OT: Life after Windows 7
Blind Owl
Posts: 504
I'm worried what will happen when Microsoft drops support for Win 7.
I refuse to even consider Windows 10. A little over a year ago I bought a couple of Acer One 10 tablet PCs for my wife and me to use as e-readers and nothing else (i.e. we never hook them up to the Internet, preferring to download files to our desktop PCs and then transfer them to SD cards). Both tablets came with 32-bit versions of Windows 10. It took me about a week to get rid of all or most of the crap I didn't want--Cortana, the store, you name it--and figure out how to prevent the incessant, unwanted updates. I'd rather eat broken glass than deal with all that Windows 10 bulls**t, especially in a computer I intend to use online.
Now 2020 is looming large and I'm wondering what I'll do when the boom drops. Surely there are others who feel a similar aversion to--or in my case, utter revulsion for--Win 10 in whatever stripe or flavour.
Does anyone else have a contingency plan for Der Tag? If so, I'd like to know so I can explore the alternatives before it arrives.
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2026 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Don't need a contingency plan, windows 10 pro is working fine for me. I didn't care for it at first either, but I turned cortana off, stop some of the processes I didn't want and the pro version allows me to choose when I want updates to be installed, so I am good. I skipped 7 altogether which is probably why I don't miss it.
My contingency plan is being very, very careful with my Windows 7 disks. I dread the day when I go to build a new PC and the hardware won't work with it though.
Windows 10 hasn't disrupted my basic computer usage at all. It works. I use it on both of my secondary machines. I accept the updates when they come. Yes, one or two updates boogered up and had to be restarted but I blame that on the ancient machine I run it on. I'm currently preparing to get or build a new primary machine and it will be Win10.
But yes, I have a Win7-Pro machine that is currently my primary machine and I am loathe to abandon it. It's chock full of semi-useful software tools (I hate the word "app") that are from the last millenium but it's time I found new replacements for them anyway. When support is terminated I'll probably just demote my Win7 machine to local Intra-net use only and run it as Win7 until it dies of old age.
I'd love to downgrade to Windows 7 for a number of reasons, but my laptop bios is specific to Windows 10 apparently, so I'm stuck with 10.
The stealth updates are pissing me off. Plus I never know during startup if it's installing new updates or not (hence hanging the boot time - no notification of said updates is being shown to me during boot since the last creater's update).
Plus the roughly 20% of GPU memory that is lost thanks to WDDM is also annoying...
You may be able to solve the stealth updates the way I did before taking our tablets offline forever: telling the weenie 32-bit version that we were on a metered connection (since the luxury of disabling it is only available in the Pro version). You'll still get the nag screen popup from time to time, but at least you can decide when to allow it.
..
The metered connection 'trick' isn't an option anymore (not since the last major update). I've done a fair amount of research on how to force Windows 10 64 to 'ask me first before updating' (as it used to) but the latest version has 'killed' this for all intents and purposes, and Windows 10 overwrites any changes you may make on the next reboot. BTW, I am on a metered 4g connection...
I'm glad it's working for you, but...damn it, I object on principle to being force-fed, and I object to having my system burdened with a lot of useless crap I don't want, didn't ask for, and can't disable without major effort, research, and headaches, That's if it can be disabled at all.
Maybe I'm an extreme case--old-fashioned, certainly--but even the Windows "Welcome" screen annoys me when I notice it. "You're welcoming me? Don't you welcome me to my own computer, you piece of (expetives deleted), I own you!"
That tears it as far as I'm concerned. Microsoft has gone berserk.
I'm hanging on to Windows 8.1, so I'm safe for a little longer anyway. Eventually tho, I'll be in the same boat as you. I'm thinking of then going to dual boot and making Linux the online OS (won't be a problem...I actually LOVE Xubuntu) and pulling the ethernet plug for the Windows OS. It's about the only thing I can do until Linux can run Windows software easily or people get wise and make Linux versions of their software *sigh*.
Laurie
Yeah, when the time comes I may move to Win 8 just to get some breathing space until the happy day arrives when either Linux or Mac is a workable alternative. Or until Microsoft comes to its senses, which I doubt like hell will ever happen.
The main system is Win 7 Pro with very limited internet access; I haven't applied any updates since it was built 3 years ago, and don't intend to unless/until I need to change something to keep Studio running on it. Win 7 itself will only go away if Studio can't run properly on it.
If and when I need to put the current Windows on a system it will explicitly NOT have internet access.
{BIG SIGH} I have seen a lot of changes in my life time when it comes to computers. But the most has happen in the last 2 years. So let see 2 more years from now in the year 2020, I'll properly still be alive and so if something does not change with the corse of windows10 trajectory, then I'll properly retire from windows based computing altogether (I'm about there now) and properly use my current system I have now when support stops as a boat anchor for my 48' Yacht & say screw you Microsoft and companies that support this kind of all inclusiveness PC nanny BS cloud Pile of Dung, Because when W7 supports ends I'll be done with the windows-COMMIES & DRM pushers-alike and I'll leave this legacy to all the Young "Sheeppeople" who don't remember the old ways of computing independently & and the freedom of computing without a nanny. Those Sheeple willing to sell their soul to the tech world so they can sell you more crap to control your life. Ha! If someone would have told me when I was 10 years old I would be paying companies to control my personal devices, I would have said they were nuts. Yet here we are today with such nonsense happening. so what does that say for our future?
SOOOOO ! I figure If I'm going to be forced to use apps instead of standalone Software & if I am not going have full control over my devicve. Then I'll embrace the Star Wars practices & just use whatever magical space phone/device that is the flavor for that month in the year 2020, to communicate with & I won't feel bad about bashing, smashing or upgrading it.. I mean really If I am forced to have a nanny watch over my computer usage, Then these folk will need to come nanny me in person watching me fish off my boat.
It does not appeal to me in the least to pay for a expensive product like a new high end computer build & to not have full control over my PC Operating system. or the content I put in it, & after reading the windows10 TOS, I'll just buy a RV instead.
I am guessing it won't be long for the new & Improved Windows10 or windows 365 subscription to come out. like the already Windows10 Enterprise 365 cloud subscription plan. which BTW the only way you can get a enterprise edition of windows10 is through a subscription plan. so good luck with that . But until then its just a speculative opinion from a old person who remembers the good ol days.
As a former Xubuntu user of about 7 years or so, I would highly recommend SolydX in its place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
For those who are lamenting over Win10, I would recommend the following software:
Classic Shell - Start Menu Replacer and more.
http://www.classicshell.net/
Fix Win10 - It fixes things
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/fixwin-for-windows-10
Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 - Name says it all
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-4-windows-10
Spybot Anti-Beacon - Anti telemetry tool
https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/
10AppsManager - Tool to uninstall, reinstall Windows 10 preinstalled Store apps
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/10appsmanager-windows-10
I dislike 10. I really loathe all the newer operating systems, But 10 is the worst. I had to disable updates because the forced updates hosed my studio.
I would prefer my machine run the programs I want to run... not a bloated operating system. I would gladly use xp, 7 or even 8. Unfortunately my os will run nothing less that 10.
Win7 for offline work computers, Linux for everything online. Simple.
Tried W10, hated it.
As long as 7 does what I need it to do, I'm cool.
(Which is my philosophy for everything - I drive an '87 Cadillac and a '99 motorcycle.)
But even my cellphone is filled with tons of stuff I don't want, will never use, and can't get rid of.
Just want to call and text, don't want anything else. >sigh<.
Thanks Matty a couple of these tools I had already on my laptop. but the Ultimate Windows Tweaker & Spybot Anti-Beacon I didn't thanks for the tips
I do miss WinXP to a degree.
You're welcome Ivy! :)
I don't see much bloat in Windows 10. My Windows folder is only 20gb. I have nothing pop up or bother me in any way, It's neat and lean. Only automatic updates I can understand as somewhat of a bother, although people usually ignore the positive aspects of it, mainly security. Quickly updated OS means it's way harder for hackers to exploit stuff. Stuff not being updated is the worst offender in that regard, and then stuff does get hacked and everyone yells Windows is so vulnerable. People don't restart their computers anymore, I understand Microsoft needed to take steps to combat the problem and live with people being annoyed they have to restart every now and then in exchange for having a secure OS, or even just a situation where they can know everyone is reasonably updated and there aren't a million different states of Windows out there.
Owned my first PC in 1985 back when we wrote programs in DOS and sometimes older is better but not that old. Mimic worked on 32 bit and not 64 bit and although I own Mimic Pro and lipsync I like options. I have enough computers to give one to everyone on my street. I have a xp, vista, windows 7, 8 10 pro etc macs and linux servers. All of them work fine and are great for viewing how a website/art looks on various machines. The trick is to disable windows updates because windows updates is what obliviated Picasso and other older programs making them incompatible/unusable with the newer updates. I personally love windows 10 pro because you can control everything (windows 10 can be a resource hog if you let it eg: Cortana/quick access/one drive) whereas you can't control squat in windows 10 basic. I write my novels on older pcs. Some have different Microsofet Office versions and art software versions, PS7, CS3 some have PS CS6 and one has CC but I hate having to put certain machines online. The majority of old school society can't afford the system it takes to run the newest versions and associated software. I use ACDsee Ultimate software for photo management/organization on newer machines but older windows verisons had some really great photo tagging tools which no longer exist in newer stripped down versions. I also have apache server, linux and mac, various versions and my son is an ex Best Buy geek who built his first custom PC in 2000. Trust me turn off windows updates and Daz updates and all updates if you are using older versions and want no software conflicts. Maually download Daz versions on an external hardrive. Create restore point before you download new versions of anything and if crashes happen revert to whatever worked better for you.
Edited: Yes I should edit those spelling errors but time is of the essence.
Except for the fact that it's really none of Microsoft's business what state my computer is in, updates or otherwise ;). I took very good care of my computers before MS decided they knew better than I did, except Win10 leaves no way for someone like me (that knows what they're doing with a computer) to mind their own property. Besides, I don't need to see MS ads, I don't need an "assistant" nor do I need it to update without my permission. Now, I realize I can change all this with a few registry tweaks and small programs, but I don't see the sense in having to totally "fix" an OS I just installed ;).
Laurie
I bought a Mac.
I kept XP until that machine died (MB failure) - then got Win7. Keeping that until I can't install it anymore - then using Linux (Mint or some other Ubuntu variant). Linux does almost everything I need it to with two exceptions - Daz Studio, and Comic Life (don't use the latter much these days but I want to keep it). So I guess I could run that in a windows VM (would still need to buy a license and give MS the mistaken impression that I want their OS rather than being forced to use it).
Offline machine for my renders anyway - internet stuff is done through the laptop.
For those who think Cortana is off ha ha. Start up the task manager and check your system resourses it is still running. I have Win10 on two systems and loath it but my VR googles and newer games want W10>> so I use it. On my render machines it is strictly W7pro and when support fails so what. A operating system not supported by MS is not going to fail>> it just not going to be safe from hackers (Just disconnect Win7 from internet>>Problem solved). Lets face it no OS is safe from hackers because we connect our PC's to the internet and if people can steal they will. If we let them snoop in our PC's they will. That is human nature>> passing laws will not fix this. Telling them not to do this will just make them laugh at you. Oh for the updates problem the simple solution is to unplug from the internet, but this is something addicts don't like to hear. ha ha i'm one too.
The one thing that you're forgetting is that someday, a piece of software that you want is not going to run on your old OS and/or the software you use will no longer run on it. It will not work indefinitely.
...same here though I still have two old notebooks with it to run older software.
...you mean Picasa? I love that utility, no compression like Windows picture viewer. and lets you set up a nice gallery and slideshows. I actually went out to find, download, and install the last available version on my graphics system.
..indeed. As it is integrated into the OS as opposed to being an installed "app" there is no way to permanently get rid of it. I don;'t need some ditzy "personified" personal assistant. I can manage my own life pretty well.
The force fed updating, ridiculous. I can maybe understand it in the Home Edition, but Pro? When W10 first was released I did my usual "wait and see" and what I saw as the first couple months wore on, I didn't like. Buggy updates that would trigger BSODs, cause boot up issues, and even brick systems. OS updates that would reboot a system middle of what you were doing. Lengthy downtime during major updates, No, I was, and am still happy with my W7. Next there was the matter with driver support being dropped for older hardware like printers scanners, interface devices, and the lik. Ridiculous having to toss out perfectly good equipment and having to shell out more to buy new because W10 no longer supported it. Finally, there was the matter with the new generation CPUs being compatible only with W10 (meanwhile older generation high core count Xeons along with complete dual CPU workstations are falling in price)
W10 still lags behind W7 in user preference and the only reason it is catching up is because it is bundled with new system purchases as well as the above mentioned exclusivity of new generation CPUs.
I also plan to stay with W7 as long as I can even after January of 2020. I turned off updating back on Sept 30th 2016 as that was when MS stopped issuing separate update files and went to the bundled "roll up" format (I like to say they "W10-ised" updating for 7 and 8.1 making it an "all or nothing" choice). Fortunately I have a very hefty firewall and perform anti Malware scans regularly.
That alread happened that is why I own 2 copies of W10. Just because it has new features doesn't make it better. I like tried and true. Just jumping on the new junk just because it is new is a really bad idea. New software is alway and I mean always buggy. I alway wait until atleast the first service pack before getting the new OS because the rush to get the product out leaves us consumers to beta test and find the mess the programers left behind in the rust to put out something the company wants out there. Don't get me wrong I like innovation I just like it bug free and with me incontrol of it. Win10 has too much telemetry and features I cant shut off which makes for a OS that I will not spend alot of time on.
Why spend time and energy worrying about something that might happen in a few years?
Try XNView.