Windows 7 Support Ending

[TwinSpinDJ]

Old operating systems will still run, you just want keep them off the internet . I have two desktops one with XP and win 98. The XP still runs fine but the win98 had is pretty screwed up. My Laptop with Vista just died after almost 10 years faithful service. My windows 7 machine is still holding on but needs to be replaced soon. What I Like to do is just replace a machine instead of updating operating system. As prices continue drop and each go around I end up with more for less. Most of my everyday office work is now done on IPads, so my laptops end up mainly for performing. The only issue with the IPad is my business s/w is setup using Access which doesn’t run on IOS. So for now I broke out what I use into tables in excel. But I am closer to retirement and too old learn a new database program which is runs on IOS. What had happen originally was I down loaded a DJ office program which was in dbase. At the time that what I was working with at my day job where we were working with dbase. I was like wait a minutes this looks very familiar. So I programmed system for handling music and bookings/clients tailored to my needs.

Now, I am just trying figure out exact what I want vs what I afford. Likely something light and thin with two drives. Too many nice Choice are available now.

So...if I don't surf the internet, but only receive and send email, will my computer be safe? I will still have Norton in operation. What if I check out ODJT on the internet what are my chances of getting a virus, etc. Only go to sites where I have a log-in and password in order to access?

Would appreciate some wisdom from you people. Thanks.

 

[ittigger]

So...if I don't surf the internet, but only receive and send email, will my computer be safe? I will still have Norton in operation. What if I check out ODJT on the internet what are my chances of getting a virus, etc. Only go to sites where I have a log-in and password in order to access?

Would appreciate some wisdom from you people. Thanks.

Email is one of the biggest ways viruses and other bad things get around. If ODJT gets infected, so will you (unless you have protections in place - a few of them being to use an Antivirus, do not use an Admin level account). Logins and passwords do not render you safe - example, Facebook has plenty of infected pages.

 

[TwinSpinDJ]

Tig...thanks, but I'm still not sure I understand. What is considered "admin level account"? Logging into secure accounts, i.e. Banking?

 

[adj2ent]

Once they stop support windows 7 you lose the security updates which can leave your computer Vulnerable. So when I said “do not Surf” the internet I guess should have said “keep it off the internet”. What exactly are chances of being hacked?, well I can’t answer. But I keep my old laptops off the internet. Better to be safe.

 

[ittigger]

Tig...thanks, but I'm still not sure I understand. What is considered "admin level account"? Logging into secure accounts, i.e. Banking?

On Windows, you have 2 types of user accounts. Admin and General User. A General User has limited access to the system (damage can be contained). An Admin User has access to the full system.

Go to the Control Panel, User Accounts to see what type of account you have. Considering you don't know, I'll bet you're an Admin User. If all users converted their daily accounts to a General User account, 90% of the problems we see would disappear.

That said, it sounds like you're running an unsupported (or soon to be unsupported) version of Windows? If so, the Internet (of which your machine is a part of) is only as strong as the weakest link.

 

[RobDawg]

In general, if you’re running a genuine copy of win7 or above you can still upgrade to win10 for free. I just did this on my backup machine and it was very easy. CNET upgrade to win10

Also, you can install win10 and not activate it. There will be a watermark on the bottom right corner of the screen reminding you to activate, but it works just the same. There are plenty of cheap keys online for windows. I did that for a home build system and it worked. It seems that MS isn’t as concerned with the individual user buying windows as before. Focus on Enterprise to make the money. Heck, since my company has Office on my machine I can get a license for home use for $19.

 

[Dan The Man]

While I don't recommend it I recently bought a grey market get off eBay for a virtual machine. It was ~$5. If it works forever or 2 months I'm not loosing sleep over it.

From what I know you can still upgrade without paying for a new license. As I understand it the best practice is to upgrade an existing system. Once you're activated with a digital license you an do a fresh install from the ISO and it will activate once online.

 

[Handinon]

In general, if you’re running a genuine copy of win7 or above you can still upgrade to win10 for free. I just did this on my backup machine and it was very easy. CNET upgrade to win10

With nothing to loose, I figured I'd give this a try on a old non-gigging Toshiba Satellite C675. Intel i3 with Intel HD Graphics 3000. After installing Windows 10, it now boots up to the Windows sound (the chime) but with a black screen. I'm highly suspicious of the Graphics Driver, but in Safe Mode and using Device Manager, it says the best Driver is already installed. Thoughts anyone? IMHO, this laptop is also going to be a good candidate for Linux Mint.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

With nothing to loose, I figured I'd give this a try on a old non-gigging Toshiba Satellite C675. Intel i3 with Intel HD Graphics 3000. After installing Windows 10, it now boots up to the Windows sound (the chime) but with a black screen. I'm highly suspicious of the Graphics Driver, but in Safe Mode and using Device Manager, it says the best Driver is already installed. Thoughts anyone? IMHO, this laptop is also going to be a good candidate for Linux Mint.

Have you checked to see if there is a Bios upgrade for your laptop?

 

[Handinon]

Have you checked to see if there is a Bios upgrade for you laptop?

I probably should have, but it's too late. I turned my back on it and the Linux Mint ISO disc flew into the DVD drive, and the rest is history! End result is two Windows gigging laptops with Cross DJ/Serato/Traktor on them and two Linux laptops with OpenKJ and Mixxx on them - and only the latter two go on the Internet. They are all 17" - I no longer have a desktop.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

Remember this thread? Well, here we go again! Support for Windows 10 ended a week ago. I haven’t seen any discussion of it on this board, so I thought I’d post a reminder for those who may be unaware.

Microsoft’s habit of ending support for their operating systems is annoying, but at least they are offering a bit of a reprieve. You can extend support for a year, if you so choose. Here’s how:

You can extend Windows 10 support through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which is available to consumers for free or at a cost. To enroll, go to Settings > Windows Update, find the enrollment link, and follow the instructions to either sync your PC settings with OneDrive for a free extension, redeem Microsoft Rewards points, or pay a one-time fee of $30. This provides security updates until October 13, 2026.

Of course, you could upgrade your O/S to Windows 11, as long as your computer meets Microsoft’s minimum requirements. If not, there is a LEGALway way to upgrade for free, even if it doesn’t meet the minimum quals, as long as you have a valid Windows 10 product key. I did all of my computers. I liked Windows 10, but it was time say bye-bye!

 

[DJ Bobcat]

As I said in my last post, I upgraded all my Windows computers to Windows 11. It wasn’t easy, because none of them met the requirements for the upgrade. There is a legal way to bypass that hardware check, and upgrade to Windows 11 for free, as long as you have a valid Windows 10 product key. I upgraded five or six computers using FlyBy11.

However, there is an alternative, if you simply don’t want Windows 11, and want to stay on Windows 10, and yet still receive automatic updates for SIX more years. Apparently, there’s a version of Windows 10, called LTSC (Long Term Service Channel). You can find the instructions for this process in a Reddit thread. Just Google; “Windows 10 LTSC Reddit”.

I have not tried this option myself, since I already upgraded all of my computers, but I’m assured that this option works!

You could, of course, pay Microsoft for Extended Support, but WHY SHOULD YOU?

 

[Dan The Man]

I've been dual booting all mine with Kubuntu for quite a while. My laptop came with 11 preinstalled. My desktop supposedly didn't meet the TPM requirements but somehow it 11 installed just fine with a regular W11 ISO from Microsoft. I figured there was no harm in trying.

I spend pretty much akk of my time in Kubuntu. When I boot Windows it's usually in a virtual machine for One Note or Excel, Word, etc if a file is overly complicated and looks funky in LibreOiffce.

 

[DJ Bobcat]

I've been dual booting all mine with Kubuntu for quite a while. My laptop came with 11 preinstalled. My desktop supposedly didn't meet the TPM requirements but somehow it 11 installed just fine with a regular W11 ISO from Microsoft. I figured there was no harm in trying.

I spend pretty much akk of my time in Kubuntu. When I boot Windows it's usually in a virtual machine for One Note or Excel, Word, etc if a file is overly complicated and looks funky in LibreOiffce.

Nice to see you here again, Dan!

Weird how Windows 11 installed, even though your machine didn’t qualify. I wasn’t so lucky, so I used the Flyby11 process, and it worked for all of my computers except one.

I have a little micro-PC I bought on eBay that came loaded with Windows 10. When I tried to run new updates to it, before attempting to upgrade it to Windows 11, I got an error message saying my Windows License had EXPIRED!!! I was not even aware that that was a thing, but apparently there are vendors who do mass installs using an OEM key that is only good for a year. I ended up having to buy a new license key, and then do the upgrade to Windows 11. It was a PAIN!

I bought new laptop and desktop PC’s last year too, which came with Windows 11 preinstalled. I needed a better performing laptop, anyway, but I had a really powerful desktop computer. Unfortunately, it suffered a massive failure, and rather than fix it, I decided to buy a new desktop workstation as well. I think I’m in good shape computer-wise for a while!

You’re SMART to us Linux! Windows has become a piece of… I have Linux running on one of my older laptops, and I enjoy using it from time-to-time. Had I not been able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free, I was prepared to switch to Linux.

 

[Dan The Man]

Nice to see you here again, Dan!

Weird how Windows 11 installed, even though your machine didn’t qualify. I wasn’t so lucky, so I used the Flyby11 process, and it worked for all of my computers except one.

I have a little micro-PC I bought on eBay that came loaded with Windows 10. When I tried to run new updates to it, before attempting to upgrade it to Windows 11, I got an error message saying my Windows License had EXPIRED!!! I was not even aware that that was a thing, but apparently there are vendors who do mass installs using an OEM key that is only good for a year. I ended up having to buy a new license key, and then do the upgrade to Windows 11. It was a PAIN!

I bought new laptop and desktop PC’s last year too, which came with Windows 11 preinstalled. I needed a better performing laptop, anyway, but I had a really powerful desktop computer. Unfortunately, it suffered a massive failure, and rather than fix it, I decided to buy a new desktop workstation as well. I think I’m in good shape computer-wise for a while!

You’re SMART to us Linux! Windows has become a piece of… I have Linux running on one of my older laptops, and I enjoy using it from time-to-time. Had I not been able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free, I was prepared to switch to Linux.

I love Linux. My computer feels like it's mine again mine. It does updates only when I say it's okay. Ads aren't constantly shoved down my throat. Windows 11 Home is plain egregious shoving One Drive down your throat. I can only suspend 'reminders' to back up to One Drive for 7 or 30 days at a time.. to back up all my stuff I have to buy a storage plan.

Scareware warnings about your computer being unsafe in Windows security center if you switch your default browser from Edge. That warning you can dismiss...for now. Searches from the start menu and Windows help launch in Edge with Bing regardless of your default browser and search engine.

MS did great stopping OEMs from installing a bunch of crapware on new computers only to go ahead and start doing it themselves Candy Crush, Netflix, etc~ Ridicouls.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.