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Original poster

To ask for an idiot guide to how to deal with Microsoft end of support for Windows 7 today

88 replies

Mammajay · 14/01/2020 10:45

I just heard that Microsoft end support for Windows 7 today. We have one laptop, 7-8 years old, which we use for e online banking and emails but not much else ( no games,films). It says on Microsoft that from today it is not safe to use windows 7 for banking or emails. It says £120 to buy windows 10 but not recommended to put 10 on to older computers. It recommends buying a new laptop. So, is it safe to go online at all? Is it unsafe right now or will there be a lap over time? Is it safe just to check online banking? The lack of any notice and this expense straight after Christmas is very annoying!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mammajay · 14/01/2020 18:08

Thanks Miranda. I tried to load windows 10 as people were saying you could do it for free but it wouldn't load. With Avast premium would online banking be safe?

OP posts:
heartsonacake · 14/01/2020 18:41

You used to be able to do it for free, when they offered it for a limited time as a free upgrade after it was first introduced.

berlinbabylon · 14/01/2020 18:50

You can't use Windows 10 on a Windows 7 machine, they simply don't have the processing power to run efficiently. A few years ago I bought a Windows 8 machine for ds and immediately upgraded to Windows 10 and it never worked properly, I think in most cases a Windows 7 machine would be worse.

We have the same issue and are buying a new laptop.

Thelnebriati · 14/01/2020 22:36

I posted upthread; Avast Securer web browser has a banking window that uses VPN. Its free.

berlinbabylon · 15/01/2020 10:01

I have to say I think this is very wrong of Microsoft, it's hardly eco-friendly to make people replace perfectly functional machines.

KatherineJaneway · 15/01/2020 10:06

I used a cheat to upgrade. I downloaded Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and it let me upgrade to windows 10 for free as part of the installation.

DGRossetti · 15/01/2020 10:14

I have to say I think this is very wrong of Microsoft, it's hardly eco-friendly to make people replace perfectly functional machines.

Microsofts job is to deliver profits to the shareholders, not babysit the planet.

Medievalist · 15/01/2020 10:25

This is probably a very naive question, but here goes!

I've previously done online banking and shopping on my work pc (at lunchtime - we're allowed to!) on the basis that the company will make sure the system is safe. We're moving to Windows 10 but not for a few months and are currently on 7.

Would I be safer using my apple iPad do you think? I'm never sure how secure that is.

Original poster
Mammajay · 15/01/2020 10:54

A query forMiranda and others suggesting things to do to make using windows 7 safe...the national cyber security service, which seems to be a UK organisation, is saying it is not safe to use windows 7 for banking or emails. Are they being uber cautious? I don't want to rush and buy something ( I am trying to get my head around stuff..the laptop I have cost £450 8 years ago...the Chromebook looks cheap and tempting but I know nothing about Linux for e g.).I am really grateful for the advice given so far ( am using my trusty old hudl

OP posts:
TheDeep · 15/01/2020 10:58

Am I the only one wondering what 'high spec machine' runs Windows XP?

DGRossetti · 15/01/2020 11:02

Am I the only one wondering what 'high spec machine' runs Windows XP?

I have a virtual machine that I spin up occasionally on my laptop ....

Mockers2020Vision · 15/01/2020 11:08

I know nothing about Linux. ....Am using my trusty old Hudl.

You Hudl runs on Android, a kind of Linux.

DGRossetti · 15/01/2020 11:33

iOS, and Linux both have a common ancestor in Unix - a grown up operating system, unlike the rather noddy Windows.

GrolliffetheDragon · 15/01/2020 11:34

You can't use Windows 10 on a Windows 7 machine

Of course you can, depending on the age/specs of the machine being upgraded. I installed Win10 on 14 Win7 machines, 12 desktops and two laptops. Only the laptops had a problem and they were budget laptops and shit even with Win7 anyway. All the desktops were fine, and 10 of them are still going, the oldest two having been replaced in the last two years.

Mockers2020Vision · 15/01/2020 12:34

Some old kit that runs W7 or even W8 will not have W10 drivers for things like graphics and wifi.

If you are new to Linux, a good place to start would be Linux Mint or Lubuntu.

berlinbabylon · 15/01/2020 12:41

Microsofts job is to deliver profits to the shareholders, not babysit the planet

That's fine then, companies don't have to do anything eco-friendly or responsible. Lets tell all the supermarkets and manufacturers to continue using single use plastic packaging then, shall we? And the car manufacturers don't have to worry about emission levels.

I can't believe that anyone thinks this is ok. We should be working towards a circular economy and ensuring appliances have a sensible lifespan.

Only the laptops had a problem and they were budget laptops and shit even with Win7 anyway

My machine is a Sony Vaio, not rubbish, was fairly pricey when I bought it in 2011. It worked very well with Win 7 but it doesn't have enough processing power for Win 10. It would not have ended well if I'd tried to upgrade to Win 10, as I said, even my son's Windows 8 machine didn't work (he has a Chromebook now). Anyway, I have just collected the new laptop. Poor old Sony Vaio. Nothing wrong with it at all. We'll keep it, as it's still useful to have a CD drive at times.

SpoonBlender · 15/01/2020 12:49

@Medievalist The iPad - as long as it's running iOS13 - is a very, very secure environment. More secure than Windows even CAN be, thanks to design choices that limit what's available to the user (and therefore an attacker) on an iPad/iPhone. There's no way to install a virus, no way to peek on your activity, and no way to remote control it.

WhatdoImean · 15/01/2020 12:52

I hate microsoft...I have a laptop with XP on it and it is a very high spec machine (I do graphics work so need something powerful), but now I have to use it without connecting to the internet

I have got to admit... why a "very high" spec laptop would be running XP is beyond me.... Any high spec machine would tend to have 16GB + RAM - not sure how XP would address that memory?

XP is now well over 15 years old - any machine bought with that OS is not going to be "very high spec" any more..... Normally, desktops are commercially written off after 3 years, laptops 4. Bleeding edge machines may give you an extra year or more on top of that, but not that much more....

PettyContractor · 15/01/2020 12:54

I have a cheap HP that ran fine with Win 7 but simply doesn't have the memory to cope with Windows 10. I upgraded it and it is now basically useless, to the point where I bought a Chrome book.

My understanding is that Win 10 is better than Win 7 at coping with low memory.

I agree the free Win 10 upgrade should have been taken, but I wouldn't spend £120 upgrading an underpowered machine. You can get reasonably powerful used desktop PCs already running WIndows 10 for under £100 on Ebay.

adaline · 15/01/2020 12:56

I have a laptop with XP on it and it is a very high spec machine (I do graphics work so need something powerful), but now I have to use it without connecting to the internet

Sorry, but I'm another one wondering what kind of "high spec" machine uses XP!

SpoonBlender · 15/01/2020 13:00

Most Win7 laptops with 4GB RAM will work as well or better in Windows 10 than they did in 7. 2GB RAM is a bit tight, Win10 may be slightly worse. 1GB RAM is right out. The upgrade is pretty seamless. You can do this FOR FREE FROM MICROSOFT as a license upgrade from Win7 or Win8. Bless them for not disabling the license upgrade even though they said it stopped two years ago.

First get a USB stick/drive and backup all the things you want to be sure to keep just in case anything goes wrong. You should be doing this anyway, of course, but almost no-one does. Your pictures, your other docs, your music, movies, downloads.

Now go to www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
Click the "Download Tool Now" link.
Run the thing. Say yes to the "do you want to allow this?" panel if you get one.
Accept the T&Cs.
Choose "Upgrade this PC now"
And it does the thing.

and you're away! Allow about three hours for this, it'll probably be quicker. Follow the prompts and you should be back where you were, same desktop docs pics music etc, except in Windows 10.

Oblomov20 · 15/01/2020 13:02

Dreds having to buy new laptop.....

DGRossetti · 15/01/2020 13:02

I can't believe that anyone thinks this is ok. We should be working towards a circular economy and ensuring appliances have a sensible lifespan.

Good luck with that.

SpoonBlender · 15/01/2020 13:03

Most devices since about 2008 will be fine on Windows 10. As above on RAM though, if you have 1 or 2 gig you will probably want to get your machine up to 4 gig. Any computer shop will be able to advise - it's almost certainly possible and way cheaper than buying a whole new laptop.

Get yourself an SSD upgrade priced at the same time. Then it'll feel like a whole new laptop!

DonnaDarko · 15/01/2020 13:07

They've been saying for YEARS that they're going to soon withdraw support for Windows 7. They have given plenty of notice.

Do you have a smart phone? You do not need a PC or laptop for just online banking or emails. I can't remember the last time I logged onto my bank's actual website. I do all of that on my phone now.

Alternatively, as some have suggested, a chromebook might be enough for your needs.