Microsoft will kill some Windows 7 and 8.1 support in April (Apr 10 Patch Tuesday)

InfoWorld ^ | Mar 23, 2017 | Woody Leonhard

[dayglored]

> How do I find out whether I’m affected by the upcoming MS update. I’ve seen the machine list on the Dell link above and need to now which machine I’m using (without unplugging everything and pulling it out from behind my desk). Is machine and chip information available via the control panel and if so, how do I access it?

I would try this first:

• Start -> Computer -> (right click, select Properties)
• Under "System", see "Processor". For example, mine says "Intel Core i5-3210M CPU @ 2.5GHz".
• Look up that number on Wikipedia, based on whether it's an i3, i5 or i7. For my i5 it's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_i5_microprocessors
• Search/Find on the string of the CPU type, for example my "i5-3210M" shows up under "Ivy Bridge" architecture.

So that means I do NOT have a Skylake or Kaby Lake CPU.

[dayglored]

You can get to that same System info page using Control Panel -> System.

[Ciexyz]

I absolutely refuse to go back to Windows 10. I tried it on my PC a year ago and it was unbearable. It was always uploading and doing updates like every other day for a half hour or longer at a pop. I was OFF my machine, waiting, waiting, more than I was on.
I took my machine to my neighborhood hole in the wall computer shop and begged them to take Windows 10 off. When the guy said it would cost $200, I allowed him to talk me into a new laptop with Windows 7. I’m happy now. Don’t mess up my life. Microsoft cretins.

[Windflier]

On Win7 I have probably 8 diff security programs to handle the various threats.

Eight, huh?

I use Crap Cleaner, MS Security Essentials anti-virus, Ghostery, and Malwarebytes (free version).

Should I be using more?

[\/\/ayne]

Seems to me the most logical thing that will happen is the processors won’t update but everything else will. Windows will try to scare you into updating to Windows 10 but that’s all.

[dayglored]

> Seems to me the most logical thing that will happen is the processors won’t update but everything else will. Windows will try to scare you into updating to Windows 10 but that’s all.

I don't think that optimistic interpretation is correct.

If Microsoft had said, as you appear to suggest, "Look, the new processors have new features that we're only going to support in Windows 10. But all the rest of the security updates, that have nothing to do with the CPU, will still be issued for Win7 and Win8.1", nobody would object that much.

But they didn't say that. They used the new CPU features as an excuse to drop ALL update support for Win7 and Win8.1 on any computer that uses the new CPUs. (They left it up to the manufacturers to cover if they wanted to, but that leaves the rest in the lurch.)

[bicyclerepair]

Highly recommend Linux Mint. i have a pc with cinammon 17.2 and its better than windoze. currently on a windoze tablet so forgive the hunt n peck

[snooter55]

Save fer later

[bicyclerepair]

My Linux Mint pc runs on a single 64bit cpu much faster than any windoze box I have with dual or quad cpus.

And Linux Mint Cinammon 17.2 has support until 2019. After that I’ll upgrade to the next one.

SCREW MICROSOFT! I hate microsoft! I have not bought a single copy of any windoze I have. All have been hand-me-downs or scrap builds. And I will NOT pay MS 1$

[LouieFisk]

“Save fer later”
==
If you mean Linux, you can test drive it without installing it by downloading the “live” ISO and burning it on to DVD or USB stick and then run it from the disk/usb.

If you want to buy a live disk or USB already installed, you can get them here:
https://www.osdisc.com

If you’re used to Windows, look for one that is made for people coming from Windows. I find Lubuntu the best for my use.

The one thing about running a live version from CD or USB is it doesn’t run as well (i.e. fast) as it would if installed on an actual hard drive.
You can install to a hard drive from a live disk or USB.

It’s not too hard to install a whole system on to a USB stick, too - so you can just pop it into most any machine and it’ll run from the USB drive. I have a couple of diff Linux distros I run from USB sticks. Still works best installed on a hard drive, tho.

[TexasRepublic]

“I use Crap Cleaner, MS Security Essentials anti-virus, Ghostery, and Malwarebytes (free version).

Should I be using more?”

Hint: I use Linux Mint 17.3 “Mate” desktop and do not need any of that stuff. Windows was a maintenance headache, but not so with Linux. I have used Linux on multiple machines since 2009 and never had a virus either. Find a spare PC and start experimenting.

[Still Thinking]

I think different virtualization systems vary in their candor about studf like that with the guest OS. Also, current CPUs typically have some support for virtualization built in, so that (and whether you have it turned on) may have some effect as well.

[zeugma]

And don’t open any email from foreign countries or from attractive women who claim they want to meet you.

I understand about the danger of foreign websites, but I'm really surprised that you think that all the hot women beating down my metaphorical door on the internet are something to avoid.

Next thing you'll tell me is that I'm not getting that inheritance from my buddy in Nigeria!

[Boomer]

Yep. I’ve already decided when my Win7 PC’s no longer work for some reason or another; it’s time for Linux. I played with it years ago and it wasn’t bad at all back then but I just liked windoze better; plus I was a PC tech so 99% of what I worked on was windows.

It’s probably just a matter of time before an entirely different business model is developed that sells a laptop or for those few dinosaurs like me, a PC, will make it optional which Linux OS the customer wants and even pre-installs the correct drivers for whatever printer, scanner, etc. a person might have. They will be cheaper, faster, and more secure too. Kinda like what Chromebook is right now but I’m not a fan of Chromebook for no particular reason.

A pay VPN service is now a must IMHO.

[snooter55]

Thanks for the info !

[KevinB]

I got those things and refused to take Windows 10 for free; I want NO part of that at all.

I'm curious about why all the hate for Win10. I have had it running on six boxes for nearly two years and they have all been solid as a rock. I also did not find a particularly steep learning curve in moving from earlier versions. I do use the classic desktop rather than the tiles and find it to be virtually indistinguishable from earlier versions.

[Clutch Martin]

Involuntarily upgraded to 10.... my flight sim is still inop...

[\/\/ayne]

The screen popop is somewhat ambiguous: "your system will miss important security updates." However, it doesn't say "your system will miss all important security updates."

[Buckeye McFrog]

Trump needs to take an antitrust buzzsaw to Silicon Valley.

[LouieFisk]

Yer welcome.
The nice thing is a person can test drive most Linux distros from CD or USB to see if there’s anything they like.
If you know how to burn an ISO to a disk, there’s no cost involved other than the time downloading the ISO & burning it to CD/USB.

As I sez, running it from DVD/USB isn’t optimal, but it gives a person an idea of the feel.

A DVD/USB w/Linux is also a handy tool to have at hand because you can use it’s file manager to access/copy/move/delete files on an existing Windows installation. (It reads Windows/Mac/other Linux disks-file systems).

The one “problem” with running a live Linux distro from a live USB/DVD is you can’t save stuff to the live USB/DVD, a person has to save stuff to an actual drive, external or internal (or to a usb stick’s drive). When it’s installed (as opposed to running “live”) that’s not a problem.