Why I don't like Windows 10

I oh so admire your position as this has been a big issue in my life, excessive policing, and a major reason I have chosen to be a liberal. However, the privacy aspect really falls into the conservative perview and I too find is disheartening be the lack of serious outrage, especially on the right.

But even more than your position on this issue, is your willingness to take a stand- and for most, these measures (beyond the real reason, apathy, or I've got nothing to hide) are either too difficult, costly, and time consuming to go through. I'm still in business and can I really be without a smartphone, convenience of some cloud and Google/MS services, not eventually upgrading OS when it will mean no driver support down the line, using another search engine with crummy results, along with other security measures. The answer is yes to some, but the world we live in doesn't do snail mail anymore...and we've traded our privacy for productivity and convenience I'm afraid. To totally stand for what you believe in and opt out, it's very difficult.

 

Not for me.

Then again, having grown up at times and locations where I have, I guess that I value privacy more than most people who have grown up in the "free" world.

 

I've read the whole thread since yesterday, because it's very interesting. I upgraded to Windows 10 (from Win 7) the day before yesterday, but now I'm not so sure anymore, if I really wanna keep it. I actually love how Windows 10 looks and feels at first, but forced updates and espionage are actually no-goes for me.

What I'd be interested in, is, how far is it possible to disable those features? I don't mind if I have to hack into the registry to get a good system. I've already installed Shut up but I didn't find any solution in this thread on how to prevent forced updates.

And what I'd also like to know, is, how long will Windows 7 be still supported?

Thx in advance for any helpful information.

 

Firstly, Windows 7 will be supported until 2020 but will only get security updates + injected telemetry (bad updates), to know which updates you need to prevent/hide from installing, see:

Updates to hide to prevent Windows 10 Upgrade / Disable Telemetry

Secondly, so far, no registry tweak or group policy editor rule or system setting will work, yes you can disable drive updates through the devicec installation wizard in the system settings and disable it thorugh Group Policy Editor and through the registry, but the moment you go online, if Windows finds an outdated driver, it will update it for you which may or may not break its functionality since a lot of those OEM drives were built specifically for that computer and are not just any generic drivers. Example: Touchpad drivers

Since you have already installed it, don't be too fast to judge, I also initially loved its new look, but every performance benchmark I did was lower than Windows 7 despite the so called better support for new hardware. My biggest gripe with it is the automatic driver updates. I am no longer in control of my system. The second problem is that little devil sitting in my head always whispering..... "Micro$h4ft is spying on j00 MUWHAHAHA"

 

The only option that works for sure is; Put your network connection to ‘Metered’. Can stop Windows X HE from automatically downloading the Updates. But you lose <important> updates. For example more telemetry .

Edit: @Matrix Leader Have you tried this software when you used the garbage? http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-4-windows-10

 

Well it does sound good. Maybe worth a try.

 

I like 10 > the 'pure' OS part, having tested most previews and the release, it's been fine here and will probably be even better over time. Problems (and ill feeling) is related to MS new philosphy and attempts to take on Apple & Google (btw 10 years too late :O) with the store, privacy, telemetry, update aberrations.

FTM all my 7's and 8's working perfect, so no hurry for many years, and instead of any free curse & malediction would gladly someday pay for a 'clean' 10 version if ever available (seem the Enterprise version fits the bill) with no (or completely optional) telemetry\store\(cr)apps\forced updates.

 

And those ads...!? Some nutcases in charge at MS must think they've become a combination of 'Save the Children' and the Red Cross. Just more in the stream of terrible advertising, ref. the ridiculous (and complete fail) metro\surface\w8 series.


"The spying starts now"

 

I sticked to Win 10 and read a lot of threads about it in this forum. Disabled the telemetry via 0&0 ShutUp, deinstalled the apps with 10AppsManager and now I'm in the process of optimizing it with changing which services may start so "tuning" . Had no problems with the automatic driver update 'til now, somehow even the program PSI tells me, that everything is as new as possible, though that is definitely not true for i. e. the SATA driver from Intel, but as long as Windows doesn't update any drivers, it and me are good friends .
Maybe it's possible to make something out of this. I wrote a guide on which drivers to take for Win 10 with the M17rX4, I use mostly drivers from the developer of the hardware themselves, so Intel, Realtek, Synaptics and similar. Afaik, not even the 2013 DELL drivers get updated.

 

Couldn't agree more - horrible advertising aimed to sell their OS off the back of sympathy and humanity - selling a Windows operating system has nothing to do with 'children' or whatever ploy they are trying to use to profit - if they are that worried about the plight and future of the planet etc etc etc, Micro$haft should make more charitable contributions to those particular causes and FOCUS more on the P.O.S that they are trying to sell actually being good.....

 

@Mr. Fox

You and I were complaining about how Micro$h4ft were NOT listening to their customers as they claimed they would because rather than bringing back the old Control Panel back and remove the stupid Settings to make half the options here and the other half there, they made it worse now with more separation of the options in Windows 10........Well guess what? That was just a teaser, here's how they really finally listened now *roll eyes *

The Windows Control Panel will eventually be killed, says M!cr0$|-|4f+

 

Wow. Just when you think things might actually have a chance of improving, they do something dumber than before. This outfit is run by idiots and losers.

The more they try, the more they fail. They need to stop screwing around with fixing things that are not broken. Change is good when it actually makes things better, faster or easier, and only then is when it actually has merit. When it's change only for the sake of change, it is nothing but retarded. I'm part of the subset of Windows veterans that doesn't want my PC to look, act and feel like a stinking smartphone or Mac. As they make Windows less like Windows they make it a less desirable product to those that prefer Windows. I'm sorry, going into discrete settings for each area of functionality is MORE labyrinthine, not less. I think it is harder to get any easier or smarter than finding all settings for anything and everything under Control Panel. They seem so obsessed with trying to make Windows idiot proof that all they actually accomplish is making it more idiotic.

 

I say the same as many others: As usual, portable devices and their users are getting the attention, while power users are increasingly being forgotten. All platforms will use the new Os trash. Must have the same useless interfaces suitable tablet / phones. LOL. This just gets worse and worse. A horrible change.

 

Well, actually, the situation is far worse:

1. They JUSTIFY slurping all your PRIVATE data in the name of CODE OF CONDUCT, which is in Paragraph 3a of aka.ms/msa but incorporated wholly by reference into Windows 10 EULA Paragraphs 1b(i) and 14, which you can read in your root Windows/System32/license.rtf or (better, without Win10), in a compilation of their official links I made here, http://brainout.net/frankforum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=59&p=53#p73 (highlighted text contains the links).

2. That topic also constitutes a kind of precis as to what I think the legal dangers are of using Win10 or any of the products covered under aka.ms/msa . I had to come up with an opinion, so to advise my clients, most of whom are in the medical profession. I'm certain that sooner or later, HIPAA will be found to be violated by aka.ms/msa in the sense that MSFT, in reserving the right to invoke Paragraph 3 therein, will be thus accessing third-party data it has no right to view, and hence any patient can sue a physician who uses a) Win10 or b) any of the 'services' listed in aka.ms/msa . So it's a big deal. Bigger deal, in that on a national scale the same provisions should be found to violate the 4th Amendment of the Constitution. But until someone goes to his local Attorney General (or even any local attorney) in the US, not much will happen. And to adjudicate this, will take 5-7 years. I'm hoping that only the threat of suit, will end it.

3. The telemetry augurs worse stuff happening, but is related to the above two: given Paragraph 3, all you need do is be ACCUSED in order for MSFT to tap your machine. So lol you know how easy it will be for a bot not to recognize that the accusation is invalid, even if your stuff is slurped? So even while nothing happens in #2, your 'services' can be borked, in the name of Buttle versus Tuttle (movie Brazil starring Jonathan Pryce) -- you SEEM guilty but are not, under Paragraph 3 (code of conduct) or 7 (possibily illegal hardware or software), God knows whose definition of 'illegal' in any case, there's NO DEFERENCE TO DULY CONSTITUTED JURIDICAL AUTHORITY anywhere in aka.ms/msa.

4. So now MSFT will be awash in lawsuits, once some curmudgeon wants to make a name for himself and accuse.

5. So anyone using Win10 or the 'services' covered under aka.ms/msa becomes immediately lawsuit fodder, no matter how things turn out.

Not good.

 

I have just lost all respect for M$. That EULA for all intents threatens the wrath of GOD for even thinking about pirated anything but if they mistakenly pirate your computer & force you to the W10 upgrade path it is just an Oooopsie.

 

I'm sick to death of DRM, steam-style online-required/account-necessary, we-own-you, take-the-controls-out-of-your-hand/force-you-to-do-it-our-way, crapola.

I signed up here because I need to upgrade and considering a laptop,. I want to try games like Arma3 but if the above is present what should I do for an OS? Stick with WinXP Pro 64? Try to learn Linux?

 

This is a very tough question. There ae still machines out there that will run Windows 8.1 but you need at least W7 if you want DX11 proper support. W7 machines are getting fewer and fewer, right now more or less just custom machines unless you find a business class machine that allows it. As a gamer Linux may not be a best option right now.

I would though suggest dual booting to support the use of Linux wherever possible. The more you and others use it and draw marketing to the OS the better it will get over time. It has already vastly improved over the years. Give it time and throw your support into it and it will only get better.

The other side of the coin, Windows is only getting worst for the PC. Throw money and support into the current incarnation and it will only get that much poorer that much faster. The more they can get away with the more they will do to you and your PC, stop the money flow and see what happens!

 

Both, CastlBravo. DOSbox runs a lot of games, in either Win8/10 or Linux, so you don't need the later Windows. I hear Steam runs in Linux, but you'd have to google for details, as I don't do games. The Linux which specializes in Games I do know, it has six desktops and one is devoted to games, PCLinuxOs. You can install it externally so you don't have to learn Linux, I made a thread about it, click here.

Keep your Windows and use Linux to surf, since Windows is only vulnerable online. I'm keeping 98se, XP, Win7. XP installs great on i5 machines, did install it on a Dell Latitude 6530 vintage 2012 (NBR has a separate forum for that model, but I didn't mention installing XP in it). Should install later. Need .Net Framework 3.5 and SP3, but not the other updates. Then to surf, easy enough to plug in a Linux stick I made (though if installed to an external drive it runs faster). But, you decide. Most Linux folk prefer internal drive installations. I don't want to learn how to do that. I'm still mad I have to avoid Windows post-7.

 

Excellent thread Phoenix...

Okay guys so for a gamer like me who likes all my settings Maxed, while being a security/privacy junkie to the Max....

??? Windows 7 Pro ???

I've spend a lot of time reading through some awesome threads on the topic of Windows 10 etc... and after weeding out the facts from a ton of non verifiable opinions with no relevancy to the question at hand, it seems to have cleared up a lot of confusion for me.

However, I still have some questions in hopes to put this whole debate about which OS is best for gaming or Windows 7 won't be as well supported with Directx 12 blah blah blah.......so what the heck is the bottom line?

1. I want the best OS for privacy/security in terms of it not having all the added rubbish. - Obvious answer is Windows 7, Yes? No?

The uncertainty comes from all the rising apps like O&O ShutUp10, Disable Telemetry etc... for Windows 10 that leaves the question in the air....

2. Would utilizing all these apps to slim down / lock down Windows 10 put it at the same level as Windows 7 in terms of security/privacy? Yes or No?

3. What about future support for game drivers and/or drivers in general? With the focus all being on Windows 10... where would this leave Windows 7? Left hanging to dry?

4. Directx 12 drivers in the near future.... Will it be 'fully/completely' supported down to W7?

From my research so far, I've concluded that the difference in performance is so minor (fps between W7 and W8/W10) that the few frames W7 loses is not enough to justify running W8 or W10 for a small, yet non registerable difference.

From purely a security/privacy point of view, it seems that the Con's outweigh the minor Pro that W8/W10 would have over W7 in the gaming arena.

Therefore, since I'm wanting the best of both Worlds, which I'm sure many folks do as well, is it safe to conclude (again, purely from a security/privacy point of view +gaming) that the winner is Windows 7 by a __________ margin?


Would the comparison -> conclusion below hold true based on what we know to be true?

-

Windows 10 -> If you don't care about your privacy/security. (You on a Silver platter for them to enjoy.)

Windows 8/8.1 -> If you must have the touch screen bells and whistles. If not, stay with Windows 7. (Beginning of You on a Silver platter for them to devour.)

Windows 7 -> If you care about privacy/security and don't mind taking a slight hit on gaming, as it'll give you the best of both Worlds, all the while W7 excelling even more in other non-gaming areas with productivity than W8 or W10.


*** Before anyone hoots like a hoot, I was going to create a new thread, but after reading all the great replies on here, I felt that my questions were best to be asked here... ***

 

Thought this was interesting....in that I had ran across this article right after making the post....

Hard attempt to brainwash? or is there's truth to it?

Article: Why You Need To Embrace Windows 10 Sooner Than Later

Here's the opening skit: "If there was a single message that Microsoft and its partners wanted to make clear during the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) it’s that consumers and enterprise customers won’t be able to keep using previous versions of Windows like they used to.

Microsoft is determined to make Windows as efficient and secure as possible, and that means working closer than ever with silicon partners like Intel, AMD, Nvidia and Qualcomm to ensure that Windows 10 takes full advantage of new features built into the latest CPUs and GPUs. For example, a PC equipped with one of Intel’s new 6th generation (Skylake) processors will deliver up to 30x better graphics performance and 3x better battery life on Windows 10 compared to Windows 7. That “deep integration” between silicon and operating system sounds wonderful … but it also means that support for previous generations of Windows on new PCs becomes increasingly difficult..."

So for those of us who have the latest Skylake.........?

What's with the 30x better graphic performance.......?

And specifically comparing it to Windows 7 and not 8 or 8.1? Is that sending a clear message?

 

The OS of choice question is an endlessly unanswerable question.

But, let's run through the choices, one more time...

If you think blocking Windows 10 privacy invasions is going to work, you are not paying attention.

To Install Windows 10 Requires you Accept the EULA, which forces you to agree to allow MS access to all your personal files, activities, actions, input/output devices (cameras, microphones, sensors in general), and allows them - and anyone they want to share it all with - access at any time to anything on your computer - or you cannot install Windows 10.

This means that by blocking / stopping / denying MS access to all that they desire off your personal computer with their Windows 10 software installed, you are breeching your agreement with Microsoft that is required to license and run Windows 10 on your computer.

Either you agree to give MS what it wants in return for the license to install and use Windows 10, or you don't agree and you don't install Windows 10.

As far as I am concerned, MS is well within the rights of their agreement to surreptitiously gain access to the materials you agreed to share with them if you are blocking them from access to them.

For me, that takes Windows 10 off the list of available OS's.

That leaves Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.0 is EOL soon).

Between Windows 7 and 8.1, I really don't care. For me it's basically whatever I have a paid license for on a particular system, that's what I run.

I am happy running Windows 7 on the systems I have it running on, and even happier not paying for an upgrade to Windows 8.1.

If I am building a new system, I will install whichever is the cheapest at the time. For a while that was Windows 7, now it is mostly Windows 8.1, it depends on prevailing discounts / sales.

As far as performance differences? All my hardware is fast enough for me to not care about a few percent difference.

If DX12 keeps me from running a game because I am not running Windows 10, then I guess I won't be running that game.

When MS is called on the carpet for privacy invasions, and is forced to remove all of them from Windows 10, or MS releases Windows 11 without privacy invasions, then I will consider running it. Why hasn't this happened already??

Until then, no game, application, or feature could possibly be worth voluntarily giving up my personal privacy and hard won freedom's to gain access to a game.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

Just to clarify, a lot of what I'm asking is rhetorical on purpose. For anyone to think that by switching a little box to 'off,' within the settings of Windows 10, thinking that it is going to save them is silly. - One word, "illusion."

Plus, maybe 1 out of 1000000 people even read the agreements and these companies know that, which they've been banking off of for decades. Both money and people's information.

My two original choices have always been Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 specifically. This brings me right back to where I have started with my OS of choice dilemma to suite my needs of which any OS could handle the daily work stuff (Adobe, Rendering etc...). However, with gaming being an important factor in the equation, this would give W8.1 an edge over W7 for many of us who game...

For gamers and alike, Windows 8.1 would also ensure that there will be no worries or lack of driver support, whereas Windows 7 would be more vulnerable in that respect. (Gaming....)

Hmmm....well guys..... Windows 8.1 Pro it is then eh?

 

Actually, the prevailing Wisdom is Windows 7 is best for gaming

Windows Pro offers nothing to a gamer, or any normal user.

There are a couple of Pro features that might offer interest to some, like encryption and VM support - but many would prefer other alternatives.

Windows Pro is mainly designed to allow you to join an established Windows Active Directory domain server and use the Windows services provided in a Windows Enterprise network.

The other services in Windows Pro are also aligned with the goal of providing business features used in an enterprise network.

Windows Pro is a waste of money for anyone else.

 

In regard to your statement, "If DX12 keeps me from running a game because I am not running Windows 10, then I guess I won't be running that game."

...I feel the same way. Therefore, if it ever came down to having to run Windows 10 for a specific game, I wouldn't mind dedicating one of my m.2 SSD's to run W10 with games only and just have W8.1 on my other (main) m.2 SSD for everything else....In that case even Windows 7 Pro on that main SSD.

I don't mind rebooting into Windows or Linux as I do that anyway and it's not a big deal.

Here's how it'd look for me on my Alienware 17" R3:

m.2 512GB - SSD #1 (Main) - Windows 8.1 Pro and all my main programs/applications.
m.2 512GB - SSD #2 (Secondary) - Windows 10 Pro with only my games. No personal files whatsoever...
+
Samsung 950 Pro 1TB SSD - Only the Main m.2 SSD with W8.1 would need access to this.

Sounds all good right? Unless Windows 10 has little crawlers that can creep into my 1TB 950 Pro to access all that ....

 

Just some opinions:
-Tiles, colors and general OS design looking horrible (related: no wonder people dont buy the ugly phones)
-Telemetry (the 'spying' part)
-Forced updates\drivers
-7\8 upgrade intimidation \ force \ harassement practices
-Integration and mix of OS and useless (cr)app\bloat
probably much more :O)

More and more can be mitigated, while keeping whatever advancement 10 may offer, so one day it may be ok to use it (and in the long run, will there ever be any real choice...). But used to trust MS, never again.

 

After reading the Windows 10 Microsoft EULA and services terms and conditions, I am pretty certain MS doesn't care if the machine you installed Windows 10 on is currently running that copy of Windows 10.

MS might not even care if that copy of Windows 10 is currently installed on that computer.

To MS, access to your private files and activities on the computer you installed Windows 10 on is what you agreed to, and they are not limited to accessing those files through the running Windows 10 OS.

MS could use the UEFI/BIOS for that access, even after you removed Windows 10 and installed another OS.

I am not saying they did that, I am saying that the EULA doesn't say anything about duration of force of the agreement.

It doesn't say anything about MS access to the computer, your files, or your activities stopping after you remove Windows 10.

I would not install Windows 10 on any computer for that reason. That's also why I don't run Windows 10 in a VM.

If a company is crazy enough to require you to provide access to your private space for the right to use their product in return, I feel that it's time to step away from that product and to not mess around with it any longer.

This is an evolving situation.

We have all gradually been coaxed into giving up too much for too little (for too long?).

I think it's time for the pendulum to swing in the other direction, and start cutting off access to our private lives from these merchants.

 

I agree 1000%. Great points and thanks for bringing that to our attention.

It's true, they get you with wording, let alone those agreements are drafted up by sleezy attorney's to make sure it stands up in court if ever challenged.

I've regretfully ran Windows 10 on VM on my Mac for gaming only. So I had thought since that partition is isolated + with it being a Mac running OSX, that there wouldn't be any cross contamination if there was ever an outbreak on Windows part. Or could it have crossed over?

At any rate it's clear what the choices are for smart Windows computing ....Windows 7 or Windows 8.1



Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

Speaking of which...regarding your reply about Windows 7 and gaming....

Would you mind sharing the reasons behind why W7 for gaming over W8.1?

I have both of them on a scale right now and it's sitting 50/50...so every bit of info counts right now for me to determine what I'll be ordering....

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

Anything is possible, but most likely not implemented yet

I only wanted to point out that the problem is much bigger than people think it is.

The act of allowing complete access to your personal computer, personal files, personal activities, 24/7 through multiple coordinated sources, has far more far reaching effects than we can possibly imagine right now.

Given the direction of ubiquity in access to anyone that can finagle it, there are going to be lots and lots and lots of people thinking about how to use that to their advantage, to their profit, and to your potential detriment.

We need to stop it right now.

 

As I said, I don't care about any performance differences in gaming between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, as my hardware more than makes up for a couple of percentage points in difference.

I haven't taken the time to benchmark any games between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, again because I don't care.

What I said was "...the prevailing Wisdom is Windows 7 is best for gaming".

Maybe someone that cares enough to have tested for what makes it better will speak up and let us all know

 

Yes, I remember you had mentioned that earlier. What I'm curious about is all this talk floating around about the new Skylake cpu's and the support surrounding that.

The question that I have is, would W8.1 be a more suitable environment for my Skylake powered laptop? (Support)




Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

I like Win10, once all the spyware and automatic driver updates are disabled and would not go back to Win8.1

I had to force "Intel(R) Management Engine Interface v9.5" as 10+ was causing sleep and shutdown problems, It took me a year to find the solution, and it was not a fun year of many fixes that did not work.

John.

 

Ah, you fell victim to MS's latest ploy, telling you the new hardware won't be supported on anything but Windows 10, and if you are already on Skylake with Windows 7/8.1 that you had 18 months to migrate to Windows 10.

That still wouldn't move me either.

Skylake Windows 7 or 8.1 will run as fine later as it will run now, without Windows 10.

Besides, MS are just saying you have 18 months to upgrade to Windows 10 if you are on Skylake. It's a free upgrade offer to Window 10, nothing more.

The threat to not support Kabylake on Windows 7/8.1 is an empty threat, it's likely there won't even been anything to offer in Kabylake that already isn't in Windows 7/8.1.

If the new features in Kabylake are anything like Skylake, you won't miss them - Speed Shift doesn't offer anything useful if you already run High Performance mode, or run on AC only.

Besides, you are talking about what to run now, not later. Cross that bridge when it comes, don't chicken out while the headon collision is way down the road

Windows 7 has drivers that you load during install to let you install on NVME SSD's, and everything else except for Speed Shift and DX12 is supported, essentially the same on Windows 8.1.

You are overthinking things.

Invasion of Privacy, bad, don't do it.

Everything else is part of the burden we carry for being free.

 

I am sure Microsoft appreciates your contribution to it's efforts and goals.

What you said makes no sense. Windows 8.1 can run the latest IMEI and run stable with sleep/hibernation given a stable Nvidia driver.

If you want help getting Windows 8.1 to run as you like, let us know, we are here to help

 

It was Win10 i had the problem with not Win8.1 sorry my post is a bit confusing.

John.

 

NP, thanks for helping make my point. Even with all the bad privacy, upgrade strong-arming, idle threat and saber rattling of MS, they can't even get the basics right.

Windows 10 is and will be far too buggy and unreliably unstable over the next 6-12 months. Just like it has over the previous 6-12 months.

Insider / Developer / Release versions are all essentially the same, with all the fixes and changes and forced Windows updates.

These continual rolling changes mean you are stable for a while, then you are all of sudden, and without warning, unstable again.

You can't be sure if tomorrow your install won't be unstable again courtesy of a MS forced driver, feature, or bugfix update.

Why go through all that frustration for no actual benefit?

 

No, not really. I'm not a push over and/or a part of the herd of cattle. I was simply sharing the article from a comical stand point, outlining the fear tactics they are using to win the majority over to comply with their carefully, yet very obvious crafted "ploy."

Kabylake means nothing to me as that is not what is in my system right at this moment. When it comes time in the future where I own a Kabylake, then I'll revisit the OS issues again to determine, which OS would be best for the given platform for both security/privacy and performance. (Assuming there are advancements in locking down the later OS versions...)

I agree that a lot of the bells and whistles that are featured on the newest cpu's are not that ground breaking.

If gaming isn't an issue on Windows 7, compared to Windows 8.1...I'm all in. After looking at my Windows 8.1 HP x360 laptop that I have, I really dislike the tile rubbish going on. (Just my opinion...)

Therefore, for me to go Windows 7 Pro on my Skylake AW laptop, I would call that "chickening In," which I'm happy with doing. Fried please and extra crispy.

I admit that I do over think things, but at least I realized it, though it drives me crazy being a perfectionist let alone my OCD issues. It's worth it though...

Invasion of Privacy is what this World has come to...sad indeed...more so that the majority have no clue what is happening.

I'm glad to be able to converse about these topics with like minded folks....gosh....the few, the proud...the People who give a _______! Because it matters.

Cheers mate.

 

What's interesting about all the scare tactics the Redmond Digi-Nazis are using is why it actually matters. "Not supported" and "not functional" are not the same thing. I haven't looked to Micro$loth for support since WindowsXP days. I don't need their support. If they mean they are going to break things and make them non-functional, then yes... it matters... a lot. Otherwise, I really don't care what they support. I don't use their cancer updates anyway. For the most part, all their Procrustean approach to support does is introduce instability, impair performance, and create problems where none existed before they patched their patched patch. Oh wait, I think they call those "updates" LOL.

As far as which OS performs best, I already did all the work. Windows 7 wins for the most part. There are minor differences with each. What is most disturbing is not the minor differences. Disturbing is the trend that they are not actually getting better, but gradually worse as time passes. That's not a good trend. The bottom line is, they haven't really released a better OS since Windows 7... just a bunch a bunch of garbage that looks different. I guess if the goal was change for the sake of change rather than actual results, they're doing an excellent job or achieving their self-serving goals. The numbers suggest the changes are not necessarily welcomed, so they resort to strong-arming and fear-mongering.

I posted this a while back, but I don't remember what thread it was in now. So, here it is again. I was looking for a reason to be happy and hoping to find a small tick in the right direction with Windows 10. I found the opposite. In spite of the year of head start with the "Windows Insider" program, all the fanboys said "It's new. Give it a chance. It will get better." It hasn't, but my surprised look isn't on my face... status quo for the Redmond Mafia.

 

Actually, the playing chicken game metaphor was for Windows 10, nice to see you didn't pull away and drove right through the wraith that is MS's BS gas

Isn't Windows 7 Ultimate best? I ran that when I ran Windows 7 as my newest beasts, I even got 1 license for holding a Windows 7 release party

On Windows 8.1 I run ClassicShell so I have a Start menu like Windows 7/8.1 and I have deleted all the Metro Apps, and I never see the tiled interface.

It's an option to consider as Windows 7 licenses generally cost more than the same level of Windows 8.1 release.

 

Here is where I have purchased the last dozen or so Windows 7 x64 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 10 Pro. All product keys are genuine and allow normal activation. No regrets so far... dirt cheap. For less than $20 USD one can afford to experiment with Windows 10 in a disposable manner, and without "upgrading" the license for their superior operating system.

http://www.kinguin.net/catalog/genre/view/genre_id/22/

 

@Mr. Fox, Thank you for taking the time to provide such details....I do remember reading over the older post where you had posted this as well. I was astonished and this is the kind of data that people like us are desperately seeking to find.

Real World Findings....not Propaganda (M$)

Would you happen to know if everything Alienware (drivers etc...) is fully compatible with Windows 7 where I won't be left pulling my hair out trying to get something to work...aka..bios tweaks, trial and error etc....

Also, Windows 7 Pro, specifically yes? (Pro)

Thanks a ton.

 

If your BIOS has CSM/Legacy Option ROM Windows 7 will work. If they don't have drivers you can get them elsewhere. I am not keeping current with the Alienware product line. Anything newer than the 18 I cannot provide any guidance according to hands-on knowledge. My exposure to the 17 R2 and 15 was limited and there were no meaningful BIOS options available at that time.

Yes, Windows 7 Pro is the way to go for me. Home Edition lacks Group Policy Editor and that feature alone is worth the price difference to me. Pro also supports more than 16GB of RAM if you care about that. (I don't use the encryption or business networking features.) I stopped buying the crippled Home Edition versions of Windows back in the WindowsXP days. Same goes for Windows 8 and 10.

 

Thanks.

You've brought up a great point. I do need to be able to run 32GB of RAM. That's very important to me...

This has me thinking now....if I'll be forced to go Windows 8.1 instead? Let me do some more digging to see if I can find a definite answer to whether Windows 7 will play nicely with AW and its drivers.

 

Here are a couple of links to give you an idea of the differences between Windows 7 versions.

This first link has a bunch of tables with excellent / comprehensive comparisons between the versions.

Windows 7 Product Editions: A Comparison
http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/windows-7-product-editions-comparison

Windows 7: The Six Versions Explained
http://www.pcworld.com/article/160287/windows7.html

Windows 7 editions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

 

Thanks. I've seen #2 and #3 during the course of my research, but I'm about to dive into the first one now...

Would you happen to know a definite answer surrounding the AW / Windows 7 uncertainty? Whether all the AW drivers will work 100% without having any issues on W7..

 

For Windows 7 compatibility you need to go to the AW support page for your laptop. Using the service tag it should take you right there.

Work with AW for Windows 7 compatibility questions, and post in the AW forum's here on NBR for your model.

 

Roger...

192GB supported on Windows 7....I think we'll be good for a while LOL...

 

Great web page How is it possible to purchase a Windows 7 Professional OEM Key SP1 for € 15.49 ?
Norwegian best price at http://www.prisguide.no/sok?q=windows 7 pro oem is the download version € 104.40 / Dvd € 167.36 (Converted from NKR to €)

 

By abusing several MS free services. Not that hard to sign up, generate hundreds (of pretty much every MS product/edition) and resell

Or indirect paid membership that offers the entire MS catalog as a bonus. (oops ...cough)

 

My experiment lasted about a day and a half with Windows 10, then sh*t canned it. This is my quote from the Microsoft will not be supporting upcoming processors., thread.


I have been thinking of OS choices for myself in the future, since Windows 7 is the last best OS from Microsoft. There was a time that I could not wait to migrate to their next gen OS. Now I cringe at the thought of having to upgrade to anything! For that reason, I will not be upgrading to anything Microsoft currently has to offer. Windows 10 is absolutely horrible! Control panel/pc settings? Stupid to have both. Cortana? Really? Horrible looking UI, and a lack of "feeling in control" of my OS leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. I feel they have been "dumbing" down Windows since 7.