Does anyone still use Windows 7 as their daily OS?

[Marc_LFD]

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.75 (this is best light version over 2.0 version and above)

Huh, I use the 3.5.1 version (great classic UI too) and am satisfied with it, but it does tell me to upgrade.

I also tried the Portable/Bootable version available on here and it's v2.00 something.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/unofficial-malwarebytes-bootable.481046/

Don't know why MBAM downgraded their UI. Seems like everyone does for simplicity/minimalism.

E.g.:

Much as I dislike these logos, I got used to them since it's what they use.

 

[WyattSpence]

I get the nostalgia for Windows 7—it was a solid OS! I remember when I first switched to it; it felt like a breath of fresh air after Vista. I still occasionally boot up a machine running Windows 7 just to relive that old-school charm.

As for safety in 2024, it's a tricky one. Even with an antivirus, using Windows 7 might put you at risk because it no longer receives security updates. If you’re set on it, just make sure to be super cautious with what you download and the sites you visit.

I recently stumbled upon this great resource called Operating Systems that dives deep into various OS options and their histories. It’s helped me appreciate the advancements and why sticking with an outdated OS can be risky. Windows 7 was indeed great, but staying up-to-date can help keep things secure.

 

[SG6000]

I never stopped using Windows 7 but took the old laptop it's installed on permanently offline when it went end-of-life.

Seemed worth the inconvenience at the time to just use my phone for CPU-heavy tasks and internet access.. but I've gotten used it and the machine was never a great multitasker anyway.

Any future PC will be Microsoft free if possible, so jumping into trying to use Linux seems probable.

 

[_47iscool]

Yes.

If I had to change OSes, it would probably be Linux. Mint or ZorinOS.

 

[Tofu_mommy]

Please don't daily drive unsupported OSes. Get something like Mint instead if you want something relatively easy to use that is supported and doesn't require fairly modern hardware, on top of just abusing you like modern Windows.

 

[DTApple]

Please don't daily drive unsupported OSes. Get something like Mint instead if you want something relatively easy to use that is supported and doesn't require fairly modern hardware, on top of just abusing you like modern Windows.

Unsupported is a bit of an exaggeration. Certain software and drivers are incompatible with certain OSes, but that doesn't necessarily mean the OS is completely unsupported. To this day, certain software gets releases for XP, Vista, 8.x, etc.

 

[Exidous]

Unsupported is a bit of an exaggeration. Certain software and drivers are incompatible with certain OSes, but that doesn't necessarily mean the OS is completely unsupported. To this day, certain software gets releases for XP, Vista, 8.x, etc.

They were almost certainly referring to a lack of support from M$.

But that's more risible.

Microsoft's support for W7 was withdrawn not because of technical limitations but in order to try to shove users onto newer software - planned obsolescence, a common and deplorable practice. It's understandable why it happens: software companies make money from selling licenses, so they want to increase the frequency - but that doesn't make it acceptable.

And very specifically in the case of their EOL for Windows 7, Microsoft was also interested in enhancing other revenue streams by cannibalizing Windows 7 userbase: the fruits of telemetry, which they partially backported to 7 and is endemic in all Windows since. They were desperately jealous of Google's business model and wanted to get in on the userdata selling business.

Suffice to say, I'm never paying Microsoft for software ever again. If they want Google's business model their consumer software is similarly free as far as I'm concerned. Oh, but I'm stripping out the telemetry...

Please don't daily drive unsupported OSes.

Because you said please I'll be nice: if you're legitimately concerned about the conceded negative effects of people connecting vulnerable clients, advocate more forcefully against the obviously nefarious practices by software companies, that cause a substantial number of users to inflict those negative effects in order to avoid the nefarious practices. If your answer to complaints about these nefarious practices is 'that's the way things are, accept it,' well, we respond in kind to your concerns.

 

[Tofu_mommy]

Unsupported is a bit of an exaggeration. Certain software and drivers are incompatible with certain OSes, but that doesn't necessarily mean the OS is completely unsupported. To this day, certain software gets releases for XP, Vista, 8.x, etc.

If you're taking precautions such as VMs or airgapping as necessary, then go ahead, but daily driving them as your main OS is just a bad idea, like using Windows seriously in general.

 

[susi91]

Still using Win7 ultimate as daily driver (desktop pc, i5 3570k).

 

[Jacquicen]

Using Windows 7 in 2024 isn't the safest option, even with an antivirus installed. Microsoft no longer provides security updates, so any new vulnerabilities won't be patched. This makes it easier for malware and hackers to exploit your system. If you really love Windows 7, consider running it in a virtual machine on a more secure OS. That way, you can still enjoy the interface without compromising security.

 

[AlesRobin]

I kept Windows 7 on my another PC just to play old games without troubles.

 

[SilverRoy]

Windows 10 here, but I still remember Windows 7 very fondly.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

For those that insist on Windows 7, there are ways to still get security patches: https://0patch.com/
I have no experience with them, but LTT mentioned them in a video.
You have to pay for a subscription to get Windows 7 patches, but it's fairly priced and IMO a necessity nowadays.
This will also work for Windows 10 after EoL.

Apparently, they push important security fixes faster than M$ sometimes on Windows 10/11.

 

[eternal]

I am very fond of windows 7 and especially windows XP as a secondary. Those two OSes taught me a lot about dealing with BS and guis and were my gateway drug into learning linux.

With that being said, like others have said please for the love of the digital gods, if Windows is your daily driver, aka you depend on it for normal computer stuff in a desktop or laptop environment... (im not talking about mobile or sh***y windows surface tablets), then keep it up to date either with a LTSC(Long term service channel) version of windows 10 or a windows education/enterprise version. Note: Windows 10/11 education and enterprise are pretty much the same thing.
Or windows 11(any edition...you should still use education or enterprise) which is what they are heavily pushing now for normal and corp use.

I believe windows 10 LTSC has an EOL(end of life) in 2027, so technically you could download the windows 10 enterprise/edu ltsc version and last till then which is also awesome. M$ is trying to cater to the linux minded people on this one lol.

If you want to stay up to date and...

Suffice to say, I'm never paying Microsoft for software ever again. If they want Google's business model their consumer software is similarly free as far as I'm concerned. Oh, but I'm stripping out the telemetry...

Do that above... then feel free to google the 'mass' of the 'grave' 'faq'. if that info violates my apologies
The long and short of it is: M$ makes more kingdom hearts muney on corpos then they do heartless. So you can technically be a tester forever and they dont care.

For the people who are still acting crazy and think they can daily drive old gui type OSes, then I suggest Firefox(as the browser) and Ublock Origin as the extension/addon within said browser.

I have no idea if those still work on old OSes so your mileage may vary, but folks should be using that combo on modern OSes/systems anyways since Chromium, which is what Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome browser, and multiple other browsers! are running on..., are set to go into Manifest phase/v3 here like yesterday.

That means if you were using v2 manifest type addons/extensions in Google Chrome(type browsers aka chromium fueled), they will either A) auto disable the addon randomly, or B) eventually not work like they are supposed to.
sources: https://blog.chromium.org/2024/05/manifest-v2-phase-out-begins.html
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-chrome-warns-ublock-origin-may-soon-be-disabled/

Since everyone obviously uses most mainstream browsers to access the internet just something to keep in mind if you want to be on an old OS.

p.s. To add onto this, if your browser is your entrance to the internet, you need to do the due diligence and block as much as you can there first, but if you also have a shitty OS that hasnt been updated to the most recent zero day issues/security faults, i.e. malware/viruses that has been discovered over time, then you might be setting yourself up for failure
p.s.s (or is that p.p.s? lol) Correct me if im wrong on some stuff so i learn extra.

 

[CaliousKai]

Imo WIn11 is better in almost every way than Win 7. Just to name a handful of reasons why I personally feel that way.

DX12
Security Updates
Justified Layout
Windows Sandbox
Updated Apps
Better Handling of Foreground & Background Processes
Widgets
HDR

If looks are something preventing a person from updating, Win 11 can easily be made to look near identical to Win 7 so I personally don't see a point in staying on 7 when updating offers better security and features all around.

Im not a update nerd im happy how i am

 

[ramenzack]

Only if there was a revival

 

[KenzieRobinson]

Once I installed Windows 10 for my grandmother, she did not use the computer until I returned Windows 7. So yes, someone is using it.

 

[zeusdeegoose]

Heard of a rare few people in my life who do, usually due to ads/bloatware.

 

[Azrubel]

As for safety in 2024, it's a tricky one. Even with an antivirus, using Windows 7 might put you at risk because it no longer receives security updates. If you’re set on it, just make sure to be super cautious with what you download and the sites you visit.

They were almost certainly referring to a lack of support from M$.

But that's more risible.

Microsoft's support for W7 was withdrawn not because of technical limitations but in order to try to shove users onto newer software - planned obsolescence, a common and deplorable practice. It's understandable why it happens: software companies make money from selling licenses, so they want to increase the frequency - but that doesn't make it acceptable.

Fun fact: Windows 7 is still receiving Security Updates (actual EoL is expected to be October 2024), but only a certain Win7 versions get them automatically. Everyone else just do it manually (from MS Catalog), modify the registry to remove the version check or rely on update packs.

 

[JustABadger]

I don't know why anyone would use 7 over 10. 10 is just more pleasant to the eyes. If you like Aero then you should just be using Vista.

My Pc is almost of legal age and it's using 10 without any issues.