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I’m happy to be the first pioneer to post in this forum.  I expect to be using Windows 7 (here at home, where we have four computers already in use, and robust policies for keeping them functional (often, despite M$’s best efforts to thwart my intentions!).

I’m a 78 y.o. retiree, happily married, and living in the heart of California, where the “Gold Rush” started.  I’ve been in some facet of the computer industry since 1961 (when I was working with IBM 1401s and 709’s, and the occasional tour of projects on the vacuum-tubed RCA 301.  We only had tape drives…it was before the wide spread use of hard disk drives which were, then, weighing at one TON, and weren’t available for the computers we had.  So, I’m used to trying to extract performance out of not-yet-fully understood technology.  Before my retirement, in 2001, I traveled the globe showing F500 CEOs how to inspire their technologists to best improve productivity by solving really tough business problems with technologies.

But, the topic of this forum (thank you, Woody) is how to avoid the necessity to upgrade to new Microsoft products (windows 10, in particular), just because the vendor wants more revenue…when the technology is still viable and useful in the larger (typically NOT the Fortune 500) world.  Microsoft will–fairly soon–make Windows 10 their premiere offering, and decline to support older products.  But, we advocates of this stable Windows 7 product will struggle on, sharing with each other, helping each other, much like those tinkerers with no-longer-manufactured automobiles keep their chops sharp, and save money (hopefully!) by keeping their 25 year old car running for another couple of decades…as a matter of pride.  (Yes, I go to the frequent center-of-town events that block the main road with hand-polished Oldsmobiles and Fords that most people would have replaced long ago with newer cars (that don’t go any faster!) but with lots of amenities (like GIS, even though they’ve never learned to use it, because they commute to the same job every day).

Let us collaborate on keeping our tools sharp, and our principal information tools up-to-date, and–to the extent possible–avoid having to retire perfectly adequate hardware and software, just because some F500 has periodic sales quotas to meet.

Let the collaboration begin!

Total of 24 users thanked author for this post. Here are last 20 listed.

CaliPhil, wavy, Geo, Jim C, Elly, Charlie, SueW, CWO4Karpster, southieguy, JustAsking, woody, Pepsiboy, David F, adasch, des911, Myst, phaolo, SteveG, satrow, Steve S.

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Windows Updates:  I use Updates to test the stability of my systems.  If Updates work–both before, and after–then the basic guts of the software all have to be working.  When Updates don’t work (assuming they’re all intended for Windows 7), sometimes it’s the system(s) that are misconfigured…or the updates themselves inadequately tested.

Today, I was offered four Updates (one of which I’d been delaying for several weeks, ’cause I had more important things to be doing):  KB890830, KB915597, KB4499164, and KB4499406…on my main desktop computer (based on a reliable Dell Optiplex 3020).  The outcome was a pleasant surprise  (usually, at least one of the updates don’t properly install, or create other problems).  All four were installed, automatically, although my more customary practice is to manually apply each update, in ascending order of KB <number>, assuming that older updates should have been done, and the system properly restarted before each next update is applied.  Curiously, three of the four had FAILED yesterday…before I performed some remedial scans and repairs this morning.

Updating appears to be able to exhibit whims like that

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When Windows XP SP3 “end of life” support was effective April 8, 2014 somebody made a registry hack allowing continuing receiving updates until April 9, 2019 under the Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 OS. Given the name, the operating system was based aimed at Point of Service embedded applications and therefore was not intended for client computers. But because it was based on Windows XP it also worked for client computers. So Windows XP’s ‘official’ lifespan totaled 17 years, 7 months, and 16 days.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/05/27/simple-hack-gives-windows-xp-users-5-more-years-of-support/#64646fb270fc

Can happen the same for Windows 7 SP1?

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HappyElderNerd

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@ ElderNerd   Ah, somewhat of a compatriot. My first introduction to computers was on a high school field trip to McCord AFB in Tacoma, Washington, where we toured part of the Norad facility. It was all tubes and ferrite core memory as I recall… and it filled a “warehouse”! Then at University I learned Fortran IV programming using punch cards. I think those were NOT the good old days.

Even though I have Win 10 and Linux Mint, I hope to keep Windows 7 operational for as long as possible – even if it’s on old hardware in offline mode. (I also have old computers still running DOS, Win 3.1, Win 95 and Win XP – more or less as a part-time hobby.

Thanks for starting this thread.

Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.

3 users thanked author for this post.

jburk07, Charlie, Myst

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Response to epaff:  I was aware of the “patch” for XP, but it wasn’t widely publicized (and, certainly, not on M$’s site :-).  I hope we’ll see some other clever developer publish such a patch to Win7; if so, I hope they post it (or a link to it) here!

If we all band together, I’m convinced we all can extend our comfy Windows 7 systems for many productive years.  Let’s ALL be on the lookout for that kind of “window opening” (pun intended!) so we can all test it and give it a collective thumbs UP or DOWN, so others can make an informed decision.

A MAJOR CAVEAT:  I propose that anyone who plans to adopt various solutions, workarounds, etc. for their own “Windows 7” life extension needs to adopt and follow two rules.

Rule 1:  NEVER KEEP ANY USER DATA ON C$ Drive:  If you have to restore your precious Windows 7 installation by rolling back to a previous time, do you (and your other users) want to lose all of today’s work?  To prevent that I always keep ONLY “Code” (Windows, apps, their configurations and workspace) on the C$ drive.  <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>All</span> end-user data (Office, eMail, downloads, etc.), including for Administrator) is kept on the D$ drive (or out on another local or remote drive space if you prefer).  That means, in event of catastrophe, you can “rollback” your changes to Windows to a prior, known, working state, without losing any valuable user data.

Rule 2:  MAKE AUTOMATIC BACKUPS OF both C$ and D$ on a schedule (I do it everyday).  That way, if anything goes wrong, you can always roll back to a known time when all the software was working, or if data was corrupted, it can be restored to the time of the eldest available backup.

I have a very fast backup strategy (based on a product at http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm), and a home-brew CMD script to manage it.  I keep a weeks’ worth of backups on about 60% of a 1T 3.5″ drive (the extra 40% is for future growth). and I have three such drives:  One that’s active (#1); the one most recently swapped out (#2); and the one I keep in the trunk of my car(#3).  Backups are scheduled to run automatically for every computer, every night.  I “rotate” the three physical disks out every Sunday (A=>B=>C=>A).  So, I always have three weeks of 100% backups at all times, in case I have messed something up and I have to “roll back.”

I developed my own script around an inexpensive robust backup solution called “Drive Snapshot” (http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm).  My script does this automatically for every computer, with start times “staggered” so only one computer is being backed up at a time (so the LAN is still useful for other users).  Then, on the same day every week, the three external drives are rotated so I have one active (for new backups), the next eldest at hand, if it need to roll back, and the eldest is in the trunk of the car (where would YOU go first if YOUR house was on fire???).

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Charlie

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I’m a local independent IT consultant for small businesses and home users. Before that I spent 37 years with IBM as a Customer Engineer (field tech) and many other spots related to service delivery. Before that I rebuilt Teletypes for Western Union.

I have quite a few clients, especially Seniors, who do not wish to upgrade to Windows 10 and plan on using Windows 7 till they are pushing up daisies. I still have business users on XP, using it for POS retail/inventory and HVAC controls at an ice skating rink.

As long as it works for them they will stick with Windows 7.

What might kill Win 7 for these home users is when mainstream web browsers like Chrome and anti virus software no longer support Win 7.

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jburk07, Charlie, Myst

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I’m so glad to see this forum. Thank you Woody, so much! Like a lot of others, I don’t see why I should give up Windows 7, just because M$ has. For M$ it’s money. For me, it’s why fix something that’s not broke. Win 10 has so many wrongs, for me it’s become the deal breaker. Before this forum, I had decided to keep going with 7 on my own. Relying on third party software to keep me safe from the bad guys. Jumping ship to Linux Mint when that time comes. Kept Windows 98 SE afloat till 2010. Had to steal some system files from Windows ME to do that. Then drivers became my biggest issue. Didn’t feel bad about getting to rid of Fat 32 files either. Like XP, 7 isn’t going away. Here is one example. I live in St. Louis Mo. Last week, I was at our largest teaching hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital it’s connected to Washington University School of Medicine, ranked among the top 10 in the country. No, this isn’t a plug for them. What this is, I discovered, they are still using Windows 7. Having no plans on changing to Win 10 anywhere soon. Lets hope with this new forum, 7 has many years ahead of it.

Window 7 Pro, 64 bit

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jburk07, MrChaz, Charlie, Myst

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[KevSpa]

As someone working in the healthcare sector, I’m wondering how Barnes-Jewish Hospital plans on staying HIPAA compliant using Windows 7 past Jan 14, 202.

Not that I agree with the HIPAA rule that declares any end of life product automatically non-compliant because updates are no longer being made available.  That’s foolish thinking, but par for the course coming from politicians who have continuously demonstrated a complete lack of IT knowledge.

For those not aware, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.  All very good in theory.

In reality it is more of a legal cross the t’s and dot the i’s specification that is more concerned with procedure than results.  A solid security platform that has not been audited according to protocol is deemed not compliant.  But, a faulty, leaking like a sieve platform that has all the proper paperwork and audits done is perfectly compliant and quite OK.

So much for actually safeguarding your electronic protected health information (ePHI)!

And the massive IT cost increases in hardware, software, and consulting (of which I’m a part) required to address all of this in just the USA is estimated at over a trillion dollars.  Not hard to imagine when I see just one small 15 physician practice somewhat forced to lay out over half a million dollars.

So yeah, we’re evaluating staying with our 50 or so Windows 7 PCs that are running just fine, thank you, come 2020.  We’d love to know what loophole there is that can make that a reality.  And yes, Windows Update is set to Never on every single one of ’em.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 12 months ago by KevSpa.

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jburk07, Elly

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That’s a question I can’t answer. I was checking in at reception desk and notice Win 7 on display screen. I asked if that was Win 7? The twenty something  young lady said, yes and it’s the same for everyone working there. My best guess is, the hospital is paying Micro$oft to keep Win 7 going with security updates. Much like Uncle Sam and others do with XP. Being cheaper to pay for updates rather than changing to a new OS. Don’t know if that is a fact are not. I’m sure the twenty something young lady I talked to, doesn’t know either!

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jburk07

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I view another Security web site daily.  Every week they announce some  sort of hack  or intrusion at hospitals, and other medical  type providers.  Using Win 10.

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I genuinely don’t look forward to ”upgrading” to Windows 10 as the lack of control over updates and various unwanted apps coming back as you move to each 6-12 month features update packs what have you. All 3 computers in my place are retail licences so they can move and reinstall as many times as allowed, 2 x Win 7 pro and 1 x win 10 pro. The last 2 years with windows 10 pro can be only described as messy updates that I have not seen since windows 98SE (WinME doesn’t exist in my head). XP/Vista/7/8 pretty much have calmed down after first two years and yet I don’t see it with win 10. Also mysteriously my window 10 pro has went on the beta testing insider track without any control on my part.

Microsoft certainly living upto their claims of windows 10 being continuous development with continuous OS-breaking bugs of their liking, coninciding with their firing of their 3000 manforce QA department shortly after Win10 introduced. Largely I don’t feel confidently nowadays to install windows 10 updates with the month it’s introduced. I can’t say the same during my XP and the current windows 7 days, as I can be reasonably assured to install updates within a short period without forthcoming hazards. Also we had the assurance of service packs as microsoft made any ”service packs” to be more regorously, so you can wait for those. On a side note, Microsoft’s deliberate removal of service packs  is because it created liability (much higher quality control work) established by Microsoft itself. With Windows 10 development model, they were more than willing to dump service packs and move to a new name – quality and feature packs, aniversary packs, spring/autumn/whatever packs, just another name for lower quality controlled patches.

In all, I don’t mind moving with the times as I played with window 10 pro in the past 2 years but lack of control maturity, nuisance apps and uncontrollable tracking doesn’t colour me impress and certainly lacks incentive for me to embrace windows 10 the same way I did with windows XP or Windows 7. Certainly will live with Windows 7 beyond life, my XP one is still alive on laptop with a good firewall and updated antivirus.

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Charlie

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Above, n2ubp said:

“What might kill Win 7 for these home users is when mainstream web browsers like Chrome and anti virus software no longer support Win 7.”

That doesn’t necessarily apply to those of us who have dual-boot Windows 7/Linux systems. Before there are no longer browsers that support Windows 7, we can still get online occasionally to download updates for any of our Windows 7 applications that continue to be supported. We can scan our Windows files from an anti-virus program that is running under Linux in order to avoid having to get online updates to our Windows 7 anti-virus program. After there are no browsers that support Windows 7, we can either (1) use portable (non-installing) applications that we have downloaded from our Linux browser and copied to our Windows drive or (in the case of applications that must be installed) (2) find the same or a similar application and install it into Linux.

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jburk07

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Of course, you’re free to NOT update Chrome and AV software.  Some folks seem to get by with applying no (or only selected) updates on their systems (but, then, they probably don’t have must interest in data integrity, either!).  To each his own.

There are still original Ford Model T owners out there…’tho they probably have other means of transportation as well.  (I just ran across one public poster trying to find a fix for a “cracked block” for a T!)

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Welcome to the lounge. Like you, I am of the same attitude and age, and am trying to get buy with the VERY limited income. At this time upgeading to Win 10 is WAY off the page (Besides, I hated it when I tried it out online.). Like you, a cousin of mine started in the EARLY days of computing, and was with IBM. I heard from other family members that he finally retired this year.

Looking forward to your input and advice on keeping Win 7 up and running as long as possible.

Dave

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Charlie

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I’m a bit long in the tooth, too.

Glad to have you all on board!

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Elly

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Pepsiboy wrote:

am trying to get by with the VERY limited income

If you can stretch to an external USB disk – or get an old one from a friend – you can use one of the free backup programs to make an image of the disk on your machine. The gives you a way to recover if things really go pear shaped.
You will also need a recovery boot disk, but that can be done on a DVD so it can never be infected / rendered unusable.

cheers, Paul

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I’m chary about using “old” disk drives for backups, Paul.  I use three 1TB drives in USB 3.0 enclosures, and paid about $50 each for the three; all time-tested and now proven reliable.  Of course, after the first “cycle,” I’ve got three copies of every significant file, so I haven’t yet lost ANY data.  It’s worth it to me to have that security.

That’s why this forum is valuable:  See how others do it, and make your own choice based on your own values.

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HappyElderNerd, I agree with your sentiments one-hundred percent and am looking forward to sharing and learning from this forum!  Compared to you, I am a relative late-comer to the computer (1977 IBM 360 punch-cards, mark-sense, etc.) and PC (1983 IBM DOS 180kb 5.25 floppy, etc.) world.  Like most of us using PC’s during that era, I endured the flip-flops between hardware and software speed/capacity that had us upgrading one or the other every two years (at no little expense) and suffering through long learning curves.  Aside from the abominable Win10 upgrade fiasco, the real reason I am staying with Win7 Pro is because it supports every function of every project I perform in my home office, and I have long ago mastered the learning curve.  My mom-in-law in Germany still listens to her favorite broadcasts on a radio with a dial tuner.  Why shouldn’t I be able to compose, create and surf the Internet on the machine of my choice?  In the past, the one, unavoidable cause of upgrading my operating system was always the incompatibility of new peripherals (printers, scanners, etc.) with the older system.  Also, when attempting to load an older operating system onto a newer computer, I discovered to my dismay that the new motherboard would not support the older software.  As we move forward, I’ll be curious to see if manufacturers can be persuaded (if cost-effective) to offer backward-compatible hardware.  Again, thanks for this forum!

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jburk07, Charlie

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anonymous wrote:

Of course, you’re free to NOT update Chrome and AV software.  Some folks seem to get by with applying no (or only selected) updates on their systems (but, then, they probably don’t have must interest in data integrity, either!).  To each his own.

There are still original Ford Model T owners out there…’tho they probably have other means of transportation as well.  (I just ran across one public poster trying to find a fix for a “cracked block” for a T!)

I wasn’t aware one could stop Chrome updating itself. Where’s the setting to stop auto updates on Chrome? Please explain!

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I’m not sure why I WOULDN’T want to update Chrome (or, my preference, Firefox).  But, I’m not in YOUR network environment or facing your unique issues.

AussieBoy:  Here’s some info on the topic:  https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18483087/how-to-disable-google-chrome-auto-update

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AussieBoy

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The Browser I’ve been using is Vivaldi. Its the closest thing to my old friend Opera 12.18. Under the hood it uses Chrome’s search engine, but that’s where it stops. Everything else is from Vivaldi’s developers and they said they plan on continuing supporting Win 7 for at least the next three years.We’ll see if that is fact or not. There are no forced updates with it. It lets you skip a update if you don’t want it.  User friendly options and features.

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anonymous wrote:

Of course, you’re free to NOT update Chrome and AV software.  Some folks seem to get by with applying no (or only selected) updates on their systems (but, then, they probably don’t have must interest in data integrity, either!).  To each his own.

There are still original Ford Model T owners out there…’tho they probably have other means of transportation as well.  (I just ran across one public poster trying to find a fix for a “cracked block” for a T!)

Unfortunately, there are a percentage of users of many desktop operating systems who either don’t care about data integrity or don’t know how to maintain it. That applies to a percentage of Windows 10 users, as well. Having spent years meeting the computing needs of faculty, staff and students at a university, I certainly know the importance of data integrity, and I know the importance of updating. Unfortunately, with Windows 10, Microsoft has created a situation where maintaining data integrity and installing the latest updates are both problematic.

I decided to dual boot Linux on my Windows 7 computer when I saw that getting the latest and greatest through Linux might be a better option than installing Windows 10. With several years of experience providing Windows 10 support for others, I see Windows 7 as being Microsoft’s “greatest.” I am not alone. If I ever find a real need for Windows 10 on my home computer, I’ll create a triple-boot system. In the meantime, I’m being kind to myself.

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Charlie, wdburt1, jburk07

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Thanks so much for this forum! I still have a working 1992 IBM PS/1, 486, 25 MHz that runs DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1.  I keep it mainly for sentimental value, it was the first computer I bought for myself. My wife calls my computer room a museum because of the older computers I keep going.

Also, my 1969 Mustang Coupe turned 50 this year.  I bought it new and have kept it in like new original condition. I don’t trust anyone beside myself to work on it but I’m going to turn 71 this coming July and it’s becoming a bit of a chore keeping it that way.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

6 users thanked author for this post.

jburk07, Elly, SueW, AussieBoy, CADesertRat, Microfix

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I still have a MS-DOS 6.22/Windows 3.1 computer on an Intel 25 MHz FSB, 75 MHz core Overdrive CPU, only needs a new CMOS battery but the BIOS settings are easy to get back.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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jburk07, Charlie, Elly

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I’m 67, and all you old dogs posting, make me feel like a kid again. I’m guessing most of you, remember when the Dead Sea just had a mild cough. Have whatever kind of day you want!

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When I was young I eagerly anticipated turning 21. After I turned 21 the years started flying by.  Then as I got older, each year seemed to go by faster.  I was in my sixties before I knew it!

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Welcome, Charlie…
I suspect many of us are “older and wiser,” and because we see the coming catastrophe that is Windows 10–and wish to keep our computers running–is an effort to band together and help each other keep Windows 7 running…while the hoi polloi try to convert to an entirely new GUI, have to cope with a steady stream of broken updates (which, I suspect will take a good 12-18 months before settling down).

In part, I want to keep all our home (and occasionally clients’) systems running until Microsoft delivers a stable system we can rely on…and allows us to keep the GUI design to which we’re accustomed (and which M$ seems to change at will without bothering to ask users if they actually approve).

I wish M$ would actually LISTEN, but they’ve always had the view that they know our needs better than we do, ourselves.  I suspect the forum will grow in activity over the next year, then slo-o-owly decline as Windows 10 FINALLY becomes a robust and reliable product.

Alternative viewpoints eagerly solicited.  Why are YOU holding onto Windows 7?  (I’ve got occasional clients who still keep some systems on XP!  And, it’s working well for them for accounting, and other stable applications, largely because their needs are met with software that doesn’t change for the sole purpose to getting more revenue from the rubes, and the underlying practices–e.g., banking–doesn’t change everytime some banker has a whim!)

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To put it plain and simple, I love Windows 7!  It has worked flawlessly for me since 2012 when I built a new computer and it just does everything well without any complaints.  I went directly from Win XP to Win 7.

I also have an IBM Thinkpad T40 laptop & docking station with the Win XP Pro on it that I still use for non-internet things now.  It’s a safe haven for sensitive files I won’t put on my Win 7 computer.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Well, HERE WE GO AGAIN!  Microsoft appears to be run by a crowd who have a MAXIMUM age of about 14 years!  Go back up and read my message on May 16th, about KB915597.  Then, look as your “Definition Update” (for Windows Defender) and you’ll see we already installed this one!  And, yet, we now have yet ANOTHER KB915597 presented to us TODAY!

Why can’t we have a LOGICALLY CONSISTENT MANAGEMENT OF KB NUMBERS, MICROSOFT?

I’ll apply this one, and post again on my results so you can make your own judgement about applying it, or blocking it.

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So I applied it (KB915597) and now I have SIX of them in my “Installed updates” list, all since July 1, 2019.  Hmmm…do YOU think they did any testing on the first five???

As we’re all aware:  Trust Microsoft only at your own risk.  Since their documentation is so lavish (not), I suppose it’s the best we can expect, because we’re merely “paying customers!”

Search this with you favorite search engine:  site:microsoft.com KB915597.  Now, read the third line down, which says, “About 4,610 results”!  And, that’s only on Microsoft’s own website!

I suppose that Microsoft is consistently publishing a new edition based on new threats that keep popping up to exploit “sneak paths” through Microsoft’s logic…due to a lack of comprehensive assessment of potential threats over these past 17 DAYS.

I’d sure like it if Microsoft were to provide some explanation of why so many updates for new threats over the past 17 days.  The problem has only existed since 2010, according to site:  https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-defender-kb915597-automatic-update-and/09669b2e-253d-47d5-acbd-dc614318b4e2

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It may be information that is obscured by the passage of time. We simply become used to the abbreviation and lose the meaning of the abbreviated terms. Windows Defender has an updating mechanism described in the Microsoft internal document called Knowledge Base article 915597. All definition updates, also including updates to the application mechanism, are referred to by that KB article number.

This will likely continue until some change must be made to that article, and it is determined to be such a sweeping change that it requires a new Knowledge Base article number. Noting that it is a serialized number only six digits long may give you a sense of how old that article is.

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This same scenario (‘repetitive changes to the same KB number’) also applies to:
– Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, KB890830; and
– Definition Update for Microsoft Security Essentials – KB2310138.

The KB number (the ‘root’ of the product) is used repetitively, but each issuance merely updates the data files that are used by the product.

Here are some of my Update History from July 3 to 8:

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[Jim C]

Is anyone else getting e-mails like this? I’ve gotten two. One in July and now today.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 9 months ago by Jim C.

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No, I’m not getting mail telling me Windows 7 is going away, but my spam filter is rigorous and may be removing such notices.

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender

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Interesting.

I haven’t seen any email like that, either. I wonder how you got on the mailing list?

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My best guess on how they knew my OS, is sniffing my Browser. That’s the only they would have known. I joined MS rewards program a few years back on Bing .com and still use it I get about $10 bucks a month off of them in the way of gift cards sent to my email. MS paid for my Mikita cordless drill and 7 1/4″ Skilsaw.

I have no KBxxxxxx telemetry anything on computer. Everything in my firewall I always locked down. Started doing that years ago because, I’ve got some bootleg software and didn’t want it trying to get through to call home. Turned off my Browser location. The best they can get is the location of my ISP. Edited a couple of registry items with 0’s and no to Windows CEIP. Used Task Scheduler to double check CEIP was off. Windows Media Player I never setup. Prefer MPC-BE and Zoom Player. Unless there is something I forgot are don’t know about, Win 7 doesn’t talk to MS. The sad part of all MS silliness, if they had asked, I may have agreed to the telemetry. Of course MS doesn’t ask for anything, they demand. Don’t really have anything to hide from them, but it’s become a test of wills!

I will say, if they plan the same telemetry sneakiness as last month, in these remaining months, I’m going quit with the updates altogether. It’s now early morning on the second Tuesday of the month, guess we’ll all find out that answer in a few hours.

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@Jim C,

Yes, I received the same email as you on July 31.

@woody,

As far as I know, I’m not on any mailing list or is this the time to take my tinfoil hat outa the closet?

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GoTheSaints wrote:

@Jim C,

Yes, I received the same email as you on July 31.

@woody,

As far as I know, I’m not on any mailing list or is this the time to take my tinfoil hat outa the closet?

Can’t you track who the sender is ?

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It’s from Microsoft, checked when I received it.

Message Source:

<snip>

Authentication-Results: spf=pass (sender IP is 65.55.234.210) smtp.mailfrom=communication.microsoft.com; live.com.au; dkim=pass (signature was verified) header.d=communication.microsoft.com;live.com.au; dmarc=pass action=none header.from=communication.microsoft.com;

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Confirmed as being from Microsoft.
Registration? based on telemetry? email addy?
Ferrite bead knights helmet required, tin foil hat no good.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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How does MS know? Might be from the updates (.Net) that I install using WU, other than that don’t have a clue.

Time will tell if MS say why they are stalking us hangers-on (or not ).

 

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HappyElderNerd wrote:

and the one I keep in the trunk of my car(#3)

Depending on how and where you drive that might be a bit rough on the drives. With SSDs so cheap these days that might be a better choice. Funny I just got a Safe Deposit Box and was wondering what I would put in it , backups are a no-brainer.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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