Why that new computer might not run Windows 7

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	TOP STORY Why that new computer might not run Windows 7
	By Tracey Capen Based on a few emails we’ve received, some Windows users plan to buy new Win10 systems and downgrade them back to Win7. But according to a recent Microsoft news post, new computers running on Intel’s Skylake processor might not have the necessary drivers to support Windows 7.

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When I had my Acer laptop rolled from Windows 8 to Windows 7, the onsite tech had to pull off several heatsinks and covers, read the hardware manufacturers’ codes/IDs, goto the manufacturers’ web sites, pull down the necessary drivers, install W7, install said drivers.
I was not prepared to do that, so I had Altex in Austin do that for me. In short: rolling back from 10 to 7 may involve what happened above to my laptop.

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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This will just make the Virtual Machine Software and third part driver writer industries a bit larger and more robust.

I doubt that even Microsoft can completely stop innovation.

I think that I will start a pool on when Microsoft goes full subscription only for future updates to WX. I’m guessing mid 2017.

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This will just make the Virtual Machine Software and third part driver writer industries a bit larger and more robust.

I doubt that even Microsoft can completely stop innovation.

I think that I will start a pool on when Microsoft goes full subscription only for future updates to WX. I’m guessing mid 2017.

Third parties already supply the majority of working drivers for most PCs. Microsoft only supplies generic drivers in most cases. So nothing about drivers depends on Microsoft.

What has happened is that the manufacturers are not supplying backward-compatibility drivers for their PCs, especially laptops. Sometimes it’s possible to pull out the information on the onboard component chipsets, and then the generic drivers for the components themselves may be available for Windows 7. But if we’re talking about a specific generation of Intel CPU platforms not having drivers for Windows 7, not even from Intel, we are totally out of luck. These PCs are not able to be converted to Windows 7 PCs.

As for making Windows a subscription service, as long as everyone else (Android, iOS, Mac OS, Chrome OS and Linux) gives away their OS for free, Microsoft will never be in a position to compete if they start charging for their OS or the updates. Any talk to the contrary is simply FUD. The economics are simply not there, now or in the future. The subscription model is for Office, other software titles, and many Store Apps, including those with in-App purchases.

For what it’s worth, I find that in both desktop mode and in tablet mode, on modern hardware and my older laptop, Windows 10 is a very nice Operating System. I still prefer working with Linux because of the simplicity of the desktop GUI and the transparency of the underlying code for the OS and most Apps, as well as not having to go somewhere with true broadband just to update apps (Windows Store Apps won’t update properly over slower DSL connections in my house).

As Windows versions go, I liked the GUI of Windows XP the best, but Win 10 Pro in desktop mode comes in a close second, ahead of Windows 7. Others may see things the other way around, and that’s fine with me. But don’t expect Microsoft to stop forward progress just to cater to folks who want to keep Windows 7 forever. Ditto and more for hardware manufacturers. Sorry, but that’s the reality of running for-profit businesses.

I would like to see an even more robust Start Menu in Win 10, but that’s about the most I can complain about the interface at this point. The Store Apps not updating over slow connections is not a desktop issue, so I won’t push to see that issue resolved.

As for updates, I simply use the Metered Connection trick. (Let the patches cook for about two weeks,m then apply the ones which survive.) No problems so far. I have had only one close call with a bad (NVidia graphics) driver being offered (Thanks to Woody Leonhard’s blog site, I dodged that bullet!), so the quality of the patches I have applied for the past few months seems to be very good so far. May it remain so!

-- rc primak

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This will just make the Virtual Machine Software and third part driver writer industries a bit larger and more robust.

I doubt that even Microsoft can completely stop innovation.

I think that I will start a pool on when Microsoft goes full subscription only for future updates to WX. I’m guessing mid 2017.

I’ll put a buck in for 2020
:cheers:

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

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Nadella is trying to force ALL USERS to Win 10 (& Apps) & their “take it or leave it new EULAs”!
I think MS will eventually backtrack to less stringent T & C’s when they see their revenues and user base drop!

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All EULAs are take it or leave it.

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I guess I don’t see what the big deal is. Old OS versions have always had driver issues with new hardware. XP and Vista will not run with some current hardware because of a lack of driver support. I don’t see why Windows 7 should be any different.

Jerry

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I know I come late but anyway…

If someone has some older software that they can not run on a newer hardware/OS combination then they just need to keep the”old” box with W7 running.

Otherwise I just don’t see any longer why to reject Win 10. The main reasons I heard/read and that I had myself(!) can be easily and safely circumvented.

Win 10’s telemetry (most of it I still call spying!) can be pretty much turned off for good; have you ever looked Spybot AntiBeacon or O&O Shut Up 10?

If you want to stick with Win 7’s Start Menu how about Classic Shell?

I solicit input on other major drawbacks that I may not (yet) be aware of.
TIA

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