhooking one drive and other cloud services
          - Installing a simple printer driver
          - Getting it on our local network
          - Getting Firefox, Chrome browsers - Edge long term viability looks bad
          - And best of all - Never had a Microsoft Store account - No need. It's a computer and not a phone/tablet and forget about me buying an app from the store with a gift card or credit card.

    It's a lame OS where instead of everything running as root ala Windows 95, Windows 10 gives each app access to all parts of the machine.
    No, I don't want you and you and you apps to get at the camera or microphone

    Hey Firefox and Chrome, a soft switch to prevent camera/microphone access is something which will be broken
          Can I get a binary with no camera/microphone support not just a software switch?
          Two way video conference/chat in a browser? No. Call my cell phone for voice only.

    Ship with things turned off, no telemetry, no tracking and no apps which demand access to my list of contacts.

    The sticky part is, vs the mac I use at work, the Windows 7 I used before, Windows 10 is like the least dirty shirt of all of the dirty shirts I own. None of them respect user privacy, prevent tracking, ...

    p.s. Microsoft Teams is FaceBook tracking for work. Forced to check it twice a day. Start it, read messages, close it, kill processes then repeat at 3Pm in the afternoon.

    1. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by subie · · Score: 1

      It isn't Microsoft's fault as to what crap applications are installed on said laptop.HP gets kick backs from every application that gets installed on it during the initial load. To blame Microsoft is simple disingenuous. I had the same issue with my Lenovo and I'm not crying to Microsoft over it.

    2. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by mattventura · · Score: 2

      If the crapware is mostly OEM-supplied, it’s generally faster to just install the OS clean and then install drivers.

    3. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by subie · · Score: 1

      Not is the OS isn't supported by Vendors or the applications you need. And it doesn't take 8 hours to get windows 10 installed. More BS.

    4. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by Tyger-ZA · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure what any of that has to do with the notion of Trump being a person who runs, but here's a solution for your problems

    5. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Which is why any true geek builds his or her own computer and gets LED lights to get the girls. ok ok I can dream on that last one.

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    6. Re:The 10 hour toll of Windows 10 by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      It isn't Microsoft's fault as to what crap applications are installed on said laptop.

      I don't think he said it was all their fault.

  19. Re: Why are they doing it this way, do they hate u by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Umm... ESCALATING? Do you mean free patches for a full decade, with a free upgrade path to the fully supported next generation of the OS, along with constant pleas to upgrade off your decade-old OS for the past several years? With *optional* extended support available for a fee for that small percentage of users who are unable or unwilling to relegate their decade-old to the dustbin of history?

    Face it, OS technology moves forward, and unless you are still using Windows 1.0, this should not be a surprise to you.

    If there was a better version of Windows to be purchased I would buy it and be happy about spending the money. So would a lot of other users.

    The problem is Microsoft has neglected to release a viable replacement.

  20. Re:Welcome to the club... apk by subie · · Score: 1

    Actually if you understood how telemetry works then you wouldn't need to add any additional software. You know that right?

  21. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by unixisc · · Score: 2

    I use TrueOS - formerly PC-BSD, which is FreeBSD+Lumina. I very much enjoy it, and have full control on it. Only thing I miss - having WiFi enabled on the thing, but I make do w/ the ethernet connection

  22. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by subie · · Score: 1

    And does the company that developed the software certify that their software is supported under TrueOS?

  23. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by c-A-d · · Score: 2

    Nice toy operating system you have there. When are you going to switch unix?

    --
    some karma... and kinda lukewarm about it.
  24. Re: Why are they doing it this way, do they hate u by iggymanz · · Score: 2

    you mean free additonal bloat and lower and lower quality with each release, with added spyware and bugs.

    Microsoft is moving backwards, pal.

    OS Technology? pfft, you mean more eye candy and bloat. hardly "technology"

  25. Last Win OS with Windows Media Center by Darkling-MHCN · · Score: 2

    I've been using Windows Media Center since the 90s to record free to air tv programs.

    I'm wondering if anyone else out there has used or is using Windows Media Center. If so has anyone found better alternatives?

    Windows 7 was the last OS which came with Windows Media Center, otherwise I'd probably have just upgraded the system.

    1. Re:Last Win OS with Windows Media Center by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      MythTV? Google it? It runs on FreeBSD and can be a great DVR

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    2. Re:Last Win OS with Windows Media Center by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Kodi is probably your best bet. Raspberry Pi, USB HDD for storage (or NAS), some USB tuners/capture cards.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Last Win OS with Windows Media Center by aaron44126 · · Score: 1

      I believe Windows Media Center could be installed as an optional component on Windows 8? You had to upgrade the edition from "Pro" to "Pro + Media Center" or something. There was a window of time to do this for free which has long passed.

      That would only get you another ~3 years of support anyway...

  26. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    Know any Linux distros from 2009 that run on modern hardware and still supported?

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  27. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    TrueOS is a buggy shitfest the first two or 3 times I tried it a few years ago.

    If you are going to do FreeBSD at least do something stable and supported. It does require you to go to /usr/ports to get your GUI though

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  28. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by Brostenen · · Score: 1

    Dude.... That is the same old argument, everytime MS decide to retire a version of Windows. When they retired XP, it was all "I hate Microsoft", "Why are they doing this to me?", "They only want my money", "Microsoft is the worst".... And then people will eighter switch away from Windows, or just jump on the next version of Windows. You cant keep on using old Windows versions for everyday work, that has been retired. All I am saying, is that you need to stop bitching old arguments, move to Win10 or switch to a different choice in operating systems. For me... I switched in 2016, because I retired my used computer at that time. And I thought that it was only 4 years more of using Win7. So I switched to an alternative. Mostly because I never game on my everyday driver. And I have been telling everyone that Win7 will end it's life in 2020. So if you for some magical reason have come across one of those posts, in wich I explained that I have switched to a different operating system, then you have been presented with these facts. Please stop with these old and tried arguments. You have been warned by both slashdot and other places. And now that it is on it's door step, then you start arguing.... Let me guess.... 5 years from now, you are running Win10 and are happy with it.

  29. I changed OS in 2016 by Brostenen · · Score: 1

    Back in 2016 I got a different machine, because the one I used, had served it purpouse. It was then, an 6 year old machine and it had become too noisy to be able to use. It was an laptop. So I got a different laptop, and because I knew about EOL on Win7 in 2020, then I decided to switch to Linux full time. Shure I had an advantage, wich was that I have been running Linux on and off since 1995. So I was quite used to how it works, and switching was to me, something without any issues at all. Back in 2016, I was thinking that once we hit 2019, then we would begin to see people panicking. And we would see all sorts of posts were people bitch about MS. And then again.... I am really sorry that I fail to see the reason why it may give anyone a legit reason to bitch about MS this time. Shure... When XP had EOL, then it was actually understandable, as it was the first time. Yet to me, it just looks like people have failed to learn from the past. I am sorry that any software will get old and too hard to service after some years. I am sorry that Win7 is not new anymore. Heck. It is 10 years old, and to my knowledge, even 10 year old Linux distro's are too old to be kept serviceable. Do I bitch when my Linux will reach EOL? Heck no. I will do a complete backup, install a new version and restore my data on that installation. Bitching about an 10 year old Windows? Give me a break. You have been warned by Microsoft for the last 4 or 5 years.

  30. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 1

    Nice toy operating system you have there. When are you going to switch unix?

    Maybe when the graphical interface stops being shit? Seriously, Linux as a kernel is very good but it fails on everything else that describes a good desktop.

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
  31. just skip updates by jjohn_h · · Score: 1

    I stopped updating my Windows 7 Pro about 3-4 years ago after extenuating failures updating. Only Windows Defender gets updated. It works, no problems. And I hope it will last for the next 10 years saving me from a fresh MS tax.

  32. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by Joey+Vegetables · · Score: 1

    I've never much cared for the heavyweight desktops myself, but more lightweight ones like XFCE have proven more than adequate for my limited needs. (I'm comfortable with the command line, but for those who may not be, YMMV.)

    --

    Nonaggression works!
  33. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 1

    The problem is actually another.

    As example, for me the biggest of them is the lack of general consistency, on average each application is drawn in a different way, behaves differently to do the same actions (copy/paste? anyone?) and is installed differently (when the installer works or when they have an installer). Of course as a developer I sooner or later find a way to make it work, but in Windows I simply use the installer (which usually only fails in really unusual cases) and the applications behave consistently in generic things like copy / paste, open files and so on.

    P.S: That goes for Windows 7 and earlier. Windows 10 was down the drain in terms of consistency and stability.

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
  34. Re: Support the butthoal by nukenerd · · Score: 1

    Per TFA, it is free until the given date, which is in the future. Parent was referring to the present. As for the present, the answer is that updates can be turned off.

  35. Re: Why are they doing it this way, do they hate u by nukenerd · · Score: 2

    Billly Gates wrote :-

    I can assure you that Windows 8.1/10 are remarkable faster and lighter. Especially once you turn the BIOS off and put on UEFI mode on an SSD. What took 35 to 45 seconds takes 6 seconds on Windows 10 because it doesn't do bios 1981 emulation bullshit when it loads the operating system.

    So you really are Bill Gates then. I had thought your name here was just a joke.

    BTW, I don't give a shit how long my OS takes to load, I rarely turn my PC off. That comment is addressed to systemd fans too BTW.

  36. Windoze 10 fail by devlp0 · · Score: 1

    I ran the free upgrade tool to take my Windoze 7 laptop to Windoze 10. The upgrade itself was fine but the laptop would never stay on for more than 24 hours without hanging afterwards, requiring a full power cycle to remedy and how loooong does that windoze 10 boot sequence take? WOW!. I've stuck Fedora on it now instead and use the MATE desktop - I'm really happy with the result, it took me a bit of work to get PopcornTime 3.10 working but otherwise all good. Boots like a charm, great interface, does everything I want and doesn't track what I'm doing. Bye bye Micro$oft, I won't miss you!

    --
    >/dev/null 2>&1
  37. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by nukenerd · · Score: 1

    .... Let me guess.... 5 years from now, you are running Win10 and are happy with it.

    Let me guess : in 5 years time, if you are running Win10 you will be having to pay for it by rental, otherwise left entirely behind with updates and be force-fed with nagging and adware crap. And you won't be happy with it.

  38. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by murph · · Score: 1

    I'll start with Ubuntu and Fedora. Seems like a strange question, all of them do, with the exception of distros that have been dropped.

    --
    I don't care about your karma, I don't care about what's hip. --Weird Al
  39. Re: Support the butthoal by Luthair · · Score: 1

    I think Microsoft likes to call it free support because it makes them look good for helping people - in reality it was defined as part of the contract when they sold the software.

  40. One year left by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Only one more year to move over to Linux. I guess I need that kind of motivation, after all...

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  41. Re: Why are they doing it this way, do they hate u by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    Not apples to oranges. I am a user who likes the way things were in 2009. I love gnome2. Can I get an Ubuntu 9.10 CD to load on a modern Ryzen 2700x with an rtx 2060 GPU? Windows 7 offers that and yet I see is whining and legal threats .

    Also Windows 10 was free. What I did was upgrade so Microsoft had the keys to my CPU and motherboard then downgraded back. I waited for awhile long after the free upgrade but was licensed. I moved after I was ready. That is on you if you refused.

    Also you're confusing Microsoft 365 with Windows. Windows is free to low cost. The other is for Office and business services like Cloud storage, Skype conferencing, teams, etc. You are free not to subscribe.

    I am not a fan boy and use multiple oses. But I like to not support ancient stuff.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  42. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 1

    To your personal horror, I must remind you that capitalism is also a type of religion... >:-)

    (And if you do not believe me, pay attention to how most people advocate capitalism with the same religious fervor of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc etc etc)

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
  43. Indefinite deferral by eric31415927 · · Score: 1

    Log in to your router and blacklist all Microsoft sites.
    There you go - no more Windows 10 updates.
    If you should happen to want an update or two, then remove Microsoft sites from the blacklist until you are done.

  44. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by unixisc · · Score: 1

    I agree: it was horribly buggy - especially the updates system, which after updating, left me unable to boot to the OS. But after the latest iteration of TrueOS - which I bought from OSDisk - I found it just fine. They've stopped the updates, and I just use what's there

    It's a joy to use in contrast to Windows 10 - I have 2 laptops, one w/ that, and the other w/ TrueOS. I find that the bulk of stuff I do can be done on TrueOS, and the Windows thing is there just in case I have to use a Windows software for something

  45. Re:Why are they doing it this way, do they hate us by unixisc · · Score: 1

    What software? The only software I run in TrueOS is the stuff I downloaded via the AppCafe. The stuff that TrueOS itself included in the install package. What's not to work?

  46. Re:Beware of the Windows 7 users' lies! by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 1

    True, but that's only if the desired application (and the desired version) is available on your Linux distribution. As an example, more than once I had to try to install GIMP from source (to be able to have the latest stable version), and more than once the result was "slightly disastrous".

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
  47. Re: Why are they doing it this way, do they hate u by iggymanz · · Score: 1

    You're confused. Actually running, Win 8 and 10 are each progressively slower on my PC. Who cares about initial load? Irrelevant when computation is slow when I'm working! My computer loads ANY OS faster than greased snot out of sneezing elephant anyway with my super duper solid state disk.

    Windows 7 is by far the best performing when getting work done.