How To Run Windows 7 Beyond 14 January 2020

[swarfendor437 14]

Some of you may not want to switch to Windows 10 or there are just some programs that you are used to running in Windows 7 and "can't live without them".

 

The solution is to backup your critical data and any application installers and then use your preferred GNU/Linux distribution. The three most Windows look alike OS's in GNU/Linux in alphabetical order are:

 

FerenOS  https://ferenos.weebly.com/

MakuluLinux http://www.makululinux.com/wp/

ZorinOS https://zorinos.com/

 

But any other GNU/Linux OS will work just as well! I've just listed the most friendliest Windows look-alike distributions.

 

If you have a notebook with Windows 7 on it, more than likely you did not receive any media. Before it disappears altogether, download a copy before M$ removes it:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

 

You will need your product key - on notebooks this should be on the CoA (Certificate of Authenticity) usually affixed on the underside of the Notebook, if not on the outer case, on some notebooks it is underneath the case where the battery is located, i.e., remove the battery to see the CoA (this is the case for some Dell Notebooks), and on some Netbooks, removing the case will have the CoA buried inside somewhere! (e.g., HP Mini 110, but that only ever came with Windows 7 starter edition.

 

A simpler way is to run a script in this way: https://www.slothparadise.com/how-to-get-windows-product-key/

 

Don't forget to download SP1 for Windows 7 as you won't get any updates!

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15090/windows-7-install-service-pack-1-sp1

 

and Service Pack 2:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/how-to-obtain-and-install-windows-7-sp2/c2c7009f-3a10-4199-9c89-48e1e883051e

 

Next, ensure that your GNU/Linus system is up-to-date.

Next install Virtual Box (if not already installed), and preferably the latest one from the Oracle Website:

 

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

 

You should also download the extension pack:

 

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

 

Once installed, you need to create a virtual hard disk using the .iso you downloaded - be sure to back this up for future use if needed.

Once you have created and installed Windows 7 as a Virtual Machine and installed all the apps you can't live without / won't run on GNU/Linux, copy the .vhd file to an external device so if your Windows 7 VM ever did get hacked you can simply drag and drop the .vhd file back into your chosen GNU/Linux distribution!

Edited November 16, 2019 by swarfendor437

[Ghozer 112]

quite simply, don't...

 

upgrade to Windows 10, get used to the slightly different layout compared to 7 (but much improved speed and stability)

 

and have no worries about learning a whole new OS (which no matter now much similar Linux looks visually, its completely different)

[Annie Bynnol 612]

Just upgrade to Windows 10 is the safest, easiest and fastest solution for mortals.

Many will notice a considerable performance improvement.

If you get a warning saying that your Computer is not capable of running Windows 10, you should have replaced/upgraded your hardware years ago.

Back up as you do regularly.

Find the Keys for  Office etc. Office 10 still works fine.

There is a free Widows compatibility programme for old software.

Some programmes will be lost- a folder will appear telling you which ones.

 

 

Windows games will disappear but you can get them from Winaero

 

You can download the Windows 7 style layout if you wish.

 

[zach 234]

Running Virtual Machines (VMs) is NOT the best solution for most people as to run and use a VM properly you need a PC with plenty of resources. It also requires BIOS settings to be changed in most cases to get full virtualization!! In short, to run VMs properly you need a powerful PC with plenty of RAM.

 

Some people just don't like change, others may have a bit of software that won't run on Windows 10. Some may have hardware that won't run Windows 10 and I fully agree with Annie in this case, it might be time to upgrade.

 

The fact is that your Windows 7 PC isn't going to burst into flames just because support stops. How many of us have phones that support stopped due to the OS age?

 

I run...

Windows 10

Windows Server

macOS Sierra, Mojave and Catalina (iMac and hack)

Linux (On PC and RPi 4)

 

Without doubt, Windows 10 is the easiest to use and to get new PC users up and running with. It's not perfect but which OS is...if people are honest?

 

If you're worried about the end of support for Windows 7 or maybe thinking of an OS upgrade. Buy a cheap SSD (about £20 upwards) create a few install USB/DVDs. Windows and Linux are free to download, macOS isn't really an option. Swap your main hard drive (The one with Windows 7 etc on) for the new SSD. Then install a few operating systems and decide for yourself! Windows isn't free but a key can be bought very cheap. Linux is mostly free but some have a paid version.

 

BUT... For existing Windows users, the easiest option is to just upgrade to Windows 10. Put a couple of hours into learning the new bits...job done!

 

 

[Pyrotequila 401]

12 hours ago, swarfendor437 said:

some programs that you are used to running in Windows 7 and "can't live without them".

Isn't there a compatability mode for running stuff in Windows 10?

[stimpy 10]

geeze.. talk about scaremongering.

 

Your W7 machine isnt going to stop working. It just wont get security updates.  Suggesting to someone to run windows in a linux VM environment is just dumb, especially for those that arent tech savvy.

 

[Guest]

It's amusing that the 'How to run Windows 7 beyond 2020' post comes from someone who just doesn't seem to be able to cope with anything that isn't Zorin OS or whatever Linux system he likes.

 

As already sad, basically upgrade to Windows 10, it's noticeably faster, although some of that rewrite came in Windows 8.1, but having used Windows 10 since it came out I'd never go back.

 

And if you want to do linux stuff without dual booting you can do a lot with WSL (WSL 2 is much faster if you're on the Fast Ring for Insider Preview) as it's basically Linux (actual Linux) on Windows.

[zach 234]

1 hour ago, probedb said:

And if you want to do linux stuff without dual booting you can do a lot with WSL (WSL 2 is much faster if you're on the Fast Ring for Insider Preview) as it's basically Linux (actual Linux) on Windows.

Thanks, I'd not heard of WSL. I only had a quick read of the web page but worth a look.

 

[alchresearch 214]

On 17/11/2019 at 00:56, Ghozer said:

quite simply, don't...

 

upgrade to Windows 10, get used to the slightly different layout compared to 7 (but much improved speed and stability)

 

Or use Classic Shell 

 

http://www.classicshell.net/gallery/

[alankearn 10]

Or maybe Neverwares  Cloudready version of Chromium

 

https://www.neverware.com/freedownload

[alankearn 10]

Should have mentioned, out of curiousity I installed this OS  (32 bit version) on an old Samsung NC10 (2GB ram) and I dont tjhink it has ever run so fast

2 minutes ago, alankearn said:

Should have mentioned, out of curiousity I installed this OS  (32 bit version) on an old unused Samsung NC10 (2GB ram) and I dont tjhink it has ever run so fast

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by alankearn

[swarfendor437 14]

From a data recovery position I hope you aren't suggesting an SSD for the whole system Zach. SSD makes space by permanently removing anything deleted. That's why the best setup is for SSD for the OS and a platter drive for data retention. The obvious option is to actually just disable all network drivers and use a different OS for internet use. But in view of M$'s patent traps being built into Linux I won't be moving to Windows 10 ever. I was talking to a colleague about the issue my youngest was having with the 'wonderful' Windows 10 - the work colleague had exactly the same experience where 10 created another username instead of her correct one and had to retrieve here user data from the new account. I think I will pass. As someone once wrote on a GNU/Linux forum, 'At least with GNU/Linux you know what is going on underneath the hood' .., because it is open source.